From the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
The Human Rights Council adopted, by a vote of 26 to 15 with 6 abstentions, Resolution 12/21: Promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms through a better understanding of traditional values of humankind. The resolution recognizes “that all cultures and civilizations in their traditions, customs, religions and beliefs share a common set of values that belong to humankind in its entirety, and that those values have made an important contribution to the development of human rights norms and standards.”
Conchita Poncini, IFUW representative to United Nations in Geneva, has pointed out that the words “traditional” and “values” are both relative terms. There is a danger that these can be used to excuse or exacerbate certain harmful practices that are considered “traditional”, such as male guardianship, female genital mutilation, early marriage, inheritance laws that exclude women, etc.
The resolution also reiterates that “while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, all States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, have the duty to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms”.
The Human Rights Council will convene a workshop in 2010 for an exchange of views on how a better understanding of traditional values of humankind underpinning international human rights norms and standards can contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
To help IFUW to prepare its input, we would like to have a better understanding of what “traditional values” means in your country and whether there are any traditions that could be harmful to women.
Click here to read the whole 12/21 Resolutions.
I am providing IFUW something to ponder on in connection to worker human rights and work-related rights of migrant workers. My fellow Filipino workers, mostly women have arrived in Japan (May, 2009) to work as nurses and caregivers under a mutual agreement between our two countries, but these workers are now left to endure traditional work practices and values which the foreign nurses think are oppressive disregarding their own needs, respect expected and attention to address their problems. The work culture in Japan differs greatly from the foreign nurses’ own culture, but they are told to endure hardships just like what is expected local part-time workers, the marginalized sector in this society. Please read below my opinions and observation of the current situations of the migrant workers:
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EPA Foreign Nurses and Caregivers now Working in Japan
in Need of Immediate Help
The Economic Partnership Agreement of Japan (EPA) with other countries, especially with the Philippines (JPEPA) has put a lot of nurses and caregivers in grave situations where unfair labor practices, pressure on kanji study, and poor salaries make the health workers’ lives in Japan miserable.
When they arrived in Japan in May, 2009, the Filipino nurses and caregivers felt elated to be finally serving the Japanese society with their expertise, love and devotion to their career as hospital workers. After only six months of Nihongo study, three months of work in hospital, the Filipino nurses, like their Indonesian counterparts, now suffer from various hardships, caused not only by unfair work policies, low salaries, and local workers’ rejection, but also pressure to master medical-nursing kanji and Japan nursing system only those with high level-Grade 12 Japanese or nursing graduates could understand. Specifically, the nurses experience the following frustrating situations giving them no choice but contemplate on leaving Japan soon.
1. Japan puts the nurses and caregivers in a cheap labor trap, requiring them to pass the Licensure exam within three years, given only six months of formal Basic Nihongo study and occasional group reviews. The government and the JNA (Japan Nurses Association) insist that foreign nurses take the exam in Japanese without furigana phonetic guides for the kanji characters. The nurses could only be promoted to fulltime nurses position, acquire a privilege to bring their dependents to Japan if they pass the licensure exam. With medical kanji extremely difficult even to their Nihongo teachers, the stance of the government and JNA could reflect a rejection of foreign nurses merging into the local workforce, but a clear plan to temporarily use or exploit the foreign nurses for three years like any expendable commodity.
2. The salary and benefits with the gross totaling 120,000- 200,000 for these foreign workers are not enough to sustain a peaceful life in Japan. With majority of them receiving only about 60,000 yen net pay after deductions, everyone would have to employ great remedies to meet all his living expenses: portion of house rent, electricity, gas supply, internet connection, cell phone bills and transport expenses. This leaves the worker starving and unable to send any money for his or her dependents home. JICWELS (Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services) must choose only the hospitals who can afford to offer good wage packages. If some hospital administrators could make the local Japanese to work under a limited 7.5 hours per day for them to remain part-timers on a 900 yen hourly rate, applying the same policy to foreign workers who have no relatives in Japan to rely on is an utter abuse of the workers’ rights, disrespect for their experience and profession, and degradation of their worth as health workers.
3. Comparison, competition and insecurity could be observed between the local workers and foreign nurses. The presence of foreign workers in Japan hospitals could be taken as a threat to local workers’ employment status or hopes for salary improvement resulting to disrespect, scorn and unfriendly atmosphere in many work settings. The foreign nurses have been struggling to cope with their new environment trying to foster mutual understanding and cooperation. When they would really fit in and accepted is a question.
