WUNRN
PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN PROTESTS
REFLECTS THEIR DESIRE FOR CHANGE - UN SR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN PROTESTS
8 December 2011 – The
active participation of women in public protests witnessed in many parts of the
world recently reflect their strong desire to promote social change, including
a yearning for the rule of law and human rights, the United Nations independent
expert on violence against women said today.
“Moments of political transition provide a unique opportunity to
ensure that women participate equally in public life and that their rights in
legal and social systems, including the elimination of all forms of
discrimination and violence in law and in practice are addressed,” said Rashida
Manjoo, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and
consequences.
“Women have stood together with men in the streets, at the
frontline of the struggle for a better future. They have also provided support
to the protesters,” Ms. Manjoo said in a statement to mark the annual “16 Days
of Activism to End Violence against Women Campaign,” which runs from 25
November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,
through to 10 December, Human Rights Day.
She said that civilians participating in demonstrations calling
for change have often encountered different types of violence, with women
paying a high price because political and economic transitions often exacerbate
pre-existing discrimination, subordination, and gender-based violence.
Women have experienced sexual abuse, inappropriate touching,
invasive body searches, as well as insults and humiliation of a sexual nature.
Female human rights defenders, including activists and journalists, and women
political candidates have been particularly targeted for politically-motivated
purposes, she said.
“So far these acts of violence against women have met with
silence from State authorities and impunity for such acts has been the norm,”
said Ms. Manjoo.
“Impunity, coupled with existing laws and practices that
discriminate against women, will only encourage more violence against women
during and after these phases of transition,” she stressed. Failure by
authorities to acts on violence against women arose as consequence of States’
reluctance to comply with their obligation to prevent, investigate and
prosecute those responsible for the acts of violence.
“The root causes of violence against women in public life are
similar to those which underpin violence against them in other sectors of human
action.
“They include persisting cultural stereotypes, abuse of
religious and traditional practices, patriarchal norms, values and societal
structures which have historically relegated women to subordinate roles in both
the public and private spheres,” she said.
The gains achieved through change and transformation cannot be
consolidated unless women fully participate in public and political life,
without fear of violence, Ms. Manjoo added.