16 days: nov. 25 in mexico

Pain and Protest on the Day of the Butterflies: Violence Persists Against Women in Mexico

A 1995 novel by writer Julia Alvarez retold the story of the three Mirabal sisters brutally assassinated by the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic in 1960. Decades later, the date of the murders, Nov. 25, was declared the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by the United Nations.

In Mexico, more than 200 women’s and human rights activists kicked off a cross-country caravan in Ciudad Juarez to protest femicide and ongoing violence in all its forms against women.

via lfn

FW: Press release: Gender justice is climate justice

Poznan, Poland, December 8^th 2008

Women from around the world working together in the GenderCC network reassert that real solutions to the climate crisis can only be achieved when there is gender justice. We demand that the UNFCCC process must commit to the integration of the gender dimension into all policies, mechanisms, programmes and institutional frameworks. As a first step, UNFCCC Parties must therefore adopt a resolution on gender justice which fulfills the binding obligations on gender and human rights that the UN have already endorsed. GenderCC calls for a one-day plenary session specifically dedicated to gender in order to discuss the gender dimension in the ongoing negotiations. Moreover, we call upon the UNFCCC to acknowledge the many solutions women already have and the actions they take on the ground to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
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some recent things of interest/citeva lucruri recente

  • Dates for the 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
    25 November to 10 December 2008

    25 Nov International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
    01 Dec World AIDS Day
    06 Dec Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre
    10 Dec International Human Rights Day

  • Norway to introduce “Swedish model”

    Dear Friends,
    I just received the news that the Norwegian Parliament passed the legislation that prohibits the purchase of a sexual service – 44 votes vot, 28 against. The Law will come into force on January 1, 2009!!!

    This is indeed a great victory for all of us. Congratulations to the all the women in Norway and internationally who worked to hard to get the law passed!!!!
    Warmest greetings to all of you!
    Gunilla
    ———— ——— —
    Gunilla S. Ekberg
    Co-Executive Director/Co- Directrice Exécutive

    Coalition Against Trafficking in Women International/ Coalition Internationale contre la Traite des Femmes (CATW)
    International Secretariat/ Sécretariat International
    Mailing address/Adresse: rue Washington 40, B-1050 Brussels, BELGIUM
    E-mail address/Adresse de courriel: gsekberg@catwintern ational.org
    Phone/Tel.: +32 2 346 2350
    Fax: +32 2 344 2003
    Website/ Site Web: http://www.catwinternational.org

  • RO: femeia europeana 2008, fwd nicoleta bitu, via crina

    Fostul ministru al justitiei, Monica Macovei, a fost aleasa miercuri “Femeia Europei” in 2008 de catre un juriu format din europarlamentari si jurnalisti, relateaza NewsIn. Premiul urmeaza sa-i fie decernat de catre presedintele Parlamentului European, Hans Gert Poettering.

    Monica Macovei fusese desemnata candidata Romaniei pentru acest premiu la 16 iunie de catre un juriu format din 25 de reprezentanti ai societatii civile si jurnalisti romani. Contracandidatele ei din Romania au fost Anamaria Marinca, actrita care a detinut rolul principal in filmul “4 luni, 3 saptamani si 2 zile” castigator in 2007 al trofeului Palme d’Or al Festivalului de la Cannes, Margareta Matache, activista pentru drepturile minoritatilor, Iulia Motoc, expert in drept international, si Marta Petreu, profesor de filosofie la Universitatea Babes-Bolyai din Cluj.

    Pentru a desemna reprezentanta Romaniei, juriul a avut in vedere anumite criterii cum ar fi activitatea dedicata promovarii valorilor europene si a rolului Europei in lume, angajament si initiative personale pentru sustinerea procesului de integrare europeana sau initiative originale si eficiente ale candidatei.

    Apreciata de europarlamentari pentru reformele in domeniul justitiei si luptei anticoruptie, Monica Macovei a fost ministru al justitiei in perioada 2004-2007, in prezent fiind consultant special al premierului Republicii Macedonia pe probleme de combatere a coruptiei. De asemenea, este expert al Comisiei Europene in domeniul pregatirii personalului de specialitate din tarile candidate ale UE in domeniul combaterii coruptiei si reformei sistemului juridic.

