IGUALDAD YA

EQUALITY NOW EQUALITY EQUALITY NOW

THE POWER OF THE INDIVIDUAL

ANNUAL REPORT 2002 TENTH ANNIVERSARY EQUALITY NOW was founded in 1992 to work for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women around the world. Working with national human rights organizations and individual activists, Equality Now documents violence and discrimination against women and adds an international action overlay to support their efforts to advance equality rights and defend individual women who are suffering abuse. Through its Women’s Action Network, Equality Now distributes information about these human rights violations to concerned groups and individuals around the world, along with recommended actions for publicizing and protesting them. The Women’s Action Network is committed to voicing a worldwide call for justice and equality for women. Issues of urgent concern to Equality Now include rape, domestic violence, reproductive rights, trafficking of women, female genital mutilation, and equal access to economic opportunity and political participation.

EGALITE MAINTENANT a été fondée en 1992 afin de travailler pour la protection et la promotion des droits humains de la femme dans le monde entier. Travaillant avec des associations nationales pour les droits humains et avec des activistes individuels, Egalité Maintenant documente la violence et la discrimination contre les femmes, en ajoutant un élément d'action internationale pour soutenir les efforts de ces associations et activistes pour avancer les droits de la femme, et pour défendre des femmes individuelles maltraitées. Au moyen du Réseau Action Femmes, Egalité Maintenant transmet des renseignements sur ces violations des droits humains aux groupes et aux individus intéressés partout dans le monde, avec des actions recommandées pour faire connaître au public ces violations, et pour protester contre elles. Le Réseau Action Femmes représente une force internationale d'activisme, capable d'une réponse rapide et concertée aux situations de crise et engagée à faire appel mondial pour la justice et l'égalité pour la femme. Les problèmes urgents auxquels s'intéresse Egalité Maintenant comprennent: le viol, la violence familiale, les droits de reproduction, la traite des femmes, la mutilation génitale féminine, l'égalité des chances économiques, et l'accès égal à la participation politique.

IGUALDAD YA fue fundada en 1992 con el propósito de trabajar a favor de la protección y promoción de los derechos humanos de las mujeres en todo el mundo. Trabajando junto a organizaciones nacionales de derechos humanos y con activistas individuales, Igualdad Ya documenta casos de violencia y discriminación contra las mujeres y agrega un componente de acción internacional para apoyar sus esfuerzos para avanzar los derechos de igualdad y defender casos individuales de mujeres que sufren abusos. A través de su Red de Acción Mujeres, Igualdad Ya disemina información acerca de estas violaciones de derechos humanos entre grupos e individuos interesados en todo el mundo, junto con recomendaciones de acciones para publicitar y protestar estos casos. La Red de Acción Mujeres es un ejemplo de activismo internacional capaz de dar una respuesta rápida y concertada a situaciones de crisis. La Red se compromete a dar voz a un llamado mundial a la justicia y la igualdad para las mujeres. Los temas de preocupación urgentes para Igualdad Ya incluyen la violación sexual, la violencia doméstica, los derechos reproductivos, el tráfico de mujeres, la mutilación genital femenina y el acceso igualitario a las oportunidades económicas y la participación política.

COVER PHOTOS Center: Fauziya Kassindja in INS detention, 1995. Clockwise from top left: International Women’s Day March, Kathmandu, Nepal, 8 March 1997; International Women’s Day March in Uganda, 8 March 2000; Fauziya Kassindja with her triplets, 2001; Gloria Steinem at Equality Now’s 10th Anniversary Event, 8 April 2002; Sapana Pradhan-Malla, Meaza Ashenafi and Zainab Al-Harbi at Equality Now’s press conference at the United Nations, Beijing+5 Special Session of the General Assembly, June 2000; Women in Kuwait demanding to be registered as voters, 2000; Edna and Beatrice Kandie during the FGM Fund Media Tour, December 2002; Jessica Neuwirth, President of Equality Now. 10TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR SOMMAIRE L’année 2002 a marqué le dixième an- niversaire d’Egalité Maintenant. Beau- coup de progrès ont été accomplis, mais REVIEW OF 2002 il nous faut encore faire davantage pour que cessent les violations des droits de In 2002 Equality Now marked its tenth anniversary—an opportunity to look back la femme. Pour cet anniversaire, Egal- ité Maintenant a choisi comme thème on the progress that we have made, and to look forward to the challenges that lie « le pouvoir de l’individu » pour rap- peler que chacun peut à sa mesure ahead. Much has been done over the past ten years by Equality Now and many changer le monde autour d’elle et de other organizations to highlight the ongoing scourge lui. Egalité Maintenant tient à rendre hommage à l’une de ces personnes, of violence and discrimination against women. But Starlin Arush, qui avait débuté un pro- jet de démobilisation en Somalie en we need to do more than highlight these human plein cœur d’une violente guerre civile. Starlin offrait nourriture, abri et forma- rights violations—we have to stop them. Violence tion à de jeunes garçons somaliens, en against women is intertwined with sex discrimina- échange de leurs armes. Le 24 octobre, Starlin Arush a été tuée à Nairobi. Elle tion. Until women enjoy equal rights under the law, avait 45 ans. Egalité Maintenant dédie son dixième anniversaire à la mémoire equal access to education and economic oppor- de Starlin et salue toutes celles et tous tunity, and equal participation in political power, we ceux qui, comme elle, œuvrent pour la paix et la défense des droits humains will not enjoy effective protection from the violence dans le monde, que ce soit dans leurs pays, dans leurs communautés ou dans that destroys the lives of women. This violence leurs foyers. sometimes takes different forms in different parts of RESUMEN the world, but it is fundamentally universal. En el año 2002, Igualdad Ya celebró su The theme of Equality Now’s tenth anniversary décimo aniversario. Hubo muchos logros, pero debemos hacer aún más has been The Power of the Individual. Any one para poner fin a las violaciones de los derechos humanos de las mujeres. La Starlin Arush person in any one place can change the world temática del décimo aniversario de 1957–2002 around her, or change the world around him. This Igualdad Ya fue El Poder del Individuo, poniendo de relieve el potencial de year Equality Now pays tribute to one such individual, Starlin Arush, who lost her cada persona de cambiar el mundo alrededor suyo. Este año, Igualdad Ya life in 2002. Starlin Arush was a visionary, a woman who single-handedly turned rinde tributo a tal individuo, Starlin war into peace, and fear into hope in her home country of Somalia. Somalia has Arush, quien inició un proyecto de desmovilización en medio de una vio- been without a government since 1991. A whole generation of young Somali boys lenta guerra civil en Somalia. Ella brindaba a los niños de Somalia comi- have grown up in a gun culture where education is knowing a Kalashnikov from a da, alojamiento y educación a cambio de sus armas. El 24 de octubre, Starlin Bazooka, and employment is signing up to serve in the armed militia of one or Arush fue muerta en Nairobi, a los 45 another warlord. Amidst this violent chaos, Starlin Arush began a demobilization años. Igualdad Ya dedica su décimo aniversario a su memoria, y rinde hom- project, to give these boys another way of life. In exchange for their guns, to be enaje a todas aquellas mujeres y hom- bres quienes, como Starlin, traen paz y surrendered on entry, the young men were given food, shelter and education. They derechos humanos al mundo alrededor were free at any time to take back their guns and leave. None did. Over time, suyo—en sus países, en sus comu- nidades y en sus propias casas. Starlin Arush collected a stockpile of weapons, which made her a powerful force in the political landscape of Somalia. But she was devastated when The Economist, profiling her work, dubbed her a “warlady.” Anything but a player in the war, Starlin Arush was a missionary for peace who knew that disarmament and a viable alternative were the key to ending war altogether. On 24 October 2002, Starlin Arush was shot and killed in Nairobi at the age of 45. Equality Now dedicates its tenth anniversary to the memory of Starlin Arush and the power of her vision. This is a vision that women share—in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Israel and Palestine—in all places great and small where violence is a way of life. Equality Now honors all those women and men who, like Starlin Arush, are bringing peace and human rights to the world around them—in their countries, in their communities and in their own homes.

