#Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

[internationalwomenday]

2032nd Meeting, 87th Session, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Consideration of Niger (cont') - 2032nd Meeting, 87th Session, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

[widowsday]

1972nd Meeting, 85th Session, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

CEDAW 85th Session (08 - 26 May 2023)

Provisional agenda.

Opening of the session.

Adoption of the agenda and organization of work.

Report of the Chair on activities undertaken between the eighty-fourth and eighty-fifth sessions of the Committee.

Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Follow-up to the consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention.

Implementation of articles 21 and 22 of the Convention.

Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee.

Activities of the Committee under the Optional Protocol to the Convention.

Provisional agenda for the eighty-sixth session of the Committee.

Adoption of the report of the Committee on its eighty-fifth session.

[eretzyisrael]

By Michal Herzog

It is not that condemnations of gender-based violence by Hamas have been weak or insufficient – there have been none at all. Statement after statement by organizations like UN Women, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) have failed to condemn these crimes. They failed us, and all women, at this critical moment.

As a woman and a mother, my heart goes out to women and children in Gaza suffering the consequences of the war started by Hamas. I believe they deserve aid and support. But this does not mean the erasure of the atrocities committed by Palestinian terrorists on October 7. The silence of international human rights organizations, and the unwillingness to believe Israeli women in the face of overwhelming evidence has been devastating.

For the Israelis who have always been on the forefront of the fight for women's rights worldwide, this was a moment of crushing disappointment. A disappointment shared with me by one of our most prominent women's rights advocates, Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, a former CEDAW vice-chair.

"I knew it would be difficult to get them to issue a reasonable statement," she said of the UN committee in a Harvard Medical School video conference., "but never did I imagine that when faced with such undeniable atrocities – given the very purpose for which they have been established,– - that they would actually resort to not acknowledging it at all."

Ignoring the "unprecedented, premeditated and extreme cruelty of the sexual violence committed by Hamas," Prof. Halperin-Kaddari added, meant not only failing Israeli women but failing the entire international human rights system. "I still am a believer in this system. But this was a huge blow to this belief."

[thoughtlessarse]

Women in Poland face severe human rights violations due to the country’s restrictive abortion law, found the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in an inquiry report published yesterday. The committee noted that the situation of women in Poland was further aggravated after a constitutional court ruling rendered abortion in cases of significant foetal deformities illegal. “The situation in Poland constitutes gender-based violence against women and may rise to the level of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,” said CEDAW deputy chair Genoveva Tisheva, as quoted in a statement from the committee. The committee’s report follows a three-year inquiry into allegations made by NGOs focused on women’s rights that “Poland has committed grave and systematic violations of rights” by restricting access to abortion.

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[poshadvo]

Vishaka & Others v. State of Rajasthan: The Case that Paved the Way for Addressing Sexual Harassment at Workplaces

In a monumental step towards safeguarding the rights and dignity of women in the workplace, the Supreme Court of India delivered a groundbreaking judgment in the case of Vishaka & Others v. State of Rajasthan in 1997. This landmark decision not only brought the issue of sexual harassment at the workplace into the spotlight but also laid down a comprehensive set of guidelines, known as the Vishaka Guidelines, that would serve as the foundation for future legislation addressing this critical issue.

The Genesis: Seeking Justice for Bhanwari Devi The case originated from the brutal gang-rape of Bhanwari Devi, a social worker employed in Rajasthan's Bhateri village. Devi's courageous efforts to prevent a child marriage within the community led to her being brutally assaulted and raped by influential members of the village. This horrific incident sparked a nationwide outcry and prompted several women's rights organizations, led by Vishaka and others, to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court.

Filling the Legislative Vacuum At the time, India lacked a comprehensive legal framework to address sexual harassment at the workplace. The Supreme Court recognized this legislative vacuum and took the unprecedented step of formulating guidelines to fill the gap. These guidelines, known as the Vishaka Guidelines, were derived from the principles of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), to which India is a signatory.