4. Japan’s nursing system is far different from other countries’ orientation and curriculum especially that of the Philippines. Considering the foreign nurses’ experience and education comparable to trainings in some Western countries, it is hard for the foreign nurses to adjust with the nature of assistant nurse work and nursing aide job. It was not clear to the nurses as well what specific job functions they’d be expected to perform. Japan nursing books, training materials and exam reviewers must also be translated and explained in English even though the nurses have already attained a certain level of Nihongo.
5. There is no existing training program or orientation on Japan nursing system offered to the foreign nurses before they were plunged into the normal job. Hospital administrators just rely on suggestions or complaints, many of which were ignored for new actions. Despite the absence of local training, nurses receive reprimands and ridiculous remarks from local workmates for their inability to perform according to the Japanese system. There is a need for an immersion and retraining of foreign nurses for them to keep to the standard of their host country.
6. The Japanese work ethics, ettiquette and culture differ greatly from foreign nurses’ work attitudes, culture and values. For foreign workers, rushing and scurrying at work reflects inefficiency and un-preparedness, but to the Japanese, this gesture proves one’s dedication and excellent performance. The foreign nurses believe that respect and professionalism must be observed among workmates, especially in the presence of the patients. For local worker leaders, bullying and humiliating a trainee nurse is a part of the training. Unaware that local workers are also suppressed and expected to endure hardship without complaining, foreign nurses often express their concern and suggestions when they see it fit. Unfortunately, doing so would just be seen as distrusting the management Criticisms could easily backfire on the most vocal of the workers.
7. There is no advancement or career development waiting for any foreign nurse in Japan. In fact, staying here longer and working as nursing aides with jobs similar to caregivers and domestic helpers could further stifle the workers’ career and status in global workforce. Working in some other countries where English is a tool for communication could enhance the dream growth to these nurses. Just like what some local workers say “You are not needed here”, “You’d better work in countries where you could communicate in English”, the foreign nurses must decide for what fate they envision. Japan has no program plan for their advancement because even the local workforce is deprived of opportunities.
8. There are no labor attaches to represent the causes of the foreign nurses as they are left to defend and fight for their rights on their own. JICWELS always sided with oppressive hospitals and would answer “they didn’t have any precedent of previous case experiences” so consequently, can’t transfer any nurse requesting for placement in better hospitals. It would just say that “everything the hospital says is final”. The foreign workers are burnt out at work and often exhausted in fighting for their own rights with uncaring administration.
Japan with JICWELS, and the Philippines, with POEA, must carefully examine the flaws made under the first batch of workers before the second batch comes to Japan in May, 2010. More health would be work-displaced, suffer from mental distress, frustrated at Nihongo exams and not properly compensated if both countries do not sit down together to address their alarming condition. These foreign workers are dedicated to their job, well accepted by patients, and are cheerfully caring to their ward. Hospitals, together with their local workers must, themselves ask for foreign workers, and subsequently welcome the foreigners to their workplaces offering support and cooperation. Only when Japan has answered these demands that it could truly call itself sincere in keeping with the mutual agreement. But as Japan tries to improve the conditions of the foreign workers, it must equally aid local workers’ causes and needs, and their demand for higher pay and benefits be similarly provided.
J.Homma in Saitama, Japan
Things in Spain have changed a lot for the younger generations ever since women have entered the working force.Nevertheless grandmothers ,in many cases are forced to take care of the grandchildren so the mother can work.Very few times do we see the husband give up his job to take care of the children when there are problems.
A note from Association of Turkish University Women
In old Turkish States the place of women was equal to men. In the family
mother was the one taking the decisions. All old Turkish tales such as “Dede Korkut”
tells us about the place of woman in the society.
The question is what happened to our traditional values?
With the Islam belief the society became more conservative,
and with the conservatism women started to be hidden in their houses only to be
expected to serve the men. Men free to have 4 women started to feel like the
dictator of the house and thinking that his honour is in the body of the woman
whom he thinks that he owns, that can be his wife, his sister, his daughter. So
he must make the decisions for them,when the woman listens to her heart,
her basic human right to choose her husband, than the problem starts,
from forcing to unwanted marriages to so called honour killings.
Although In Turkey with the reforms of secular Republic founded by ATATURK,
Turkish woman gained their political rights in 1930-34 much earlier
than many others and CİVİL Code has changed a lot in favour of woman,
the evaluation of image of women and mentality of men in olden days I mentioned
above still exists in the shape of so called traditions and values of society ,funny enough
only agaist woman.
All nations have wonderful traditions and values,which is for the benefit and happiness of
the people ,of course we should stick to them. With more effective education we should fight
the so called traditions poisoning the society.
