The United Nations Secretary-General's Report on Violence against Women
confirmed once again that there is no region of the world, no country and no
culture in which women's freedom from violence has been secured. Moreover, we
observe that violence against women is increasingly emerging as a transnational
human rights concern - a "problem without passport" that transcends national
borders and moves in step with global migration patterns.

Today, almost half of the world's 200 million migrants are women. They migrate
to work, to reunite with their families or otherwise find a better future.
While women are sometimes pushed into leaving their home country by profound
gender inequality and feminized poverty, the process of migration is
potentially an empowering experience that may allow women to seize new
opportunities

Unfortunately, human rights violations in various forms such as trafficking in
women or different types of exploitation often run parallel to women's
migration. Local and supposedly "traditional" forms of violence against women,
such as female genital mutilation or forced marriages, globalize as well,
moving along with their potential victims.

These human rights violations are not inevitable consequences of women's
migration. They can be curbed if states are truly committed to protecting
migrant women against violence, trafficking and exploitation, without denying
them the option to migrate legally, if they choose to.

In practice, however, migrant women often still find themselves confronted with
discriminatory provisions that foster violence. Some countries, for instance,
subject female migrant workers to periodic pregnancy tests and expel pregnant
workers who refuse to abort. Other countries ban their female citizens from
leaving the country in an effort to protect them from trafficking and violence.
More often than not, these bans have the opposite effect as women resort to
criminal human smuggling networks - that may turn out to be human traffickers -
to bypass the bans.

Other migration restrictions are ostensibly gender neutral, but have unequal
consequences for women. In many countries, for example, domestic migrant
workers (the vast majority of whom are women) are still excluded from the
protection of labour laws or altogether not eligible for work permits, as a
result of which they are more vulnerable to violence and exploitation.

Increasingly restrictive rules on migration for the purpose of family
reunification often also have unequal consequences for women. Immigrants who
derive their legal status from a marriage with a citizen or permanent resident,
for instance, now often have to wait for years before they can acquire an
independent residency permit. This dependency can entrap immigrant women in
abusive relationships.

Undocumented immigrant women are especially vulnerable to violence,
exploitation and trafficking because they fear deportation if they seek legal
protection. Unfortunately, only few states have enacted laws that allow
undocumented immigrant women facing violence to file criminal complaints, apply
for restraining orders or make use of other protective mechanisms without being
questioned about their immigration status.

Immigrant women's limited access to justice is pervasive. The Committee on the
Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against women has stated that
violence against women is inherently linked to discrimination and constitutes a
violation of women's internationally recognized human rights. The Committee has
also emphasized the vulnerability of women who face multiple forms of
discrimination because of their status. This Committee is now to be brought to
Geneva to strengthen, and be strengthened by, the international treaty body
system, supported by OHCHR. This will help to realize the fundamental aim of
addressing violence and securing the rights of all women, highlight linkages
between gender discrimination and other human rights concerns, and in effect
situate women's human rights at the center of an enhanced and integrated United
Nations human rights machinery.

On the occasion of this International Day for the Elimination of Violence
against Women, we call for the protection of all women, regardless of their
immigration status, against all forms of trafficking, exploitation and
violence. States should assure that women have the option to migrate without
fear of violence, discrimination or prejudice to their human dignity.

For more information contact

Mr. Jan Arno Hessbruegge

JHessbruegge@ohchr.org

 Published: http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/E6D1FDC2100E8B31C125723000819F86?opendocument

One of every three women in the world has been a victim of violence in her lifetime. Violence against women is one of the four major causes of death on the planet today. Countries where 30 percent of women are being physically injured by their partners are rather the rule than the exception.

Yet, even the most horrific of those statistics still largely underestimates the harsh realities. How many millions of women will never report a case of rape because of their fear of being the ones blamed instead of the perpetrator? How many complaints will never be reported because the police officers refuse to mingle into "domestic matters"? How many crimes against women will remain unpunished because the voice of men is louder than theirs?

Although figures reveal that a majority of the crimes are perpetrated at home, UN-INSTRAW agrees with those who believe that domestic violence goes far beyond the sphere of the household.

When a woman is assaulted, the whole society gets hurt. The enormous costs resulting from violence against women affect us all. Both men and women are part of the problem; both of them must be part of the solution.

Ignoring this problem as a serious crime and human rights violation makes the eradication or even reduction of violence against women impossible. It has become increasingly clear that police and military can play a crucial role in this context, either positive or negative.

Continuous education programs such as gender training sessions aimed towards the security sector's stakeholders, including police officers, military units, lawyers, judges could help to prevent and respond to gendered insecurities and provide a better access to justice for the victims.

Unless police and military are willing and fully equipped to adequately deal with female specific needs, there will be no relief for the millions of women who suffer. Making security institutions our best allies in combating violence against women must be one of the priority concerns of UN agencies, governments and civil society.

It should be unacceptable that those who are educated and trained to protect civilians, especially vulnerable groups, may pose a threat to women's rights and security. The zero tolerance policy towards perpetrators of sexual exploitation and abuse as well as other forms of gender-based violence is resolutely supported by UN-INSTRAW.

Increasing female recruitment and addressing the under-representation of women in decision-making positions within the security sector could also help achieve more gender sensitivity in the police armed forces and court rooms.

Therefore, UN-INSTRAW is advocating the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 among other binding international agreements concerning women's security.

Having recently published a guide on how to create national action plans for the full implementation of  this resolution INSTRAW gives concrete and practical support to State actors in order to reduce violence against women and to create an environment where men AND women feel safe.

In this context, further cooperation between UN agencies, governments and NGOs is one key for success. A couple of years ago, UN-INSTRAW initiated the creation of a global network on gender and security reform issues.

Now over 150 NGO practitioners, researchers and policymakers regularly post and share information on how to integrate a gender perspective into the policies and institutions that are responsible for the security of nations, communities and individuals.

Earlier this month, UN-INSTRAW and Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) jointly launched a new Gender and Security Sector Reform (SSR) Working Group.

