Rights of Women in War

The Deaths of Statesmen: The Case of Qaddafi and Doe

2011-11-18T06:41:00.001-05:00

COMING SOON

Ivory Coast, Tunisia & Egypt In One Month? Where are the Women and Girls?

2011-01-29T21:41:00.031-05:00

Does it surprise me that even after six decades of "liberation" from colonial rule the continent is still awash in violent conflicts? When is it ever going to stop? Who are these "grand-father" autocrats who find it difficult to relinquish power or at least accept freedom of expression and peaceful demonstration? And, what are their sexes? You bet - you guessed right, they are all MASCULINE - MALES (with emphasis).

Pause for a moment, when you switch on your live TV or search the internet for news on Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Egypt, what do you see? Who has the spotlight? Well, ...it's mostly men. Does it cross your mind when you think about it? Where are the women and children? Are they equal stakeholders in this so-called race for freedom and justice? Are they impacted by such violent conflicts? If so, are their rights being protected? Let's see if I can muster any motivation from you to consider questioning about the state of women and children in Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Egypt amidst these conflicts.

Without any direct connection, rulers in La Cote d'Ivoire, Tunisia, and Egypt have clung unto power for so long, so much so that the breakout of violent conflicts have become inevitable. What's the consequences of this preventable mayhem? Violent attacks, bruises, forced movement and deaths. "Preventable "because, if only these rulers will recognize the "rule of law" (by virtue of their constitution which allows limited terms for presidency) then they will know that, good leaders lead do not yang-away forever.

LA COTE D'IVOIRE

Ivory Coast, as it is popularly known, was considered a haven for peace and economic stability in Africa having gained independence from France on 7 August 1960. Looking back on its history, one can see that, Cote d'Ivoire's long standing stability was more or less a facade considering that President Felix Houphouet-Boigny clung to the head of state position from 1960 until his death in 1993. The Global Security summarizes his reign as a

cultivation of close political ties with the West that insulated the Ivory Coast from the turmoil associated with the military uprisings and Marxist experimentation that characterized the region. By maintaining an environment of stability, the Ivory Coast was able to develop its economy, attracting foreign investment and becoming the world’s largest producer of cocoa.

This "insulation" was certainly seasonal, as it lasted for the duration of Houphouet-Boigny's three decades and three years rule. All hell broke lose immediately after his death on 7 December 1993. Henri Konan Bedie, his successor, soon witnessed boycotting and protests as a result of election restrictions on opposition parties by his government in 1995. During the election in 2000, Alassane Ouattara, a Muslim who was previously Prime Minister during Houphouet-Boigny's regime, intention to run re-sparked religious and ethnic divide amongst the masses.

On 25 December 1999, General Robert Guei (16 March 1941 – 19 September 2002) ousted President Bedie marking the inception of Ivory Coast first (bloodless) military coup. As tension mounted with General Guei "troublesome" policies which ended up barring Ouattara from running as an elected candidate, forced the Rassemblement des Republicaines (RDR) (his party) to boycott. the election. Preempting low elections outcome on his part, General Guei halted the elections process and declared himself a winner. This was the "straw that broke the camel's back" - the beginning of Cote d'Ivoire on-going bloody violence. In just a matter of hours, women and children were plunged into blood baths, rape and all other forms of abuse, before Ouattara recognized Laurent Gbagbo's presidency.

A relatively short-lived peace was broken when on 7 January 2001 another coup erupted plunging the "Elephants" into a fragile state until November 2009 partly resulting in repeated postponement of election date. All efforts on the part of ECOWAS, AU and mediator Thabo Mbeki proved futile as Ivorians (mainly women and children) seek refuge in neighboring Liberia.

TUNISIA

According to Tourism Tunisia, the original inhabitants of this north African desert star were the Berbers, who were later followed by settlers and tradesmen from throughout the Mediterranean basin. For hundreds of years, the Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, Visigoth settlers, colonizers and traders did not only interacted with the Berbers they managed to remain thereby constructing a beautiful cultural mosaic adorned in language, traditions and shades of complexion most attributed to the domination of Arabs.

