Violence against women

UN: CSW panel discussion on VAW justified in name of culture

On March 3rd, a panel discussion on violence against women and girls justified in the name of culture was held by the Global Campaign to Stop Killing and Stoning women (SKSW Campaign) during the 54th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).The aim of the event was to present an overview of the diverse contexts the Campaign is active in, focusing on the frontline work of our partners in their local contexts, and to expand the Campaign’s outreach through the distribution of Campaign materials and networking.

Pakistan: Over 600 women killed in name of honour in 2009

The Urdu expression `chaddar aur chardawari’ is often quoted in Pakistan to suggest that women are safest under their shawl (`chaddar’) and within the four walls (`chardawari’) of their home. This may hold true for many women, but for some, such as 25-year-old Naseeba Bibi, it could not be further from the truth. Naseeba said she had suffered continual abuse from her husband since they got married six years ago in Kasur, about 55km southeast of Lahore, Punjab Province.

Iraq: Executing Du'a Khalil's killers is not justice, but a violation of human rights

Statement by Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq-Abroad Representative: According to official sources at Ninawa Criminal Court, the four people charged with the stoning of Du'a Khalil Aswad on 7 April 2007 have been sentenced to death. The decision was made on 27 March, just three weeks before the third anniversary of Du'as murder. It is reported that two of the convicted men are Du'a's brothers. Du'a was stoned to death in front of almost 2,000 men; with Iraqi police maintaining "law and order" while the stoning took place. The authorities knew about the atrocity, but did not prevent it.

Jordan: Interview with Rana Husseini, author of "Murder in the Name of Honor"

Thirteen women are murdered in "honour killings" by their own relatives every day, according to Rana Husseini, a human rights advocate and journalist who has devoted her career to fighting the barbaric and widespread practice. "I'm documenting the cases of women, their stories, the fact that they lived on this earth and that someone deprived them the right to live," Husseini told IPS. An honour killing occurs when a family feels that their female relative has tarnished their reputation, according to Husseini, author of the recently released book "Murder in the Name of Honor".

المغرب: الخلاصة و التوصيات للتقرير الثالث لشبكة أناروز حول العنف القائم على النوع الاجتماعي

تركز معطيات تصريحات مراكز الاستماع والمساعدة القانونية للنساء ضحايا العنف )أناروز (لسنة 2007 على 2984 حالة. ويظهر على العموم أنها تصريحات فردية وصرحت بها الضحية نفسها (95.4%) كما أن حضور الشهود يلاحظ في حالات قليلة. تقديم التقرير الثالت لشبكة أناروز, 6 مارس 2010 الرباط.

Maroc: Conclusion du troisième rapport Anaruz des Violences basées sur le genre

Les données des déclarations centres d’écoute et d’assistance juridique des femmes victimes de violence (ANARUZ) pour 2007 ont porté sur 2984 cas. Il en ressort que les déclarations sont globalement individuelles et le fait de la victime elle-même (95,4%) et paradoxalement. La présence de témoins est constatée dans peu de cas. Les victimes subissent les violences de la part d’agresseurs qui sont dans leur quasi-totalité des proches (alliance, liens du sang ou proximité géographique), ceux qui n’ont aucun lien avec la victime ne représentent que 1,6% et que près de 4 plaintes sur 5 se rapportent à des violences ayant lieu dans le cadre d’une relation conjugale.

Egypte: Taxis pour femmes afin d'éviter le harcèlement

Chiffon à la main, Ines Hassan bichonne son taxi. Elle attend ses premières clientes de la journée: des Egyptiennes lasses du harcèlement masculin et qui exigent que leur chauffeur soit une femme. Après les wagons réservés à la gent féminine dans le métro du Caire ou les cafés pour femmes, les premiers taxis pour femmes circulent désormais dans la capitale égyptienne, une évolution critiquée par les adversaires de la ségrégation entre les sexes. "C'est un début. Je pense que c'est une excellente idée qu'un espace soit réservé aux femmes dans tous les transports publics. Je suis la première à l'encourager", déclare Ines Hassan, qui porte le voile comme la majorité des Egyptiennes musulmanes.

UPDATE: Canada: Polygamist leader threatens to boycott reference case determining constitutionality of anti-polygamy law

If Winston Blackmore and his fundamentalist Mormon congregation in Bountiful don't get equal standing with the attorneys-general of B.C. and Canada as well as funding, they will boycott the reference case that will determine whether the anti-polygamy law is constitutional. Blackmore's application, heard Friday by Chief Justice Robert Bauman of the B.C. Supreme Court, was pointedly and colloquially summarized by three different lawyers. Update on: Canada: Polygamist leader suing B.C. government

UN: Rape must never be minimized as part of cultural traditions says envoy

Margot Wallström, the recently appointed Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, voiced concern about the “lingering assumption that sexual violence is a tradition, rather than a tactic of choice” by groups engaged in war.Sexual violence during conflicts is all too often downplayed and treated as part of local cultural traditions instead of being viewed as a war crime, a senior United Nations official has warned as she called for much greater international action to defeat the scourge.

“Prevailing op

Saudi Arabia: Canadian government indifferent to plight of woman held captive

A Canadian woman being held against her will in Saudi Arabia says the Canadian government is not taking her plight seriously. Nazia Quazi was taken to Saudi Arabia by her father in November 2007. Because of that country’s archaic gender laws, women of any age are subject to male “guardianship.” In the 24-year-old Quazi’s case, her father has taken her passport, and refuses to sign an exit visa allowing her to leave the country. Nazia Quazi speaks of her quest for freedom. Posted by Tim Bousquet on Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 7:42 AM