by Susie Burdett
Ok, so that sounds like some sort of thesis title and I really will try not to waffle too much with this, but let me explain a few things before I get going. I am currently writing (or should I say failing to write) a dissertation on the independence of Kosovo, and this introduced me to the idea of R2P.
R2P stands for Right to Protect, and is a set of principles (primarily in international relations and politics) that sees sovereignty not as a right but as a responsibility. I will explain the main principles shortly. I have been reminded about R2P by an article by the journal Foreign Policy about women in Afghanistan (discussing this report) and how the planned withdrawal of US involvement will end what little progress has been made here since the invasion. This article made me extremely angry. Read it. You'll see why. Though I fear that it may make me unable to write a clear blog!
I will now admit to some cheating. The following three bullet points have been lifted from Wikipedia(apologies, I know that this isn't always the most reliable source, but what it says does fall in line with what I have read about it...).
R2P can be thought of as having 3 main components:
1. A State has a responsibility to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing (mass atrocities).
2. If the State is unable to protect its population on its own, the international community has a responsibility to assist the state by building its capacity. This can mean building early-warning capabilities, mediating conflicts between political parties, strengthening the security sector, mobilizing standby forces, and many other actions.
3. If a State is manifestly failing to protect its citizens from mass atrocities and peaceful measures are not working, the international community has the responsibility to intervene at first diplomatically, then more coercively, and as a last resort, with military force.[1]
According to the The Wall Street Journal, the US, along with many other UN countries, has supported the doctrine known as the Right to Protect. If this is the case, their own actions tell another story.
Whilst I am no advocate for military intervention, and certainly not the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, I do believe that if our governments, in their so called wisdom, choose to invade another country in the name of international security and use the excuse that they are doing so to improve the lives of the affected population, and then go on to use images that promote this idea (such as George Bush's use of images of women and girls going to school to "prove" that they have made a positive impression on the said invaded countries), they should take the responsibility to promote the policies, the structures and the mechanisms by which these war torn countries can strengthen the progress made and develop it further!
And yet the article from Foreign Policy (as well as numerous other articles I'm not going to even bother listing) highlights how little progress has actually been made, how the US, UK and their allies have failed to ensure the safety and security of Afghanistan's women, and have thus failed the whole population. The US (and their allies, I am not going to lay all the blame on one countries shoulders) blindness to continuing gender discrimination, violence and the violations of human rights in Afghanistan (and other countries) just highlights how the rhetoric spoken, and the policies pursued so frequently don't match up.
Surely if the UN members pursue the implementation of the norm of R2P and make it law, the UN members should pursue strategies that actually reflect it? Surely the member countries are therefore obliged to pursue the issue of gender discrimination in order to successfully implement the norm?
Surely we have enough evidence to show that unless gender discrimination is addressed and remedied then no state will protect it's population, nor be able to protect the population of another? Gender discrimination is so much more than an issue that affects women - it affects everybody.
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Women's rights in Latin America
by Grace Barker
As I prepare to embark on my 2 month trip to South America, I thought now would be a good time to explore women's rights in the continent...
Women in all regions of the world suffer subordination to men, in economic, political and social life and in the home. Latin America is no different. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development data shows that violence against women is also a serious problem in Latin America, as it is in most of the rest of the world. Approximately one in three women in Latin America and the Caribbean has been a victim of sexual, physical, or psychological violence at the hands of intimate partners, according to survey data collected by the Pan American Health Organization in 2006.
Since the 1990s, a majority of the countries in Latin America have taken some action to outlaw violence against women. However, conservative courts often choose not to rule for women, especially in cases of domestic violence. Though international treaties on women's right are recognized in Latin America and laws are on the books, courts in Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Mexico and Peru don't always uphold them.
One court in Chile ruled that a female soccer referee couldn't continue working because her job was too dangerous. Another tribunal in Mexico made it logistically impossible for a raped woman to obtain an abortion because it is illegal in most of Latin America. In Peru a woman was refused a grant for divorce on the grounds of
abandonment, even though her husband had left her 10 years earlier. Pregnant woman in Chile are still occasionally expelled from school
and college because the relevant legislation
contains no effective sanctions for violating women's rights.
The good news is, according to the OECD, Latin American women suffer less total gender discrimination — in ownership rights, civil liberties, family codes and physical integrity — than other regions of the world. This is because times are changing and people are starting to realize slowly that real action needs to be taken. Women's rights groups like ONG Epikeia, meaning justice with equality, have strongly fought against government sponsored sterilization programs, which aimed to reduce the birth rate in poor communities where in some cases, sterilization was done without the woman's consent. What they are doing is so important and will eventually make a difference.
We can do our bit by wearing black on Thursdays to remind us and those around us that there is still much in the world that has to change. Please don't forget Thursdays in Black!
As I prepare to embark on my 2 month trip to South America, I thought now would be a good time to explore women's rights in the continent...
Women in all regions of the world suffer subordination to men, in economic, political and social life and in the home. Latin America is no different. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development data shows that violence against women is also a serious problem in Latin America, as it is in most of the rest of the world. Approximately one in three women in Latin America and the Caribbean has been a victim of sexual, physical, or psychological violence at the hands of intimate partners, according to survey data collected by the Pan American Health Organization in 2006.