Arab Muslims, who arrived in the 7th century, exerted the most influence and established themselves permanently in Tunisia. Like any other original people, the Berbers resisted Muslim's language and religion, but their ability to exercise full control was overcome by the arrivals of the Bedouin tribes from the east which added more strength to Muslim influences.

After transitioning through medieval times as well as surviving Italian and French invasion in 1881 - fast-forward to 1920, the creation of the Destour Party - a nationalist movement led by Habib Bourguiba - fueled a series of tension in Tunisia, one of which resulted in Bourguiba's arrest in 1952 after Tunisia fell under Vichy's rule during World War II. Three years after Bourguiba's arrest, a wave of violence between the French and Tunisians ensued. France later granted Tunisia independence on 20 March 1956 "crowning" Habib Bourguiba as the first prime ministers.

Worth noting, is how interestingly similar African leaders are. Regardless their geographical location, background or race, they somehow manage to exhibit similar leadership qualifications as is seen with Bourguiba and Ben Ali. After 31 years of domination, in November 1987 Bourguiba was "removed" by Zine el Abidine Ben Ali who has become the center of attraction today (for repeating the exact same thing Bourguiba did) having served five consecutive terms - a total of 23 years.

Today Tunisians as rural farmers, mountaineers, city dwellers and human rights activists refused to remain passive. As they mount the streets to protest Ben Ali's "undemocratic" endless repression, corruption and economic malaise, the Jasmine Revolutionists are exposed to serious injuries and death. Although Ben Ali has fled the country, one big question remains, will his departure bring lasting solution to Tunisia's leaders (men) propensity to abuse power?

EGYPT

Same ole, same ole! Almost the same story retold three times, except that the locations are different. Egypt proudly known as the birth of civilization, culture and history is at its worse state now. President Hosni Mubarak who succeeded Anwar Sadat after he was assassinated in 1981, have clung unto "sweet power" for three decades. He is infamous for paying diplomatic visits to four US presidents - Ronald Regan, Bill Clinton, G eorge W. Bush, and Barack Obama. At this point, these visits tell it all with regard to the sheer length of time an African male leader can grip power without conscience or empathy. But that's not the end of the story.

The most important concern for this blog is the "backseat" row women and children inherently assume amidst faulty leadership characterized by long-term oppression and then sudden outburst of violence in Africa. From Cote d'Ivoire, to Tunisia and now Egypt all we see in the media is men fighting for "freedom" or ...? With that much focus on the next male power-abuser, women and children are ignored, shut-out and pushed into the background as if they have no part to play in restoring justice and peace-building. I am very much interested in disseminating and education the WWW about media coverage that highlight the impact of Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Egypt violent conflicts on women and children. If you have a thought, please share it with me.

LINKS
https://www.cia.gov
www.egyptdailynews.com
www.egypt.gov

http://www.globalsecurity.org
http://www.gouv.ci/
www.sis.gov.eg
www.touregypt.net
www.ministeres.tn
http://www.tourismtunisia.com

Does Restrepo Provide Some Evidence for Filing War Crime Charges to the ICJ?

2010-11-11T15:37:00.005-05:00

When I was asked to comment on Restrepo several thoughts ran through my mind. Rather than recount “annoying” scenes as critics usually do, I decided to reflect not only on the implications of my initial reaction to intermittent outburst of laughter in the room during the viewing of the documentary on Thursday, September 30, 2010 at the George Washington University but to also scan the internet to explore what others are saying about the film. Even though, the Sundance 2010 Award winning documentary appears to receive “thumbs up” from supposedly American populace, below are few random quotations I stumbled upon whilst doing a mini-research:-

“The film provides insight into the soldiers and their environment, but it is its own paradox: The more it reveals, the more mysterious and puzzling the war becomes.” August 20, 2010; Rotten Tomatoes.

“Still, my guess is that anyone who sees Restrepo with an open mind will come out saying, I learned something I didn’t know. Reminding us how much we don’t know, how much our beliefs are based on assumptions and leaps of faith — isn’t that what docs should do? It may even be worth going to the theater to see some unchoreographed, unfun violence that really happened.” Margaret Harrison, September 8, 2010.

