Dear Working Group Members,
You have sent many suggestions for resources to the Working Group. We have
compiled them here for the period 18-31 March. We hope these resources will
be useful in your efforts to end violence against women.
Thanks again for all your messages!
Warm regards,
the Moderators
******************
RESOURCES SUBMITTED TO
THE END-VIOLENCE WORKING GROUP
18 - 31 MARCH 2002
Contents
A. ARTICLES/NEWS
1. International Criminal Court Treaty to get 60th ratification on 11 April
2002
B. UPCOMING EVENTS
2. Confence on ICTs and Women (Vienna, 3 June 2002)
C. PUBLICATIONS
3. Creative Force - Arts-based Exercises for Work with Young People around
Issues of Violence
D. CAMPAIGNS
4. Petition Against Islamic Fundamentalism Against Women In Iran
5. Petition for New York residents to stop domestic violence
6. First Ever International Day of No Prostitution
************************************************************
A. ARTICLES/NEWS
1. International Criminal Court Treaty to get 60th ratification on 11
April 2002
New York, April 2002 - On Thursday, 11 April 2002, the four remaining
ratifications necessary to bring into force the treaty creating the
world's first permanent international criminal court will be finalized
at a special ratification ceremony conducted by the UN Treaty Office.
The countries that have thus far confirmed their ratifications on that
date include Cambodia, Ireland, Jordan and Romania. At least seven
others have indicated that they intend to take part in the ratification
event. Sixty ratifications are required to bring the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court into force, which will have been
accomplished less than four years after the treaty was adopted.
Women's groups and civil society will be present at the UN at this
historic moment for the work of the Ninth Session of the Preparatory
Commission for the ICC which will take place from 8-19 April 2002.
Women's groups will continue to be involved in the establishment phase
of the Court to ensure that the mainstreaming of gender begun in the
Rome Statute will be carried into the actual functioning of the court.
As the International Criminal Court comes into existence, it is widely
anticipated that the U.S. will 'unsign' the Rome treaty - something that
has never been done before. The U.S. hostility towards the Court stems
from the fact that the ICC will not be dependent on the UN Security
Council for cases that can come before it and from the fact that the
U.S. was not successful in achieving exemptions for U.S. nationals.
For more information contact, Pam Spees, tel. +1 (718) 626-2681 / fax
+1(718)626-3528 / email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Women's Caucus for Gender Justice
-------------
B. UPCOMING EVENTS
2. Conference on ICTs and Women (Vienna, 3 June 2002)
Dear colleagues,
This is to inform you that the Vienna NGO Committee on the Status of
Women will hold a one-day conference on Monday June 3, 2002 at the
Vienna International Centre. We hope to welcome again NGO participants
from Central and Eastern Europe.
The purpose of this conference is to focus on and discuss the two main
topics of the 2003 session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women,
namely "Media, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and
Women". We will structure the topics in two segments (see attached
provisional agenda). The information presented by expert speakers will
also assist participants to prepare their statements for the CSW meeting
in February/March 2003.
We hope that you personally or a representative of your organisation
will be able to be present at this meeting. The conference will be held
in English only. Our Committee is unfortunately unable to bear any
costs for accommodation, travel, etc. In exceptional cases we can try to
find a modest financial support.
Please let us know by fax to Elisabeth Frei, Fax no (361) 377 0010 or
by e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you are interested in
participating. Further information will be mailed/posted to you only if
we receive your reply by Monday, April 8, 2002.
With best wishes,
Margaret Mattare m.p. Maria Jonas m.p.
Vice-Chairperson Chairperson
----------
C. PUBLICATIONS
3. VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN: Creative Force - Arts-based Exercises for
Work with Young People around Issues of Violence
Save the Children's latest publication aimed at those working with youth
entitled Creative Force looks at key issues relating to young people and
violence; for example verbal violence, bullying, peer pressure, sexist and
racist violence, physical or non-physical violence and domestic violence.