1 AFGHANISTAN PEACE, SECURITY AND THE ROLE OF AFGHAN WOMEN In April 2002, Equality Now issued a Women’s Action Update on Afghanistan, calling on the UN Security Council to authorize the immediate expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan and on President Bush to reverse the United States government’s opposition to the expansion, noting the special responsibility of the US government in the reconstruction of the country. The Women’s Action Update also called on the US President to ensure that the funding commitments made by the United States and other donor countries were honored and delivered without delay, and reminded him of the request of delegates from the Afghan Women’s Summit for Democracy that all international aid be used as leverage to ensure the rights of women in Afghanistan. The Afghan Women’s Summit for Democracy was held in Brussels in December 2001, organized by Equality Now, V-Day, the Centre for the Strategic Initiatives of Women, the European Women’s Lobby, and The Feminist Majority, in collaboration with UNIFEM and the Gender Advisor to the UN Secretary-General. The Brussels Proclamation adopted by the Afghan Women’s Summit is a blueprint for the reconstruction of Afghanistan based on the priorities and needs of women. Subsequent to the installation of the Afghan Interim Authority, the Brussels Proclamation was again endorsed at a roundtable discussion in Afghanistan, organized by V-Day and attended by Equality Now in Kabul in March 2002, with more than 80 Afghan women from around the country, including two members of the Loya Jirga Commission, who met to discuss immediate needs with regard to reconstruction and the lack of security in the country. Front row, left to right: Eve Ensler, To highlight the urgent need for security in Afghanistan, Equality Now initiated Jessica Neuwirth, Hibaaq Osman and Adeena Niazi at the Interna- a series of coalition letters to US government officials and to First Lady Laura Bush. tional Women's Day Celebration in Kabul, Afghanistan, 8 March 2002. The letters were signed by a number of prominent women and women’s rights leaders including Eve Ensler, CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY IN KABUL founder of V-Day; Jane Fonda; Kim Gandy, President of the National Organization for Women; Alanis Morissette; Eleanor Smeal, Presi- dent of The Feminist Majority; Gloria Steinem; Meryl Streep; and Masuda Sultan, Coordinator of Women for Afghan Women. In May, an open letter to President Bush was published in The New York Times, sponsored jointly by Equality Now and V-Day. The letters targeted the US govern-

2 Appeal to United States President George W. Bush requesting the expansion of peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan to ensure security for Afghan women. The letter was published as an ad in The New York Times on 24 May 2002, jointly spon- sored by Equality Now and V-Day.

ment because, despite continuing reports of violence against women and girls, and calls from not only the Afghan women, but also from the Afghan Interim Authority, the United Nations and a growing number of Senators and Representatives, the US government continues to oppose the expansion of international security forces in Afghanistan. Equality Now also undertook a letter-writing initiative urging donor countries and agencies to integrate and support the priorities expressed by the women of

3 Afghanistan, including women’s full participation in the political process and reconstruction of their country, and the conditioning of WOMAN AND LAW international aid, with the exception of emergency humanitarian aid, on the protection and promotion of the human rights of women. First Year, First Issue, August 2002 Since the Afghan Women’s Summit and its commitment there to support women lawyers in Afghanistan, Equality Now has been working with the Afghan Women Lawyers and Professionals Association (AWLPA), which has among its goals to participate in the construction of a legal framework for the country that incor- porates fundamental human rights for women. AWLPA has been conducting workshops on Afghan law and human rights to raise the legal awareness of Afghan women, with the aims of promoting the participation of women in the process of constitution-building and ensuring the restoration of women’s rights in Afghanistan. Based in Kabul, AWLPA is also currently taking steps to establish branches in other cities outside of the capital. In August 2002, AWLPA pub- lished its first newsletter, Woman and Law, in both Dari and Pashtu. Top: Woman and Law, a newsletter A second issue of the newsletter was published in October/November 2002. published by the Afghan Women Lawyers and Professionals Asso- Equality Now has translated these newsletters into English and made them avail- ciation. Below: Members of the Board of AWLPA visiting the New able online. York office of the law firm Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. Left In June 2002, Equality Now sponsored a visit to New York of three board to right: Soraya Paikan, Nafissa members from AWLPA. The visit included meetings with American lawyers, judges, Kabuli, Roger Thomas, Jessica Neuwirth and Hangama Anwari. leading human rights activists, and the International Human Rights Committee of the Bar Association of the City of New York and pro- vided for an exchange of ideas and strategies on the restoration of women’s rights in Afghanistan. As part of efforts to provide AWLPA with the means to better establish themselves in Afghanistan, Equality Now also arranged meetings with philanthropic organizations in New York, media outlets and several foundations throughout the United States on behalf of AWLPA. In the week the delegation from Kabul was in New York, Equality Now helped AWLPA raise $80,000 to support their work in Afghanistan. In September 2002, Equality Now facilitated a visit to London of the founder and board member of AWLPA, for an exchange with the Bar Human Rights Committee in London.

“The strong public commitment you have made to Afghan women stands in stark contrast to the message that has been sent by the Administration through its opposition to expansion of the size and scope of the international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. Many lives, and the future of Afghanistan, are at stake.” From the Equality Now coalition letter to First Lady of the United States Laura Bush

4 SOMMAIRE En avril 2002, Egalité Maintenant a publié une mise à jour d’Action LETTERS FROM Femmes sur l’Afghanistan lançant un appel au Conseil de sécurité des Na- tions Unies à autoriser l’élargissement immédiat des Forces internationales THE CAMPAIGN d’assistance à la sécurité (ISAF) en Afghanistan et demandant au Prési- dent Bush à revenir sur l’opposition de l’administration américaine à cet élar- I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that the Islamic Development Bank gissement. Pour attirer l’attention sur l’urgence de la restauration de la sécu- will do its very best as an international institution to enhance the development of the rité, Egalité Maintenant a pris l’initia- people of Afghanistan including women. tive d’envoyer des lettres de pétition à plusieurs hauts responsables de l’ad- Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, President ministration américaine ainsi qu’à la Islamic Development Bank première dame des Etats-Unis, Laura Bush, et a adressé une lettre ouverte au Président Bush qui est parue dans le It is my view that Afghan women are more than just victims who need to be protected. New York Times en mai. En outre, Egal- ité Maintenant a demandé instamment They are essential contributors to Afghanistan’s development. I have called for the full aux pays et aux organismes bailleurs de participation of Afghan women in decision-making and for gender-sensitive budget- fonds qui participent aux discussions sur la reconstruction de l’Afghanistan ing. The Netherlands’ contribution to the reconstruction process depends, among de prendre en compte les priorités exprimées par les femmes afghanes. other things, on how gender issues are addressed. Egalité Maintenant s’est également Eveline Herfkens, Minister for Development Cooperation mobilisée pour encourager l’étab- Ministry of Foreign Affairs lissement de l’Association des femmes afghanes avocates et professionnelles The Netherlands (AWLPA).