This venue for highly-specialized experts from all over the world plans to develop collaborative projects, such as training materials, reports, workshops and assessment tools in order to mainstream gender issues into SSR.

Furthermore, UN-INSTRAW takes part actively in the sixteen days campaign
on violence against women and produces ongoing research regarding this topic. New publications on violence against women are planned for 2007.

Yet, building bridges between the different stakeholders of the security sector shouldn't stop from raising consciousness at the grassroots level.

On the occasion of the United Nations-backed "16 Days Campaign of Activism to End Violence against Women", UN-INSTRAW joined other UN agencies to sponsor a theatre performance organized by the Women's Minister in the Dominican Republic, country where the three Mirabal sisters were killed more than 45 years ago.

Artistic ways of expression can effectively help gender activists reach a broader audience by conveying the message in a clear, meaningful and eye-catching way.

People must understand that no one is immune when it comes to violence against women. We are all at risk, either being victims or being perpetrators. Every one of us, men and women, can decide to make a difference to end violence against our mothers, our sisters and our daughters.

Published on the WomensUnited Nations Report Network.

For more information contact,

Mr. Laurent Duvillier, Media & Communications Specialist

Tel: 1 809-685-2111 ext. 227

lduvillier@un-instraw.org

• ¼ to ½ of women have been abused by an intimate partner
• Annual estimates of domestic violence incidents range from 960,000 to 3.9 million
• Women are five to eight times more likely to be the victim of abuse by a partner than men
• Adverse health effects linked to domestic violence are “arthritis, chronic neck or back pain, migraine and other frequent headaches, stammering, problems seeing, sexually transmitted infections, chronic pelvic pain, stomach ulcers, spastic colon, and frequent indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation”; psychiatric disorders; suicide attempts; and depression
• Children who witness the violence are more prone to behavioral and social problems and are more likely to face abuse themselves
• From 1987 to 1990, victims of domestic violence incurred $67 billion of the total costs of crime
• 92% of victims do not discuss incidents of domestic violence with their doctors, and many do not tell anyone; a 2-minute screening has been proven effective for identifying victims in patient care
• At least 6% of pregnant women are abused each year by their partner, causing a variety of health problems
• The leading cause of death for pregnant women is homicide

Compiled from Family Violence Prevention Fund, “Get the Facts - Domestic Violence and Health Care”, available http://endabuse.org/programs/display.php3?DocID=25.

This law provides higher funding for victims, including payment for treatment by the government and providing both extended shelters for the victims as well as preventative education programs.  Also, child victims are now able to transfer schools without the consent of the custodial abuser.  The transfer will be kept confidential by the schools in order to protect the victims.

Compiled from The Korea Times, “Steps for Domestic Violence Victims”, available http://search.hankooki.com/times/times_view.php?term=domestic+violence+victims++&path=hankooki3/times/lpage/nation/200611/kt2006111021014911990.htm&media=kt

The handbook is intended as a resource for individuals working to combat trafficking and quell the growth of the sex industry, both locally and globally. It addresses misconceptions about prostitution and argues that the demand for sex workers (legal and illegal) is driving trafficking of women and children.  The handbook also analyzes language used to describe prostitution and trafficking in an attempt to raise awareness and delegitamize the idea that women and children enter the sex industry by choice.  Instead, the authors recognize a host of factors lending to women's lack of choice in terms of sex work, including poverty, racism, cultural discrimination and overt gender inequality. 

The authors make the final call to recognize trafficking and prostitution as violence against women.  They articulate the complexities of women and children's invovlement in prostitution and trafficking, and critique traditional efforts to assist women working in the sex industry.

Compiled from The Links between Prostitution and Sex Trafficking: A Briefing Handbook, by Monica O'Connor and Grainne Healy, for the Joint Project Promoting Preventative Measures to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings for Sexual Exploitation: A Swedish and United States Governmental and Non-Governmental Organisation Partnership, 2006. (PDF, 40 pages).

Because this is such a widespread problem, in this report the EU highlighted some of the problems and offered potential solutions. The report calls for States to set up programs and resources to help victims of human trafficking and to create specific legislation that outlaws trafficking. 

To see the entire report, please click here.

Compiled from: Report with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on fighting trafficking in human beings - an integrated approach and proposals for an action plan, European Parliament, 18 October 2006, accessed 17 November 2006.

For this report, women from 54 developing countries around the world were surveyed.  The report contains comparisons where available from prior surveys done in the countries.  With this, it tracks the progress made in the countries, current trends, and offers suggestions for what still needs to be done in the future.

For the complete text of the report, click here.

The resolution recognizes the unique situation that immigrant women are in. Some serious problems are that it is hard for immigrant women to gain access to work and education. It is important to help immigrant women now for the sake of future generations who will likely be living in the EU because their mothers immigrated there. Immigrant women also have a susceptibility to trafficking and violence when they come to the EU, which the Parliament wants to stop.

The resolution calls on Member States and other organizations to help protect the rights of immigrant women. The States should help with access to employment and education opportunities. Also, both the States and organizations in the country need to assist the women in the integration process in the new country. Another important aspect is for the Member States to help combat violence against women in all its forms.

The complete text of the resolution may be accessed here.

Compiled from: European Parliament resolution on women's immigration: the role and place of immigrant women in the European Union, European Parliament, 24 October 2006, accessed 17 November 2006.

For a list of all current Shadow Reports, please visit http://www.iwraw-ap.org/resources/shadow_reports.htm.

There is inequality between the numbers of Tajik men and women.  This is due to the death of nearly 100,000 citizens during the civil war in the 1990s, most of whom were men, and the migration of about a million men to work in Russia.  With a population of 6.5 million in all of Tajikistan, those losses created a large imbalance.

The practice of polygamy has been met with mixed reactions in the country.  Its supporters refer to Islamic law and women’s desire to marry to defend the practice, but many women who are in the relationships feel embarassed, humiliated, and impoverished.  The women often have nowhere to turn and feel helpless in their situations.   