The Vishaka Guidelines: A Comprehensive Framework The Vishaka Guidelines provided a comprehensive definition of sexual harassment, encompassing both physical and non-physical forms of harassment, including sexually colored remarks, gestures, and unwanted sexual overtures. The guidelines also outlined specific measures for employers to prevent and address incidents of sexual harassment in the workplace. Key Provisions of the Vishaka Guidelines: Duty of the Employer: Employers were mandated to take appropriate measures to prevent sexual harassment and provide a safe and secure work environment for women. Establishment of Complaints Committees: Employers were required to establish Complaints Committees to address complaints of sexual harassment and ensure a fair and impartial inquiry process. Disciplinary Action: The guidelines specified that appropriate disciplinary action should be taken against any employee found guilty of sexual harassment, including termination of employment.

Awareness and Sensitization: Employers were directed to organize workshops and awareness programs to sensitize employees about the issue of sexual harassment and the guidelines. Third-Party Harassment: The guidelines extended protection to women employees from sexual harassment by third parties, such as clients or customers, within the workplace premises.

The Lasting Impact of the Vishaka Guidelines The Vishaka Guidelines were not merely a set of recommendations; they carried the force of law and were binding on all employers in India. These guidelines paved the way for a shift in societal attitudes towards sexual harassment and empowered women to voice their concerns and seek redress.

The Legacy: The Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, 2013 While the Vishaka Guidelines were a significant step forward, the need for a comprehensive legislation addressing sexual harassment at the workplace became increasingly apparent. In 2013, the Indian Parliament enacted the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, which drew heavily from the principles and provisions outlined in the Vishaka Guidelines.

The POSH Act formalized and expanded upon the guidelines, providing a statutory framework for addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. It mandated the constitution of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in every organization, established clear procedures for filing and investigating complaints, and prescribed penalties for non-compliance. The legacy of the Vishaka case cannot be overstated. It not only brought about a paradigm shift in the legal landscape but also sparked a nationwide conversation about the importance of creating safe and inclusive workplaces for women. The Vishaka Guidelines remain a testament to the Supreme Court's commitment to upholding the fundamental rights and dignity of women, paving the way for a more equitable and just society.

[kailasastrinidad]

The Press Secretary Office of The Holy See of Hinduism Responds to Ms. Risako Tani, Program Director, Fuji Television (https://www.facebook.com/fujitelevision.eng)

view on fb: https://www.facebook.com/ParamahamsaNithyananda/posts/778360676990099

The Press Secretary Office of The Holy See of Hinduism Responds to Ms. Risako Tani, Program Director, Fuji Television (https://www.facebook.com/fujitelevision.eng)

Q: Could you please tell us why you were able to attend the meetings of the United Nations this time?

A: On February 22, 2023 at the 84th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and on February 24, 2023 at a discussion regarding the General Comment on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Sustainable Development at the United Nations in Geneva, a delegation of women from the United States of KAILASA presented a comprehensive report shedding light on the centuries of ethnocide of Hindu Women, Cultural Genocide of Female Monastic Orders, and disempowerment of women via false representation of Hinduism.

We took this opportunity to be the voice for Hindu persecution and we touched briefly on the persecution of SPH and Kailasa by anti hindu forces.

Q: You have presented at the meeting that all food, education, and medical cares are provided to the people of your country for free. How does the system work?

A: The United States of KAILASA has the right to free education, free food, free shelter, free clothing, free medical care as its constitutional right, in alignment with the injunctions of the ancient sacred Hindu scriptures. In ancient Hindu economic treatise by Paramashiva (primordial Hindu divinity), Paramashiva recommends that no fee should be charged for things that do not perish by sharing.

KAILASA aims to create a new world free from hunger in compliance with the time tested Ved-Āgamaic principle revealed by Paramashiva in the Taittiriya Upanishad, BhrriguvallI, Chapter 9, Navamo Anuvaka Verse 1 & Chapter 7 Saptamo Anuvaka

अन्नं बहु कुर्वीत। तद् व्रतम्‌ annaṁ bahu kurvīta | tadvratam ।9.1

अन्नम् न निन्द्य्āत् । तद्व्रतम् annaṁ na nindyāt | tadvratam ।7.11

“Let us create and share food. Let all hungry stomachs be fulfilled with food. Let us not waste food. No place you can drop food where there is no hunger (either outside or inside). That is being authentic with food.”