Nezihe Bilhan CIR
Gülsüm Işıldar
Aysen Targun
“traditional” values seems a tautology to me: values are what fundamentally defines specific ethnic, geographical cultures. Deep-rooted taken for granted ways of dealing with daily human life problem. Different in societies. In the Netherlands individualism, the I, is normal and honoured; in China daily behavior, norms, artefacts, laws, policies are derived from the value that We always is much more than many “I’S. A worldwide value seems to be that not-killing other people is better behavior than killing other people. Taking care of young children, elder people and the “weaker”seems to be perceived as positive, not taking care of those who earn special care and attention is perceived as negative. (“they even slaughtered children and sick people…..) Maybe there are two or three more values -working for a better future for mankind as a good goal in life-, which are recognised as preferable by all human beings. After that there is great diversity. Because what one cultures sees as a better future, or environment, or gender definition in society can be perceived as totally wrong by another culture. I think it is wonderful that there are some same deep rooted values in all people. Like music is a language for all, saving and enhancing life and life conditions is a belief for all. Different ways, yes, very different. But we share also much with all the strangers around.
In Chile we have laws and regulations since XX century which have taken care of traditions which limited women’rights.Although we have a separation of Church and State since 1925,the is some influence of Church on some minority groups wich shere those traditional values and
hope all to share them. So although we do not have legal discrimination ,we still have some cultural discriminations.But we have a state Officce of Women’Affairs, which now is a Secretary of State,which develop and enforce progrmas,activities and research to overcome some of the remainig traits of male chauvinism.
In Rwanda some traditional customs that have been harmful to women, e.g. polygamy, are gradually dying.
We need to be careful here to continue to cherish good universal traditions, like love and loyalty within the family, honesty, sharing, but recognise that some traditions are harmful to women and deny human rights. An example from Rwanda is that although we have good laws about property rights and inheritance of land going to both men and women, because of tradition and ignorance of the law, in general men still own the land and women still farm it.
Tradition,culture, it`s a way of life. As an African,I have realised we fail to tolerate tradition because we don`t understand it. Societies are changing at such a pace that even the laws that try to regulate them either fail or lead to more disastrous consequences than what we had before. For example, I am a Zimbabwean. The Introduction of Chapter 37/Section 5:11 Act was seen as a welcome development by Women`s Rights activists. It meant polygamy for those married under this act was ruled out and offers relative security for both. Community-of -property meant the surviving spouse inherits if the other spouse is deceased. This was a good development as in some parts of the country the tradition was that if either spouse dies,the surviving spouse is “robbed” of all household belongings,especially where the wife was not working and was argued to have made no financial input in acquisition. Unfortunately, confusion abounds when read in conjunction with the less well-known nor understood Deceased Maintenance and Inheritance Act. The Act states the deceased`s survivors should continue to be maintained by the late`s estate, but it appears this is at the discretion of the surviving spouse. This means step-children are disposed if they are not legitimately adopted. Adoption is not encouraged in many African societies and drawing a will is alien, we tend to want to see ourselves as immortal.
Traditionally,a child born to a spouse illegitimately is yours, as long as it is born of your spouse. Society expected the “offended” spouse to look after this child. If it was not possible, this child would be the uncles` obligation.
Economic circumstances have changed making it difficult to look after the extended family. Unfortunately, the law overlooks this, maybe that is why “illegitimate” children now face a double blow, there are no members of the extended family to turn to and the law only considers children who are adopted or born into that marriage.
The above example aims to illustrate how in an effort to place Women`s Human`s rights in the context of traditional values, we should not forget that one is a girl-child before she becomes a woman. How can we be focusing on women enjoying basic human rights before the girl -child? How do will deal with laws that in a sense empower the woman, but ignore the girl-child?
I believe this “new” tradition is harmful to our future women.
Defining the “common set of values that belong to humankind in its entirety,” should be an interesting exercise. The work of the workshop should focus on looking at candidate “values” and determining firstly whether the implementation of such a “value” would lead to actions in conflict with the numberous UN Declaration on Universal Human Rights.
Any reference to traditional family values makes me wary that is meant are practices which deny women human rights, especially rights of protection against violence and of reproductive health rights.
What is the hidden agenda underlying this resolution?
human rights are very important to establish one relationship all over the world. today in bologna i organize the 48th congress of women profession today and during past years. we are 5o presidents all over italy and turkey.
tomorrow we are discussing proportions and information regarding to women protection rights. we proposed two months ago talking right that now are still adopted in our tribunals.