Using an arts-based approach, it explores questions like, Why do people use
violence?, In what ways are people violent?, Is violence always wrong?, Can
you solve violence with violence? etc.
Creative Force includes 26 detailed sessions plans, using drama, creative
writing, poetry and photography as tools to explore issues of violence and
conflict. Case studies and lists of useful resources, publications and
contacts are also included.
To order, contact:
Save the Children UK,
c/o Plymbridge Distributors, Estover Road, Plymouth, PL6, UK
Tel: 00 44 1752 202 301; Fax: 00 44 1752 202 333; Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Source: Child Rights Information Network
----------
D. CAMPAIGNS
4. PETITION AGAINST ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM AGAINST WOMEN IN IRAN
Women's Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dear Friends,
Those who wish to help us in collecting signatures for our petition,
or wish to copy and distribute the declaration, can use the attached
document.
If you do not have access to E-mail, you can fax your signed
petitions to: 00 331 34480134 (France).
Thank you for your letters and messages of support.
-------
With Iranian Women, Against Islamic Fundamentalism
The Islamic fundamentalists who rule Iran have suppressed women in
the most cruel manner over the past two decades. Inhuman punishments
such as stoning, execution, and flogging of women in public under
bogus pretexts were stepped up in 2001.
Iran's ruling mullahs have executed tens of thousands of women on
political grounds and imprisoned and viciously tortured many more for
the past 22 years. A fatwa, or religious edict, issued by Khomeini
formally declared "female members and supporters" of the Mojahedin,
the main opposition group to the mullahs, open game: they could be
killed, tortured or raped and their properties could be confiscated.
This fatwa continues to be enforced by Khomeini's successors and
Mojahedin girls have been systematically raped by the Revolutionary
Guards before being executed.
In December, the General Assembly of the United Nations condemned the
violations of human rights and the increase in executions in Iran.
The UN Human Rights Commission's Special Representative in his report
to the General Assembly pointed out that the Islamic Republic is "a
prison for women" and reiterated that "there is no change in the
foundational, legalized discrimination faced by women almost across
the board."
Contrary to all the political claims and propaganda by the clerical
regime and some Western circles, the situation of women has
deteriorated in every sense under Mohammad Khatami.
On May 11, 1997, in meeting with a group of women affiliated with the
government, Khatami pulled aside the veil and said: "One of the
West's biggest mistakes was the emancipation of women, which
destroyed the family... Staying at home does not mean being pushed to
the sidelines... We must not think that social activity means working
outside the home. Housekeeping is among the most important of tasks."
On September 10, 2001, Khatami told a similar meeting: "If we deploy
women by force or by following the day's fashion, in some arenas, it
is as if we have stripped them of their choice and imposed
restrictions on them..."
Based on the mullahs' rule, women are deprived of the right to
presidency, judgeship and education in many fields. Official
statistics reveal that women commit suicide four times more than men
in Iran. The average age of prostitution has dropped from 27 to 20
and the number of run-away girls has increased 30 per cent during
Khatami's tenure. The clerical regime's laws set the minimum legal
age for girls' marriage at 8 lunar years and 9 months.
In the beginning of the 21st century, the clerical regime's officials
are trying to forcibly return women to the Middle Ages in fear of
their widespread participation in social uprisings, and
anti-government strikes and protests. Women played a prominent role
in five major uprisings in summer 2001. Chanting, "Down with Khatami,
down with Khamenei," they voiced their hatred of the mullahs'
misogynous regime and conveyed it to the world.
Women's leading role in resistance against the medieval regime ruling
Iran, is a solid obstacle curbing the spread of the misogyny of
Iran's ruling mullahs to other Islamic and Middle Eastern countries.
Under the leadership of Maryam Rajavi, a Muslim, anti-fundamentalist
woman, the Iranian Resistance has drawn a decisive demarcation
between Islam -- as a religion of peace, friendship and fraternity --
and fundamentalism and misogyny.
We the signatories to this declaration, condemn the suppressive and
misogynous policies of the mullahs ruling Iran, and declare our
support for the Iranian women's struggle for freedom and equality,
led by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the Iranian Resistance's President-elect.