Education and health services are also provided for free in KAILASA in compliance with Vedagamas.

Q: Could you explain the philosophy of your country?

A: Kailasa is the revival of the ancient enlightened Hindu civilizational nation, operating through a group of NGOs in multiple countries across the world. It was established much in the spirit of a country like the Sovereign Order of Malta, a borderless service oriented nation.

Its vision is “Living Enlightenment for all” leading to global peace irrespective of any external differences including gender, race, nationality, color, caste, creed, etc. It is established on the principle of “Oneness” (“Advaita” in Sanskrit).

For more information visit www.kailaasa.org

[ricmlm]

In 1975, the United Nations (UN) officially recognized this day, during the International Year of Women. Two years later, in 1977, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. However, freedom was given to all countries to choose, at national level, which day they preferred to celebrate, according to their traditions and history. It was still in the 1970s, in December 1979, that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was born, generally known as CEDAW. This document, which is commonly known as the Women's Charter of Human Rights, goes beyond the 'elimination of discrimination' — it is quite explicit in its aim to achieve gender equality between men and women. The need also arose to create a Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, an independent group of 23 experts on women's rights from around the world, who monitor the implementation of the Convention. 20 years later, in 1995, more than 17,000 delegates and 30,000 activists gathered in Beijing, China, for the 4th World Conference on Women, which resulted in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Even today, this agreement, which defined the 12 most important areas of action for this struggle and which was signed by 189 countries, is considered one of the central and most progressive documents for the empowerment of women and girls around the world. https://www.instagram.com/p/CpioiRgj61l/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[awutar]

UN asks Honduras to decriminalize abortion

UN asks Honduras to decriminalize abortion

The United Nations Organization asked Honduras on Monday to stop criminalizing abortion and ensure the distribution of emergency contraceptives among its population. The UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) issued its conclusions after reviewing the situation of women’s rights in eight countries around the world, including Honduras, and expressed concern about…

[coochiequeens]

Criminalisation of same-sex sexual activity in Sri Lanka breached rights of a LGBTI activist, UN women’s rights committee says

GENEVA – Sri Lanka violated the rights of a lesbian and leading LGBTI activist who was subjected to discrimination, threats and abuses due to the country’s Penal Code that criminalises same-sex sexual activity, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has found.

In its decision published yesterday, CEDAW found that Sri Lanka has breached the rights of Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, the founder and Executive Director of Equal Ground, an organisation defending the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community in Sri Lanka.

Flamer-Caldera has been supporting lesbian and bisexual women in defending their rights after discovering in 1997 that the country’s Penal Code, which criminalises same-sex sexual activity, had been amended to include also sexual conduct between women. Since then, Flamer-Caldera has suffered high-profile attacks on her character, and she and her organisation have been subjected to discrimination, harassment, stigmatization and threats of violence by State officials and members of the public, including the press and social media.

In 2012 and 2013, the Women and Children’s Bureau of the Sri Lanka Police used Flamer-Caldera’s photo and her position with Equal Ground in presentations to assert that the rise of child abuse was mainly due to the “growing homosexual culture”. They claimed that she and her organisation were responsible for “spreading” homosexuality, implying that they were also responsible for “spreading” paedophilia.

Despite facing harassment and stigmatization, Flamer-Caldera did not complain to the police as she was worried she would be arrested. As a result of the amended Penal Code, she has been under constant risk of arrest, detention and investigation of her private life and has had to modify her behaviour.

Flamer-Caldera brought her case to the Committee and claimed that the criminalisation of female same-sex sexual activity and the concomitant potential for arrest and prosecution amount to discrimination on the grounds of gender and sexual orientation, violating her right to non-discrimination.

“Ms. Flamer-Caldera has been frequently threatened and harassed by the police, the media and the public, but she has been unable to report these abuses out of fear of being arrested,” said Committee member Hiroko Akizuki.

“The criminalisation of same-sex sexual activity has meant that the discrimination, violence and harassment on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community in Sri Lanka will continue with impunity,” she added.

CEDAW found that the Sri Lankan authorities have subjected Flamer-Caldera to gender-based discrimination and violence.