    Printre reformele care i-au adus aprecierea in UE, dar si critici acerbe din partea parlamentarilor romani, s-au numarat introducerea obligativitatii declaratiilor de avere pentru demnitari, infiintarea Directiei Nationale Anticoruptie, care pentru prima oara a inceput anchete de coruptie la nivel inalt.

  • Ads target men who use trafficked women

    MEN who buy sex from women trafficked into Ireland for prostitution are being targeted for the first time in an advertising campaign that warns they could go to jail.

  • Woman Fed To Dogs: Taslim Solangi and an End to Civility

    I am grown up enough now to believe that not every Pakistani household has its own feudal lord – though a significant amount of them are at the mercy of some lameass patriarchal messiah of sorts -and I am also firmly aware of the bitter truth that a very stringent sort of sexism prevalent in a large part of that country (as in mine) means a daily, almost ritualistic, persecution and defilement of women – emotionally, mentally, physically – as well as a thorough disregard for women’s rights.

    Despite my usual preparedness for the abnormally grim, stories like Solangi’s still manage to scare me insane and fuel unbridled rage within me. Wrath is what I can feel right now, rising from the absolute pit of my stomach. Unadulterated and unmitigated anger. And I want to use this anger in a way that pulverizes the very core of our enforced patriarchal inheritance. I want my anger to be as brutal and as devoid of mercy as these murdering charlatans are.

    I need revenge. We need revenge.

    I could have chosen to satirize in my usual blasé manner because I find in humor – especially dark humor – a rock-hard and unshakable crutch. But this is not the time to seek crutches, it’s the time to demolish.

    I beseech those academically fortified women amongst us, who love to deliberate about ethnocentric feminism’s strides in the warm comfort of their Ikea-decorated living rooms, to stand up and address this. Now. Without politeness and political correctness corrupting their ire. Because when young girls are left for dogs to feed on, very little room is left for civility.

  • Obama Expected to Overturn Global Gag Rule

    —–
    The new president is also expected to lift a so-called global gag rule barring international family planning groups that receive U.S. aid from counseling women about the availability of abortion, even in countries where the procedure is legal, said Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. When Bill Clinton took office in 1993, he rescinded the Reagan-era regulation, known as the Mexico City policy, but Bush reimposed it.

    “We have been communicating with his transition staff” almost daily, Richards said. “We expect to see a real change.”
    —–

    The Global Gag Rule literally kills thousands and thousands of women every year by putting already over-stretched clinics in an impossible position. They must generally choose between either having no money to provide life-saving care, or providing care while breaking doctor-patient trust and actively doing harm by deceit. What the hell do you choose?

    Different organizations have different answers, but the fact is that it shouldn’t be a question. Doctors should be able to answer their patients’ inquiries honestly. Abortion should be treated as the routine and sometimes life-saving medical procedure that it is. And women deserve quality reproductive health care, whatever their needs. No woman should die because “pro-life” organizations on another continent have a superiority complex and think their tax dollars should only go to providing care for women they deem worthy enough.

    Repealing the Global Gag Rule is only a start, but it’s a huge first step towards a real culture of life — one that respects and cares for the lives of women. And it’s absolutely at the very top of my list of things President Obama can do quickly and decisvely to make the world a better place within his first hours in the Oval Office. If he intends to live up to his campaign promises to protect women’s health and show the world that we’re more than a bunch of self-absorbed ideological assholes, he absolutely must do it. And I eagerly look forward to the moment when he does, because it will not come a moment too soon.

violenta domestica

un studiu foarte interesant din 2004:

“Violenta domestica si criminalitatea feminina”: REZUMAT + STUDIU

al carui titlu e insa inexact/limitat. raportul cuprinde si sectiuni axate pe “criminalitatea feminina” si barbati ca “‘victime ascunse’ ale violentei domestice”, dar in mod neasteptat abordarea nu e facuta dintr-un punct de vedere anti-feminist, ci consta dintr-o analiza destul de profunda si contine multe date interesante si utile, relevante pentru abordarea violentei domestice per ansamblu, pentru o mai buna intelegere a cauzelor, dinamicilor de gen si utilitatii diverselor solutii, cit si pentru o critica a practicilor de condamnare (sociala si legala) a femeilor vinovate de crime violente si privind situatia femeilor incarcerate.

