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Posts tagged women's rights

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Arab women fight to keep gains won on the street Some members of Egypt’s first freely elected parliament are pressing to scrap laws that protect women When Yemen’s long-term dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh tried to silence Tawakkul Karman, he called in her brother. Karman was in prison for her part at the forefront of the popular revolution against Saleh’s rule, a role that earned her the Nobel peace prize. The president’s warning to Karman’s brother was blunt. “Saleh told him a clear message: if you don’t restrain your sister, whoever disobeys me will be killed,” she said. “My brother told me the day I was released from prison. The next morning I went protesting.” The threat says much about Saleh, who was finally toppled in February. But his attempt to use Karman’s brother to silence her says something about Yemeni society and other countries across the Arab world where women were in the vanguard of revolutions – joining protests en masse, facing bullets and being killed – looking for more than solely political emancipation. “The most important thing the Arab spring brought us was to give women leadership roles,” said Karman. “When women become leaders of men, and men are following, when women sacrifice themselves and get killed in front of men, when they get detained for political issues and men don’t feel ashamed of women who are arrested, this is a change. But is it enough to change the situation of women? The answer is: not yet.” Karman was among several women who played leading roles in uprisings across the Arab world who gathered in Washington recently for a meeting of Vital Voices, a group founded in 1997 by the then first lady Hillary Clinton to empower female leaders. There was agreement that the revolutions freed millions from dictatorship but are delivering only limited gains in the struggle for women’s equality – and in some cases are threatening to set back the advances already made. This week Clinton, who is now US secretary of state, said women’s rights in newly liberated Arab countries were a test of whether the revolutions were living up to their promise. “One of the important indicators as to how the whole process of democratisation, political reform, economic reform is going is the way that the newly formed governments and their allies in the various countries treat women,” said Clinton. “To that end, there’s mixed news. There’s some positive news in that there are certain guarantees put forth about women’s rights and opportunities. But there are some worrying actions that certainly don’t match those guarantees.” The challenge was demonstrated at the weekend in Cairo’s Tahrir square, the crucible of the Egyptian revolution, as hundreds of men attacked women demonstrating for an end to sexual harassment and assaults. Marianne Nagui Hanna Ibrahim was among the hundreds of thousands of Egyptians in the square last year for the protests that brought down President Hosni Mubarak. “During the 18 days against Mubarak there were no women and men. It was just Egyptians in danger. I was in the square almost daily and I didn’t witness a single case of sexual harassment. “But that changed after Mubarak stepped down. We were back to face the reality of where we are as Egyptian women,” she said. “We’re not a priority even with fellow revolutionaries. They’re just thinking of the political change but no one is thinking of setting the rules for basic rights including women’s rights. I think because even the activists don’t really consider women’s rights part of the larger concept of human rights, which is a huge issue.” Pictured: Egyptians celebrate the end of Hosni Mubarak’s rule. But now women are attacked in Tahrir Square. Photograph: Tara Todras-Whitehill/AP

Arab women fight to keep gains won on the street

Some members of Egypt’s first freely elected parliament are pressing to scrap laws that protect women

When Yemen’s long-term dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh tried to silence Tawakkul Karman, he called in her brother.

Karman was in prison for her part at the forefront of the popular revolution against Saleh’s rule, a role that earned her the Nobel peace prize. The president’s warning to Karman’s brother was blunt. “Saleh told him a clear message: if you don’t restrain your sister, whoever disobeys me will be killed,” she said. “My brother told me the day I was released from prison. The next morning I went protesting.”

The threat says much about Saleh, who was finally toppled in February. But his attempt to use Karman’s brother to silence her says something about Yemeni society and other countries across the Arab world where women were in the vanguard of revolutions – joining protests en masse, facing bullets and being killed – looking for more than solely political emancipation.

“The most important thing the Arab spring brought us was to give women leadership roles,” said Karman. “When women become leaders of men, and men are following, when women sacrifice themselves and get killed in front of men, when they get detained for political issues and men don’t feel ashamed of women who are arrested, this is a change. But is it enough to change the situation of women? The answer is: not yet.”

Karman was among several women who played leading roles in uprisings across the Arab world who gathered in Washington recently for a meeting of Vital Voices, a group founded in 1997 by the then first lady Hillary Clinton to empower female leaders. There was agreement that the revolutions freed millions from dictatorship but are delivering only limited gains in the struggle for women’s equality – and in some cases are threatening to set back the advances already made.

This week Clinton, who is now US secretary of state, said women’s rights in newly liberated Arab countries were a test of whether the revolutions were living up to their promise.