“The old men are skeptical of both Kearney’s pledge and the presence of his troops in their lives… But Kearney insists that everybody focus on the task at hand… The Americans need cooperation. The villagers need the Americans to understand that the price for cooperation is likely to be Taliban reprisals. The picture that emerges is of war that, if not unwinnable, is a Sisyphean battle in a country made almost entirely of hills and boulders.” Wesley Morris, July 2, 2010.

Collectively, these reviews highlight the unadulterated aspects of the footages, the strong camaraderie exhibited by young immature boy soldiers, likability of heroic American redeemers of uncivilized Afghani villagers versus the devilish not-deserving-life enemies – the Talibans. Nevertheless, what is missing is Afghanis’ perspective with regards to how Americans audaciously invade their country, branding locals as insurgents. At this juncture the meaning of “insurgent” is noteworthy. According to Dictionary.com in international law, insurgent is “a person or group that rises in revolt against an established government or authority but whose conduct does not amount to belligerency.” Thus, considering this definition, Americans are the insurgents making the reverse invalid and unfounded.

Whilst most Americans usually display either a strong sense of patriotism, hypocrisy or shear ignorance with regards to their government’s insurgency against Afghanistan; the crux of the matter lies only with the hope inherent with time. This "hope-with-time analogy" will potentially confirm the conventional belief that society is progressing towards global justice and that tolerance for human rights is flaunted in our so-called new world order. But the reality that injustice and inequality is at the hands of “international human rights gate-keepers” is clearly observed in the statement below:-

“By any reasonable measure, Mugabe has committed crimes against humanity justifying an international response. The United States should propose that the UN Security Council use its authority under the Rome Statute to authorise International Criminal Court claims of crimes against humanity (A case for intervention).” John Kraemer and Larry Gostin, January 5, 2009 - Guardian. Though the above statement is written in a completely different context, by analogy it can be compared with similar analysis drawn from Restropo. In that, it is mind boggling to process thoughts on how anyone could turn blind eyes to their own “sins” but yet have the audacity to accuse another of similar “offences”?

In summary, I emphasize that among the numerous other emotions and thoughts I had gathered whilst sitting in Room 213 of the Elliot School of International Affairs, issues of restoring justice to innocent victims of invasion, cultural disrespect and gross human rights abuse by America overwhelmed me. I asked whether American citizens as well as local human rights organizations could seek and access appropriate avenues (e.g. Court systems in American) and/or regional institutions (Inter-American Human Rights Commission) to file complaints on behalf of innocent civilians of Afghanistan who perceive that their rights have been violated due to America’s occupation? Due to the United States conscientious refusal to sign on to the Rome Statue, it is almost impossible for anyone to bring a case of war crimes against them to the International Court of Justice, certainly not women and children as they are completely absent both from the “war front” and amongst local community members, yet they implicitly disproportionately bear the adverse effects associated with war and conflict. Your thoughts are welcome.

Links

Africa's Last Colony - Sahrawis/Western Saharans in Exile

2010-01-22T05:50:00.007-05:00

Contrary to conventional knowledge, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) - popularly known as Western Sahara - is not just a territory. It is Africa’s last colony even though, Wikipedia confirms that there are some 81 countries around the world including all member states of the African Union (except Morocco), have recognized SADR as a sovereign nation.

According to BBC Country Profile, SADR came under Spanish rule in 1884 and later became a Spanish province in 1934. Though a former Spanish colony, SADR is currently occupied by Morocco even after Morocco (and Mauratania) were rejected claims to sovereignty of SADR by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1975. This was the beginning of Sahwaris on-going struggle for self-determination and independence sparking the formation of the Polisario Front, a national liberation movement set up in May 10, 1973. In protest to the ICJ's decision, King Hassan II ordered a "Green March" of over 300,000 Moroccans in November 1975. Though Spain and Mauritania eventually backed down, Mororocco will continue to claim complete control over Sahrawi people.