We urge the upcoming session of the UN Human Rights Commission to
condemn unequivocally and firmly the violation of human rights,
particularly women's rights, in Iran.
Name (please print) : Signature:
Organisation:
Country:
E-mail:
*******
le texte fran�ais de l'appel
AVEC LES FEMMES IRANIENNES
CONTRE LE FONDAMENTALISME ISLAMIQUE
Pendant plus de deux d�cennies, les fondamentalistes au pouvoir en
Iran, ont r�prim� les femmes de la mani�re la plus cruelle. Des
ch�timents inhumains tels que la lapidation, l'ex�cution et la
flagellation des femmes en public sous de faux pr�textes ont connu
une hausse importante en 2001.
Les mollahs au pouvoir en Iran ont, pendant les 22 derni�res ann�es,
ex�cut� des dizaines de milliers de femmes pour des motifs
politiques, emprisonnant et sauvagement torturant un plus grand
nombre. Une fatwa (d�cret religieux), �mis par Khomeini, d�clare
formellement que les femmes membres ou sympathisants des
Modjah�dines, principal groupe d'opposition au pouvoir des mollahs,
peuvent �tre soumises, l�galement et sans entrave, � toutes les
atrocit�s : ex�cution, torture, viol et confiscation de biens. Les
successeurs de Khomeini ont continu� � appliquer cette fatwa, les
femmes Modjah�dines �tant syst�matiquement viol�es par les gardiens
de la R�volution avant d'�tre ex�cut�es.
L'Assembl�e g�n�rale de l'ONU a condamn�, en d�cembre dernier, les
violations des droits de l'Homme et l'augmentation du nombre des
ex�cutions en Iran. Dans son rapport � l'Assembl�e g�n�rale, le
Rapporteur sp�cial de la Commission des droits de l'Homme de l'ONU
a qualifi� l'Iran d'une grande prison pour les femmes et a r�affirm�
qu'aucun changement n'est perceptible dans la discrimination
fondamentale et l�gale contre les femmes � travers le pays."
Contrairement au tapage publicitaire et � la politique organis�e par
le r�gime des mollahs et certains milieux occidentaux, la situation
des femmes s'est d�grad�e � tous les niveaux sous la pr�sidence de
Mohammad Khatami.
Le 11 mai 1997, s'adressant � un groupe de femmes proches des
autorit�s gouvernementales, Khatami a lev� le masque en affirmant:
"L'�mancipation des femmes a �t� une erreur des plus grandes de
l'Occident, car elle a d�truit la famille... Rester dans son foyer ne
veut pas dire �tre pouss�e aux marges de la soci�t�... Il ne faut
pas croire que l'activit� sociale, cela veut dire de trouver un
travail en dehors du foyer familial. Faire le m�nage est l'une des
t�ches les plus importantes."
Le 10 septembre 2001, il a affirm� devant un rassemblement du m�me
type : "Si nous tentons de faire entrer les femmes dans certains
domaines par la force des choses ou suivant l'air du temps, cela
�quivaut � les priver de leur choix et � leur imposer une
contrainte..."
Selon la loi des mollahs, les femmes sont d�pourvues du droit
d'acc�der � la pr�sidence de la R�publique, � la magistrature et �
faire des �tudes dans plusieurs disciplines scientifiques. Les
chiffres officiels montrent que le taux du suicide des femmes est
quatre fois plus �lev� que celui des hommes en Iran. L'�ge moyen de
la prostitution montre une chute de 27 � 20 ans, et le nombre des
filles faisant la fugue a augment� de 30 pour cent sous le
gouvernement Khatami. La l�gislation des mollahs fixe l'�ge l�gale
du mariage pour les filles � 8 ans et 9 mois selon le calendrier
solaire (9 ans selon le calendrier lunaire).
