DOCSLIB.ORG

Equality Now

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Equality Now EQUALITY NOW New York: 250 West 57 Street, #1720, New York, NY 10107, USA • Tel: +1 212-586-0906 • Fax: +1 212-586-1611 • Email: [email protected] London: 1 Birdcage Walk, London, SW1H 9JJ, UK ▪ Tel: +44(0)20-7304-6902 • Fax:+44(0)20-7973-1292 • Email: [email protected] Nairobi: PO Box 2018 - 00202, Nairobi, Kenya • Tel: +254 20-2719-832 • Fax: +254 20-2719-868 • Email: [email protected] World Health Organization Secretariat Avenue Appia 20 1211 Geneva 27 Switzerland By Email: [email protected] 4 June 2015 Dear Office of the World Health Organization Secretariat: Equality Now, an international human rights organization working for the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls around the world, welcomes the opportunity to submit input in response to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) request in accordance with the Sixty- Seventh World Health Assembly Resolution 67.15 (24 May 2014) calling for the development of a draft Global plan of action to strengthen the role of the health system within a national multisectoral response to address interpersonal violence in particular against women and girls and against children, building on existing relevant WHO work. This submission provides requested feedback on the First Discussion Paper containing Draft Zero of the global plan of action published by the WHO Secretariat on 20 March 2015, in response to the questions indicated. Issues of concern to Equality Now, founded in 1992, include sexual violence, trafficking of women and girls, female genital mutilation (FGM) and discrimination in law, with a cross-cutting focus on adolescent girls. Equality Now’s membership base, the Equality Action Network, is comprised of individuals and organizations in over 190 countries. Equality Now combines grassroots activism with international, regional and national legal advocacy to achieve legal and systemic change to benefit women and girls, and works to ensure that governments enact and enforce laws and policies that uphold their rights. Equality Now greatly appreciates your efforts to draft this action plan and accelerate progress to end violence against women and girls. Thank you for your attention and we hope the information we have provided is useful in drafting your global plan of action. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions. We look forward to seeing forthcoming drafts and the final version of the global plan of action. Kind regards, Yasmeen Hassan Global Director Equality Now EQUALITY NOW WORKS FOR THE CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHTS OF WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD Feedback on Chapters 1 (Introduction) and 2 (Vision, goal, objectives, guiding principles and time frame) 1. Are you in broad agreement with the vision, goals and guiding principles? Please provide suggestions for improving them. 2. Are the proposed objectives adequate and feasible? Please provide suggestions for improving them. 3. It may be unrealistic to expect objectives to be achieved in a short period of time. We welcome your feedback on the proposed time frame. 4. Does the proposed structure for the zero draft of the global plan of action work? In response to the four questions indicated in the zero draft, Equality Now welcomes the zero draft put forward by the WHO Secretariat and is in strong agreement with the vision, goal objectives, and guiding principles of a global plan of action and appreciates the emphasis on human rights and gender equality. However, preventing violence should be highlighted as the first goal. In addition, the proposed time frame should also be elaborated on further to clarify whether the 10 year period refers to implementation of the global plan of action at the global level and/or the implementation of national plans of action. Feedback on Chapter 3 (Proposed actions for Member States, national and international partners, and the WHO Secretariat) 1. Are you in broad agreement with the evidence-based actions to address different types of violence? Are there any revisions or additions to the proposed actions? Equality Now is in broad agreement with the evidence-based actions to address different types of violence but would encourage several additions and revisions to strengthen the global plan of action. As general overarching suggestions, Equality Now would respectfully encourage the WHO Secretariat in developing this plan of action to:1 Address violence against women, girls and children as not only a public health issue, but also as a human rights issue in accordance with international human rights standards throughout the global action plan in line with the guiding principles in Chapter 2. Include actions for Member States and national and international partners to also play a role in documenting best practices, not only the WHO Secretariat. Ensure any efforts to address violence against women and girls, including collection of data, health