“One of the important indicators as to how the whole process of democratisation, political reform, economic reform is going is the way that the newly formed governments and their allies in the various countries treat women,” said Clinton. “To that end, there’s mixed news. There’s some positive news in that there are certain guarantees put forth about women’s rights and opportunities. But there are some worrying actions that certainly don’t match those guarantees.”

The challenge was demonstrated at the weekend in Cairo’s Tahrir square, the crucible of the Egyptian revolution, as hundreds of men attacked women demonstrating for an end to sexual harassment and assaults. Marianne Nagui Hanna Ibrahim was among the hundreds of thousands of Egyptians in the square last year for the protests that brought down President Hosni Mubarak.

“During the 18 days against Mubarak there were no women and men. It was just Egyptians in danger. I was in the square almost daily and I didn’t witness a single case of sexual harassment.

“But that changed after Mubarak stepped down. We were back to face the reality of where we are as Egyptian women,” she said. “We’re not a priority even with fellow revolutionaries. They’re just thinking of the political change but no one is thinking of setting the rules for basic rights including women’s rights. I think because even the activists don’t really consider women’s rights part of the larger concept of human rights, which is a huge issue.”

Pictured: Egyptians celebrate the end of Hosni Mubarak’s rule. But now women are attacked in Tahrir Square. Photograph: Tara Todras-Whitehill/AP

Filed under egypt yemen africa asia middle east women's rights

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Women's lives destroyed by acid attacks in Pakistan

Campaigners in Pakistan say cases of acid attacks are increasing in most areas, even though tougher penalties were introduced last year.

It is estimated that more than 150 women have acid thrown on them every year and many never get justice.

Marvi Memon, the former MP who sponsored the bill, says most attackers do not face any punishment.

Orla Guerin’s report contains some disturbing images.

Filed under pakistan middle east asia women's rights

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Afghans march in Kabul to demand justice for women Young Women for Change say government is not serious about tackling suffering and fear return to Taliban era ignorance Young Afghans braved fears of violence to join a rare march on parliament to demand justice for the women who have been killed, beaten and abused this year – including one they said was beheaded by her own husband. No politicians came out to meet them, underlining the group’s claim that officials are not serious about tackling the suffering of women, despite a law that aims to end the abuse. “In the last weeks we have had a lot of cases of violence against women,” said 19 year-old student Kamila Ataee. “Just the women are dead, and the men who killed them are alive. We should raise our voices so everyone knows about it.” Around 30 young men and women joined the march, although organisers from Young Women for Change said they had expected a turnout of around 200. Several demonstrators said friends had been ordered to stay home or were afraid to come. “A lot of things happen against women in Afghanistan, but no one can bring change without women themselves,” said 16-year-old Zahira, who had slipped out to join the march without telling her parents in case they banned her for her own safety. Demonstrations in Afghanistan frequently turn violent, and women’s rights are still a controversial issue in a country where many men feel that women should be confined to domestic roles inside their homes, and subject to the authority of their husbands or male relatives. The country’s top clerics recently issued new guidelines saying women were subordinate to men, should not mix in work and education and must always have a male guardian when they travel – rules critics say are dangerously reminiscent of the Taliban era. The demonstration was prompted by the murder of five women since the Afghan new year in late March, but also highlighted around a dozen other cases of recent violence. They included a 15-year-old who was viciously tortured by her in-laws for refusing to work as a prostitute, and a teacher who was stabbed to death by her brother for working outside the home. Pictured: Afghan Young Women for Change hold placards saying ‘Where is justice?’. Photograph: Massoud Hossaini/AFP/Getty Images

Afghans march in Kabul to demand justice for women

Young Women for Change say government is not serious about tackling suffering and fear return to Taliban era ignorance

Young Afghans braved fears of violence to join a rare march on parliament to demand justice for the women who have been killed, beaten and abused this year – including one they said was beheaded by her own husband.

No politicians came out to meet them, underlining the group’s claim that officials are not serious about tackling the suffering of women, despite a law that aims to end the abuse.

“In the last weeks we have had a lot of cases of violence against women,” said 19 year-old student Kamila Ataee. “Just the women are dead, and the men who killed them are alive. We should raise our voices so everyone knows about it.”

Around 30 young men and women joined the march, although organisers from Young Women for Change said they had expected a turnout of around 200. Several demonstrators said friends had been ordered to stay home or were afraid to come.

“A lot of things happen against women in Afghanistan, but no one can bring change without women themselves,” said 16-year-old Zahira, who had slipped out to join the march without telling her parents in case they banned her for her own safety.

Demonstrations in Afghanistan frequently turn violent, and women’s rights are still a controversial issue in a country where many men feel that women should be confined to domestic roles inside their homes, and subject to the authority of their husbands or male relatives.

