JOINT STATEMENT:Men and Women Must Unite to End Violence Against Women!

JOINT STATEMENT by Global Human Rights Defence, (GHRD) Jabala Action (Calcutta) Bangladesh Institute for Human Rights (BIHR), and Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT)

The Hague, Calcutta, Dhaka, 8 March 2009

Men and Women Must Unite to End Violence Against Women!

Global Human Rights Defence, (GHRD) The Hague-Dhaka, Jabala Action, Calcutta, a new partner organisation of GHRD, and Bangladesh Institute for Human Rights (BIHR), Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT) four NGOs involved in the promotion of women’s rights in India and Bangladesh, have joined forces to raise awareness about the plight of women in South Asia on International Women’s Day 2009.

As grass root organisations, committed to fact-finding and observation in the region, we note with concern how women and girls in South Asia are excluded from the educational and occupational sphere, sexually exploited, mutilated, sold into slavery and forced into marriages, simply because they are female.

The number of women who experience violence - including rape, beatings, torture, acid attacks and murder - is alarmingly high in our countries of operation: India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Social inclusion and respecting minorities and migrants are crucial elements to breaking this cycle of discrimination and stigmatization of women in South Asia.

Women in South Asia are underrepresented in the public and political sphere, while national as well as international legislation and programmes aimed at increasing their rights continually fail to be implemented.

State intervention towards preventing violence against women has been inadequate to date. Barriers to accessing the judicial system itself, corruption within the police forces and mismanagement of vital evidence are major obstacles.

We observe that the violence is particularly prevalent against women in rural and impoverished areas, both in domestic situations and situations outside the home.

Female migrants constitute the largest number of unskilled labourers. Rampant gender inequalities, low social status and lack of understanding of their sexuality and reproductive health, together with lack of access to information and services make migrant women specially vulnerable to trafficking and HIV/AIDS.The stigmatization of women, the taboo surrounding female sexuality and the concept of ‘honour’ prevent many women from seeking justice in cases of gender-based and sexual violence. At the same time, it reinforces gender stereotypes and hinders social inclusion.

Considering that the root causes are numerous and multidimensional, the issue must be addressed in the same way. Real change is only possible when the notions and practices of male dominance are challenged, deconstructed and ultimately transformed.

We must break through gender stereotypes and address the general discrimination of minorities, women and migrants.

This is a struggle that must unite women and men from both religious minorities and majorities alike.

GHRD, Jabala Action, BIHR and BRCT have therefore joined forces this day, under the slogan: Men and Women United to End Violence Against Women!

Activities include a radio programme on Bhutanese refugee women’s issues in Nepal, joint press conferences in Dhaka, a ‘human chain’ for mass awareness, and student debates in Dhaka, in collaboration with the BIHR and BRCT.