din rezumat (si el foarte limitat fata de diversitatea de fatete ale problemelor oferita de studiu, desi aceasta complexitate nu se extinde si la un punct mentionat de autori doar in treacat: “femeile …din orice categorie sociala si de orice rasa sunt victimizate, chiar daca diferite grupuri de femei se pot confrunta cu forme particulare ale violentei”; sa nu uitam ca tocmai pentru ca diferite grupuri de femei se confrunta cu diferite violente, atunci cind discutam “violenta ce afecteaza femeile din orice categorie” putem vorbi “despre solutii care agraveaza problema – si solutii reale”!):

… Cu toate eforturile de a asigura un climat de egalitate între sexe în sfera publică, o privire mai atentă asupra familiei, relaţiilor intrafamiliale şi a relaţiilor în cuplu, a evidenţiat contraste şi realităţi disfuncţionale. Presiunile către modernizarea şi democratizarea relaţiilor intrafamiliale au dus, în mod paradoxal, la supraîncărcarea femeii şi la criminalizarea ei în raport cu statutul parental.

În România, violenţa domestică, ca preocupare a specialiştilor din diferite domenii, a politicienilor, mass mediei şi publicului larg, s-a impus în perioada 1995-1996, iar acest lucru s-a petrecut în bună parte datorită presiunilor externe, nevoii de aliniere la spiritul şi standardele europene şi internaţionale şi, mai ales, în dimensiunea ei de protecţie şi ajutor acordat victimei, fie ea copil sau femeie. Toate acestea s-au făcut în contextul în care politicile de promovare a femeii au obligat la considerarea raporturilor ei cu bărbatul, la reconsiderarea familiei, rolului ei social şi la statutul ei legal.

Pe fondul transformărilor de ordin social, politic, economic, cultural şi al mentalităţilor, tranziţia a generat în ţara noastră probleme sociale noi, legate mai ales de anomie şi disfuncţionalităţi la nivelul comportamentelor individuale. După 1990, ne-am confruntat cu o recrudescenţă la nivelul tuturor categoriilor de infracţiuni şi persoane. În acest context, infracţiunile cu violenţă contra persoanei au înregistrat global creşteri semnificative. În cazul crimelor violente, numărul femeilor condamnate definitiv este cu mult mai mic decât al bărbaţilor, care îşi folosesc mai frecvent forţa fizică ca argument esenţial în rezolvarea unor situaţii conflictuale. Nu se poate nega însă că şi numărul femeilor autoare de crime cu violenţă împotriva persoanei a crescut semnificativ. Semnele de îngrijorare privind violenţa se referă în principal la prevalenţa spaţiului privat ca generator de violenţă. Conform unui studiu elaborat în 2003, în ianuarie 2002 în unităţile penitenciare din România se găseau 2122 de femei, iar dintre acestea 431 erau condamnate pentru infracţiuni contra persoanei, peste 75% dintre ele comiţând infracţiune de omor asupra partenerului de viaţă.

Timp de trei decenii, bărbaţii au rămas „victimele ascunse” ale violenţei domestice. Pe măsură ce corpul de date şi investigaţii privind criminalitatea feminină a crescut, s-a simţit nevoia considerării acestui subiect şi găsirii unor explicaţii şi interpretări care să distingă şi să apropie în acelaşi timp criminalitatea feminină de cea masculină. Comportamentul violent al femeilor a fost mai puţin studiat comparativ cu cel al bărbaţilor, în parte din cauză că femeile comit mai puţine crime cu violenţă, dar şi pentru că agresiunea feminină extremă are loc mai ales în ariile private sau domestice. Actele homicidale s-au dovedit a rezulta, în cea mai mare parte, din conflictele interpersonale şi au fost îndreptate de regulă împotriva partenerilor intimi, fiind considerate represalii ca răspuns la victimizarea iniţiată de partenerul bărbat. În România, VD nu apare în statistici rafinate – deşi se distinge între criminalitatea masculină şi cea feminină -, care să includă categorii nuanţate de victimizare, probabil şi pentru faptul că statisticile dau predominant atenţie agresorilor şi mai ales criminalităţii masculine.

În acest context, ni s-a părut necesară şi utilă o cercetare asupra criminalităţii feminine cu referire specială la omorul comis asupra
partenerilor de viaţă, mai ales în situaţia în care un astfel de studiu nu a existat în România, iar o astfel de investigare ar deschide în timp o perspectivă exhaustivă asupra femeii criminal şi a relaţiilor conflictuale de cuplu.