services and training curricula, address multiple forms of violence comprehensively, rather than focusing on only one or two particular forms of violence. With regard to data, it would be useful collect data on the rates of a wider range of the types of violence rather than only intimate partner and sexual violence (e.g. FGM, child marriage, incest, trafficking, prostitution, etc.). We welcome the inclusion of trafficking for sexual exploitation and the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the zero draft, and recommend for the global plan of action to also include commercial sexual exploitation broadly, particularly in 1 See also e.g., Oxfam, Ending Violence Against Women: The case for a comprehensive international action plan (22 February 2013), available at www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/bn-ending-violence-against-women-action- plan-220213-en.pdf. 1 prostitution. This means of both women and girls, and both of women who have been trafficked for sexual exploitation and those who are in prostitution but do not identify or are not identified as victims of trafficking. Women in prostitution are particularly vulnerable to violence, HIV/AIDS and other risks to their physical and mental health.2 Encourage Member States to implement this global plan of action in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including multiple government ministries, first line responders including law enforcement, women’s organizations and other civil society organizations, service providers, and survivors and survivor-led organizations. Reference consultation and collaboration with a wider range of ministries including ministries of justice, health, education, foreign affairs and finance, not only ministries on women and children, to ensure multispectral responses to violence against women and girls. Recommend that any efforts to collect data on violence be coordinated with other similar mandates or ongoing processes to report on this information, such as part of post-2015 development framework. Include actions for Member States to make available financial resources for national and international partners to address violence against women and girls, including through the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and all concerned government ministries. Broaden any references to trainings of health care workers to include a wider range of first responders such as emergency medical response teams and law enforcement, and ensure any such trainings also address how to provide sensitive, victim-friendly care as well as how to collect and preserve evidence. Strengthen references to ‘development’ of guidelines, protocols or training curricula to also include resourcing and implementation of such guidelines, etc. Ensure any references to trainings for health care providers and continuing education go hand in hand and are not referenced in isolation from each other in different parts of the action plan. Direct any services and interventions to address violence against children to be gender- sensitive and tailored to girls and boys as appropriate. Include actions for Member States and national and international partners to develop guidelines for referrals to non-health services including legal or emergency shelter services for victims of violence, and collaboration with organizations that provide these services. Include actions for Member States to ensure the provision (including through adequate funding) of services to women (and men) in prostitution, including but going beyond harm reduction (e.g. screening for STIs and condom distribution) to include assistance with exiting prostitution for those who wish to do so. This includes long-term assistance with 2 In recognition of the mental health impact of prostitution on individuals, a European-wide network of psychotraumatologists was recently set up: www.trauma-and-prostitution.eu/en/. Recent research from the UK, (Eaves/Bindel et al. (2012) Breaking down the Barriers (www.eavesforwomen.org.uk/news-events/news/new-eaves- report-highlights-the-barriers-for-women-to-exit-prostitution) provides data on violence, mental health impact and drug use/addiction amongst women in both in on-street and indoor prostitution in England. This study found less difference in these areas between the two sectors (on-street vs. indoor prostitution) than previously assumed. In addition to discussing barriers to exiting, the report also gives recommendations on exiting services - in which health care professionals should be involved in as part of a multisectoral approach. While this is a useful piece of recent research, there is a need for further
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Feminism, Power, and Sex Work in the Context of Hiv/Aids: Consequences for Women’S Health