Between 1978 until now, the Polisario Front have engaged in both low and high-grade war against Morocco. Ongoing conflicts between Polisario and Morocco have resulted in some 100,000 refugees along the Algerian/Mauritanian borders. In part, lack of recognition of SADR from the UN and other politically charged relationships between Morocco and the United States, research information as well as media attention on SADR are almost non-existent. SADR is not included in the United Nations High Commission for Refugee reports, neither does the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre document anything on the status of refugees and displaced Sahrawis. Moreover, most internet sources pertinent to SADR/Western Sahara, rather than focusing on the grave human right violation of this group of people with respect to modern day colonization; emphasis is put on the UN failed missions in convincing Morocco to leave SADR.

According to Freedom for All, there are about 95,000 Sahrawis refugees residing in Tindouf Refugee camp in South-West Algeria. Union de l'action feminine (UAF) asserts that "women and children in the camps are deprived of their most fundamental rights...[they are] compelled to work beyond their capacities and a great number of them have been tortured and beaten... women lost their husbands, killed in the Polisario jails...children are manipulated for political purposes and are used to ask for humanitarian aid that is embezzled by the Polisario separatists..." Many are denied access to health as the camp one hospital facility with minimum supplies are under staffed and incapaciated. Access to education beyond grade school is difficult but for few scholarships program (e.g., he Cuban government). Even with these setbacks, Peace Women confirms that Sahrawi women are not only in charge of their lives but are the champions of propagating high quality education to the rest of their community. Since the war between Morocco and Polisario (1975) a Sahrawis born then have been forced to grow up in barbed wire refugee camps. Many who ran from Morocco to Polisario camps for refuge, have been separated from families they left in Morocco for well over 30 years.

Whilst some argue that Polisario is responsible for these human rights abuses of women and children, others purports that the Moroccan government is to be blamed for denying Sahrawis their right to self-determination and independence. Yet others argue that, the reason for encaging such nomadic group of people by Morocco has to do with SADR's richness in phosphate oil, fish and other minerals. If Polisario truly did not want some closure to this ordeal then they would not have signalled their readiness to accept UN plans to resolve the issue in 2004. Morocco's rejection of this plan forced James Baker, former UN Special Envoy, to resign in June 2004 making the UN process a deadlock.

No progress have been made since talks resumed between Morocco and the Polisario Front in March 2008 in New York, with Mauritania and Algeria in attendance. In January 2009 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed US diplomat Christopher Ross as his new special envoy to deal with Western Sahara. On April 20, 2009, the Security Council extended the mandate for the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for another year. The unanimously backed Resolution 1871 calls for continued negotiations surrounding a lasting political solution, including self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.

Today, very little is known of the plight of the Sahrawi people partly due to elfishness, greed, discrimination and double standards in the international legal order. It is important that, as a global community, we maintain consistency in advocating for everyone's rights as enshrined by international law. I hope the media and other humanitarian advocacy groups will see the need to include the people of Sahrawi in their campaigns and awareness projects globally.

Compiled by Veronica Fynn

SOURCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahrawi_Arab_Democratic_Republic
http://iffctr.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/3466917.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3227997.stm
http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/thestatewerein/otherstates/tswi-081025-Western-Sahara-redirected
http://www.countrywatch.com/facts/facts_default.aspx?type=text&topic=SEWSA
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security-council/index-of-countries-on-the-security-council-agenda/western-sahara.html
http://www.internal-displacement.org
http://www.peacewomen.org/WPS/WesternSahara.html
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/minurso/
http://www.unhcr.org/4a375c426.html
http://www.westernsaharaonline.net

VIDEOS
Sahrawi Demonstration Against Norwegian Oil Hunt
Sahrawi Protest Norwegian Fisheries
Western Saharan Refugees Reach Out to the World
Refugees Return to the Sahara After Cuban Education

Outbreak of Violence in Guinea Creates Opportunity for Sexual Abuse

2009-10-24T22:09:00.006-04:00

As if men were impatiently waiting for a "chaotic opportunity," as soon as the conflict broke out in Guinea, sexual violence including public rape of women hiked unprecedentedly. The Republic of Guinea, estimated population of 10 million people, is located on the West coast of Africa. The only French colony, to reject de Gaulle's new community, gained its independence in 1958 with elected president Sekou Toure. Former president Toure, like many other leaders in Africa, remained in power until his death in1984, giving way to military coup leader Lasanna Conteh; who was later elected democratically as president in 1993 which marked the beginning of civilian rule in Guinea.

