Dear Working Group Members,
You have sent many suggestions for resources to the Working Group. We have
compiled them here for the period 27 May-2 June. 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
27 MAY - 2 JUNE 2002
Contents
A. ARTICLES/NEWS
1. International Day of Action for Women's Health (28 May 2002)
B. UPCOMING EVENTS
2. Student Writing Competition on the Law and Gender-Based Discrimination in
the CEE Region
3. Call for applications: NEWW Legal Fellowships
C. CAMPAIGNS
4. Stoning of Women in Iran
D. URGENT ALERT
5. Help save Amina Lawal's life with a simple e-mail
E. MISCELLANEOUS
6. Resources on Violence Against Women in Pakistan
************************************************************
A. ARTICLES/NEWS
1. International Day of Action for Women's Health (28 May 2002)
On May 28, International Day of Action for Women's Health, Ipas urges
global action to prevent deaths of women from unsafe abortion
May 23, 2002 - In observance of the International Day of Action for Women's
Health, Ipas calls on political leaders, policymakers, health care
providers and others to take action against one of the most serious, most
neglected and most preventable global threats to women's wellbeing: lack of
access to safe abortion-related care.
Since 1987, women's health advocates worldwide have observed May 28 as
International Day of Action for Women's Health, to raise awareness of
unacceptably high rates of deaths and illnesses of women related to
pregnancy, especially in poor countries. This year's campaign theme -
Women's Right to Health: A Civil Right - is particularly relevant to
abortion, which is legally permitted in at least some circumstances in
almost every country. Yet women often face great difficulties obtaining
even treatment for abortion complications and induced abortion for legal
indications such as rape, incest and threat to the woman's life.
Governments' failure to ensure that women can obtain these and other legal
services in a timely manner constitutes a tragic failure to meet their
civic obligations to half their citizens. Moreover, many governments are
party to international agreements committing them to reduce deaths and
injuries from unsafe abortion, including by training and equipping health
care providers to provide safe, timely abortion care. For example, in 1999
governments of more than 180 countries agreed that "in circumstances where
abortion is not against the law, health systems should train and equip
health-service providers and should take other measures to ensure that such
abortion is safe and accessible." International Day of Action for Women's
Health offers an excellent opportunity to renew that commitment.
Every year nearly 70,000 women die from complications of abortion, usually
following abortions performed by unqualified practitioners, in unhygienic
conditions, or both. Millions more suffer serious complications, including
life-threatening infection and hemorrhage, often leading to permanent
infertility.
These deaths and injuries need not occur, as simple, low-cost interventions
exist to treat abortion complications. The main obstacle hindering women's
access to safe abortion care is lack of political will to address this
enormous public-health problem. Ipas salutes health care leaders and
providers worldwide who have put women's, families' and communities' needs
ahead of political constraints and are working to end deaths and injuries
from unsafe abortion. Ipas challenges others to take concrete steps to
improve women's access to contraceptive methods and services to prevent
unintended pregnancy, to safe treatment for abortion complications and to
induced abortion, in circumstances in which it is not against the law.
Ipas is an international nongovernmental organization that has worked for
nearly three decades to reduce abortion-related deaths and injuries and to
increase women's ability to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights.
Ipas's global and country programs include training, research, advocacy,
distribution of reproductive health technologies, and information
dissemination.
For more information, contact:
Merrill Wolf
Deputy Director, Public Information and Media
(919) 960-5612; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<http://www.ipas.org>www.ipas.org
-------------
B. UPCOMING EVENTS
2. Student Writing Competition on the Law and Gender-Based Discrimination in
the CEE Region
The Central and East European Law Initiative (CEELI) invites essays on the
theme "The role of the Rule of Law in Addressing Gender-Based
Discrimination in the Emerging Democracies of Central and Eastern Europe
and the Former Soviet Union". Strong emphasis is placed on the author's own
ideas about the selected topic. Winners will be announced on 15 September
2002. Deadline for submissions is 1 July 2002.
For more information: http://www.abanet.org/ceeli/alumni.html
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----------
3. Call for applications: NEWW 2003 Legal Fellowship Program
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
NETWORK OF EAST-WEST WOMEN
2003 LEGAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
SPECIAL SESSION: REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS/SEXUAL HEALTH IN
LATVIA, LITHUANIA, and SLOVAKIA
The Network of East-West Women (NEWW) is pleased to announce a call for
applications for a special session of the 2003 Legal Fellowship Program.