According to Professor Miriam Cooke, who studies Arab culture, the Islamic world seems to be turning more to the practice of polygamy and she considers it a trend.  She finds the issue to be complicated and says that while people feel differently about it, she tends to see it as a setback.

Compiled from: Ilan Greenberg.  “After a Century, Public Polygamy is Re-emerging in Tajikistan”, New York Times, 13 November 2006. 

She has prepared a questionnaire to gather information on this subject, in English, French and Spanish. The Special Rapporteur would be grateful if responses could reach her no later than 31 October, so that they can be reflected in her next report to the Human Rights Council.

Please send your responses to the questionnare as well as other relevant information to Ms. Rachel Rico-Balzan: rrico@ohchr.org and Geneviève Clottey: gclottey@ohchr.org. Fax: +41 22 9179006.

The following Questionnaire concerns the issue of forced-marriages for the preparation of the next annual report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in persons, Especially Women and Children to the UN Human Rights Council, according to Commission on Human Rights Decision 2004/110 and Human Rights Council’s decision 2006/102.

I.            What are the most common forms of Forced Marriages present in your country? How do the existing governmental policies and legal frameworks in your country differentiate between Arranged and Forced Marriages?

II.            Is Forced Marriage an offence under your national law? How is Forced Marriage defined?

III.            What is the legal framework/practice in your country for addressing and preventing Forced Marriages and their possible consequential ends (including forced labour, trafficking, etc.)?

IV.            Have instances of Forced Marriages resulting in trafficking, forced labour or other forms of exploitation been found in your country or concerning citizens of your country? Please provide available data/statistics disaggregated by age, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religious orientation, education/skills levels, etc.

V.            What mechanism do you have in place for analysing Forced Marriage trends in your country and their linkages with trafficking/forced labour?

VI.            What legislative, administrative and/or other measures are in place in your country to prevent and combat Forced Marriages? Do your immigration and/or anti-trafficking legislation address the issue of Forced Marriages?

VII.            What kind of protection, assistance and avenues for redress are available to the victims of Forced Marriages and their consequential ends including trafficking, forced labour or other forms of exploitation? Are these measures effective? Do victims avail themselves of available protection, assistance and redress measures? What are the possible obstacles/challenges in this regard? Are special measures in place for children?

VIII.            Does your country/organisation have any programmes to reintegrate victims of Forced Marriages into the mainstream society?

IX.            What regional and/or international policies and initiatives are in place for the protection and repatriation of victims and their subsequent reintegration into society.

The report recognizes that women are different from men. But instead of those differences creating a competitive relationship, the report says that women and men complement each other in a way that helps everyone working in public life. While discrimination based on gender is prohibited by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), there is still an imbalance between the number of women and men in public life.

The resolution will work towards reducing the gender imbalance in European public life. This report on the resolution is the first of its kind in regard to gender mainstreaming in the Parliament.

To see the motion and explanatory statement, please go here.

To see the text of the ECHR, please go here.

Compiled from: "Draft Report on gender mainstreaming in the work of the committees," Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, European Parliament, 6 November 2006, accessed 17 November 2006.

“Gender equality must be addressed right from the beginning of life,” said Dr. Rima Salah, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. “Huge steps can be made to empower girls if we begin the movement for gender equality in those first years of a child’s life.”

Dr. Salah’s comments came at the closing of the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) partnership meeting in Cairo. Members of UNGEI include representatives from several UN agencies, donor governments and non-governmental organizations that have come together to work toward gender equality in education.

The majority of the estimated 115 million children not attending school around the world are girls, a startling statistic that will have negative repercussions on an entire generation.

Girls who are kept out of schools are not only denied their own right to education, but if they later become mothers, they are more likely to raise children who remain uneducated, unvaccinated and more likely to contract HIV/AIDS, the children’s agency emphasized at a meeting here.

Universal primary education for all boys and girls is one of eight time-bound Millennium Development Goals endorsed by the international community. It is closely linked to the goal to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. Interconnected with the six other goals, empowering girls and women, in and out of school, is clearly linked to global development and achieving the MDG targets by 2015.

The theme of the UNGEI meeting, “Gender and Early Childhood Care and Education,” placed particular emphasis on supporting families and gender-focused policies and scaling up of quality early childhood care programmes. Quality programmes focus on well-trained teachers, well-informed parents, and child-centered community care.

Furthermore, by covering pre-school and parenting techniques to school nutrition and breastfeeding advice, these programmes are particularly beneficial to the children who need them the most: girls living in poverty. Girl children may be required to care for younger siblings – a responsibility that prevents them from getting an education of their own. Early childhood care programmes are key in closing this discrimination gap. When younger siblings are in pre-school programmes, their older sisters are free to pursue their own studies. And by setting children out early on the road to learning, early childhood education can be instrumental in breaking the cycle of poverty and preparing children for success in school.

It is particularly fitting that the UNGEI meeting should take place in Egypt, which -- with the leadership of First Lady H.E. Suzanne Mubarak, has been an early advocate for ensuring quality education to girls. Egypt unveiled a Girls’ Education Initiative in 2000 under Mrs. Mubarak’s guidance. Girls' education was designated as Egypt's top development priority in 2000; by 2007, the government has pledged to close the gender gap Egypt’s schools.

"What young children learn now and what happens to them now will influence them for the rest of their life,” said Erma Manoncourt, UNICEF’s Representative in Egypt.  “The earliest years are the most determinant of the child's psychosocial and cognitive development.”

***

About UNICEF
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For more information:

Wolfgang Friedl: +(962) 79 573 2745 wfriedl@unicef.org
Simon Ingram: +(20) 12 214 2567 singram@unicef.org

Published in: Press Release, UNICEF: Early Childhood Care Key to Gender Equality, UNICEF, 13 November 2006.

[Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic] To commemorate the International Day of Peace, September 21st 2006, the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW) offers a new manual on how to create a successful action plan on women, peace and security.

Designed as a resource for governments, international and regional agencies and civil society organizations, the guide -"Securing Equality, Engendering Peace: A guide to policy and planning on women, peace and security"- provides good practices, specific recommendations and a practical six-step model process.