Since the 1990s, a majority of the countries in Latin America have taken some action to outlaw violence against women. However, conservative courts often choose not to rule for women, especially in cases of domestic violence. Though international treaties on women's right are recognized in Latin America and laws are on the books, courts in Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Mexico and Peru don't always uphold them.
One court in Chile ruled that a female soccer referee couldn't continue working because her job was too dangerous. Another tribunal in Mexico made it logistically impossible for a raped woman to obtain an abortion because it is illegal in most of Latin America. In Peru a woman was refused a grant for divorce on the grounds of
abandonment, even though her husband had left her 10 years earlier. Pregnant woman in Chile are still occasionally expelled from school
and college because the relevant legislation
contains no effective sanctions for violating women's rights.
The good news is, according to the OECD, Latin American women suffer less total gender discrimination — in ownership rights, civil liberties, family codes and physical integrity — than other regions of the world. This is because times are changing and people are starting to realize slowly that real action needs to be taken. Women's rights groups like ONG Epikeia, meaning justice with equality, have strongly fought against government sponsored sterilization programs, which aimed to reduce the birth rate in poor communities where in some cases, sterilization was done without the woman's consent. What they are doing is so important and will eventually make a difference.
We can do our bit by wearing black on Thursdays to remind us and those around us that there is still much in the world that has to change. Please don't forget Thursdays in Black!
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Gender Summit in Johannesburg
by Jenny Sprong
This coming week (from Sunday to Wednesday) 21 -24 March 2010 a Gender Summit is being hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Diakonia Council of Churches' Thursdays in Black Campaign is featuring as a best practice model to raise awareness and prevent Violence Against Women.
This coming week (from Sunday to Wednesday) 21 -24 March 2010 a Gender Summit is being hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Diakonia Council of Churches' Thursdays in Black Campaign is featuring as a best practice model to raise awareness and prevent Violence Against Women.
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Lara Conley - In Black
This album from Devon singer songwriter Lara Conley has a haunting strength, its acoustic and folksy feel gives some heavy issues an intimate touch. Visit myspace to hear tracks from the album. "People are important. I think for people to realise that they are all equally important in the world, they need to be loved. If people are loved, they can learn to love others, and when that happens there is no room for inequality. It's not about swapping characters or roles, and it's not about fighting or getting angry to prove a point, it's just about being human and showing respect.
My music is inspired by the world around me, people, experiences, places, stories, thoughts and dreams. This collection of songs is focussed on issues of gender equality from my own perspective and are inspired by the belief that things can change. Happy listening!"
Lara x
This special album costs £6 (+1.60 p&p if ordered online), buy here or using the Buy Now button on the left hand toolbar!
Every Thursday people across the globe wear black as a personal and public protest against gender-based violence and inequality. It is a symbol of strength and remembrance, standing in solidarity with victims of violence and discrimination and demanding a fairer world for all. Proceeds from this album will go to Thursdays in Black, challenging gender inequality around the world. Thank you!
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Why should we care about gender equality?
by Charlotte Page
Because we’re not even close to getting it right.
I have been wearing black on Thursdays for over a year now to stand in solidarity with those who experience violence and discrimination on the basis of gender and the more I look into the issues the more angry I am that this is being allowed to happen. I am proud to wear black to stand alongside women who experience gender based violence, and I am happy to stand up for human rights and I am appalled at the awful abuses that happen to women every day because they are not treated with respect and as equals.
Thursdays in Black is not about devaluing raising awareness of discrimination and violence against men, it is not about female supremacy, it is about putting the issue of gender equality on the table and saying ‘are we really going to let this happen?’
I have a friend who is deeply suspicious of statistics, and so am I, but I hope he will forgive me for highlighting a few here because I think they deserve to be known:
Out of the 130 million out-of-school youth in the world, 70% are girls.
75% of all HIV/AIDS infections in sub-Saharan Africa among people aged 15-24 are young women
Around 80% of maternal deaths could be averted if women had access to essential maternity and basic healthcare services.
These are issues that represent much deeper issues. It has been proven that educating girls is one of the most important things that can be done to tackle gender inequality and consequently to tackle poverty. Girls who are educated can earn more, are more likely to educate their own children and are more able to protect themselves against HIV. Children of both sexes whose mothers die in childbirth are less likely to attend school and more likely to live in poverty.
Gender equality is something that is tied up in economic development, poverty and injustice. But it is not just something affecting less developed countries. We can’t sit back and pat ourselves on the back. While I don’t pretend to understand how the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Index is worked out (though they do explain it in the report) I do understand that they measure equality of opportunity between the sexes in all the countries in the world and represent it on a scale of 0 to 1. You don’t need to understand all the maths to know that if the country ranked first in the world is only achieving a number of 0.8276 we have nothing to be complacent about.
For me, wearing black on Thursdays is about recognising that these issues exist, that they are important and that I should not get complacent. It’s about the individual stories of women who are living through appalling injustices and it is about the bigger picture across the world. But mostly it is about recognising that if we can get this gender equality thing right then the world will be a better and fairer place for all, not just women.