It found that the Sri Lankan authorities had not taken any legal or other measures to respect and protect Flamer-Caldera’s right to a life free from gender-based violence or to eliminate the prejudices to which she has been exposed as a woman, lesbian and activist.

It also found that the authorities have breached her right to access to justice to complain of the abuses and her right to non-discrimination concerning her family relations.

The Committee urged Sri Lanka to decriminalise same-sex sexual conduct. It also requested that the State take immediate and effective action to stop the threats, harassment and abuse, which Flamer-Caldera has been subjected to, and to take criminal procedures to hold those responsible to account. – ohchr.org

[internationalwomenday]

2030th Meeting, 87th Session, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Informal meeting with non-governmental organizations and human rights institutions

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The CEDAW Committee consists of 23 experts on women's rights from around the world.

The CEDAW treaty is a tool that helps women around the world to bring about change in their daily life. In countries that have ratified the treaty, CEDAW has proved invaluable in opposing the effects of discrimination, which include violence, poverty, and lack of legal protections, along with the denial of inheritance, property rights, and access to credit.

Related Sites and Documents

CEDAW 87th Session (29 Jan - 16 Feb 2024)

Watch the 2030th Meeting, 87th Session, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

[widowsday]

1971st Meeting, 85th Session, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The CEDAW Committee consists of 23 experts on women's rights from around the world.

The CEDAW treaty is a tool that helps women around the world to bring about change in their daily life. In countries that have ratified the treaty, CEDAW has proved invaluable in opposing the effects of discrimination, which include violence, poverty, and lack of legal protections, along with the denial of inheritance, property rights, and access to credit.

CEDAW 85th Session (08 - 26 May 2023).

Programme of Work (First week) Monday 8 May 2023 1969th meeting 10h00-11h30 a.m. Agenda Item 1 Opening of the session (public) Agenda Item 2 Adoption of the agenda, organization of work; solemn declaration by the new Committee members (public) Agenda Item 3 Report of the Chair on activities undertaken between the eighty-fourth and eighty-fifth sessions of the Committee (public) Agenda Item 7 Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee (public) 11h30 a.m.-1h00 p.m. Informal meeting with United Nations bodies and Specialized Agencies (closed)

1970th meeting 3h00-4h30 p.m. Informal meeting with non-governmental organizations (public) 4h30-5h00 p.m. Informal meeting with national human rights institutions (public) 5h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed)

Tuesday 9 May 2023 1971st meeting 10h00 a.m.-1h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Fourth periodic report of Timor Leste (CEDAW/C/TLS/4) (public) 1972nd meeting 3h00-5h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Fourth periodic report of Timor Leste (CEDAW/C/TLS/4) (public) 5h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed)

Wednesday 10 May 2023 1973rd meeting 10h00 a.m.-1h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Combined initial to fifth periodic report of Sao Tomé and Principe (CEDAW/C/STP/1-5) (public) 1974th meeting 3h00-5h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Combined initial to fifth periodic report of Sao Tomé and Principe (CEDAW/C/STP/1-5) (public) 5h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed)

Thursday 11 May 2023 1975th meeting 10h00 a.m.-1h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Ninth periodic report of Germany, submitted under the simplified reporting procedure (CEDAW/C/DEU/9) (public) 1976th meeting 3h00-5h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Ninth periodic report of Germany, submitted under the simplified reporting procedure (CEDAW/C/DEU/9) (public) 5h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed)

Friday 12 May 2023 1977th meeting 10h00 a.m.-1h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Ninth periodic report of China* (CEDAW/C/CHN/9) (public) 1978th meeting 3h00-5h00 p.m. Ninth periodic report of China* (CEDAW/C/CHN/9) (public) 5h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed) Second week Monday 15 May 2023 1979th meeting 10h00-12h00 a.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed) 12h00-1h00 p.m. Informal meeting with United Nations bodies and Specialized Agencies (closed) 1980th meeting 3h00-3h30 p.m. Informal meeting with United Nations bodies and Specialized Agencies (closed) (continued) 3h30-4h30 p.m. Informal meeting with non-governmental organizations (public) 4h30-5h00 p.m. Informal meeting with national human rights institutions (public) 5h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed)