Six years ago, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security called for equal representation of women in all peace and security initiatives, among other things. An action plan can be a valuable way to effectively and sustainably implement this and other international mandates such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Platform for Action.

"This is not just for countries in armed conflict, but for any nation involved in post-conflict reconstruction or committing peacekeeping troops, such as the ones currently being deployed in Lebanon", pointed out Kristin Valasek, UN-INSTRAW Specialist in Gender, Peace and Security issues. "Without an action plan, initiatives on women, peace and security tend to be ad hoc, isolated and unsustainable", she added.

Since the adoption of Resolution 1325 by the Security Council in 2000, only four countries in the world have developed national action plans on women, peace and security. A few others have integrated these issues into their national policy and legislation. Still, women continue to be largely excluded from decision-making in the sphere of peace and security and from conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes.

With this how-to manual, based on existing experiences and lessons learned, UN-INSTRAW seeks to place women, peace and security as well as violence against women at the center of national and institutional security agendas.

"Recent conflicts show us that both concrete actions and strategic policies are needed in order to stop violence against women, ensure their security and prevent armed conflict", stressed UN-INSTRAW Director Carmen Moreno. "Though policy and planning may seem far removed from the realities of violence and insecurity, they aim to keep women and girls alive, healthy and free of fear", she continued.

To download the full document online, click here or visit UN-INSTRAW’s webpage (www.un-instraw.org) Press contact:

Mr. Laurent Duvillier

Media & Communications Specialist

Tel: 809-685-2111 ext. 227

E-mail: lduvillier@un-instraw.org

Published in: Press Release, Building Peace through Gender Equality New UN-INSTRAW Guide on Women, Peace and Security, UN-INSTRAW,  21 September 2006.

The insights provided include those from feminist activists working with a variety of strategies including the use of litigation and judicial processes, making and reforming policy, engaging with budgets, drawing on UN mechanisms, using fact finding and research, and organizing campaigns and popular mobilizations. The report reflects on some of the challenges as well as the strengths of using these different approaches and highlights what we can draw as lessons for our own advocacy work. Profiled here are interesting and instructive case studies and examples, strategies for success and lessons from experience in translating “rights on paper” to ensuring their concrete implementation in women’s lives.

Print copies available soon on request, please e-mail membership@awid.org

Please click here to see the report.

This text was originally published by the Association for Women's Rights in Development ("AWID") and has been reproduced with the permission of AWID in accordance with AWID's reproduction policy.

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Thousands of women in Belarus suffer from domestic violence, with little legal protection and almost no support services, according to a new report by Amnesty International.

According to official information obtained by the organization in 2006, nearly 3,000 women were registered as victims of violence in the home in Belarus in 2005, although the actual number is believed to be much higher. As there are no shelters for victims of domestic violence in the whole of the country, these women have nowhere go. The three existing state-run crisis centres are underfunded and provide insufficient support for victims. Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which have the expertise and will to help, are stifled by government restrictions on their activities and funding.

Amnesty International's latest report, Belarus: Domestic violence -- more than a private scandal, highlights the valuable work being done by individuals in NGOs and in the state sector. While the government of Belarus has recognized domestic violence as a problem and has taken steps to address the issue, both practically and legislatively, these measures are, so far, inadequate.

"Despite measures that have been taken by the authorities, Belarus is still falling short of its international obligations to protect women’s rights," Heather McGill, Amnesty International's researcher on Belarus, said.

The Criminal Code does not yet define or criminalize domestic violence, although a draft law on the prevention and elimination of domestic violence was drawn up in 2002. While Amnesty International considers this draft law a positive measure, the organization is concerned by elements of it. In particular, the clause regarding "victim behaviour" could serve to incriminate women for provoking violence and thus undermine the state's obligation to protect them. The organization believes this clause should be removed and that the definition of domestic violence, in both the Criminal and Administrative Codes, should be in line with the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Perpetrators of domestic violence continue to act with impunity because only a small fraction of women exposed to violence in the home actually report the crime to the police. Women are deterred from reporting violence because of fear of reprisals from abusive partners, fear of prosecution for other offences, self-blame, fear of shaming the family, low self-esteem and financial insecurity.

"Lack of political will to combat domestic violence, as well as ongoing discrimination caused by gender stereotyping, is depriving women of their basic rights."

The report calls for the government to take measures to increase public awareness of domestic violence and to encourage women to speak out.

Vera's husband, Oleg, beat and partially strangled her for sexual enjoyment on a regular basis for 23 years until her death in 2005. Police were called by neighbours numerous times but Vera did not complain out of fear of her husband, a former policeman. She was taken four times to hospital after severe beatings but her husband bribed policemen and medical personnel so that his crimes would not be reported. Vera was found dead with a noose around her neck. On 26 May 2006, Oleg was charged with driving his wife to suicide. Vera’s family believe that she was murdered and are contesting the charge.

"Women will trust the legal system if they have reason to believe that a prosecution will result in a life free of violence for themselves and their children. Only once there is a coordinated cross-ministerial system of support and protection in place will women turn to the criminal justice system with confidence," Heather McGill said.

"On their return from prison, men often continue to beat their partners. A system of support and protection for women would include access to shelters and, in the long term, alternative affordable accommodation for themselves and their children."

Amnesty International believes that protection for victims of domestic violence must be significantly improved and impunity for violence in the home reduced in Belarus. The organization is calling on the government of Belarus to honour its obligations under international law, with a focus on the following points:

• Protect women against domestic violence -- all women who have been subjected to domestic violence must have access to full redress and reparation; they must be provided with temporary shelters and long-term housing.
• End impunity - remove the "victim behaviour" clause from the draft law and define domestic violence in line with the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, in both the Criminal and Administrative Codes.
• Raise awareness - the government must run public awareness campaigns to overcome the stigmatization of victims of domestic violence and encourage women to report such crimes to the police.