Sources: All statistics are from The World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report which can be found at: http://www.weforum.org/en/Communities/Women%20Leaders%20and%20Gender%20Parity/GenderGapNetwork/index.htm
Because we’re not even close to getting it right.
I have been wearing black on Thursdays for over a year now to stand in solidarity with those who experience violence and discrimination on the basis of gender and the more I look into the issues the more angry I am that this is being allowed to happen. I am proud to wear black to stand alongside women who experience gender based violence, and I am happy to stand up for human rights and I am appalled at the awful abuses that happen to women every day because they are not treated with respect and as equals.
Thursdays in Black is not about devaluing raising awareness of discrimination and violence against men, it is not about female supremacy, it is about putting the issue of gender equality on the table and saying ‘are we really going to let this happen?’
I have a friend who is deeply suspicious of statistics, and so am I, but I hope he will forgive me for highlighting a few here because I think they deserve to be known:
Out of the 130 million out-of-school youth in the world, 70% are girls.
75% of all HIV/AIDS infections in sub-Saharan Africa among people aged 15-24 are young women
Around 80% of maternal deaths could be averted if women had access to essential maternity and basic healthcare services.
These are issues that represent much deeper issues. It has been proven that educating girls is one of the most important things that can be done to tackle gender inequality and consequently to tackle poverty. Girls who are educated can earn more, are more likely to educate their own children and are more able to protect themselves against HIV. Children of both sexes whose mothers die in childbirth are less likely to attend school and more likely to live in poverty.
Gender equality is something that is tied up in economic development, poverty and injustice. But it is not just something affecting less developed countries. We can’t sit back and pat ourselves on the back. While I don’t pretend to understand how the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Index is worked out (though they do explain it in the report) I do understand that they measure equality of opportunity between the sexes in all the countries in the world and represent it on a scale of 0 to 1. You don’t need to understand all the maths to know that if the country ranked first in the world is only achieving a number of 0.8276 we have nothing to be complacent about.
For me, wearing black on Thursdays is about recognising that these issues exist, that they are important and that I should not get complacent. It’s about the individual stories of women who are living through appalling injustices and it is about the bigger picture across the world. But mostly it is about recognising that if we can get this gender equality thing right then the world will be a better and fairer place for all, not just women.
Sources: All statistics are from The World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report which can be found at: http://www.weforum.org/en/Communities/Women%20Leaders%20and%20Gender%20Parity/GenderGapNetwork/index.htm
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
The Bare Facts - Violence
Statistics on violence against women: the global picture
Sexual and gender based violence against women paints a disturbing picture, up to one-third of adolescent girls report forced sexual initiation.
For example, a recent study suggests that in the United Kingdom:
- one in three teenage girls has suffered sexual abuse from a boyfriend,
- one in four has experienced violence in a relationship,
- one in six has been pressured into sexual intercourse,
- one in sixteen said they had been raped.
- Mass rape of women and girls continues to be seen as somehow a legitimate military weapon.
Reports suggest that, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a war that lasted a mere three years, somewhere between 10,000 and 60,000 women and girls were raped.
Sexual violence against men and boys continues undaunted, unreported, understudied, and too often a source of ridicule and derision.
According to a number of studies, somewhere between 5 and 10% of adult males report having been sexually abused in their childhood.
Women suffer violence in health care settings, “including sexual harassment, genital mutilation, forced gynecological procedures, threatened or forced abortions, and inspections of virginity.”
Sexual violence in schools abounds almost in every country in the world, in Canada, 23% of girls experience sexual harassment.
There was a 25% rise in rape and sexual assaults between 2005 and 2007, among all violent crimes, domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault showed the largest increase.
Adapted from www.cabsa.org.za
Author: Pieter Visser, accessed 25th November 2009
Sexual and gender based violence against women paints a disturbing picture, up to one-third of adolescent girls report forced sexual initiation.
For example, a recent study suggests that in the United Kingdom:
- one in three teenage girls has suffered sexual abuse from a boyfriend,
- one in four has experienced violence in a relationship,
- one in six has been pressured into sexual intercourse,
- one in sixteen said they had been raped.
- Mass rape of women and girls continues to be seen as somehow a legitimate military weapon.
Reports suggest that, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a war that lasted a mere three years, somewhere between 10,000 and 60,000 women and girls were raped.
Sexual violence against men and boys continues undaunted, unreported, understudied, and too often a source of ridicule and derision.
According to a number of studies, somewhere between 5 and 10% of adult males report having been sexually abused in their childhood.
Women suffer violence in health care settings, “including sexual harassment, genital mutilation, forced gynecological procedures, threatened or forced abortions, and inspections of virginity.”
Sexual violence in schools abounds almost in every country in the world, in Canada, 23% of girls experience sexual harassment.
There was a 25% rise in rape and sexual assaults between 2005 and 2007, among all violent crimes, domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault showed the largest increase.
Adapted from www.cabsa.org.za
Author: Pieter Visser, accessed 25th November 2009
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