The country’s top clerics recently issued new guidelines saying women were subordinate to men, should not mix in work and education and must always have a male guardian when they travel – rules critics say are dangerously reminiscent of the Taliban era.

The demonstration was prompted by the murder of five women since the Afghan new year in late March, but also highlighted around a dozen other cases of recent violence. They included a 15-year-old who was viciously tortured by her in-laws for refusing to work as a prostitute, and a teacher who was stabbed to death by her brother for working outside the home.

Pictured: Afghan Young Women for Change hold placards saying ‘Where is justice?’. Photograph: Massoud Hossaini/AFP/Getty Images

Filed under Afghanistan middle east asia protests women's rights

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Afghan women are being jailed for ‘moral crimes’, says report Courts failing to protect women, many of whom are in prison for running away from home or adultery, says Human Rights Watch Nearly half of all women in Afghan prisons are being held for “moral crimes” such as running away from home or adultery, according to a report by Human Rights Watch. After more than a decade of international efforts to reform the legal system and women’s rights in Afghanistan, the report found that despite a number of improvements, women still face extremely limited protection in the court system. The report focused primarily on the imprisonment of women who fled their homes to escape abusive situations. In almost all such instances, those responsible for the abuse did not face any legal actions, while the victims faced prison sentences. Afghanistan is the only country in the world that interprets sharia law to prohibit women from running away from their home without permission. “In our view this misuse of the made up crime of running away is emblematic of the difficult position that women find themselves in Afghanistan today. There has obviously been progress in education for women and healthcare for women and employment and travel for women. That’s all been good, but the progress that has been made is precarious,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. “Particularly as the international community pulls back militarily from Afghanistan we believe that it’s important too that the Afghan government and the international community recommit themselves to the rights of all Afghans, including women,” he added. In one case described by the HRW report, a woman named Souriya Y was given away for marriage at the age of 12 to resolve a family dispute. Her husband was abusive, but her father encouraged her to be patient. Nine years into the marriage, her husband accused her of running away and having sex with one of his enemies. Souriya told HRW she saw the man she was accused of running away with for the first time in court and says her husband made up the story to get rid of her and shame his rival. She was convicted and sentenced to five and a half years in prison. The report follows numerous similar indicators that present a stark situation for women. A UN report published in winter found that despite the creation of a law designed to protect women, nearly two years after its inception it is rarely enforced. Meanwhile, a separate report by Oxfam found that 87% of Afghan women reported experiencing physical, psychological, or sexual abuse or forced marriages. With a legal system that often punishes women for reporting violent crimes against them such as rape or abuse, a number of women do not speak up for fear of facing judicial reprisal. Pictured: Women’s rights in Afghanistan have improved but the situation could deteriorate when international forces leave the country, according to a Human Rights Watch report. Photograph: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters

Afghan women are being jailed for ‘moral crimes’, says report

Courts failing to protect women, many of whom are in prison for running away from home or adultery, says Human Rights Watch

Nearly half of all women in Afghan prisons are being held for “moral crimes” such as running away from home or adultery, according to a report by Human Rights Watch.

After more than a decade of international efforts to reform the legal system and women’s rights in Afghanistan, the report found that despite a number of improvements, women still face extremely limited protection in the court system.

The report focused primarily on the imprisonment of women who fled their homes to escape abusive situations. In almost all such instances, those responsible for the abuse did not face any legal actions, while the victims faced prison sentences.

Afghanistan is the only country in the world that interprets sharia law to prohibit women from running away from their home without permission.

“In our view this misuse of the made up crime of running away is emblematic of the difficult position that women find themselves in Afghanistan today. There has obviously been progress in education for women and healthcare for women and employment and travel for women. That’s all been good, but the progress that has been made is precarious,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch.

“Particularly as the international community pulls back militarily from Afghanistan we believe that it’s important too that the Afghan government and the international community recommit themselves to the rights of all Afghans, including women,” he added.

In one case described by the HRW report, a woman named Souriya Y was given away for marriage at the age of 12 to resolve a family dispute. Her husband was abusive, but her father encouraged her to be patient. Nine years into the marriage, her husband accused her of running away and having sex with one of his enemies. Souriya told HRW she saw the man she was accused of running away with for the first time in court and says her husband made up the story to get rid of her and shame his rival. She was convicted and sentenced to five and a half years in prison.

The report follows numerous similar indicators that present a stark situation for women. A UN report published in winter found that despite the creation of a law designed to protect women, nearly two years after its inception it is rarely enforced. Meanwhile, a separate report by Oxfam found that 87% of Afghan women reported experiencing physical, psychological, or sexual abuse or forced marriages.