The special session of the Program offers young women lawyers from
LATVIA, LITHUANIA and SLOVAKIA an opportunity to strengthen their
research, advocacy and litigation skills in the area of REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS and SEXUAL HEALTH, develop networks with other women's rights
attorneys, and design projects to advance women's rights and policy
related to reproductive rights and sexual health in their home
countries. Three Fellows will be selected for this session.
2003 marks the sixth year of the Legal Fellowship Program, and the
special session is funded by the Public Health Program of the Open
Society Institute. Selected Fellows will join an alumnae network of 20
Legal Fellows working to advance women's rights throughout Central,
Eastern and Southeastern Europe, the Newly Independent States and the
Russia Federation (CEE/NIS).
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: October 1, 2002
PROGRAM DATES: U.S. Placement February 1,
2003-June 1, 2003
In-Country
Follow-On Projects June 1, 2003-May 31, 2004
DURATION: 16 Months
ELIGIBILITY:
Applications will be accepted from women lawyers from Latvia, Lithuania
and Slovakia who have completed their law studies within the past five
years; applications showing graduation prior to 1998 will not be
considered. Candidates must: 1) have experience and a demonstrated
commitment to women's human rights advocacy; 2) be affiliated with an
established women's NGO that will support the candidate's follow-on
project if selected for the Program; and 3) be fluent in written and
spoken English. Candidates with specific experience in reproductive
rights and sexual health are particularly encouraged to apply.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The goal of the NEWW Legal Fellowship Program is to build the capacity
of women lawyers at the beginning of their careers, and women's
organizations throughout CEE/NIS to advocate more effectively for
women's human rights. Supported by grants from the Open Society
Institute, the Ford Foundation, the Alfred Jurzykowski Foundation and
NEWW's Board of Directors, the Legal Fellowship Program bridges the gap
between theory and practice by providing an intensive training
experience in law, public policy and feminist activism.
During the U.S. placement period, Fellows participate in a 2-week
orientation in Washington D.C., complete a four-month internship at a
U.S.-based human rights organization and participate in a law school
course on International Women's Human Rights. Every effort is made to
match each Fellow with an organization that is conducting work related
to the Fellow's specific interest area. In June 2003, Fellows return to
their home countries to complete a one-year follow-on project. Each
Fellow designs and raises funds for her project while in the U.S. with
support from NEWW and her host organization.
STIPEND:
Fellowships includes travel to and from the placement site in the United
States, short-term medical insurance, and a monthly stipend to cover
room and board expenses during the U.S. portion of the program. Housing
is arranged in an international student house or similar student
accommodation. In some cases Fellows are placed with families in their
host city. Upon successful completion of the U.S. portion of the
Program, NEWW provides each Fellow with a $3,000 seed grant to begin
implementation of her follow-on project.
Please note that NEWW guarantees financial support for the Fellows only
during their time in the U.S. NEWW makes every effort to assist the
Fellows and their host NGOs in CEE/NIS to raise the funds needed to
implement the follow-on project, but NEWW cannot guarantee support
during the follow-on period beyond the $3,000 seed grant provided as
part of the Fellowship.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
Applicants should submit the following materials in English:
� Cover letter and curriculum vitae;
� Personal statement that: 1) summarizes the applicant's interest and
involvement in the field of women's rights, and in particular
reproductive rights and sexual health if applicable, and details her
work with local women's organizations; 2) describes her reasons for
applying to the Legal Fellowship Program and her expectations about this
experience; and 3) outlines her goals and future career plans.
� Two letters of recommendation in English, or accompanied by English
translations, including all current contact information for the letter's
author. All written recommendations will be verified by local NEWW
contacts or via telephone by NEWW staff;
� Signed declaration that, if selected for the Program, the applicant
will return to her home country to complete a 12-month follow-on project
immediately following the U.S. placement period.
� 3-5 page country briefing paper about the status of women in her
country, including recommendations for advocacy and legal reform. The
paper may focus on one or more issues of current relevance in the
applicant's country, and should demonstrate the applicant's ability to
write and formulate arguments in English.
Completed application packets should be sent by email to NEWW at
[EMAIL PROTECTED] If email is not possible, please send the complete
application packet by regular mail to the address below. Following
review by the International Selection Committee, a maximum of 10
finalists will be selected for personal interviews to take place in
Poland in November 2002. Selected finalists will be notified of their
interview on or around October 15, 2002. Notification of Fellowship
awards will be made by December 31, 2002.
CONTACT PERSON:
Erin M. Barclay, Esq.