Alarm�s par la participation massive des femmes iraniennes dans les
mouvements sociaux, ainsi que dans des gr�ves et des actions de
protestation anti-gouvernementales, les dirigeants du r�gime des
mollahs tentent, en ce d�but du 21�me si�cle, de renvoyer les femmes
au moyen �ge. Les femmes ont jou� un r�le important dans au moins
cinq grands soul�vements populaires en �t� 2001. Elles ont affich�
leur d�go�t du r�gime misogyne des mollahs en criant,
"A bas Khatami, a bas Khamenei", communiquant ce message au monde entier.
Le r�le pr��minent des femmes dans la r�sistance contre le r�gime
m�di�val de T�h�ran est un obstacle solide � l'extension de la
contagion de la misogynie des mollahs aux autres pays musulmans et du
Moyen-Orient . Inspir�e par sa dirigeante, Maryam Radjavi, une
musulmane anti-fondamentaliste, la R�sistance iranienne a dessin� une
ligne de d�marcation claire et d�cisive entre l'Islam - une religion
de paix, d'amiti� et de fraternit� - d'un c�t�, et le fondamentalisme
et la misogynie de l'autre.
Nous, signataires de la pr�sente d�claration , condamnons la
politique de r�pression et la misogynie des mollahs au pouvoir en
Iran, et d�clarons notre soutien � la lutte des femmes iraniennes
pour la libert� et l'�galit�, dirig�e par Mme. Maryam Radjavi, la
Pr�sidente-�lue de la R�sistance iranienne. Aussi, nous appelons
ardemment la prochaine session de la Commission des droits de l'Homme
de l'ONU � condamner fermement et sans �quivoque la violation des
droits de l'Homme, et en particulier ceux des femmes en Iran.
____________________________________________________________
Nom (en majuscule) : Signature :
Organisation :
Adresse :
Pays :
T�l: E-mail :
----------
5. Petition for New York residents to stop domestic violence
Hello Stop Family Violence Activists!
Congress is taking a holiday recess this week, and they did not come
to any final conclusions about the Violence Against Women Office
before leaving. We will pick up that campaign when they return.
Meanwhile, I need your support on another issue. This issue is
taking place in New York State, though the proposed legislation is
quite innovative, and if successful, other states may follow.
PLEASE - if you live in New York State, visit
www.stopfamilyviolence.org and send a pre-written message to your
legislators, and pass the following alert on to others. If you do
not live in NY, please forward the following message to anyone you
know who does live there. It is critical that we rally support for
this legislation soon. Here's the alert - please copy and send!
**************************************************************
This is an urgent message from http://www.StopFamilyViolence.org .
Please circulate to NY State residents as quickly and broadly as possible!
In the past 3 years, Rose Marie, a victim of family violence in New
York State, has been to 4 different courts and made over 20 separate
appearances in order to legally get away from her abusive husband.
She's had to go to criminal court for the assault charges, family
court for visitation and custody, before a hearing examiner to
determine child support, and then back to criminal court again,
before yet another judge, when her husband violated the order of
protection. Each time she confronts her abuser in court, she risks
his rage and she is frightened that he will commit further abuse.
Now, her abuser has filed for divorce in Supreme Court, which as the
authority to make a new ruling on the custody arrangements
previously decided in Family Court. Maria doesn't have more money
to hire a lawyer, and she doesn't know how to represent herself. If
she forfeits, her abuser will gain custody, and she will be forced
to pay him child support.
Every day, victims of family violence face a gauntlet of delays,
duplication, confusion and injustice in the archaic New York State
court system. Like Rose Marie, many victims need to go through
several courts, before several judges in order to resolve their
situation. The process is not only expensive and time-consuming -
it places lives at risk.
If you are a resident of NY State, YOU CAN HELP! by visiting
www.stopfamilyviolence.org
NY State Chief Judge, Judith Kaye, has proposed a constitutional
amendment to make the New York court system safer for victims of
family violence and more efficient for all of us. Under her
proposal, victims of family violence will appear in one court,
before one judge who has received special training on family
violence issues. The proposed changes will benefit the taxpayer and
the State as well, saving an estimated $130 million in the first 5
years.