With a legal system that often punishes women for reporting violent crimes against them such as rape or abuse, a number of women do not speak up for fear of facing judicial reprisal.

Pictured: Women’s rights in Afghanistan have improved but the situation could deteriorate when international forces leave the country, according to a Human Rights Watch report. Photograph: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters

Filed under Afghanistan middle east asia women's rights human rights

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Moroccans call for end to rape-marriage laws Activists push to overturn laws allowing rapists to marry their victims, after a 16-year-old girl kills herself. Activists in Morocco have stepped up pressure to overturn laws that allow rapists to marry their victims, after a 16-year-old girl killed herself. Amina Al Filali, 16, drank rat poison last week in Larache, near the city of Tangiers after being severely beaten during a forced marriage to her rapist. The girl’s rapist had sought to escape prison by invoking an article of the penal code that he claimed would exonerate him if the rape victim was his wife. Activist Abadila Maaelaynine wrote on the social network site Twitter:  “Amina, 16, was triply violated, by her rapist, by tradition, and by Article 475 of the Moroccan law.” An online petition has been started and protests are planned for Saturday against a law branded by campaigners as an “embarrassment”. Family disowns Women’s rights groups have said the law is used to justify a traditional practice of allowing a rapist to marry his victim to preserve the honour of the woman’s family. Under Moroccan law, rape is punishable by five to 10 years in prison, rising to between 10 and 20 years if the victim is a minor. Filali’s father said that when he reported the rape of his daughter, he was advised of the option to marry by court officials. “The prosecutor advised my daughter to marry. He said: ‘Go and make the marriage contract’,” Lahcen Filali told the online news website goud.ma. Local media has reported that the girl complained to her family about her mistreatment at the hands of the man who raped her, but they disowned her perhaps prompting her to take her own life. Pictured: Moroccan women have campaigned for more women’s rights in proposed constitutional reforms [Reuters]

Moroccans call for end to rape-marriage laws

Activists push to overturn laws allowing rapists to marry their victims, after a 16-year-old girl kills herself.

Activists in Morocco have stepped up pressure to overturn laws that allow rapists to marry their victims, after a 16-year-old girl killed herself.

Amina Al Filali, 16, drank rat poison last week in Larache, near the city of Tangiers after being severely beaten during a forced marriage to her rapist.

The girl’s rapist had sought to escape prison by invoking an article of the penal code that he claimed would exonerate him if the rape victim was his wife.

Activist Abadila Maaelaynine wrote on the social network site Twitter:  “Amina, 16, was triply violated, by her rapist, by tradition, and by Article 475 of the Moroccan law.”

An online petition has been started and protests are planned for Saturday against a law branded by campaigners as an “embarrassment”.

Family disowns

Women’s rights groups have said the law is used to justify a traditional practice of allowing a rapist to marry his victim to preserve the honour of the woman’s family.

Under Moroccan law, rape is punishable by five to 10 years in prison, rising to between 10 and 20 years if the victim is a minor.

Filali’s father said that when he reported the rape of his daughter, he was advised of the option to marry by court officials.

“The prosecutor advised my daughter to marry. He said: ‘Go and make the marriage contract’,” Lahcen Filali told the online news website goud.ma.

Local media has reported that the girl complained to her family about her mistreatment at the hands of the man who raped her, but they disowned her perhaps prompting her to take her own life.

Pictured: Moroccan women have campaigned for more women’s rights in proposed constitutional reforms [Reuters]

Filed under morocco africa protests women's rights

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insaniyat: International Women’s Day: Women in Politics 2012 map (full screen) There are currently 17 countries with women as head of government, head of state or both, which according to Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women has more than doubled since 2005. [However] The report marks slow advances in the political landscape - the number of lower houses hosting more than 30% women rose slightly from 25 to 30 in 2011 - and although the results show progress IPU Secretary General, Anders B. Johnsson says: “Less than one-in-five parliamentarians in the world today are women. It is a worrying statistic at this point of human development and impossible to justify. The political will to change this is simply lacking in most cases.”

insaniyat:

International Women’s Day: Women in Politics 2012 map (full screen)

There are currently 17 countries with women as head of government, head of state or both, which according to Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women has more than doubled since 2005.

[However] The report marks slow advances in the political landscape - the number of lower houses hosting more than 30% women rose slightly from 25 to 30 in 2011 - and although the results show progress IPU Secretary General, Anders B. Johnsson says:

“Less than one-in-five parliamentarians in the world today are women. It is a worrying statistic at this point of human development and impossible to justify. The political will to change this is simply lacking in most cases.”

(via publicradiointernational)

Filed under map chart women's rights