Tuesday 16 May 2023 1981st meeting 10h00 a.m.-1h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Ninth periodic report of Spain, submitted under the simplified reporting procedure (CEDAW/C/ESP/9) (public) 1982nd meeting 3h00-5h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Ninth periodic report of Spain, submitted under the simplified reporting procedure (CEDAW/C/ESP/9) (public) 5h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed)

Wednesday 17 May 2023 1983rd meeting 10h00 a.m.-1h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Seventh periodic report of Slovakia, submitted under the simplified reporting procedure (CEDAW/C/SVK/7) (public) 1984th meeting 3h00-5h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Seventh periodic report of Slovakia, submitted under the simplified reporting procedure (CEDAW/C/SVK/7) (public) 5h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed)

Thursday 18 May 2023 1985th meeting 10h00 a.m.-1h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Ninth periodic report of Venezuela (CEDAW/C/VEN/9) (public) 1986th meeting 3h00-5h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Ninth periodic report of Venezuela (CEDAW/C/VEN/9) (public) 5h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed)

Friday 19 May 2023 1987th meeting 10h00 am-1h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed) 1988th meeting 3h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed) Third week Monday 22 May 2023 1989th meeting 10h00 a.m.-1h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Ninth periodic report of Iceland (CEDAW/C/ISL/9) (public) 1990th meeting 3h00-5h00 p.m. Agenda Item 4 Ninth periodic report of Iceland (CEDAW/C/ISL/9) (public) 5h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed)

Tuesday 23 May 2023 1991st meeting 10h00 a.m.-1h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed) 1992nd meeting 3h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed) Wednesday 24 May 2023 1993rd meeting 10h00-1h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed) 1994th meeting 3h00-6h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed)

Thursday 25 May 2023 1995th meeting 10h00 a.m.-1h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed) 1996th meeting 3h00-6.00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed)

Friday 26 May 2023 1997th meeting 10h00 a.m.-1h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed) 1998th meeting 3h00-5h00 p.m. Working Group of the Whole (closed) 5h00-6h00 p.m. Agenda Item 9 Provisional agenda for the eighty-sixth session Agenda Item 10 Adoption of the report of the Committee on its eighty-fifth session - Closure of the session (public)

[davidhencke]

Exclusive: United Nations slams the UK for failing to properly implement the convention signed by Mrs Thatcher to eliminate all discrimination against women

Exclusive: United Nations slams the UK for failing to properly implement the convention signed by Mrs Thatcher to eliminate all discrimination against women

The UN committee monitoring progress by the UK to implement the UN Convention to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls (CEDAW) ratified by Margaret Thatcher in 1986 has severely criticised the foot dragging by the British government under Boris Johnson to fully implement it. CEDAW in session; Pic Credit UN News In a strongly worded report the Geneva based organisation…

[crossdreamers]

UN Hosts its First Transgender Government Representative, Aisha Mughal from Pakistan

In some respects Pakistan is far ahead of countries like the US as regards transgender rights. 

The Pakistani Ministry of Human Rights reports that The Government of Pakistan now  includes a legally recognized Transgender woman, Ms Aisha Mughal, in its National Delegation at the UN Session Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Switzerland.

“Many transgender women have attended these conventions before but they were representing civil societies,” Mughal said on SAMAA TV’s programme Naya Din. “This was the first time a transgender was a member of a government delegation,” she said.  

Mughal regards this as an achievement for the country as it has broken stereotypes and changed perceptions of transgender people. “Pakistan has become an example for the entire world,” she said.

ProPakistani reports that Aisha has an M.Phil degree in Human Resource Management from COMSATS Islamabad and is also the first transgender lecturer in the visiting faculty at Quaid-e-Azam University.

[rbfbratz]

End Violence Against Women Campaign: To Restorative Justice.

image source: photography sketchbook pin by lily touch on lil something | pinterest.

The discussion on human rights of women has been a long-way sensitive concern—while violence against women has gained the most attention in justice program comparing to the other areas of women’s rights. Because a woman who becomes the victim of a violence is no longer feel safe just by knowing there are rights that protects her, but also needs guarantee for the validation of these rights and guidance on how to obtain these rights.