I agree with Phyllis Scott that we must have a code of conduct by which ALL must live in a country. Those who immigrate to a particular country should be informed on arrival that “this is the way we do thngs here.”
In Pakistan, now in majority of corporate bodies board of directors women do have representation ranging from 10 to 30% and they do have full freedom to voice their views on all decisions to be taken by the Board. In case they tend to differ on certain matter unilaterally their resrvations / comments are duly acknowledged in the minutes of the board meeting.
Following up on Kathleen’s blog: Canada rather than being a melting pot, has always has always prided itself on respecting traditional values of other cultures especially in our immigrant population. There are Ukrainian Festivals, Greek Days etc all over Canada. Problems arise though when traditional values clash with what exists in our Criminal Code (which does not permit polygamy) or our Charter of Rights and Freedoms in which unacceptable discriminatory practices are listed. (no discrimination on the basis of age, sex or religion for example) Therefore a polygamous group has a settlement in which men (some really old!) can take as many young women (cases of 14 to 16 year old) “brides” as they want. This issue is in the courts (again) . Is polygamy a justifiable practice based on freedom of religion? That is the polygamous community’s belief but this is not acceptable by community standards in Canada. Headlines in the paper recently state “limits to tolerance are needed if a multicultural Canada is to work”. (other cases include a request for Sharia Law as an alternative to settle family disputes in Ontario. In the end this was not permitted.) Many are of the opinion that unless ordinary Canadians deem some customs and religious practices as intolerable and speak out against them the courts will not wade into the issue.
Traditional values in India in general mean sober, quiet, nurturing nature of women. As well as being a homemaker, dependable,obedient, adjusting to the family values of inlaws family as parents home is temporary abode, but it is not the same in all parts of the country. Muslim personal law differs and cultural values expected in that society differ. In Kerala matriarchal society giving woman right to property expects her to marry her mother’s brother to keep the property in the family (It is very complicated to understand but it is weakening now)In North Eastern states women run businesses and men take it easy, so women control finances in many families. In rural India girls are married off very young and are kept dependent.
The change in cities and towns is bringing out the need for both members of the family earning , the man and wife, but in earlier times an earning wife acted as if she does not understand finances (she did and managed to control quite a few major issues of running the house and with some financial control), now quite a few look after family finances and do it better than men, financial literacy is on the increase in this group but psychological needs of their men does make them play a less aggressive (therefore fiminine and traditional) role. By keeping traditional values quoted above they can have better control. I am referring to sober quiet and nurturing nature of women here.
Human rights are absolutely important and many traditions, not traditional values as such go against human rights such as child marriage, multiple wives where ever allowed by tradition, inheritance laws in some communities, dowry system, treating girls as untouchables in menstruation or stopping their education after menarche and marrying them off so that they do not get into any problems. Human rights have to be the same for women and and men mostly.
Having lived in various parts of the world,it is difficult to be specific; however, here is my attempt
Tradition to me means acceped as something “we have always done” and “we have always done it this way.”
Values are the things we hold as important and also why (the reason) we do as we do.
Traditional in the USA usually means a woman who defers to males in decision making, in expectations of ability to solve problems, in finances. It further usually means complying with cultural attidues about female beauty and fertility.
Traditional values in Samoan society uphold women as esteemed heirs of family titles and land .. however, as we are part of the global modern economy there are modern values of individualism for example that has infiltrated and adopted as acceptable, nevertheless women generally play out their roles according to their many and varied status in the home, workplace, family, village etc.. such as wife of chief, mother, maiden, sister, in law, chief. The challenge for our society is to balance our many roles so that our traditional status, roles are not compromised.
After get this email, the first thing to my mind is the traditional family value for woman in China. Woman are more required to deal with housework and child caring than man. Normally, husband will feel quite shamed if they stay at home and their wife go out for works.
Another is habitat to comparing the beauty of a woman with the capability of a man. This hints something behind, that woman is less considered as a full independent human beings in the society.
It is difficult to point out what is “traditional” in the USA because of the many ethnic groups who have immigrated here. However, civil and human rights laws and legal regulations have neutralized most of the negative traditional practices that some groups brought with them to this country. However, even here, where we have “separation of church and state,” the issue of gay rights, including marriage, which is most often based upon a religious belief, still has not universally been overcome through the passage of laws.
A complicating factor in the US is that of the concept of “states rights” wherein each of the 50 states may pass laws that only apply in their state when the issues are deemed not of national concern. Therefore, laws relating to health rights for women, for instance, will vary across the country, because of the influence of religious practices in that state.