Gender and human rights issues are very much at the forefront of discussions on RESUMEN En abril del año 2002, Igualdad Ya emi- Afghanistan’s reconstruction. We share your views that women must be at the center tió una Acción Mujeres Actualizada of Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development. sobre Afganistán, haciendo un llamado al Consejo de Seguridad de Naciones William Byrd, Acting Country Manager Unidas para que autorice la expansión The World Bank inmediata de la Fuerza Internacional de Asistencia para la Seguridad (ISAF) en Afganistán, y al Presidente Bush a Denmark considers the role of women in any development process crucial. In Afghan- revertir la oposición del gobierno de EEUU a la expansión. Para resaltar la istan, Denmark will give gender issues special attention when allocating the Danish necesidad urgente de seguridad, Igual- funds and when participating in donor coordination. dad Ya inició una serie de cartas de coalición a las autoridades del gobierno Per Stig Møller, Minister for Foreign Affairs de EEUU y a la Primera Dama, Laura Denmark Bush, y publicó una carta abierta al Presidente Bush en el New York Times en mayo. Además, Igualdad Ya instó a Canada will also support the promotion of human rights and cooperation between all los países y las agencias donantes que participaron en la discusión sobre la ethnic and religious groups. Fundamental to these efforts is a willingness to work reconstrucción de Afganistán a que towards greater gender equality, so that Afghan women have an opportunity to incluyeran las prioridades expresadas por las mujeres afganas. Igualdad Ya contribute meaningfully to the future development of their country. también ha estado trabajando para MB Deline, Special Assistant impulsar el desarrollo de la organiza- ción de la Asociación de Mujeres Abo- Office of the Prime Minister gadas y Profesionales Afganas Canada (AWLPA).

The Commission fully shares the concerns of your organisation on the need for women to participate fully in the political, social and physical reconstruction of Afghanistan. Markus Cornaro External Relations Directorate General European Commission

We share your concerns about the need to listen to the voices of women. We strongly support the conclusions of the Tokyo Conference that women’s rights should be fully honoured and mainstreamed through all programmes during the reconstruction process, including within the Afghan Interim Authority. Barnaby Willitts-King, Programme Officer Department for International Affairs United Kingdom

5 SOMMAIRE ETHIOPIA En mars 2002, Egalité Maintenant a lancé une campagne Action Femmes en collaboration avec l’Association des femmes éthiopiennes avocates pour OFFICIAL LICENSE FOR protester contre la loi éthiopienne qui n’accorde aucune protection aux femmes et aux fillettes contre l’enlève- ABDUCTION AND RAPE ment et le viol. Cette Action Femmes plaide en faveur de l’amendement des articles 558 et 599 du Code pénal In March 2002, Equality Now launched a Women’s Action campaign in collabora- éthiopien, qui permettent à une per- tion with the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association, to protest the failure of the sonne coupable d’un enlèvement ou d’un viol de n’encourir aucune peine, si law to protect women and girls from abduction and rape. les actes incriminés sont suivis d’un mariage. Cette Action Femmes a mis The Women’s Action calls for changes to Articles 558 and en lumière le cas de Woineshet Zebene Negash, 13 ans, qui a été enlevée et 599 of the Ethiopian Penal Code, which allow abductors violée par Aberew Jemma Negussie. and rapists to escape punishment through subsequent Woineshet a réussi à s’échapper après avoir été contrainte par Negussie à marriage. signer un contrat de mariage. Egalité Maintenant a lancé un appel au gou- In some regions of Ethiopia, abduction and rape are used vernement éthiopien pour qu’il engage to take a girl as wife by force. Often a girl will “consent” des poursuites contre Negussie, dont l’affaire est en instance depuis la fin to marry her abductor as a result of family pressure and 2002, et pour qu’il abroge les disposi- tions légales relatives à l’enlèvement et because she has little or no chance to marry anyone else, au viol. Woineshet Zebene Negash not being a virgin. In its Women’s Action, Equality Now RESUMEN highlighted the case of Woineshet Zebene Negash, who lived in a rural village with En marzo del 2002, Igualdad Ya lanzó her family. Woineshet was 13 when she was abducted in the middle of the night by una campaña de Acción Mujeres en colaboración con la Asociación de a man named Aberew Jemma Negussie who, with the help of several accomplices, Mujeres Abogadas de Etiopía, para carried her away and raped her. Two days later, Woineshet was rescued and Negussie protestar la falta de protección legal para las mujeres contra el secuestro y la was arrested and released on bail. He abducted her again and she managed to escape violación. La Acción Mujeres hace un llamado para cambiar los Artículos 558 a month later but only after she was forced to sign a marriage contract. y 599 del Código Penal de Etiopía, que permiten a los secuestradores y vio- Woineshet’s father stood by her, refusing to yield to the pressure from the elders ladores eludir el castigo a través del to marry her to her abductor and calling on the police to prosecute Negussie. How- matrimonio con la víctima. La Acción Mujeres resalta el caso de Woineshet ever, Woineshet’s abductor has the marriage contract through which he is claiming Zebene Negash, que tenía 13 años cuando fue secuestrada y violada por exemption from punishment. Equality Now is calling on the Ethiopian government Aberew Jemma Negussie. Woinshenet to prosecute Aberew Jemma Negussie, whose case was still pending as of year-end logró escapar, pero sólo después de que Negussie le obligó a firmar un contrato 2002. Equality Now is also calling on the Ethiopian government to abolish the legal de matrimonio. Igualdad Ya está recla- mando que el gobierno de Etiopía provisions that sanction abduction and rape, and to send a strong message that juzgue a Negussie—cuyo caso seguía pendiente a fines del 2002—y que these crimes will not be tolerated. Changes have been made to the draft penal code abola las provisiones legales que san- to remove these provisions, but as of year-end 2002, this draft was still pending. cionan el secuestro y la violación.

RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNMENT As the crime took place in a rural village of South Eastern Ethiopia, we have requested the concerned regional authorities to inquire about the matter since the case is not a federal one. We hope to let you know about the outcome as soon as we receive the necessary information from them. On the other hand, the elimination of the provision which allows abductors and rapists to be exempted from prosecution when subsequent marriage takes place is deleted in the draft penal code and our parliament began to consider the draft on April 3, 2002, and we hope the problem will be solved once and for all. Thank you for your concern. Abdurahim Ahmed Assistant Attorney General Ethiopia

6 GHANA SOMMAIRE Egalité Maintenant continue sa cam- pagne contre la coutume esclavagiste trokosi pratiquée au Ghana qui exige WOMEN AND GIRLS ENSLAVED: que des fillettes vierges soient « don- nées » à des prêtres fétichistes pour expier des crimes commis par des mem- bres de leurs familles. Une mise à jour THE TROKOSI TRADITION d’Action Femmes a été publiée en mai 2002 pour alerter l’opinion sur le fait Continuing its campaign against the slavery-like practice of trokosi, Equality Now que des milliers de trokosi seraient en- core retenues dans des lieux de culte, issued a Women’s Action Update in May 2002, expressing concern that thousands en dépit de la loi de 1998 qui con- damne cette pratique. Cette mise à jour of trokosi were reportedly still being held in d’Action Femmes a invité le gouverne- ment à prendre sans délai des mesures shrines despite the 1998 law prohibiting the pour faire appliquer la loi et pour assur- er la libération de ces jeunes filles. practice. The Women’s Action Update called Egalité Maintenant a également fait savoir qu’elle s’inquiétait de la repré- on the government to take immediate action sentation erronée qui est donnée de la to enforce the law and ensure the release of pratique trokosi dans le rapport 2001 du Département d’Etat des Etats-Unis sur these girls. Trokosi is a traditional practice les droits humains, lequel minimise le nombre restant de trokosi et nie l’ex- that requires young virgin girls to be “given” ploitation à vie et le caractère sexuel de cette servitude, impliquant par là que to fetish priests to atone for crimes committed cette pratique n’est pas une violation by family members, for lifelong sexual as grave des droits humains. well as domestic servitude. Equality Now RESUMEN Igualdad Ya continúa haciendo cam- also expressed concern at the misrepresenta- paña contra el trokosi, una práctica en tion of the trokosi practice by the United Ghana similar a la esclavitud, que Abla Kotor, enslaved as a trokosi at the age of 12. requiere que las mujeres jóvenes vír- States government to the detriment of those genes sean “entregradas” a sacerdotes fetichistas para absolver los crímenes working to end it. In its 2001 Human Rights Report, the US State Department cometidos por miembros de sus famil- ias. Una Actualización de la Acción dismissively minimized the scope and number of remaining trokosi, and denied the Mujeres fue emitida en mayo del 2002, expresando la preocupación de que life-long duration and the sexual conditions of their servitude, giving the impression miles de casos de trokosi aún estaban ocurriendo en los templos, a pesar de la that the practice is not a serious human rights violation. This report has jeopardized ley dictada en 1998 que prohibe la funding for groups working in Ghana to end the practice and rehabilitate released práctica. La Actualización de la Acción Mujeres hizo un llamado al trokosi. It also indicates a clear lack of concern for the women and girls who remain gobierno para que tome acción inmedi- ata para respetar la ley y asegurar la lib- enslaved. Equality Now continues to closely follow the work of local groups fighting eración de estas niñas. Igualdad Ya también expresó su preocupación sobre to eradicate the practice of trokosi. la representación errónea de la práctica por el Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos en su informe de Derechos Humanos de 2001, que mini- miza el número existente de trokosi y no reconoce la duración vitalicia y la condición de servitud sexual, implican- LETTERS FROM do que la práctica no es una violación THE CAMPAIGN seria de derechos humanos.

The real purpose of this letter is to humbly draw your attention to the fact that over three years now after the banning of trokosi by the Ghanaian government, several thousand girls and women are reported to be still in bondage as trokosi. According to reports, some traditionalist groups in Ghana are obstructing the release of the trokosi. We would therefore, Your Excellency, wish to request that you kindly investigate this allegation and ensure that no group of people no matter how influential and powerful would be seen to be obstructing the course of justice as it affects these young women and girls in Ghana. Chris N. Ugwu, Executive Director Nigeria Society for the Improvement of Rural People Nigeria

7 SOMMAIRE Aliran, an NGO based in Malaysia, is gravely disturbed to learn that the practice of Egalité Maintenant continue de faire trokosi still exists in Ghana in direct violation of the Ghanaian Constitution. This campagne contre les soi-disant « crimes d’honneur ». En novembre 2002, Egal- practice is a gross violation of human rights. It is difficult to fathom or justify its ité Maintenant a fait paraître une mise continued existence especially after the Ghanaian government had enacted a law to à jour d’Action Femmes pour se féliciter de l’amendement de l’article prohibit this inhuman practice. Aliran would like to appeal to Your Excellency to give 340 du Code pénal jordanien, qui your utmost attention to this human tragedy. auparavant prévoyait expressément de n’infliger aucune peine à une homme P. Ramakrishnan, President coupable d’avoir tué une femme de sa Aliran famille, si celle-ci avait commis un Malaysia adultère. Toutefois, la plupart de ceux qui se rendent coupables de « crimes d’honneur » bénéficient des dispositions des articles 97 et 98 du même Code, qui We have learned with great concern the continuation of the trokosi custom in South- accordent une réduction de peine aux eastern Ghana, despite the many efforts of individual Ghanaian women, non- personnes ayant agi sous l’emprise de la colère. La campagne d’Egalité Main- governmental organizations, etc. to have it eliminated. We join our sisters in Ghana in tenant insiste pour que le ministre de la appealing to you to institute effective measures to ensure the enforcement of the law Justice veille à la bonne application de ces articles, pour que la culpabilité des banning trokosi, and specifically the total liberation of all those girls still being held auteurs de ces crimes soit reconnue et under the bondage of trokosi shrines. pour que les peines reflètent la gravité des actes. Cette campagne encourage BR Urasa, Executive Coordinator également le ministre du Développe- Network Against Female Genital Mutilation ment social à soutenir les femmes qui Tanzania sont sous menace de violence et en danger de mort, en ouvrant des foyers pour les accueillir.. Allow us to express our deep concern and ask from you and from your Government to RESUMEN stop this custom, which is against any personal dignity and also against any religious Igualdad Ya continúa haciendo cam- philosophy and practice. Young girls are human beings with human rights and they paña contra los llamados asesinatos deserve respect and educational support. Thank you for your consideration. “por honor”. En noviembre del 2002, Igualdad Ya emitió una Actualización Dr. Litsa Gyftopoulou, President de Acción Mujeres, expresando su Social Aid of Hellas aprobación acerca de la enmienda al Greece Artículo 340 del Código Penal de Jordania, que eximía explícitamente de castigo a hombres que matan a sus pari- entes mujeres que se encuentran come- tiendo adulterio. Sin embargo, la may- oría de los culpables de los asesinatos JORDAN “de honor” se benefician de los Artículos 97 y 98, que permiten una reducción en la condena para aquellos que cometieron el crimen en un mo- CAMPAIGN AGAINST mento de furia. La campaña de Igual- dad Ya hace un llamado al Ministro de Justicia para que asegure que estos “HONOR” KILLINGS artículos se apliquen de manera correc- ta, que los acusados sean juzgados por sus crímenes y que sus condenas refle- Equality Now continues to campaign against so-called “honor” killings, a cultural jen la severidad de los mismos. La cam- practice whereby men murder their wives or female relatives whose virtue has come paña también urge a la Ministra de Desarrollo Social que apoye a las mu- into question, in order to restore jeres amenazadas de violencia y en riesgo de ser asesinadas, a traves del es- their family’s good name in the tablecimiento de albergues para mujeres. community. In November 2002, Equality Now issued a Women’s Action Update, welcoming the amendment of Article 340 of the Jordanian Penal Code, which had specifically exempted from punishment men who murder their wives or female