See: Belarus: Domestic violence -- more than a private scandal (AI Index: EUR 49/014/2006) http:web.amnesty.org/library/index/engeur490142006

Public Document
****************************************
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566
Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW. web: http://www.amnesty.org

For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org

Published in: Press Release, Belarus: Domestic Violence as a Secret Problem, Amnesty International, 9 November 2006. 

Please click here to see the report  

The report gives examples of advancement from different countries in the region and provides recommendations on how to further advance the issue of gender equality based on current challenges.  It identifies the key areas of discrimination against gender equality as family laws, penal and nationality laws, education and employment, political representation, and gender-based violence.  The report also explores regional compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women.

Achieving Gender Equality emphasizes that change is both possible and necessary.  It attempts to break down the stereotype that the region is built on conservative, unchangeable societies due to strict religious and cultural beliefs, and stesses the importance of women's agency to the progess seen thus far.  The report makes recommendations on how to increase gender equality specific to the region and outlines a five-year plan on strengthening the role of women in society.

To view the full report click here.

Venus Williams, who will serve as the first global "Promoter of Gender Equality", articluated the importance of athletes in the world's leading sport for women to "do everything we can to help break down barriers to success for women."  UNESCO's Director General, Koïchiro Matsuura also conveyed that the partnership will enhance women's empowerment and involvement in societal development.  Billy Jean King, founder of the tour, stated that the partnership "makes sense," since the tour itself was founded on the principle of equality.

To find out more about the program read UNESCO's press release.

Compiled from information from the UN Daily News provided by the United Nations News Centre.

The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) have developed this handbook to facilitate the participation of NGOs and human rights defenders at the newly formed Human Rights Council. The handbook highlights the major issues of transition from the Commission to the Council. It briefly describes the old system under the Commission, what the Council needs to consider and do during its first year, and some of the key issues, and existing suggestions and choices. The handbook also identifies the main questions around each of these issues to generate discussion and reflection on what NGOs and defenders hope can be achieved through the system, what features they think would be useful, and better options.

We have some spare copies of the Handbook available for those of you who have limited access to the Internet. For a copy of the Handbook, please contact us at information@ishr-sidh.ch and give us a brief description of your organisation and its mandate.

To download the entire handbook please click hereDownload individual chapters (all chapters are available as PDF documents):

Cover page, contents and foreword

Chapter 1.

Introduction

Chapter 2.

Agenda and Rules of Procedure

Chapter 3.

Special Procedures

Chapter 4.

Sub-Commission and System of Expert Advice

Chapter 5.

Complaint Procedure

Chapter 6.

Universal Periodic Review

Chapter 7.

Participation of NGOs and NHRIs

Chapter 8.

Pending Standard-Setting

Chapter 9.

Issues

Annexes

There are a series of annexes with key documents, compilations and tables of information that have been prepared to accompany the handbook. To view the list of annexes click here.

For information about the contributors, ISBN and copyright please click here.

Implementing organisations

For further information on the implementing organisations please click here.

Comments and feedback

Please send any comments or feedback to information@ishr-sidh.ch

Reprinted with permission from the International Service for Human Rights

More information on the Human Rights Council  

I am moved to be with you today to celebrate this milestone.

Over the past 60 years, the Commission on the Status of Women has played a critical role in shaping the progress of women at both the global and national levels.  You have helped develop legal measures.  You have shaped new policy.  You have raised awareness of the challenges confronting women worldwide.

Back in 1979, you paved the way for the General Assembly to adopt the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, or CEDAW.  It was a landmark treaty.  The Convention has now been ratified by 185 countries, and has become a crucial tool in the struggle to improve conditions for women everywhere.

In 2000, you laid the groundwork for adoption of the Optional Protocol to the Convention, which was a wonderful achievement in its own right.  Women in more than 80 countries can now use the Protocol to seek remedies for violations of their rights.

And. in the course of four world conferences on women, you have played a pivotal role -- both in the preparation and in the follow-up.  From Mexico to Copenhagen, from Nairobi to Beijing, you helped generate the momentum for change that imbued those conferences.  And, equally important, you have helped keep the momentum going since then.

Since Beijing, the Commission has been a catalyst in bringing the perspectives of women into the work of the United Nations as a whole, and into processes at the national level.

You have played a critical role in raising awareness of the impact of major global trends affecting women, from globalization to migration, from human trafficking to HIV/AIDS.

Working in partnership with civil society organizations around the world, you have provided a forum for women to meet, to share experiences and to create and sustain the networks that are so essential to achieve change.

You have demonstrated, time and again, that the Commission not only moves with the times: it is ahead of its time.

Largely thanks to your work, the international community as a whole is beginning to understand a fundamental principle: women are every bit as affected as any man by the challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century.  In many ways, they are even more affected.  It is, therefore, right and indeed necessary that women should be engaged in the decision-making processes in all areas, with equal strength and in equal numbers.

The world is also starting to grasp that there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women and girls.  Study after study has taught us that no other policy is as likely to raise economic productivity, or to reduce infant and maternal mortality.  No other policy is as sure to improve nutrition and promote health -- including the prevention of HIV/AIDS. No other policy is as powerful in increasing the chances of education for the next generation.

World leaders gave voice to those principles at the 2005 World Summit.  As they declared in the Outcome document: “Progress for women is progress for all”.

We now also look to you to join forces with those newer bodies created as a result of the World Summit: the Human Rights Council; the Peacebuilding Commission; the Democracy Fund; and others.

Women have an absolutely crucial role to play in reinvigorating our human rights machinery, in managing the difficult transition from war to peace, in strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that all people can exercise their democratic rights.  Your leadership can help make the voices and needs of women heard in all those areas.

I also hope you will play an engaged and supportive role as the United Nations works to strengthen and consolidate its gender architecture -- drawing on the recommendations presented yesterday by the High-Level Panel on System-Wide Coherence.

This will be the last time I address you as Secretary-General of the United Nations.  But it will not be the end of my fight for the empowerment of women.  Even after I leave office, I shall continue my efforts, and we shall continue the fight.