We must urge our legislators to pass this vital legislation now!
Time is of the essence!! Our legislators must vote to approve court
reform before they go on summer break, since afterward, their focus
will be on campaigning for re-election.
ACT NOW! Send a free, pre-written message to your legislators today
at http://www.stopfamilyviolence.org
Tell them you want a court system that is safe and efficient.
Let them know that the safety of our families must be a legislative priority!
For more information about court reform, and to learn how you can
make a difference, please visit http://www.stopfamilyviolence.org
Thanks for your support!
Together, we can... http://www.stopfamilyviolence.org
Irene Weiser
PLEASE DO NOT CIRCULATE AFTER JUNE 1.
BY THEN IT WILL BE TOO LATE.
***************************************************************
Thanks for your support on this issue. This is the first State
level campaign Stop Family Violence has worked on, and we'd love to
do more! If your state organization is interested in working with
Stop Family Violence please contact me at
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Together, we can... http://www.stopfamilyviolence.org
Irene Weiser
(From: Loretta Kemsley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>)
----------
6. First Ever International Day of No Prostitution
Announcing
The First Ever International Day of No Prostitution
We are calling for an International Day of No Prostitution to take place
on October 5th, 2002 and every October 5th thereafter.
This is one day out of the year when no one shall buy or sell any human
beings or other animals for sexual gratification. We specifically call
on men to stop buying children and women, particularly girls.
This day is part of a much larger struggle for an end to oppression and
violence based on gender, race and ethnicity, class, religion,
disability, age, size, sexual orientation, species, and nationality. All
oppression must be fought in order to bring about the complete cessation
of prostitution. Prostitution must be stopped because while it
continues, there is no possibility for a world that is not based on
abuses of power.
A day of no prostitution includes no pornography, phone sex, mail order
bride services, trafficking, stripping, sex tours, bestiality, and
prostitution occurring in massage parlors, on the street, in hotels or
anywhere else.
This is a call to those who control the prostitution industry, or the
men who buy and sell women and children, particularly girls, and
animals. This is not a call to those used in prostitution. For those who
argue that by calling for a day of no prostitution we are depriving
children and women of money they need to survive, we call on them to
give prostituted children and women money without making them suck dick.
If men were really concerned about their impact on women and young
people they would
A) not buy or sell others for sex
B) give children and women the money they would have given to them or
their pimps without making children and women submit sexually
C) organize to stop prostitution
D) create ways for children, women, and animals to escape systems of
prostitution.
We want to make particularly clear that we do not share the beliefs of
lawmakers, law enforcement, and those who think prostitutes are to blame
for the existence of prostitution. The purpose of this day is not to put
the burden on those used in prostitution to make prostitution stop, or
to take risks on this or any day which may result in economic
deprivation, violence, or death. Prostitution will stop when the men who
traffic in human and animal lives stop making money and getting off on
sexual exploitation.
A Call To Action
We are calling on men to stop using prostituted girls, boys, women and
animals by coming to the realization that buying any living being for
sex is not their "right."
We are calling on all anti-rape, youth, anti-racist and
anti-globalization organizations, animal rights, and all social justice
advocates, activists and organizations to include prostitution and
pornography in their work against violence and murder of children, women
and animals.
We are calling on Take Back The Night rallies to take up prostitution
and pornography as violence against children, women, and animals.
We are calling on others to fight for economic, social, and legal
resources for those in and escaping prostitution, and to organize
creative, confrontational protests, girlcotts, speakers, and panels
against prostitution year round, but especially on October 5th.
A toolkit, further political analysis, and other pages will be posted
soon. Please contact Escape at [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you wish
to participate in organizing for the International Day of No
Prostitution. If you simply want more information please check back for
new pages.
This page, and the call for an International Day of No Prostitution, is
the result of a collaboration between Escape and feminists in the San
Francisco Bay area.
This page is available at www.escapeprostitution.com
***End-violence is sponsored by UNIFEM and receives generous support from
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