According to the CIA Factbook Guinea has always had a history of authoritarian rule since its independence from France. As stated earlier, President Conte came to power through military means. Though there were reports of fraudulent elections, President Conte was re-elected in 1998 and again in 2003. Similar to Toure's, Conte's death in 2008, resulted in another "bloodless" military coup, this time with Captain Moussa Dadis Camara as military leader. Capt. Camara suspended the constitution as well as political and union activity in order to lead the country by military rule.

Despite, regional instabilities surrounding Guinea, it has managed to maintain some level of general peace, yet has fallen short of its own internal vulnerability of subtle political and economic crisis. The CIA Factbook suggests, "declining economic conditions and popular dissatisfaction with corruption and bad governance prompted two massive strikes in 2006, and a third nationwide strike in early 2007" and now even more evident in the most recent violent outbreak on September 28, 2009.

Al Jazeera News reports that Captain Camara's military government crackdown on 50,000 opposition leaders gathered at the Conakry Sports Stadium to protest ruling military power recommendation to enter into a national unity government, resulted in the deaths of at least 157 people with reports of widespread brutality and sexual violence against women. Within the space of 3-4 weeks (i.e., October 30, 2009), the African Union (AU) imposed sanctions on military rulers in Guinea mainly because of the intensity of violence and human rights abuses.

According to France 24 in the midst of "blood bath and harrowing tales" an estimated 30 women have allegedly being brutally raped by soldiers. Stories from eyewitnesses, survivors and others:

"They raped me. I went out of the stadium naked, naked, naked," a political activist said (quoted from France 24)

"I went back behind the gate, I found another soldier there. He took his gun (…) and he forced it into the vagina of a girl,” an eyewitness said (quoted from France 24)

"Group rape, rape in broad daylight on a pitch…really that is unusual in Guinea… and that is worrying. They are afraid to come and even we are not very comfortable talking about these rapes because we worry about the consequences of speaking out," a doctor said, (quoted from France 24)

“I can’t sleep at night, after what I saw, and I am afraid. I saw lots of women raped, and lots of dead.” said one middle-aged woman (quoted from New York Times)

"I saw a women who was stripped naked...They tore off tore off her clothes. They surrounded her. They made her lie down. They lifted up her feet, and one of the soldiers advanced. They took turns." (quoted from Politics Daily)

"I affirm, in categorical fashion, that women were raped, not just one woman," said Mamadou Mouctar Diallo, 34, an opposition leader (quoted from Feministing)

" They especially tore into the women. They were seeking to humiliate them" said former opposition prime minister, François Lonsény Fall (quoted from Feministing)

So, rape as a weapon of war appears to be endemic, premeditated, systematic, and unending. What do you think should be done to protect women and girls from sexual violence during violent conflicts in Africa?

Compiled by Veronica P. Fynn

RESOURCES
Videos

Warning! Emotional Scenes

Amid the Blood Bath, Harrowing Tales of Rape
Outcry as Dozens are Killed at Conakry Protest
The Coup Seen from "Baghdad"
Mon Pay Va Mal
Scores Killed at Guinea Protest
Guinee, Conakry

Weblinks
Guinee Conakry
Afrique Index
Guinea News
Al Jazeera
Guinea News
CIA Factbook
History World
Politics Daily
New York Times
France 24
Feministing

The War in Sri Lanka

2009-09-27T17:49:00.007-04:00

The reporter on Dateline opened with a heart breaking statement which reflect yet another failure of humanity "it's a terrible thing to contemplate but for more than 25 long and bloody years, Sri Lankans have been killing themselves in a vicious civil war." It is estimated that over 150,000 civilians have been killed during this war mainly by indiscriminate shelling and human shielding with majority of such deaths being women and children.