În consecinţă, am considerat că structurarea studiului nostru trebuie să pornească de la general la particular, respectiv de la analizarea violenţei domestice în general la criminalitatea feminină şi profilul socio-psihologic al femeii autoare de omor asupra partenerului de viaţă (soţ/concubin).

Prezentul raport cuprinde un capitol dedicat violenţei domestice – Aurora Liiceanu – (abordări conceptuale, cercetări în domeniu, statistici, specific românesc), un altul consacrat abordării socio-psihologice a femeii criminal şi a violenţei domestice ca factor diferenţiator al criminalităţii feminine- Doina-Ştefana Săucan- , ultimul capitol fiind focalizat pe interviu şi studiu de caz, ca tehnici de cunoaştere în profunzime a femeilor investigate – Mihai Micle.

Definirea profilului socio-psihologic al femeii încarcerate pentru omor săvărşit în context familial duce, în viziunea noastră, la schiţarea unor căi mai eficiente de intervenţie şi recuperare (psihologică şi socială) în cadrul penitenciarelor/în afara lor şi la regândirea politicii de executare a pedepselor.

mai pe larg, doar citeva extrase din studiu: Continue reading

Canada: Indigenous Women and Violence (in English and French)

FAQNW [en/fr]

  • “Indigenous Women and Violence”. A report presented to Yakin Ertürk, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences
    Published in January 2008; View document
  • “Les femmes autochtones et la violence au Canada”, mémoire présenté à la Rapporteure spéciale des Nations unies contre la violence à l’égard des femmes, ses causes et ses conséquences.
    Publié en janvier 2008; Consultez le document

Studies have shown that indigenous women have a greater risk than any other group in Canada of being victims of domestic violence. According to the available evidence, they are also significantly more likely than non Indigenous women to report the most severe and potentially life- threatening forms of violence, including being beaten or choked, having had a gun or knife used against them, or being sexually assaulted. This study examines some of the possible reasons behind these figures, as well as providing some historical background on indigenous populations within Quebec. It notes that contributing factors include: systemic discrimination against Indigenous peoples, creating insecurities and tensions; economic and social deprivation; high levels of alcohol and substance abuse; poor, overcrowded living conditions; and the breakdown of traditional systems that granted indigenous women positions of equality and authority within their communities as a result of colonisation. Despite the problems faced by indigenous women, they often have restricted access to services such as women’s refuges because they cannot travel the long distances to reach them, or leave behind their jobs and families to do so. They are also often afraid their children will be taken from them by provincial or white authorities or by Indigenous child welfare workers. The report concludes that there is a need for better funded shelters and other services that indigenous women can access easily.

Violence Against Indigenous Women resources @ International Indigenous Women’s Forum [en/es]

h/t crina

16 Days Broadcast Campaign to Denounce Gender Violence in the Media

Montreal, 1 November 2008. From November 25 to December 10th, the Women’s International Network of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC-WIN) will highlight the 16 days of activism against gender violence with an Internet campaign to Denounce Gender violence in the media and transform media into a catalyst to end violence against women. The campaign will be broadcast at www.amarc.org/16jours [fr/en]

This years’ international theme of the campaign is « Media and Violence Against Women ». The campaign seeks to denounce gender violence in the media and will cover 3 dimensions: (a) Media as an instrument in combating violence against women. (b) Violence against women as projected in the media which “normalizes” violence; (c) violence committed against women media practitioners. The 16 days campaign starts on November 25th with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women; it continues on November 29th with the International Women’s Human Rights Defenders Day; followed by December 1: World AIDS Day; December 6: Commemoration day of the Montreal (Canada) Massacre in 1989 and ends with the December 10th: International Human rights Day. The campaign will be broadcast at www.amarc.org/16jours

Community radio producers from Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America and the Caribbean will dedicate these 16 days to highlight the effort of women and men working to put an end to gender violence. The programs featured will include documentaries, interviews, debates, poetry, music and much more. This multilingual broadcast campaign mobilizes community radios around a global issue and encourages them to use new communication technologies such as the Internet to extend the reach of their voices. Radio stations around the globe are invited to download the audio files from the AMARC-WIN 16 days website and broadcast them in their radio stations.
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