I thank you for our wonderful partnership these past 10 years.  I have valued immeasurably your support and your sisterhood.  I wish you continued courage and strength in the years ahead, for the benefit of all women, men and children around the world.

Published in: Press Release, In Sixtieth Anniversary Remarks, Secretary-General Commends Progress Brought about By Commission on Status of Women, Department of Public Information, United Nations, UN Doc. SG/SM/10727WOM/1587, 10 November 2006.

Currently, the money that funds the women's program is split between three groups within the UN system. The new program would consolidate the three agencies into one entity. Campaigners also hope to raise money to fund the budget for the women's agency.  

For the full story in the Toronto Star, click here.

For the United Nations News Centre's brief story, click here.

Compiled from: Olivia Ward, "Proposed UN agency 'dramatic step forward' for women", Toronto Star, 10 November 2006.

Compiled from: "Annan welcomes high-level coherence panel’s blueprint for sweeping UN overhaul," UN News Centre, 9, November 2006, Accessed 10 November 2006.

In what is believed to be the first FGM criminal case in the United States,  prosecuters claimed that Adem removed his daughter's clitoris with scissors in their apartment in 2001. Adem testified that he had not cut his daughter's genitals, rather the act was carried out by her mother. 

The United States passed a federal law banning the practice of FGM last year.  Adem was not tried under the federal law, since this incident took place before that time.

Compiled from information in the Weekly Feminist Digest.

For more information on FGM and other traditional practices harmful to women, visit UNIFEM's page on these issues.

The 72-page report presents an indigenous view of gendered violence in an attempt to bridge the gap between the indigenous and global women’s movements.  The separation between the two movements hinders them from achieving the same level of equality because they are currently not working together; by joining forces, the indigenous movement hopes to make the same strides as the international community.  The report offers analysis and strategies for achieving those ends.

Compiled from: International Indigenous Women’s Forum, FIMI Releases Report on Violence against Indigenous Women, available http://www.madre.org/fimi/intadvocacy/vaiwreport.html.

Although the law gives women in Uzbekistan the right to divorce their husbands, many find it almost impossible since the system is weighted against them and the government does its best to hold families together, whatever the wife may want.

Despite the growth in overt Muslim observance and Uzbek traditional customs since independence in 1991, the state has retained Soviet legislation guaranteeing equal rights for women, and the government has policies to promote women in work. Legal marriage is governed by secular state institutions rather than the clergy, and women have full property and divorce rights.

While these safeguards look good in the law books, in practice things are very different. Strong social conventions make it difficult for women to complain about domestic abuse, and the ultimate step of divorce is discouraged by local community or “mahalla” councils and by the judicial system.

Adolat, a nurse in Andijan in the eastern Fergana Valley, recalled how she has spent months trying to secure a divorce with no success, “I decided to divorce my husband when I realised I couldn’t stay in his home any more, out of fear for the lives of my children.

“He used to assault me when he was drunk. Like many women in our society, I thought I had to put up with it, and that as time went by he would stop. But when my children were born, he started to take out his aggression on them…. Then I decided to leave home and divorce him.

“I needed an official divorce, as then my ex-husband would have to provide me with accommodation and pay alimony. But for a year now I have been living in a rented apartment, unable to get a divorce. The court postponed the hearing for six months, as I didn’t provide a certificate from the reconciliation commission of the mahalla committee.”

“Reconciliation commissions”, established by the government in 1999, form part of the mahalla committees, which in theory are independent neighbourhood associations but in reality operate as the lowest rung of local government - and as instruments of social control.

A member of one Andijan reconciliation commission insists they fulfil a positive role, “We have century-old traditions according to which the mahalla plays an active role in bringing up children and resolving conflicts between neighbours and even between family members.

But a women’s rights activist in the same city sees them as an obstacle to progress.

“The mahalla, or rather its component reconciliation commission, is one of the main hindrances towards realising a woman’s right to divorce,” she said.

The activist explained that before an application to dissolve a civil marriage can go to court, the reconciliation committee reviews the case and tries to bring the couple back together. The women’s committee attached to the mayor’s office may also intervene.

“The mahalla committees usually try to preserve the family at all costs, even if one or both partners believe that all possible reasons for doing so have been exhausted. And often this is not out of a desire to save the family, but to maintain good divorce statistics in the mahalla,” said the women’s activist, who explained that the local committees come under pressure both from local government and from a central body called the Mahalla Foundation if divorce is seen to be on the increase.

Aside from the ingrained desire of government institutions to obey their superiors and fulfil social objectives as if they were economic plans, the authorities’ hostility to divorce mirrors the strong societal conservatism in Uzbekistan.

Even the country’s code of family law contains a stipulation that court decisions must strive to preserve the family. A court can postpone a divorce hearing for six months if it feels the grounds offered are inadequate, and it can inform the mahalla committee or the official women’s committee of its decision.

But as a lawyer in Namangan, another city in the Fergana Valley, noted, “Nowhere is it stated that courts cannot accept a divorce claim without a form from the mahalla committee. The courts are secretly using this to delay the progress of divorce cases.”

Because married women generally live in their husbands’ family home, economic factors make it difficult for them to strike out on their own, and until they get a divorce they are not entitled to anything from an estranged husband.

“It’s hard to feed two children and pay the rent on a nurse’s salary, which is 40,000 sums (32 US dollars),” said Adolat. “My husband knows about my difficulties but doesn’t even try to help his children.”

A member of the women’s committee for Namangan said the divorce rate was rising both because of economic hardship, and because more women were rebelling against the constraints of a traditional marriage.

“On the one hand it is caused by the families’ economic situation – arguments frequently arise because the husband cannot provide for the family, or the women is forced to earn the bulk of the income,” she said. “Another factor is the crisis in traditional family life. An increasing number of women realise that they are not obliged to put up with patriarchal family system, and men cannot accept this.”

When Adolat’s husband came round and caused a scene outside her apartment recently, she called the police. But after they found out the couple were married, the officers just gave her husband a mild ticking off.