PHOTO COURTESY OF HAVIV/SABA relatives found committing adultery. However, most perpetrators of “honor” killings benefit from the provisions of Articles 97 and 98, which allow for a reduction in sentence for those who

8 commit a crime in a fit of fury. Equality Now’s campaign calls on the Minister of SOMMAIRE Justice to ensure that these Articles are applied properly and are not used to En novembre 2002, Egalité Main- tenant a fait paraître une mise à jour mitigate punishment for “honor” killings, that perpetrators are held accountable for d’Action Femmes pour féliciter le roi et le premier ministre du Népal pour these crimes and that sentences handed down reflect their severity. The campaign l’adoption du Code du pays (11e amendement) qui amende la loi sur l’a- also urges the Minister of Social Development to support women under threat of vortement et autorise les femmes à y recourir jusqu’à la 12e semaine de violence and at risk of being killed by acting immediately to open shelters for grossesse ou la 18e semaine, si la women in Jordan. grossesse résulte d’un viol ou d’un inceste, et à tout moment sur accord d’un médecin, si la grossesse met en danger la vie, la santé physique ou la santé mentale de la femme ou si elle aboutit à la naissance d’un enfant NEPAL handicapé. Auparavant, tout acte d’a- vortement était passible d’emprison- nement, sans exception. Cette mise à jour a également réclamé la libération THE CRIMINALIZATION de toutes les femmes emprisonnées pour avortement et des mesures facili- tant l’accès aux services de santé, y OF ABORTION compris l’information sur la santé génésique. In November 2002, Equality Now issued a Women’s Action Update congratulating RESUMEN the King and the Prime Minister of Nepal on the passage of the Country Code En noviembre del 2002, Igualdad Ya (11th Amendment) Act, which emitió una Actualización de Acción Mujeres, felicitando al Rey y al Primer amends the abortion law to Ministro de Nepal por la aprobación de la Ley del Código del País (Enmienda allow women to procure an 11), que enmienda la ley del aborto para permitir a las mujeres procurar un abortion up to the 12th week of aborto hasta la semana 12 del embara- zo, o la semana 18 si el embarazo se pregnancy, or the 18th week if debe a una violación o al incesto, y en the pregnancy is due to rape or cualquier momento del embarazo bajo consejo médico si el embarazo consti- incest, and at any time with the tuye una amenaza para la vida de la mujer o a su salud mental o física o si advice of a medical practitioner resultaría en el nacimiento de un niño discapacitado. Anteriormente, cual- if the pregnancy poses a danger quier acto de aborto era punible con el encarcelamiento sin ninguna excep- to the life of the woman or to ción. La Actualización de la Acción her physical or mental health or Mujeres también hace un llamado por la liberación de todas las mujeres que would result in the birth of a han sido encarceladas por el aborto, y a favor de una provisión para mejor acce- disabled child. Previously, any so al cuidado médico, incluyendo la educación sobre salud reproductiva. act of abortion was punishable by imprisonment with no

Bimla and her family shortly before her death from an unsafe exception, even in cases where “back-street” abortion. the health or life of the mother was threatened or the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest. This amendment to the law was a great victory for women’s rights activists in Nepal who had been campaigning on this issue for many years. The Women’s Action Update called for the release of all the women still in prison for abortion and for provision to be made for better access to healthcare, including education on reproductive health. Equality Now continues to work with women’s groups in Nepal for the advance- ment of equality for women.

“We would like to give our hearty thanks for all the untiring support given all through this process and we are sure that we will work together in future to make a difference in the lives of women.” Sapana Pradhan-Malla, President, Forum for Women, Law and Development in Nepal

9 WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY MIDDLE EAST PEACE INITIATIVE While calling for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolu- tion 1325 in Afghanistan, Equality Now has tried to bring this same message of the essential role of women in conflict resolution to the Middle East crisis. UN Security Council Resolution 1325 affirms the importance of equal participation and the full involvement of women in all efforts in the maintenance of peace. The implementa- tion of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace and Security is critical, and urgently needed in the ongoing effort to bring a lasting peace to the Middle East. In May 2002, at the request of Equality Now, the United Nations Security Council met with two women—Terry Greenblatt and Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas— an Israeli and a Palestinian who are both members of the Jerusalem Link, an organization of Israeli and Palestinian women working together for peace in the region. Equality Now, together with these activists from the region, called upon the United Nations to recognize the vital role of women in the resolution of conflict. Both Ms. Abu-Dayyeh Shamas and Ms. Greenblatt called for equal representation of women on all sides in planned peace negotiations, and urged the Security Council to create a means through which women can contribute formally and integrally to Middle East conflict resolution efforts. Subsequently, the Jerusalem Link wrote to members of the so-called Quartet (European Union, Russia, UN and the United States) requesting that they establish a Women’s Commission of peace activists from the region and from other parts of the world where women have been Left to right: Terry Greenblatt and involved in conflict resolution. Equality Now circulated this letter widely in the Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas during a joint interview with CNN. United Nations and the diplomatic community and met with many government

“In the face of the high cost to life, and the concern of even worse scenarios of bloodletting and destruction, we cannot afford to waste any more time, or any more lives. The absence of political will has kept the Middle East lingering too long in a situation of perpetual fear and conflict.” Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas

“You need us because we women are willing to sit together on the same side of the table and together look at our complex history. We keep authentic and productive dialogue moving forward, even as the violence escalates and both sides continue to terrorize one another.” Terry Greenblatt

10 representatives to further the proposal and discuss mechanisms by which it could be achieved. Based on the several positive responses received, Equality Now has written a follow-up letter to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, asking that he consider convening a commission of women peace activists under the auspices of the United Nations in order that women peace activists can have a formal role in creating a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. For their courageous commitment to maintaining a dialogue and forging peace in the Middle East, Ms. Abu-Dayyeh Shamas and Ms. Greenblatt were presented with the Ms. Women of the Year 2002 award in December. Equality Now believes that these women can help create a new path towards an effective resolution of the conflict in the Middle East and will continue to work to get the voices of Palestinian and Israeli women heard.

LETTERS FROM THE CAMPAIGN

I would like to assure you, both institutionally and personally that I believe in the paramount importance of the role of women in bringing peace to the Middle East and to other conflicts. Miguel Ángel Moratinos Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process Council of the European Union

Allow me to express my warmest congratulations to your organisation for the initiatives you have undertaken regarding the participation of women activists in the peace process. I hope that all efforts providing support to the peaceful resolution of this longstanding conflict will contribute to restoring peace in the region, and allow the people of Israel and Palestine to resume normal lives. Anna Diamantopoulou Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs European Commission

Mexico supports all efforts to promote a lasting and just settlement to the conflict in the Middle East. In this context, I think the peace process could be greatly strengthened by the creation of a framework for the participation of women activists in the discussions. In response to your initiative, Mexico will consult and promote your idea with other Delegations to the Security Council. Ambassador Adolfo Águilar Zinser Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations

I realize that women have a valuable role to play in peacemaking and appreciate the work of your organization in assisting Israeli and Palestinian supporters of peace to join together in finding ways to resolve the differences that exist between them. Ambassador John Negroponte Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations

11 SOMMAIRE The European Commission is giving full attention to the important part being played Tout en demandant l’application de by civil society, and by women in particular. The Commission is already supporting la Résolution 1325 du Conseil de peace initiatives originating from civil society and will continue to provide assistance sécurité des Nations Unies en Af- ghanistan, Egalité Maintenant a to peace groups in both societies with a view of enhancing and deepening direct co- voulu une fois encore faire entendre operation of both sides. le message sur le rôle essentiel des Anthony Cary, Chef de Cabinet femmes dans la résolution du conflit au Proche-Orient. En mai 2002, à la Cabinet of the Right Honourable Christopher Patten demande d’Egalité Maintenant, le European Commission Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies a rencontré deux femmes, Terry Greenblatt et Maha Abu-Dayyeh Denmark attaches great importance to the participation of civil society in the peace Shamas, l’une israélienne et l’autre process, and welcomes initiatives like the one taken by The Jerusalem Link to ensure palestinienne, qui sont membres de l’organisation Jerusalem Link. Cette active participation of women in peace-building. It is very encouraging that the organisation regroupe des Israéliennes organization perseveres in the dialogue for peace in the Middle East across borders et des Palestiniennes qui ensemble œuvrent pour la paix dans la région. despite the current deplorable situation in the region. Jerusalem Link a demandé que soit Per Stig Møller créée une Commission de femmes Minister for Foreign Affairs pour la paix réunissant des militantes de cette région et d’autres parties du Denmark monde qui ont contribué à la résolu- tion de conflits. Egalité Maintenant poursuivra ses efforts pour que les The initiative taken by The Jerusalem Link, aimed at ensuring active participation of femmes palestiniennes et israéliennes women in peacebuilding, is very much welcomed by The Netherlands. It is encourag- soient entendues. ing to know that there are still organisations who are actively trying to promote a RESUMEN dialogue on peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people, despite the current difficult situation. Paralelamente al llamado a favor de la implementación en Afganistán de la WR Beelaerts van Blokland Resolución 1325 del Consejo de Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seguridad de Naciones Unidas, Igual- The Netherlands dad Ya ha intentado resaltar este mismo mensaje del papel esencial de las mujeres en la resolución de con- I find your proposal to convene a Commission of peace activists (especially women) from flictos en la crisis de Medio Oriente. En mayo del 2002, a pedido de the Palestinian territories, Israel and the international community, particularly inter- Igualdad Ya, el Consejo de Seguridad esting. Such a mechanism would be in line with the UN Security Council Resolution de la ONU se reunió con dos mu- jeres—Terry Greenblatt y Maha Abu- 1325, and could, I believe, be an important contribution to the political dialogue. Dayyeh Shamas—una israelí y una Anna Lindh palestina, miembras de “Enlace de Minister for Foreign Affairs Jerusalén”, una organización de mu- Sweden jeres israelíes y palestinas que trabajan juntas por la paz en la región. El En- lance de Jerusalén ha solicitado el Comparto su convicción, y así lo manifiesto a menudo, de que es absolutamente establecimiento de una Comisión de Mujeres, compuesta de activistas por imprescindible implicar a la sociedad civil en cualquier proceso de paz y muy en la paz de la región y de otras partes del particular en el proceso de paz entre Israel y Palestina. mundo donde las mujeres han estado Ana Palacio involucradas en la resolución de con- flictos. Igualdad Ya seguirá trabajando Minister of Foreign Affairs para que se escuchen las voces de las Spain mujeres palestinas e israelíes. I agree with you that it is desirable to strengthen the role of women and civil society organisations in the peace negotiations. Joschka Fischer Minister of Foreign Affairs Germany

I want to thank you for your initiative to ensure a greater role for women and civil society in the peace process. I fully agree with you that the ability of women to maintain a dialogue is an important element for any peace effort. Benita Ferrero-Waldner Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Austria

12 CELEBRATING the POWER of the INDIVIDUAL Equality Now commemorated its tenth anniversary in 2002. The goal of the year-long series of tenth anniversary events was to highlight human rights violations against women and to mobilize public pressure to stop them. The theme of the anniversary, The Power of the Individual, highlighted the capacity of every concerned citizen of the world, wherever she or he is and whatever she or he does, to make a difference in the protection of women’s rights. EQUALITY NOW CAMPAIGNS 1992–2002

Reproductive Rights in Poland Consideration of Women The Struggle for Women’s Gender-Based Political Asylum Candidates in the Election of Suffrage in Kuwait in Canada: The Case of Nada the United Nations Secretary- Failure to Enforce the Law Rape and Genocide in Bosnia- General Against Female Genital Mutilation Herzegovina and Kosovo Sex Tourism from the United in Tanzania Trafficking of Women to Japan: States: Big Apple Oriental Tours Afghanistan: Terrorism, the The Death of Maricris Sioson Censorship of the Campaign to Taliban and the Role of Women UNICEF Efforts to Stop Female Stop Female Genital Mutilation in in Peace and Security Genital Mutilation The Gambia The Afghan Women’s Summit for South Africa: Rape and Violence Slavery in Ghana: The Trokosi Democracy Against Women at the Durban Tradition Official License for Abduction Train Station Trinidad and Tobago: The and Rape in Ethiopia Domestic Violence and Judicial Imminent Execution of a Battered Bringing Women into the Middle Bias in the United States Woman and Her Defenders East Peace Process The Medicalization of Female United Nations: Accountability Genital Mutilation in Egypt for Discriminatory Laws in the EQUALITY NOW Gender-Based Political Asylum Beijing+5 Review Process in the United States: The Case of Uganda: Exclusion of Women Fauziya Kassindja from Land Ownership—The Lost Abortion Imprisonment in Nepal: Clause The Case of Lok Maya Adhikari/ Government Sanctions of 10th The Death of Bimla “Honor” Killings in Jordan ANNIVERSARY

13 Equality Now launched its anniversary with an event on 8 April, exactly ten years from the date it was founded, at the Gramercy Theater in New York. Spon- sored by Marie Claire magazine, the program featured performances and appearances by outstanding artists and human rights activists, including actor Meryl Streep, singer/songwriter Alanis Morissette, author/activist Gloria Steinem, comedienne Kate Clinton, and writer Edwidge Danticat. The evening, a blend of art and advo- cacy, was emceed by playwright/poet/actor Sarah Jones and highlighted Equality Now’s decade of work to end all forms of violence and discrimi- nation against women. The event also celebrated the work of activists around the world, who individually and collectively have done so much to stop human rights violations against women. Fauziya Kassindja, whose brave escape from female genital mutilation (FGM) led to the landmark US case recognizing FGM as a legal basis for asylum, was welcomed with a standing ovation, as was Equality Now board member Asma Khader, a Jordanian human rights lawyer renowned for her work against “honor” killings. At the home of Maurine and Robert Rothschild, on 3 June Equality Now hosted a reception for the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and other distinguished women of the United Nations and the diplomatic commu- nity. Guests included, in addition to many members of CEDAW, Patricia Durrant, the UN Ambassador from Jamaica, Ellen Margrethe Løj, the UN Ambassador from Denmark, Peter Kolby, the UN Ambassador from Norway, Marjatta Rasi, the UN Ambassador from Finland, and Margaret Ferrari, the UN Ambassador from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Soraya Paikan, founder of the Afghan Women Lawyers’ and Professionals Association, spoke at the event of the great challenges facing women in Afghanistan who are working to ensure the restoration of women’s rights. On behalf of Equality Now, Gloria Steinem thanked and honored the women of the United Nations for their tireless commitment to the protection and promo- tion of women’s rights and for their outstanding contribution to the international human rights movement. Thanks to singer/songwriter Alanis Morrisette, in August Equality Now held its first European outreach events. On 12 August, Alanis hosted a reception in Berlin for members of Equality Now’s Women’s Action Network in Germany, just prior to her concert at the Arena, which they also Equality Now’s 10th Anniversary Event, 8 April 2002, Page 14, top to attended. On 13 August, bottom: Fauziya Kassindja, Amy Ziff (BETTY), Sarah Jones, Kate Clinton, Alanis hosted a similar Alyson Palmer (BETTY), Lesley Jane reception in Rotterdam, just Seymour, and Angharad Davies and Eden Mazer (Gina Gibney Dance). prior to her concert at the Page 15, from top left to bottom: Cast with Equality Now’s Board Sportpaleis. Equality Now Members, Meryl Streep, Gloria Steinem, Asma Khader, Edwidge worked in collaboration Danticat, Alanis Morissette, Lillias with Mama Cash, a Dutch White, Eugenia Zuckerman, and Elizabeth Ziff (BETTY). funding agency working to