According to the CIA - World Factbook, as the first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka (an island in the Indian Ocean of southern Asia), from northern India in the late 6th century B.C. Buddhism was introduced into the culture. Tamil Kingdom in northern Sri Lanka was established in the 14th century. Most of Sri Lanka's coast was controlled by the Portuguese and Dutch around the 16th and 17th centuries until the island was ceded to the British in 1796. In 1802, Sri Lanka became a crown colony and gained its independence in 1948, changing its name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka in 1972.

Some have argued that the root of Sri Lanka's conflict is linked to British colonial rule. That is, after the British granted political independence to Ceylon by way of pressure from Sinhalese nationalist, subsequent disagreements between the Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic communities rose up during construction of the country's first constitution after British rule. Formation of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) resulted in unfriendly behavior. Anton Balasingham who was employed by the British High Commission in Colombo, later immigrated to Britain and started the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelem (a separatist group) around the early 1960's. By 1972 several Tamil youths, including Velupillai Prabhakaran, joined forces to establish the Tamil New Tigers, later transformed into the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) argued to have been formed around a racist ideology.

The war in Sri Lanka as noted above dates back to the early 1980's as tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists mounted into a brutal civil war that has lasted this long. Though several efforts have been made to cease-fire (2002), fighting between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006. By May 2009, the government announced the death of LTTE leader Velupillai PRABHAKARAN and assures the world of an end to Sri Lanka's war.

With the "ending of the islands decades-old civil war" came "illegal hostages" of Tamil civilians by the government. On September 11, 2009, amidst international concern for over 300,000 Tamil civilians, the Government of Sri Lanka sent home 9,920 villagers that were being held for "screening." The Associated Press writer, Bharatha Mallawarachi reports that "these displaced ethnic Tamils were confined to overcrowded, military-run camps with poor sanitation and restricted movements."

Apart from creating hundreds of thousands of refugees, and internally displaced persons, Sri Lanka's war has attracted criticism from human rights groups because of their abductions and recruitment of children under 18 years of age as child soldiers - a blatant violations of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - Optional Protocol. Human Rights Watch reports that "despite promises to investigate abductions of children by the pro-government Karuna group, Sri Lankan authorities have taken no effective action and abductions continue...the armed opposition Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) also continue to recruit children in Sri Lanka and use them as soldiers." From 2003 to 2008 UNICEF recorded over 6,000 cases of child recruitment by rebel groups in Sri Lanka, the Economist Reports on July 16, 2009.

In spite of the above terror, danger to human life, and grave humanitarian concerns Medicine Sans Frontieres (MSF) reported that Sri Lanka is among the top 10 countries around the world that receive very little international media attention. As the health situation for many Sri Lankan women and children worsen, MSF writes "the war in Sri Lanka has ended but the suffering continues."For example, MSF distributes high energy porridge to 23,000 children under five, pregnant and lactating women and people over 60 in 11 of the camps everyday, some doctors see close to 300 patients a day and people in the camps are challenged on a day-to-day basis with dealing with the trauma experienced in the conflict.

As caring citizens of the world, the least we can do is at least inform ourselves about the plethora of injustices and inequalities existing in such a disparate world. To sit supinely and do nothing is a moral offense!

Written by: Veronica Fynn

Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_Civil_War
http://satp.org/satporgtp/countries/shrilanka/database/annual_casualties.htm
http://www.tamilnet.com/
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20060808_05
http://www.apwld.org/ejk.htm
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2007/03/27/sri-lanka-karuna-group-and-ltte-continue-abducting-and-recruiting-children
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_21990.html
http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?objectid=0666283D-5056-AA77-6C9161A428E1F7AA&component=toolkit.pressrelease&method=full_html

UPDATES
November 10, 2009: Landmines, Unexploed Ordnance a Barrier to Return

Video Links
Official Website of the Sri Lankan Government
Life as a Sri Lankan War Refugee
Sri Lanka War
"Sri Lanka War on Tamil" - Hunting the Tigers
Sri Lanka Photo Gallery by National Geography

Displaced Iraqi Women Resist Returning Home

2009-08-28T13:40:00.004-04:00

“A stable Iraq requires the full participation of women in Iraqi society, but displaced women will not return home if they believe their lives will be put at risk by doing so…” Melanie Teff, Refugee International, July 15, 2009

Video: Women are weapon of war

Since the United States of America invaded Iraq in 2003, over 4 millions Iraqis have been forced to flee, including 2.8 million internally displacements persons in 2008. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Group reports that these IDPs are distributed throughout the country, however there appears to be a high number of IDPs in the central provinces (1.1 million) and northern and southern regions (800,000). Major reasons why Iraqis are displaced, IDMC suggests, are 1) military operations, 2) generalized violence, 3) policies of former government of Saddam Hussein, including arabization” of Kudish areas, 4) destruction of marshlands in southern Iraq, and 5) repression of political opposition.