“They advised him not to treat his family badly, and left without doing anything. I went to my lawyer, but she replied that until I get a divorce, I will continue to suffer,” she said.

(Names have been withheld or changed because of concerns for the safety of interviewees.)

Published in: "Divorce System Works Against Uzbek Women", IWPR staff in London, Reporting Central Asia, Institute for War and Peace Reporting, 20 October 2006,  accessed 3 November 2006.

The report uses classic protocols and working groups as a tool in identifying processes through which international human rights standards are set.  It explores the elements that led to each process, obstacles to setting them, actors behind setting the processes and choosing the best process for specific circumstances.  Included in this analysis are short papers by participants in the standard setting process who identify strengths and weaknesses between processes and relationship between them at regional and global levels.

Compiled from information from the International Council on Human Rights.

To access the report online, click here.

The guide reviews various areas where gender equality should be a goal.  Some of the topics discussed include trafficking, violence, participation in elections, equal protection, property rights, education, and employment.

To obtain a print copy of the guide, please contact Beatrix Attinger Colijn, Senior Gender Adviser.
Kaerntner Ring 5-7
1010 Vienna
Austria
Tel: +43-1 51 436 275
Fax: +43-1 51 436 96
Beatrix.attinger-colijn@osce.org

Compiled from: OSCE, Publication: Gender aspects in post-conflict situations: A guide for OSCE staff.  Available http://www.osce.org/secretariat/item_11_14003.html.

The various sub-themes of the exhibit look at the polarization of war, the effect conflict has on the daily lives of women in the conflict zones, how the media portrays the conflicts, how terrorism affects women, and the efforts of women who are working toward peace throughout the world.

Compiled from: "November 2006: War and Dialogue", International Museum of Women, Accessed 3 November 2006.

What is the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign?

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates, November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights. This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:

• raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
• strengthening local work around violence against women
• establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
• providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
• demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women
• creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women

Since 1991, approximately 1,700 organizations in 130 countries have participated in the 16 Days Campaign!

The Annual Theme

Every year, CWGL composes a Campaign theme in consultation with women's human rights advocates worldwide and then circulates an announcement for the campaign as widely as possible. Over the years, Campaign themes have included: "Violence Against Women Violates Human Rights" (1991/1992), "Democracy without Women's Human Rights . . . is not Democracy" (1993), "Awareness, Accountability, Action: Violence Against Women Violates Human Rights" (1994), "Vienna, Cairo, Copenhagen and Beijing: Bringing Women's Human Rights Home" (1995), "Demand Women's Human Rights in the Home and in the World" (1997), "Building a Culture of Respect for Human Rights" (1998), "Fulfilling the Promise of Freedom from Violence" (1999), "Celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Campaign" (2000), "Racism and Sexism: No More Violence" (2001), "Creating a Culture That Says 'No' to Violence Against Women" (2002), "Violence Against Women Violates Human Rights: Maintaining the Momentum Ten Years After Vienna (1993-2003)" (2003), "For the Health of Women, For the Health of the World: No More Violence," (2004-2005) and 2006:

"Celebrate 16 Years of 16 Days: Advance Human Rights ‹—› End Violence Against Women"

If you have suggestions for a future 16 Days Campaign theme or would like to receive future announcements, please contact CWGL.

Submit your materials!

Participants in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign have been instrumental in bringing issues of violence against women to the forefront in local, national, regional and global arenas. The strategies employed by groups and the activities organized during the 16 Days Campaign period continue to be unique and innovative. The Center for Women's Global Leadership asks that all participants of the 16 Days Campaign - past as well as present participants - send documentation of their events i.e. posters, pictures, t-shirts, video footage, poems, songs, statements, reports, etc. to CWGL for the campaign archives (see contact information below). If you have photographs, documents, or other examples of your work that you can send in an electronic version, please do so and we will post it on the website.

Join the 16 Days electronic discussion!

We invite you to join the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence electronic discussion taking place in the form of a listserve. The discussion allows activists to collaboratively develop themes and strategies for the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign. In addition, it can be used to discuss how groups are raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels, to uncover and learn from the ways in which activists have strengthened local work around violence against women, to continually resurface the link between local and international work to end violence against women, to share and develop new and effective strategies, to show the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women, and to help develop further tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women.

If you are interested in joining the discussion or if you have any questions, please contact CWGL at cwgl@igc.org.

Join the 16 Days movement!

Become part of an already existing student, community, national or international activity for the 16 Days or take actions on your own. Submit your planned activity to us for posting to the International Calendar of Campaign Activities and become part of the growing global movement organizing during this time. Your submissions will also enable the Center to refer other individuals and organizations that are interested in your activities to you. Please send a description of planned activities for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence to the address below.

Get Involved - Online!

The Center will post all information about the Campaign online at http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/home.html.

Take Action Kit

Contact the Center for Women's Global Leadership to receive a free copy of the Take Action Kit for the 16 Days Campaign. The action kit includes:

• a campaign profile and a description of dates
• a list of participating organizations and countries
• a bibliography and resource list
• a list of suggested activities
• a current campaign announcement
• supplemental information relevant to this year's theme
  

For more information about the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, please contact:
Center for Women's Global Leadership, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 160 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8555 USA; ph: (1-732) 932-8782; fax: (1-732) 932-1180; e-mail: cwgl@igc.org, website: http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu.

Reprinted with permission from the Center for Women's Global Leadership, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS CENTER, ARMENIA

Call for participation

International Conference on Domestic Violence
Yerevan, Armenia
4-6^th December, 2006

The Women’s Rights Center in Armenia, the Secretariat of the International Consortium for Domestic Violence, has the pleasure to announce about the organization of the Second International Conference on Domestic Violence, which will take place in Yerevan, Armenia, on December 4-6, 2006. 

Representatives of Eastern European, the CIS and Western European countries and the USA are encouraged to participate in the conference. We anticipate inviting 24 participants from the mentioned countries.

