UN Report: May 2009

Taking Action Against Violation of Women’s Rights

by Sayre Sheldon, WAND representative on the NGO Working Group for Women, Peace and Security

Defenders of the rights of women are faced with grave crises around the world. Shiite women in Afghanistan have been subjected to a new law, signed by President Karzai, giving husbands unlimited sexual rights and restricting women’s right to leave home without their husband’s permission. In the Pakistan province of Swat, a young woman was brutally flogged because she was charged with refusing to marry a Taliban fighter. The flogging was filmed on a cell phone and shown around the world. Young Afghan women bravely demonstrated against the new law defying large crowds of angry men.

What are we in this country doing? Our tax money goes by the billions to support these two countries and our troops risk their lives in opposing Taliban forces—haven’t we an obligation to speak out in solidarity with these women? Senator Barbara Boxer thinks so and she has a bill which would permit just this kind of objection. The wording in the House bill (H.R. 606, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney) reads: “To express United States foreign policy with respect to, and to strengthen United States advocacy on behalf of, individuals persecuted and denied their rights in foreign countries on account of gender, and for other purposes.” WAND will be working with Feminist Majority on this bill and will keep you updated.

Secondly, CEDAW ( the Convention to End All Discrimination Against Women) is finally moving out of the silence of the Bush administration years and has been chosen by president Obama as one of three top U.N. treaties for ratification. Attention, however, doesn’t guarantee passage—it will take 67 Senate votes and some restrictive language added to prevent family planning that might include abortion that will have to be changed. After President Carter signed the treaty 30 years ago, we remain one of only eight countries (and the only industrial country) that hasn’t ratified and after the damage our not joining has done to the U.S. image abroad, it is definitely time. More importantly CEDAW is called on as international law by women around the world. Again, WAND will be keeping you informed about what you can do.

How is the United Nations responding? The U.N. which has constructed the international framework for guaranteeing women their rights is also stepping up to the present crisis. CEDAW, 1325, 1820 and now the effort to combine all these to make them more effective. U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice has spoken out strongly against the Afghan bill. Secretary Ban Ki Moon initiated a campaign UNITE to end violence against women by 2015 to coordinate with the Millennium goals. Meetings on strengthening CEDAW by linking with Security Council resolutions 1325 and 1840 were held this January in Geneva and more will take place this summer in N.Y. WAND’s participation in the NGO Working Group on Women Peace and Security connects us not only with international work on this issue but is a way of exerting more pressure on our own country. For example I have just sent messages to officials in Iran asking for a fair trial for the American-Iranian journalist who has just been convicted of espionage. As your representative on the working group, I can alert Wand members on what can help to protect and advance women’s rights here and abroad.