Monday, 12 July 2010
The Website is Changing!
Welcome to the home of Thursdays in Black, we're currently moving all of our content from thursdaysinblack.ning.com over to this lovely page... check back soon!
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Letters to Juliet
by Charlotte Page
This is not a love story.
I took the title for this blog post from the latest summer romance film ‘Letters to Juliet’. It’s a feel-good movie about a lost true love and a letter written to Shakespeare’s character Juliet. However, seeing trailers and posters for the film everywhere just reminds me of a Juliet I met recently. She was far away from the naive and lovestruck teenager of Shakespeare’s creation and even further from the glossy Hollywood film that’s gracing our cinema screens.
There is a culture among many of the men that buying sex is normal, something they are entitled to do and their wives have no say over. They will also pay up to ten times the normal price for unprotected sex, caring little about the possibility of spreading HIV/AIDS or leaving the girls pregnant. I saw the situation in Zambia for myself when we were taken out to a bar one weekday evening by a local woman who runs a project with commercial sex workers. At first glance everything seemed like a normal night out in the UK – loud music, men milling around a bar, women in groups chatting and drinking, drunk men dancing with girls. However, all of the women in the bar who were not part of our group were ‘working’ the bar and the men with them were negotiating prices then disappearing outside. This scene was being repeated in bars all over town and it was a real eye opener into the scale of the demand for bought sex. Meeting Juliet and the other girls was a complete shock to me, not because I didn’t know this happens, but because it put a real person’s face and story to the theoretical knowledge.
The project I visited is working with the women, bringing them together and helping them to gain skills to provide an alternative income. It seems a small start compared to the scale of the problem, but working with these women and girls to help them shape their own futures seems like the right place to start. I started by pointing out that this is not a love story and it isn’t if what you are expecting is letters, romance and a cheesy soundtrack. The whole reason I wear black on Thursdays is to remind me of stories like Juliet’s and that we are standing beside women who are victims of gender discrimination and violence and standing up for true equality.
I think that is a love story in itself and though at the moment there is no happy ending, at least we’re still telling the story so far and demanding a change in the plot.
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
R2P and Gender
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.
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.
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
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