    FEMINISM, POWER, AND SEX WORK IN THE CONTEXT OF HIV/AIDS: CONSEQUENCES FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH AZIZA AHMED* I. Introduction and Background ............................. 226 II. An Old Feminist Battle .................................. 228 A. Rise of the Sex-Positive Feminists and Sex Worker Rights Groups ....................................... 229 III. A Theoretical Model: Governance Feminism............... 231 A. Proposed Legal Regimes by Abolitionist and Sex- Positive Feminists, Sex Workers, and Public Health Authorities .......................................... 232 IV. Two Cases of Feminist Engagement in International Health Governance Structures ................................... 234 A. Sex Work in Global Public Health Governance: The Case of the UNAIDS Guidance Note .................. 234 B. U.S. Bilateral Aid for HIV and Sex Work: The Case of the Anti-Prostitution Pledge .......................... 242 1. History of the Anti-Prostitution Pledge: Early Engagement from Feminists and Sex Worker Rights Groups ......................................... 242 2. History of the Cases ............................. 246 3. Feminist Response and Involvement in Anti- Prostitution Pledge Litigation .................... 246 4. Engagement in the Processes of the Court......... 246 5. Feminist Activism on the Anti-Prostitution Pledge Outside of Litigation ............................. 249 V. Feminist Legal Reforms: Unintended Consequences on Women’s Health ......................................... 252 A. Women’s Greater Exposure to Sexual and Other Violence
    [Show full text]
  • “Tackling Gender Stereotypes and Sexism”
    “Tackling Gender Stereotypes and Sexism” SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES Helsinki 28-29 March 2019 www.coe.int/equality Opening Session Annika Saarikko, 35, was appointed Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services in the summer of 2017. She took responsibility for one of the biggest reforms in Finland in recent decades: the healthcare and social services reform. In addition to the this reform, other topical issues at the ministry include gender equality issues, services for children, families and elderly people, as well as utilisation of digitalisation, health technology, genome data and setting up the National Pharmaceutical Development Centre. Annika Saarikko became a Member of the Finnish Parliament in 2011, one year after becoming Vice Chair of the Centre Party, a post she held for three terms. During her terms in Parliament, Annika Saarikko has focused on issues pertaining to gender equality, as well as healthcare and social welfare. Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni has served as the Council of Europe’s Deputy Secretary General since 2012 and was re-elected in June 2015. She oversees the implementation of the Secretary General’s reform agenda, in line with the decisions and priorities of the Committee of Ministers. Her priorities include shaping the Programme and Budget to guarantee member States value for money, while ensuring that the Organisation’s activities have maximum impact in advancing democracy, human rights and the rule of law. She also oversees the Council of Europe’s staff policy. Before taking up her post, Mrs Battaini-Dragoni held a number of positions within the Organisation. In 2001 she became the first female Director General in the Organisation’s history, in charge of Social Cohesion.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 for IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Statement Women's Rights
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press statement Women’s rights organizations challenge Mali’s lack of anti FGM law at the ECOWAS Court of Justice ABUJA, Nigeria, April 12, 2021 – Leading women’s rights organizations have jointly filed a case at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria, to challenge Mali’s failure to prohibit Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) by adopting a legal and policy framework that would criminalize the practice. Currently, there is no legislation that addresses FGM, leaving women and girls without recourse or protection from this human rights violation. The case, which was filed by Association Malienne pour le Suivi et l'Orientation des Pratiques Traditionnelles -AMSOPT and Association pour le Progrès et la Défense des Droits des Femmes au Mali – APDF [represented by the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) and Equality Now], seeks to hold the Government of Mali to account on its failure to protect Malian girls and women from FGM. Speaking in Nairobi after the filing, Faiza Mohamed, Director of Equality Now’s Africa Office, said that FGM is a grave and systemic violation of girls and women’s rights in Mali and that the government had failed in its duty of care. She pointed out that at least 89% of girls and women in Mali between the ages of 15 and 49 have been subjected to FGM, with 73% of Malian girls undergoing the cut before their 15th birthday, according to the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey. Furthermore, Type II FGM (excision) is the most common form, affecting 48.9% of women and girls aged between 15 and 49.