Video: Iraqi Women Speaks Out

Women make-up a significant amount of Iraqi displaced peoples. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 49 per cent all IDPs in Iraq are women. Refugee International (RI) July 15, 2009 report argues that uprooted Iraqi women are increasingly susceptible to exploitation and abuse because of extreme financial pressures. The report states that domestic violence are higher among displaced population in northern Iraq and that displaced women are more vulnerable to forced early marriages, prostitution, and trafficking. Returning home, as one of UNHCR proposed “solution” to forced displacement is not currently an option for most displaced Iraqi women for several reasons.

Despite relative peace, improved security and tough camp living characterized with continuing uncertainties, Iraqi women are refusing to return home because their rights are somehow jeopardized. IRIN confirms that, “Iraqi women will resist returning home, even if conditions improve in Iraq, if there is no focus on securing their rights as women and assuring their personal security and their families’ well-being.” For example, an assessment carried out by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in February 2009, confirms that 81 per cent of the 1.6 million post-Samarra IDPs cited food, clean water, sanitation, electricity, access to employment, health care as priority needs. Further, approximately 297, 000 returnees also faced harsh conditions of damaged property, infrastructure and loss of livelihood, reports IOM.

Video: The Rape and Muder of Abeer Qassim Hamzar

Violence against women is of utmost concern as honor killings, burning and other attacks on women are on the rise, RI reports. The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), unlike the Government of Iraq, has suspended laws to reduce “honor” crimes and has increased penalties. The RI Field Report confirms that, high levels of chronic disease, complicated by the psycho-social stress of war and displacement is common among many Iraqis. Displaced women reportedly are disproportionately affected by the national government’s inability to distribute medical resources to the region. Similarly, education for displaced children, are extremely difficult as Arabic-language schools were already over-crowded before the displacement problem.

With these and more complicated situation for Iraqi women, RI recommends greater financial support for Iraqi displaced people and development of stronger laws enforcement and judicial structures in Iraq to limit violence against women.

REFERENCES
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2009/0702_iraqi_displacement_ferris/0702_iraqi_displacement_ferris.pdf
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=85362
http://www.refugeesinternational.org/sites/default/files/071509_iraq_womensrights_0.pdf
http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/%28httpInfoFiles%29/7CC8ADC4D8E2DF8CC12575A60052DB24/$file/GO_08_iraq.pdf
http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/%28httpInfoFiles%29/7CC8ADC4D8E2DF8CC12575A60052DB24/$file/GO_08_iraq.pdf
http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/pbnAF/cache/offonce?entryId=22764
http://www.refugeesinternational.org/press-room/press-release/displaced-iraqi-women-increasingly-vulnerable-exploitation-and-abuse

Compiled by Veronica Fynn

******Comment or be a follower*******

Displaced Women and Girls in the Swat Valley of Pakistan

2009-07-29T12:51:00.015-04:00

The Swat Valley, known as the Switzerland of Pakistan, is located in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The Valley has been under serious attacks by the Taliban since 2007, creating humanitarian concerns, thereby forcing inhabitants to migrate due to imminent danger and violence caused by the conflict.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR), over 2 million people have been displaced as fighting intensified between Pakistan Military and the Taliban. A major reason why the crisis has not been a humanitarian catastrophe, Jonathan Alpeyrie of Eurasia Insight reports (July 17, 2009), lies in the fact that, Pakistani families in secured areas have offered to host about 80 percent of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The UNHCR reports today (July 29, 2009) that thousands of displaced Pakistani families are returning home under a government-sponsored repatriation programme though many fear re-displacement hence refused to return.

