Archive for the 'Human Rigths' Category

Sexual Violence in War

Published on 10 February 2010 in Gender issues, Human Rigths and United Nations. 0 Comments

“Absent from ceasefire agreements, not subject to disarmament programmes, and rarely mentioned at the peace-table, mass rape is a war tactic that lingers long after the guns fall silent.”1 The last decade shows alarming figures: 250,000–500,000 women and girls were raped during the genocide in Rwanda, 20,000–50,000 women and girls were raped during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, an average of 40 women and girls are raped every day in South Kivu, Congo2.

To help combat this growing atrocity, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently appointed Margot Wallström as his Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. This new position (lobbied for by NGOs and called for in resolution 1888) was created to focus international action and to ensure a more effective prevention of and response to such crimes.

Ms Wallstöm commented: “Violence against women is the most common but least punished crime in the world…In far too many parts of the world women are excluded from the decision-making process and from conflict resolution and peacekeeping. This absolutely has to change and I am determined to play my part in making that change happen.”

A clear understanding of the root causes of rape in conflict is essential, including the myths that fuel this violence and the availability of the weapons that facilitate it. It is hoped that Margot Wallström will find a way to address these issues and that she will help empower women and fight impunity.

IFUW has adopted several resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. What can IFUW do to help advance the work of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict?

Click here to read and write comments.

For more information and for action ideas: www.stoprapenow.org (UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict)

UNiTE to End Violence against Women

Published on 25 November 2009 in Gender issues and Human Rigths. 1 Comment

According to some estimates, up to 70 per cent of women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. The United Nations General Assembly, which designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, has invited governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize activities designed to raise public awareness of the problem.

UNIFEM has taken a leading role in advocating for the elimination of violence against women in form of a world-wide campaign, Say NO to Violence Against Women. The first phase of this campaign, of which IFUW was a launch partner, generated over 5 million signatures in a global call to make this issue a top priority worldwide. Heads of States and Ministers from 69 Governments and more than 600 Parliamentarians have added their names to Say NO since then.

The second phase of the UNIFEM campaign, Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women, is a global platform for advocacy and action. It aims to trigger and highlight actions by individuals, governments and civil society. Actions can range from adding your name to the Say NO petition, volunteering at local shelters or women’s organizations, advocating for legislation to reaching out to students at schools, spreading the message through blogs and tweets or donating funds that support local organizations on the ground. The initial goal is to reach 100,000 actions by March 2010. IFUW members are encouraged to add their actions taken on the Say NO website.

Every action is counted to showcase the global wave of engagement, urging governments to make ending violence against women and girls a top priority. People must engage at all levels, transform beliefs and attitudes, and ensure laws, programmes and services are implemented and well resourced.

What actions have you taken? Share your experience and inspire others.

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Women and peace-building

Published on 11 November 2009 in Gender issues, Human Rigths and Politics. 2 Comments
© UNESCO: Afghanistan, Kandahar

© UNESCO (Afghanistan, Kandahar)

Recently the United Nations Security Council voiced deep concern about the continuing under-representation of women at all stages of peace processes. Nearly nine years have passed since Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security was adopted, but to date only 16 countries* have developed national action plans.

The Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon urged all Member States to adopt national action plans before the 10th anniversary of the resolution next year. Having national plans is not enough however. Implementation is key to achieving the goals of the resolution. Member states were also encouraged to address such female needs as greater physical security, better socio-economic conditions through education, income generating activities, access to health services and access to justice.

The Secretary General pointed out that “a growing body of evidence suggests that bringing women to the peace table improves the quality of agreements reached, and increases the chances of successful implementation”. Yet, UNIFEM reports that women average less than 10 per cent of the members of official negotiating teams at peace talks.”

What steps have been taken in your country towards implementing resolution 1325? What are the barriers to promoting women’s role as peace builders?

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* Austria, Belgium, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Liberia, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

2009 Security Council report: Women and peace and security by the Secretary-General

Traditional Values and Women’s Human Rights

Published on 28 October 2009 in Gender issues and Human Rigths. 18 Comments

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.

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