    [Show full text]
  • 7-Declaration De Dakar 12 Oct
    The Dakar Commitment adopted at the 7th Consultation of Women ‘s NGOs We, Civil Society Organizations from all over Africa, comprising : the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), Africa Leadership Forum (ALF), Femme Africa Solidarité (FAS) Foundation for Community Development (FCD), FEMNET, WILDAF, ACDHRS, WAWA, MARWOPNET, ATM, EBWA, Akina Mama Wa Africa, AWA, FAWE, Equality Now, ABANTU, AAWORD, NPI, SSWC, ANSEDI, Pan African Movement, CAFOB; Building upon the important work and achievements accomplished by African women’s networks under the initiative of the African Women Committee for Peace and Development (AWCPD) and Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) during previous consultative meetings in Durban in June 2002, in Dakar in April 2003, in Maputo in June 200, in Addis Ababa in June 2004, in Abuja in January 2005 and in Tripoli, in July 2005, in partnership with the AU and ECA, supported by UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNIFEM, OSIWA and other partners. Meeting at the 7th Consultative meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in the African Union (AU) in Dakar, Senegal, prior to the 1st AU Conference of Ministers responsible for Women and Gender that will take place from the 12th to the 16th of October 2005, in order to strengthen our contribution in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA). Recall the commitment of the African Heads of State to gender equality as a major goal of the AU as enshrined in Article 4 (1) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, in particular the decision to implement and uphold the principle of gender parity both at regional and national level, as well as the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • Gender Equality Policies in the Usa
    DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR INTERNAL POLICIES POLICY DEPARTMENT C: CITIZENS' RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS GENDER EQUALITY GENDER EQUALITY POLICIES IN THE USA NOTE Abstract Even though the most obvious forms of sex discrimination have been considerably reduced in the USA society, discrimination takes much more subtle forms. This note offers an overview of the situation in the US (at federal level) regarding gender equality and is based on 5 themes: sex discrimination in the workplace; reconciliation of private and professional life; access to health care; equal representation in decision-making; eradication of all forms of gender- based violence. It appears that, depending on the issue at stake, the US situation can be comparable to the one of some of the EU countries or be particular notably because of cultural specificities. PE 462.439 EN This document was requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Gender Equality. AUTHOR Konstantina Davaki London School of Economics and Political Science RESPONSIBLE ADMINISTRATOR Mrs Claire Genta Policy Department C - Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs European Parliament B-1047 Brussels E-mail: [email protected] LINGUISTIC VERSIONS Original: EN ABOUT THE EDITOR To contact the Policy Department or to subscribe to its newsletter please write to: [email protected] Manuscript completed in March 2012. Brussels, © European Parliament, 2012. This document is available on the Internet at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/studies DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament. Reproduction and translation for non-commercial purposes are authorized, provided the source is acknowledged and the publisher is given prior notice and sent a copy.
    [Show full text]
  • International Dimensions of Discrimination and Violence Against Girls: a Human Rights Perspective Yvonne Rafferty
    Journal of International Women's Studies Volume 14 | Issue 1 Article 1 Jan-2013 International Dimensions of Discrimination and Violence against Girls: A Human Rights Perspective Yvonne Rafferty Follow this and additional works at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws Part of the Women's Studies Commons Recommended Citation Rafferty, Yvonne (2013). International Dimensions of Discrimination and Violence against Girls: A Human Rights Perspective. Journal of International Women's Studies, 14(1), 1-23. Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol14/iss1/1 This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. This journal and its contents may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. ©2013 Journal of International Women’s Studies. International Dimensions of Discrimination and Violence against Girls: A Human Rights Perspective By Yvonne Rafferty1 Abstract In many cultures, being born female can consign the girl child to the peripheries of society where her safety is denied and her human rights are routinely violated. At each and every stage of development, girls are more likely than boys to confront a host of disadvantages associated with discrimination and violence, although the social norms and cultural rules that influence girls are most intensely felt as she struggles to develop into adulthood. At the onset of puberty, or even before, some girls are pulled out of school and forced into early marriage and high-risk pregnancy.
    [Show full text]
  • Equality Now, the Public Movement Against Violence #Nemolchi.Kz and the Feminist League of Kazakhstan
    Feminist League Kazakhstan Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review Thirty Fourth Session of the UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council October – November 2019 Submitted by: Equality Now, the Public Movement Against Violence #NeMolchi.Kz and the Feminist League of Kazakhstan Equality Now Public Fund "The Public Feminist League of Europe/Eurasia office Movement against Violence Kazakhstan 1 Birdcage Walk #NeMolchi.Kz" President: Yevgeniya London SW1H 9JJ Leader of the Movement: Dinara Kozyreva, Tel: Phone: +44-207-304-6902 Smailova +77272387538 Email: Director of the Fund: Almat Email: [email protected] Mukhamedzhanov [email protected] www.equalitynow.org Tel: +77024173477 Email: [email protected] 1 Introduction and Summary 1. Equality Now is an international human rights organization with ECOSOC status working to protect and promote the rights of women and girls worldwide since 1992, including through our membership network comprised of individuals and organizations in over 190 countries. 2. The public fund “The Public Movement Against Violence #NeMolchi.Kz” is based in Almaty, Kazakhstan but operates across the country and in Central Asia more broadly. Since July 2016, it has been working as a national public movement to protect the rights of women and children who have experienced different forms of violence. The majority of cases that it deals with are sexual abuse, but it also works on domestic violence, economic violence and bride kidnapping. It provides legal, psychological and social support to survivors, organizes trainings and seminars for youth and undertakes litigation in cases relating to child custody, property and alimony. 3. The Feminist League of Kazakhstan is an organization with ECOSOC status, based in Almaty in Kazakhstan and has been registered as an organization in 1994.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Map: Charting the Landscape of Girl Work Acknowledgments