Quoting from https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/PractitionerToolkit/WA2J_Module3.pdf, violence against women is a grave violation of the fundamental human rights of women and remains one of the most common crimes committed against them. Existing data on violence against women from sources such as UNFPA, UNICEF, UNODC, UN Women and WHO acknowledges that violence against women continues to be a global pandemic and therefore a matter of critical concern. Violence can occur in different private and public spaces, including on the internet and through other evolving technologies. It is rooted in historical inequalities between women and men, and can cause significant physical, social, psychological and economic harm to women.

In order to eliminate the discrimination of women’s rights—including one of them is about the protection itself on violence against women, United Nations General Assembly approved a draft of an International Treaty named The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Although there is no explicit explanation on Gender-based violence except for Art. 6 relating to the Exploitation of Prostitution and Trafficking in Women, the CEDAW Committee issued several Recommendations to improve the implementation of the Convention, and one of them is relating to violence against women. The Recommendation No. 19 from 1992 was historic as it clearly framed violence against women as a form and manifestation of gender-based discrimination, used to subordinate and oppress women. It unequivocally brought violence outside of the private sphere and into the realm of human rights.

With the existence of Recommendation No. 19 (which has been elaborated too by Recommendation No. 35), the definition of discrimination against women finally includes violence too. And based on the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women Art. 1, “violence against women" means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. And based on Art. 4, States parties should condemn violence against women and should not invoke any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid their obligations with respect to its elimination. States should pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating violence against women.

Indonesia has ratified CEDAW through UU No. 7 of 1984. The ratification will certainly bring forth obligations as mandated by the convention, those are; adopting all Convention strategies, implementing committee Recommendations, and being continuously involved in International decisions relating to women issues and comply to those instruments. Therefore, based on the legal instruments mentioned above, it becomes clear that there are several legal instruments that support the validation of women’s rights, especially (in this writing) related to violence. Plus the fact that Indonesia has also ratified it can be a ‘strong’ validation for us, Indonesian women.

image source: @notyourbabyaus on Instagram | @intersectional_aussie_feminist on Instagram

However, outside the realm of law, of course– there are still many negative stereotypes that eventually normalize violence against women because of the culture of society that tends to always blame the victim. Society tends to always forcing women to cover up with trust it can ‘protect’ them instead of educating men to control their lust to stop themselves on harassing, assaulting, or raping women. Society tends to always blaming women for not be able to protect themselves by doing something dangerous like go out at night instead of blaming men for not be able respect the freedom of women to do anything they want as safe as possible. And society tends to pointing their fingers to the victim (worst case even call them as slut) instead of pointing their fingers to the perpetrator.

What I mean in this writing is, even though we already have the law as a validation of our legal protection, but everything will eventually gone to waste if the disease itself is in the negative stereotypes of the society. Because as we all know, most of the type of violence cases is delik aduan, which means requires the report from the victim. But because of the negative stereotypes that breeds in the society, oftentimes the victims are afraid to voice their rights and protect themselves with law because of the fear of judgement from the society.

Stop victim-blaming. They deserved to be heard and to be protected not to be judged by the men’s crime.

— Stacie Brynn.

source(s): https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2389784, https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/violenceagainstwomen.aspx, https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/cedaw/pages/gr35.aspx, https://www.ohchr.org/documents/professionalinterest/cedaw.pdf, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/PractitionerToolkit/WA2J_Module3.pdf, https://lama.elsam.or.id/downloads/1262842368_08._Konvensi_CEDAW.pdf (using method direct quotations)

[tepkunset]

Canada does not deserve seat at UN Security Council

Pam Palmater Special to APTN News

Reconciliation is dead. It died when the RCMP invaded Wet’suwet’en territory with heavy machinery, helicopters, weapons and police dogs to forcibly remove Wet’suwet’en peoples and supporters from their homes on their own lands.

In quite literal terms, the RCMP destroyed the “reconciliation” sign posted on the access point to the territory, to make way for pipeline workers to force a pipeline on Wet’suwet’en Yintah (lands) without consent from hereditary chiefs.

While they were at it, Coastal Gaslink pipeline workers removed the red dresses memorializing the thousands of Indigenous women and girls who have been abused, exploited, disappeared and murdered – some at the hands of those who work in man camps.