As always, UNHCR are often pressured to manifest one of its "solution" for forced movement by heavily favoring "voluntary" repatriation. During such process, women and girls are usually subjected to all forms of violence and human rights abuses, including their right to health and education. Worth noting is the infamous Maulana Fazlullah, an Islamist militant leader of Tehreek-e-Nafas-e-Shariat-e-eMohammadi (Movement for the Enforcement of Islamic Law). Fazlullah, nick name "Radio Mullah" and his group are responsible for banning girls education in the Swat District. According to Changing Up Pakistan, some 400 private schools with enrollment as high has 40,000 girls have been shut down. Ten girls' schools that tried to open after the January 15, 2009 deadline were blown up, adding up to the over 170 schools already bombed or torched.

Video: Taliban in Control of Pakistan's Swat Valley

There were over 350 privately owned schools in the Swat Region, each having a separate section for boys and girls, BBC reports. But over the past year, except for 96 schools, all were ordered to close down resulting in blatant violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights laws. Of the estimated 1 million children displaced by the violent conflict, UNICEF utmost priority has been to ensure that some 700,000 school-aged children are able to return to classes in September this year.

As gender equality (goal # 3 of the Millennium Development Goals) is pre-requisite for any nations development, it is important to support and ensure that Pakistani women and girls, who are already suffering from the impact of violent displacement, be given access to health and education; even as they embark on returning home.

Video: Swat Valley's Humanitarian Crisis

Your comments are welcome.

Written by: Veronica Fynn

UPDATES
November 10, 2009: Bomb-Blast Victims Lack Trauma Care, Counselling
Bomb-blast victims lack trauma care, counselling
September 4, 2009: Executions Continues in Swat Valley
August 15, 2009: Suicide Bomber kills at least five in Swat Valley
August 14, 2009: Pakistan's dancing girls return after Taliban defeated in Swat Valley
August 2, 2009: Displaced return to Swat Valley

Sexual Violence in the DRC

2009-05-09T15:40:00.009-04:00

Why do men use sexual violation as a weapon of war? Is it because women are pre-disposition biologically and/or socially? Biological predisposition entails their unique reproductive ability to bear children and social pre-disposition encompass their socially ascribed roles as care-taker and care-giver. Rape and all forms of sexual violence is more than prominent in the DRC, especially in in the Kivu Provinces. According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees report on May 8, 2009, there are "some 1.8 million Internally Displaced Persons in North Kivu as a result of fighting and instability since late 2006. At least 75 percent of the displaced live with host families. Approximately 100,000 IDPs are temporarily accommodated in 11 UNHCR-run sites across the province," (UNHCR Briefing Notes, 2009).

WATCH CONGO REBELS - DRC

It is extremely worrisome to know that this tragical war, branded as "Africa's World War" is more of a war on women. Women and girls unfortunate to be displaced or transitioning to a "place of refuge" are at risks of being gang raped, violated and abused. Women should not have to bear the brunt of African men selfishness, greed and political gimmicks. Moreover, although over 5.4 million people have died in the terrible war, their stories and cries never make it to the Western media. It is worth noting that the war in the DRC is not just marely a war of justice and equality, it is a war fuel by Western neo-liberalism (capitalism), corruption and insensitivity. Illicit trade of diamonds, small arms, Cassiterite and coltan (in our cell phones) drive the massive killing of innocent people in the DRC.

WATCH THE GRAND THEFT CONGO - DRC

The question for discussion is what can be done to reduce the suffering of women and girls in the DRC? Do you think the African Commission on People's and Human Rights have some stake in restoring lasting peace in the DRC? How can African women in the diaspora contribute to raising the profile of IDP women and girls in the DRC? Your contribution is of OUT MOST RELEVANCE!!!

SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONGO

Written by: Veronica Fynn

UPDATES
August 28, 2009: DRC Displacement Update
August 11, 2009: Hilary Clinton Condemns Impunity in Eastern Congo
August 10, 2009: Healing the Wounds of Sexual Violence in DRC

2009-04-14T11:59:00.003-04:00

Do women have rights in war? What do you think?