    On the Map: Charting the Landscape of Girl Work acknowledgments ICRW gratefully acknowledges the United Nations Foundation for their generous support of this research. This report was researched and written by Margaret Greene, Anjala Kanesathasan, Gwennan Hollingworth, Jennifer Browning and Eve Goldstein-Siegel. We thank the staff members from dozens of organizations who took the time and effort to share information about their girl programs through our survey. Additional thanks to those individuals who gave even more of themselves by allowing us to interview them over the phone. We know how busy professionals in the international development arena can be, and we are grateful for the gift of time and frankness from every person who responded to our questions. © 2010 International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). Portions of this report may be reproduced without express permission of but with acknowledgment to ICRW. Design: Dennis & Sackett Design, Inc. Introduction The United Nations Foundation (UNF) and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) have worked for many years to advance girls around the world. Recognizing the recent growth in girl-related attention and investment, ICRW undertook an initial mapping exercise in 2009 to understand more about the current landscape of “girl work” in the developing world. This paper presents the key findings from this exercise, describing what we have learned about the donors and organizations engaged in girl work, the policy and program efforts underway, and current and future directions for the field. It is hoped that the findings and considerations emerging from this mapping exercise will contribute toward a more strategic and coordinated effort to mobilize additional actors, resources and ideas on behalf of girls around the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Africa Rising"
    CINE-ONU The United Nations in partnership with the European Union Invites you to the screening of "Africa Rising" a powerful documentary portraying the indomitable grassroots movement to end female genital mutilation. on the occasion of International Women’s Day Monday, 8 March 2010, 6:30 p.m. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with; Véronique Arnault (Director for Multilateral Relations and Human Rights at the European Commission’s Directorate- General for External Relations), Elissar Sarrouh (Director, UNIFEM Office, Brussels), Sietske Steneker (Director, UNFPA Office, Brussels), Jacqui Hunt (Director, Equality Now , London) moderated by Afsané Bassir-Pour (Director,UNRIC)RIC) AFRICA RISING From the Horn of Africa to the Western shores of the sub- Saharan nations, everyday 6,000 girls are subjected to a practice called female genital mutilation or FGM. And everyday with little more than fierce determination and deep love for their communities, brave activists are leading the path against all odds to break the silence about this centuries-old tradition. Together, these women and men have created a formidable grassroots movement to end FGM. Africa Rising is an extraordinary film presenting an insightful look at the frontlines of a quiet revolution taking the African continent by storm. Masterfully directed by Paula Heredia, Africa Rising paints an intimate portrait of courageous individuals with dignity and strength, whose passion for justice is changing the course of history. The film celebrates girls like Beatrice and Edna Kandie, sisters who fled their home after learning their father was planning to cut them, and succeeded in getting a court order of protection against him; the film also features the moving story of Fanta Camara from Mali, who despite years of suffering from injuries as a result of FGM, blossoms into a bright young woman.
    [Show full text]
  • Georgia CEDAW Joint Submission by Equality Now & Partners.Docx
    ` Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Human Rights Treaties Division (HRTD) Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Palais Wilson - 52, rue des Pâquis CH-1201 Geneva Switzerland By Email: [email protected] 7 June 2021 Information on Georgia for consideration by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women at the Pre-Sessional Working Group of its 81th Session (5 July - 9 July 2021) Introduction 1. We respectfully submit this report for consideration in advance of the pre-sessional working group of the 81th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (‘the Committee’) taking place between 5 July - 9 July 2021, for consideration of the List of Issues in relation to the periodic report of Georgia. Equality Now is writing to express our concerns with regard to laws related to rape and other forms of sexual violence and procedures and practices which effectively deny access to justice for survivors of sexual violence in violation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (‘the Convention’). We are recommending questions to be asked to Georgia by the Committee and offering recommendations on the legal and procedural changes required to make sure that perpetrators of sexual violence are brought to justice and that survivors access justice. Page 2 of 14 2. Equality Now submits this report in partnership with: Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), Union Sapari, Human Rights Center (HRC), Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG), Cultural-Humanitarian Fund “Sukhumi”, Rights Georgia, Social Justice Center (Former EMC), Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), Changes for Equal Rights (CER), Coalition for Independent Living (CIL), Tbilisi Pride, Women Engage for a Common Future (Georgia Branch), Women’s Information Center, Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSFG) and Taso Foundation.