14 promote international women’s rights, to maxi- mize the outreach impact of this unique opportunity in The Netherlands. Sahar Saba of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) spoke of the ongoing dif- ficulties for women in Afghanistan, and Alanis Morrisette spoke inspiringly at both receptions. On 23 September, Equality Now held a reception honoring Cecilia Medina Quiroga, former Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, and author/activist Robin Morgan for their lifelong commitment to human rights. Jane Fonda presented the awards and paid tribute to these two exceptional women for the unique and significant role they have each played in furthering the human rights of women and girls around the world. Equality Now concluded its tenth anniversary with a Media Tour celebrating youth from Kenya and Ethiopia who have bravely and effectively spoken out against the practice of female genital mutilation (see page 18 for a full report on the Media Tour). On 10 December, Human Rights Day, Lifetime Television hosted a reception for Equality Now and these young activists, at which Gloria Steinem and Meredith Wagner, Lifetime’s Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, lauded them as well as the community leaders who have helped them, for their unprecedented impact on the campaign to end female genital mutilation in their communities and beyond. Equality Now has used the opportunity of its anniversary to reflect on the past ten years and to consider the progress that has been made in the advancement of human rights, as well as persistent obstacles to overcome. The mobilization of international public pressure through the Women’s Action Net- work has been proven a powerful and often successful tool in the struggle to end violence and discrimination, and will therefore remain at the core of Equality Now’s mission to achieve justice and equality for women and girls everywhere.

THE POWER OF THE INDIVIDUAL: ALANIS MORISSETTE Throughout the year, Alanis Morissette supported Equality Now’s outreach efforts to broaden and strengthen its mobilization of public support for human rights. After performing at Equality Now’s 10th anniversary benefit gala on 8 April, Alanis auctioned off the first two rows of seats for each concert of her 2002 US tour, donating the proceeds to Equality Now, and linking her fans to Equality Now’s website to learn more about human rights violations against women and what they could do to help. Equality Now similarly benefited from Alanis Morissette’s 2002 European tour when Alanis invited members of Equality Now’s Women’s

15 SOMMAIRE Action Network to the concerts in Egalité Maintenant a célébré son dix- Germany and The Netherlands and ième anniversaire par une série d’évé- nements visant à dénoncer les vio- hosted a reception for them at lations des droits de la femme et à mobiliser l’opinion publique pour que each concert. In December, Alanis cessent ces violations. Le thème de cet anniversaire, le pouvoir de l’individu, a Morissette invited Equality Now to mis en avant la capacité qu’a chaque citoyen du monde de faire avancer la the launch of her DVD “Feast on protection des droits de la femme. Egal- ité Maintenant a entamé cette célébra- Scraps” and donated the proceeds of tion par une fête organisée à New York that event to support Equality Now’s le 8 avril. En outre, Egalité Maintenant a organisé une réception en l’honneur work. Equality Now counts Alanis des femmes qui se sont distinguées aux Nations unies le 3 juin, et une autre le Morissette as one of its strongest 23 septembre pour rendre hommage à Left to right: Jessica Neuwirth, Taina Bien-Aimé and Alanis Cecilia Medina Quiroga, ancienne Morissette at the Rotterdam concert, 13 August 2002. supporters. Alanis empowers others présidente du Comité des droits de l’homme des Nations unies, et à Robin to take action for positive social change. A seven-time Grammy Award-winning Morgan, écrivain et féministe, qui se sont mises, leur vie durant, au service singer/songwriter, she conveys a powerful mix of talent, vision and commitment de la défense des droits humains. Par ailleurs, Alanis Morissette, auteur et to promote the human rights of women and to make the world a safer place. chanteuse, a accueilli les membres du Réseau Action Femmes avant ses con- certs de Berlin et de Rotterdam, les 12 ANYONE CAN BE AN ACTIVIST et 13 août, respectivement. Write a letter. Express your concern over human rights violations against women RESUMEN and let the relevant authorities know that the world is watching. Igualdad Ya celebró su décimo aniver- sario con una serie de eventos cuyo Circulate a petition. There is strength in numbers. objetivo fue resaltar las violaciones de Contact your government. The protection of human rights should be a domestic los derechos humanos de las mujeres y mobilizar la presión pública para poner and foreign policy priority for all governments. Let’s hold them accountable! fin a esas violaciones. La temática del aniversario, El Poder del Individuo, Inform the media. The media has tremendous power to expose human rights resaltó la capacidad de cada ciudadano del mundo con conciencia de poder violations and amplify the voice of conscience. tener influencia en la protección de los derechos de las mujeres. Igualdad Ya Organize a public event. Bring the citizens of your community together around inaurugó su aniversario con un evento el 8 de abril en Nueva York. Además, these concerns. Your living room, campus, community center, and place of worship Igualdad Ya organizó una recepción el 3 de junio para mujeres de Naciones are places where you could hold an event to raise awareness. Unidas, así como también otra recep- Raise funds. Host a house party, organize a bike-a-thon, walk-a-thon, or dance-a- ción el 23 de septiembre en honor a Cecilia Medina Quiroga, ex presidenta thon, an auction, a garage sale, a concert, a bake sale, a tennis match—whatever del Comité de Derechos Humanos de Naciones Unidas, y la autora/activista you and your friends enjoy doing. Robin Morgan, por su compromiso vitalicio con los derechos humanos. La Equality Now relies on the generosity cantautora Alanis Morisette también fue anfitriona de recepciones para of people like you to support its work. miembros de la Red de Acción Mujeres antes de sus conciertos en Berlín y Spread the word. Get your friends, Rotterdam el 12 y 13 de agosto. classmates and colleagues to join the Women’s Action Network of Equality Now and help us build a more powerful global network of activists for the protection and pro- motion of human rights. Write an Left to right: Cecilia Medina Quiroga, Robin Morgan and article, a poem, or a story for your Jane Fonda, 23 September 2002. school or community paper. Learn and talk about human rights violations against women. Keep the focus on activism, not only the violence being done to girls and women, but also what we can do to stop it. Through these and other actions, anyone can publicize and protest human rights violations against women. The Women’s Action Network of Equality Now trans- forms collective outrage into strategic action. You can make a difference!