During the conference the participants will present the legislation and services on domestic violence of their countries and will have a great opportunity to exchange their knowledge and experience in the field of combating domestic violence.

The first day of the meeting will be devoted to the discussion of the situation on domestic violence in the countries with good practice, and will include such themes as legislation and services on domestic violence.

The second day of the conference will be devoted to the presentations of the participants from countries with less experience, which have just begun to make their first steps in fight against domestic violence.

The third day will be devoted to group discussion. The participant will be divided into 6 groups; each of which will consist of participants from countries with different levels of combating domestic violence.

Who can participate?

Each country should be represented by 2 participants:

• one representative of NGO, having such services as a shelter, consultation or crisis centers and coming across to the using of the law on domestic violence;
• one representative of governmental structure, or law enforcement agency, or family court, or policy maker, dealing with the issue of domestic violence.

The working languages of the conference will be English and Russian.

Funding

The Women’s Rights Center will fully cover all the financial expenses, including travel, accommodation and meal expenses for five days and four nights.

How to apply?

If you are interested in participation in the Conference, please fill in the attached application form, including an abstract of 200-250 words (in English) and submit it by email to workshop_dv@wrcorg.am The deadline for submission of the Application form is November 1, 2006.

Applicants, whose participation will be approved, will be notified by a confirmation letter by 6 November, 2006.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or comments regarding the event.

***

The Women's Rights Center (WRC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, which is located in Yerevan, Armenia. This is the first non-governmental (and women’s) organization in Armenia registered in 1991. Since 1997 the Women's Rights Center has been involved in the problem of violence against women, carrying out activities in 3 areas: domestic violence, trafficking in women and reproductive and sexual health and rights as violence concerns. The organization operates the first National Hot Line Service, Women’s Support and Drop-in Center and Emergency Shelter for women - victims of domestic violence and their children in Armenia. It also carries out the following activities: participation in the activities of Coalitions, Working groups, Networks, Seminars, Workshops, Trainings and Study-tours, Trainings of Trainings, Lobbying and Advocacy

Applications can be found here and the application deadline is November 1, 2006.

Compiled from: "International Conference on Domestic Violence", Women's Rights Center in Armenia, www.see.oneworld.net, 27 October 2006.

To see the requirements and to nominate someone, please click here. Nominations for the 2007 award must be received by December 9.

Compiled from: www.martinennalsaward.org, 1 November 2006.

Ten years after the summit, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has released a report on what has been done to reach the Summit's goals. The report looks at undernourishment around the world, then focuses on specific regions of the world, and lastly discusses what has been done and what can still be done to reach the Summit's goal.

The report found that little has been done since 1996 to reach the Summit's goal. According to projections with current trends, the Summit's goal might not be reached.

However, the report did find that the world is on a path towards meeting the Milennium Development Goal on reducing hunger around the world. The report also says that the Summit's goal of halving the number of people who are undernourished could still be met, and conditions are ripe for changes to be made to help attain that goal.

For the full text of the report, please click here.

Compiled from: The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2006, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, 2006.

For their part, the Congress urges local and regional authorities across Europe to make the fight against violence against women a priority by becoming actively involved in the Council of Europe campaign and pushing for the strongest possible commitment of national authorities and parliament.  In addition, the Congress will hold a conference in November of 2007 to explore the
different avenues available to local and regional authorities in the
fight against violence against women, emphasizing awareness-raising, protection of victims and training social service providers and law enforcement who work with victims.

Compiled from information from the United Nations Women Report Network and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

For more information contact congress.violence@coe.int

Website for Human Rights Directorate of the Council of Europe Stop Domestic Violence Against Women Campaign.

Ellsberg emphasizes that violence against women happens throughout the world. The most common form of violence is intimate partner violence, commonly referred to as domestic violence. There are serious health effects from violence against women. Some of these effects are temporary, and others, like chronic pain syndromes, depression, and poor physical functioning, have long-term effects. Also, when a pregnant woman is subjected to violence, there could be adverse effects on the baby

Over the past two decades, there have been improvements in what is being done to help women who are victims of violence. However, many of these initiatives have not been monitored or evaluated for effectivness. 

One of the problems the health-care profession faces is the silence of the women who are the victims. Many are afraid to speak up on their own initiative, but studies have shown that when they are asked, women tend to open up about the violence they have experienced.

The health-care profession can take important steps towards helping these women. They can work to change cultural ideas about a woman's position in society at the community level. Also, they can coordinate with groups on a local level to help combat violence. They can work to train all their employees to ask questions of suspected victims and follow-up on the employees to make sure the programs are still being maintained. Lastly, they can promote women's empowerment and gender equality.

Compiled from: Ellsberg, M., "Violence against women and the Millenium Development Goals: Facilitating women's access to support," International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2006) 94, 325-332.

With the fall of the Taliban in 2001, international aid flooded into the area, with much of the focus around the status of women and girls under the oppressive regime.  Women are part of the newly elected parliament, and women were granted equality under Article 22 of the new Constitution.  Peace building and women's rights are measured through recommendations provided in UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security to ensure protection of the rights of women and girls in the rebuilding process.

Despite all of this attention, violence against women and girls continues.  Some practices, such as honor killings and child marriage, are actually increasing.  While much of the abuse goes unreported to officials, Afghanistan, and women's rights in particular, receives less Western media attention and less aid.  Much of the aid directed to Afghanistan focuses on military action rather than development and poverty relief.  Problems of abuse and lack of opportunities for women are exacerbated by poverty. 

The report, as with the previous Taking Stock reports, presents findings and recommendations in a table including research and anecdotal information on the status of women in Afghanistan.  The table focuses on four core areas: Violence Against Women, Women's Civil and Political Rights, Women's Social and Economic Status and Support and Policy from the International Community.  Each focus area includes legal provisions, improvements, concerns and security challenges in achieving goals.  The report stresses the need for long term, continued commitment in the fight for women's equality.   

Compiled from Taking Stock Update: Afghan Women Five Years On, Lauryn Oates, Womankind Worldwide. (October 2006). (PDF, 18 pages).