    [Show full text]
  • On Comprehensive Prostitution Reform: Criminalizing the Trafficker and the Trick, but Not the Victim—Sweden's Sexköpslagen in America Heather Monasky
    William Mitchell Law Review Volume 37 | Issue 4 Article 8 2011 Note: On Comprehensive Prostitution Reform: Criminalizing the Trafficker and the Trick, but Not the Victim—Sweden's Sexköpslagen in America Heather Monasky Follow this and additional works at: http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr Recommended Citation Monasky, Heather (2011) "Note: On Comprehensive Prostitution Reform: Criminalizing the Trafficker and the Trick, but Not the Victim—Sweden's Sexköpslagen in America," William Mitchell Law Review: Vol. 37: Iss. 4, Article 8. Available at: http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol37/iss4/8 This Note is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Reviews and Journals at Mitchell Hamline Open Access. It has been accepted for inclusion in William Mitchell Law Review by an authorized administrator of Mitchell Hamline Open Access. For more information, please contact [email protected]. © Mitchell Hamline School of Law Monasky: Note: On Comprehensive Prostitution Reform: Criminalizing the Tra NOTE: ON COMPREHENSIVE PROSTITUTION REFORM: CRIMINALIZING THE TRAFFICKER AND THE TRICK, BUT NOT THE VICTIM—SWEDEN’S SEXKÖPSLAGEN1 IN AMERICA Heather Monasky† 1. This is Swedish for “Sex Purchase Law.” Commentators use this term colloquially to refer to Sweden’s law that criminalizes the purchase of sex. LAG OM FÖRBUD MOT KÖP AV SEXUELLA TJÄNSTER [Act Prohibiting the Purchase of Sexual Services] (Svensk författningssamling [SFS] 1998:408) (Swed.) [hereinafter Act Prohibiting the Purchase of Sexual Services], available in English at http://www.bayswan.org /swed/swed_law.html (unofficial translation by Prostitutes’ Education Network). While the Act itself is no longer in force, it was replaced by legislation codified in Sweden’s criminal code.
    [Show full text]
  • Ending Child Marriage in a Generation What Research Is Needed?
    Ending Child Marriage in a Generation What Research is Needed? BY MARGARET E. GREENE, PHD Ending Child Marriage in a Generation What Research is Needed? BY MARGARET E. GREENE, PHD January 2014 Contact the author at [email protected] or at www.greeneworks.org Cover: A pregnant 15-year-old with her older husband, who is a migrant worker in Mumbai, India, meet with The Veerni Project. They were wed when she was ten in his village near Jodhpur. ©2006 Rose Reis, Courtesy of Photoshare The Problem of Child Marriage for Girls and for Development Two interrelated reasons form the central rationales for working to end the practice of child marriage: upholding the rights of girls, and achieving health and development goals. Girls’ rights, health and development are undermined by the impact of early marriage, pregnancy and childbearing on their mortality and morbidity, the early termination of their schooling, and the ripples of girls’ poor health and limited human capital on their future productivity and the lives of their children, families and their nations. In the absence of valid consent – which ‘children’ by definition are not able to give – child mar- riage may be understood as a coerced act that violates the human rights of 14.2 million girls who marry as children each year.3 Once girls are married, their status infringes upon a range of their rights. Most child brides are burdened with responsibilities as wives and mothers with little support, resources, or life experience to meet these challenges. Compared to their unmarried peers or to older women, girls who marry before the age of 18 are likely to have lower educational attainment, greater chances of experiencing unwanted pregnancies, and are at greater risk of sexual and reproductive health morbidities and maternal mortali- ty.4 They go into marriage at a disadvantage with regard to their husbands, who tend to be older and to have more experience of school, work and often, previous relationships.
    [Show full text]