Executive Director
Network of East-West Women
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
1761 S Street NW, Suite LL-12
Washington, DC 20009
Tel (202) 299-9001
Fax (202) 299-9003
Website: www.neww.org
The Network of East-West Women (NEWW) is an international membership and
advocacy organization linking women in more than 30 countries in Central
and Southeastern Europe, the New Independent States and the Russian
Federation. Through the Legal Fellowship Program and other projects,
NEWW supports independent women's movements that foster women's
participation in all aspects of public decision-making. NEWW's primary
objective is to increase the capacity of women and women's NGOs to shape
policies that affect women's lives.
----------
C. CAMPAIGNS
4. Stoning of Women in Iran
- Appeal for international protest against stoning of women in Iran
Mullahs' regime condemns fifteenth woman to stoning since 1997
A young woman by the name of Shahnaz was sentenced to stoning in
Karaj (west of Tehran) yesterday, bringing the number of stoning
sentences since 1997, when Khatami became president, to 22. Fifteen
of the victims have been women.
The religious court in Karaj issued the death sentence by stoning for
this young woman at a time when two other women - Ferdows B and Sima
- are languishing in prison in Tehran, waiting to be stoned to death.
Ms. Sarvnaz Chitsaz, Chair of the Women's Committee of the National
Council of Resistance of Iran, vehemently condemned the inhuman
practice of stoning to death and said: "The fact that many of the
victims of executions, stoning, arrests and public floggings, which
are on the rise all over the country, are women and girls clearly
shows the misogynous and inhuman nature of the clerical regime and
its mortal fear of the explosive potential of women in Iran."
Ms. Chitsaz called on international fora and women's rights
organizations all over the world to condemn the wave of murder and
executions in Iran, particularly the inhuman practice of stoning.
Women's Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
June 2, 2002
--------------
D. URGENT ALERT
5. Help save Amina Lawal's life with a simple e-mail
(From Amnesty International)
Dear friend
Thank you for supporting our campaign against the death by stoning sentence
passed on Amina Lawal in Nigeria. So far, 5,800 have signed from many
different countries and the number keeps growing.
The appeal hearing has now been adjourned until Monday 3 June and we
continue our campaign urging people to sign our letter to the Nigerian
president at http://www.mertonai.org/amina
At this critical stage, there are two more easy ways of helping Amina's plight:
1. You can e-mail the Senior Special Assistant to the Nigerian President at
[EMAIL PROTECTED] asking him to protect Amina's dignity, life, and rights.
2. Send a postcard to your local Nigerian embassy with a message for Amina.
Below are some addresses. A complete list of Nigerian diplomatic missions
can be found on our web site at http://www.mertonai.org/amina/embassies.asp
BELGIUM Embassy of Nigeria, Avenue de Tervuren 288 1150 Brussels
CANADA Nigerian High Commission, 295 Metcalf street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
FRANCE Embassy of Nigeria 173 Avenue Victor-Hugo, 75116 Paris
SWITZERLAND Embassy of Nigeria, 45, Zieglerstrasse, 3007 Berne
UNITED KINGDOM Nigerian High Commission, 9 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N
UNITED STATES Consulate General of Nigeria, 828 Second Avenue, New York
K2P 1R9
Many Thanks. Your support is greatly appreciated.
John Sotiropoulos
Amnesty International (UK) - London Merton Group
************************
(Sample letter)
June 1, 2002
To the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dear Sir:
As the eyes of a growing number of human rights advocates are tuned to
Nigeria, I beseech you to intervene with your President and convince him to
do all he can to spare the life of Ms. Amina Lawal, who is being threatened
with stoning. As you know, this matter is to be decided next Monday, June
3, so time is of the essence.
The President of Nigeria did the right thing and earned tremendous support
from human rights organizations and concerned citizens all over the world
this spring with his intervention in support of another woman, Sufyia
Husseini, who was facing similar threats.
I am hoping that your government will see fit to adopt a systematic policy
of supporting women's rights against abuses of a type of "justice" that can
only harm Nigeria's reputation and future role in world politics.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Dufresne
(organization, address, e-mail address)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *please pass on * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
----------
E. MISCELLANEOUS
6. Resources on Violence Against Women in Pakistan
For those looking specifically for violence issues in Pakistan, and
especially the discussion arising from the recent Zafran Bibi
death-by-stoning case (rape victim presumed guilty because of
pregnancy), please go to --
INRFVVP E-mail Address(es):
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
and
http://inrfvvp.org/documents/cases.htm
and b) discussion:
http://inrfvvp.org/discussion.htm
-- Najma Sadeque, Karachi, Pakistan
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