In reaction to this violation of Indigenous land rights and the aggressive invasion of Wet’suwet’en lands by the RCMP, grassroots Indigenous peoples and Canadian allies have engaged in protests, rallies, marches and blockades all over Turtle Island.

Meanwhile, Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not even in Canada. He is travelling the world campaigning for a seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

Canada is a state perpetrator of genocide against Indigenous women and girls. The national inquiry found that all levels of government – federal, provincial, territorial and municipal – have engaged in historic and ongoing genocide; a form of gendered colonization which targets Indigenous women and girls for violence and denies them basic human rights protections. This genocide includes the theft of Indigenous lands and resources and the criminalization of Indigenous peoples who peacefully defend their lands and peoples from the violence, especially from the extractive industry.

The UN Security Council should not welcome a state perpetrator of genocide that has failed to accept responsibility for the genocide and failed to act urgently to end it. Similarly, member states of the UN should recall that Canada was one of only four states that fought against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which protects the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination, control over their traditional lands and resources and protections from forced removal from their lands by the state. While Canada has reversed its position on UNDRIP and claims to now support it unconditionally, it has failed to implement it into domestic law (with the exception of the Province of British Columbia).

The UN Security Council’s mandate is to maintain international peace and security. They are responsible to identify threats to peace or acts of aggression and have the authority to impose sanctions or authorize intervention. The Council has 15 members, five are permanent (China, Russia, France, United Kingdom and the United States) and ten are non-permanent and replaced on a rotating basis. Canada is vying for one of five seats that will be elected in June alongside other countries like Norway and Ireland. Canada lost its seat under the former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. To this end, Trudeau is campaigning on the African continent and will soon be headed to the Caribbean and eventually Germany to make his case.

Yet, it is hard to contemplate how the member states of the UN could vote for Canada given its record of human rights abuses and genocide of Indigenous peoples. Keep in mind that both the UN and the Organization of American States (OAS) have shared their grave concerns about the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls finding of ongoing genocide in Canada. The UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) has also asked Canada to urgently withdraw the RCMP and weapons from Wet’suwet’en territory and to halt any major development projects on Indigenous territories unless they have consent.

The UN member states should also consider that Canada has continuously failed to act on the numerous recommendations from various UN human rights treaty bodies pleading with Canada to end its grave human rights violations against Indigenous peoples, especially Indigenous women. Whether it is the UNCERD, UN Human Rights Council, UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Canada consistently fails to remedy these serious human rights breaches.

While there will be many other political considerations that go into each UN member state’s decision as to whether to support Canada’s bid for a seat on the UN Security Council, Canada’s record of ongoing genocide and human rights abuses against Indigenous peoples, and its recent armed invasion of Wet’suwet’en territory should give them pause. Canada has long pointed fingers around the world, criticizing human rights breaches, yet it has failed to address its own – and it’s killing our people.

Canada does not deserve a seat at the UN Security Council unless and until they address peace and security in their own country. Indigenous women and girls continue to disappear and be murdered, Indigenous peoples are grossly overincarcerated, and our children are stolen into the foster care system at rates higher than during residential schools.

Our lands and waters are being destroyed by massive development and extractive projects without regard for the cost to the planet or human lives. Canada’s continued acts of genocide and ecocide will eventually impact other states as climate change cannot be contained within artificial political borders. The planet is in crisis and the UN Security Council will have to face ever growing threats to peace and security worldwide. The last thing they need is to be guided by states that don’t address their own human rights, peace and security issues.

Pamela Palmater is a Mi’kmaw citizen and member of the Eel River Bar First Nation in northern New Brunswick. She has been a practising lawyer for 20 years and currently holds the position of Professor and Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University.

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Anti-bias group decides in favour of Russian lesbian couple

Anti-bias group decides in favour of Russian lesbian couple

The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women made a groundbreaking decision in favor of a Russian lesbian couple.

It was the first time the 23-member CEDAW committee accepted and decided a same-sex case in its more than 40-year history.

“Our sacrifice makes at least some sense,” O.N., 33, and D.P., 29, the Saint Petersburg lesbian couple who took Russia to task for refusing…