16 U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE SOMMAIRE En 2002, Egalité Maintenant a contin- ué de soumettre au Comité des droits de l’homme des Nations unies des HOLDING GOVERNMENTS informations sur les pays qui ne respectent pas leurs obligations de faire rapport sur l’application des disposi- ACCOUNTABLE UNDER tions du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques. Par le passé, les pays qui se soustrayaient à cette INTERNATIONAL LAW obligation ne faisaient pas l’objet d’un examen de la part du Comité, mais en 2000, celui-ci a adopté de nouvelles In 2002 Equality Now continued submitting information to the United Nations directives lui permettant d’examiner le cas de ces pays, même s’ils ne soumet- Human Rights Committee on countries that had failed to report on their compli- tent pas de rapport comme l’exige le ance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In the past, Pacte. En 2002, Egalité Maintenant a fourni des informations au Comité sur non-reporting countries were not reviewed by the Committee, but in 2000, the le Surinam et le Mali. Sur la liste des questions soumises par le Comité aux Committee adopted new guidelines enabling it to review countries despite their gouvernements de ces pays figuraient failure to submit reports as required by the Covenant. Equality Now submitted des points soulevés par Egalité Main- tenant dans ses dossiers d’information, information to the Committee on both Suriname and Mali in 2002. The lists of tels que le trafic des femmes ou les vio- lences domestiques au Surinam e ainsi questions subsequently presented to these Governments by the Committee included que les mutilations génitales féminines et la violation des droits civiques, poli- a number of issues raised by Equality Now in these submissions. tiques et économiques au Mali.

SOME QUESTIONS PUT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SURINAME BY RESUMEN En 2002, Igualdad Ya continuó su tra- THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE bajo de entregar información al Comité de Derechos Humanos de Naciones Please provide information about legislation in place, if any, to combat trafficking Unidas sobre países que no presentaron in persons. What practical measures does the State party take to prevent trafficking informes sobre su cumplimiento del Pacto Internacional de Derechos in women and girls for prostitution? Civilis y Políticos. En el pasado, los países que no presentaban informes no Please comment on the allegations that violence against women and domestic eran revisados por el Comité. Pero en el 2000, el Comité adoptó nuevas violence is a common occurrence and that few cases reported to the authorities are directivas, permitiéndole pasar revista thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. What measures is the State party taking to a países aunque no hayan presentando el informe requerido por el Pacto. address this problem? How are law enforcement officials sensitized to this issue? Igualdad Ya presentó información al Comité sobre Surinam y Mali en el 2002. Las listas de preguntas que se pre- sentaron luego a esos gobiernos por el SOME QUESTIONS PUT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF MALI BY THE Comité incluyeron varios temas intro- HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE ducidos por Igualdad Ya en estas pre- sentaciones, tales como el tráfico de According to information received by the Committee, women, contrary to mujeres y la violencia doméstica en Surinam, así como también la muti- Article 2 of the Constitution, do not enjoy rights on an equal basis with men, lación genital femenina (MGF) y los especially as regards property, political participation and access to education and derechos civiles, políticos y económi- cos en Mali. employment. Poverty is reported to be increasingly “feminized” in Mali. Women are particularly vulnerable and do not in practice receive any legal assistance in divorce or inheritance cases, or to defend their civil rights in general. The “levirat,” a practice whereby a widow is inherited by the deceased husband's brothers and cousins, is said to persist. Please explain which traditional, historical, cultural and religious practices hinder the implementation of article 3 of the Covenant, and provide information about the measures taken to overcome these factors. There have been numerous reports stating that female genital mutilation takes place on a large scale in Mali and that 95 per cent of women have been subjected to it. Does the State party plan to adopt a law specifically prohibiting such practices? What have been the results of educational and preventive initiatives taken to address that phenomenon, and what difficulties have the authorities encountered?

17 FGM THE CAMPAIGN TO END FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

THE FUND FOR GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM TO END FGM The Fund for Grassroots Activism to End FGM (the “FGM Fund”) was formally established by Equality Now in 2001. The FGM Fund, created to direct financial support specifically to local grassroots organizations, has supported several local initiatives to raise awareness about the health and human rights implications of FGM and to work for legal change against the practice. In 2002, the FGM Fund expanded significantly, and grants were awarded to groups in nine countries (see page 19 for more information about the grantees). In June 2002, the Africa Regional Office convened a meeting of FGM Fund grantees to facilitate communication and the exchange of ideas and strategies among them. The meeting featured presentations by the grantee participants on their programs’ objectives, challenges and successes, as well as a field trip to Eldoret, Kenya, to visit the office of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (CHRD) and to hear testimonies from girls who had fled their homes and sought help from CHRD in order to escape FGM.

MEDIA TOUR HONORING YOUNG ANTI-FGM ACTIVISTS In December 2002, Equality Now organized a US media and fundraising tour in Participants of The Fund for Grassroots Activism to End FGM three cities (New York, Los Angeles and Santa Fe) for young activists from Kenya grantee meeting in Nairobi, Kenya in June 2002. Back row, left to right: and Ethiopia who have successfully risen against the practice of FGM in their Roselyn Odera, Jacqui Hunt, Wendy Flick, Efua Dorkenoo, Jessica communities. The tour featured Beatrice and Edna Kandie, two sisters from Eldoret, Neuwirth, Faiza Jama Mohamed Kenya who fled their home to avoid being subjected to FGM when they were and Abdoulaye Cisse. Front row, left to right: Agnes Pareyio, Bassey 15 and 17 years old, respectively, and Ken Wafula, founder of the Centre for Human Ndodeye, Ken Wafula, Maria Kirby and Nancy Atef. Rights and Democracy, who helped the sisters successfully secure an injunction ordering their father not to circumcise them in an historical court decision in December 2000. The tour also featured a young couple from Kembatta, Ethiopia, Genet Girma and Addisie Abosie, who married earlier in 2002 in an unprecedented public ceremony, broadcast on Ethiopian television, during which the bride and groom expressed their opposition to the practice of FGM by wearing placards that said, respectively, “I am not cir- cumcised. Learn from me,” and “I am very happy to be marrying an

18 2002 GRANTEES OF THE FUND FOR GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM TO END FGM

Hundee Oromo Grassroots Development Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Cross River State and two in Edo State. Initiative (Hundee). Ethiopia. Hundee’s (CHRD). Kenya. On 13 December 2000 Edna The workshop also publicized the legal project aims to contribute to the national and Beatrice Kandie, sisters aged 17 and 15 prohibition on FGM passed by the two efforts to eliminate harmful traditional respectively, secured an historic court rul- states. GPI also undertook a study to practices by sensitizing rural communities ing from a magistrate in the Rift Valley establish FGM prevalence rates, reasons on protecting girls and women from Province, ordering their father not to sub- and attitudes of the targeted communities. harmful practices and in particular FGM. ject them to female genital mutilation. The It used this opportunity to dialogue with Kembatta Women’s Self-Help Center Kandie sisters were represented at court by community members and inform them of (KMG). Ethiopia. KMG’s programs work to CHRD, where they had fled for protection. the laws banning FGM. empower women and their families by Through the FGM Fund Equality Now Tostan. Senegal. Tostan works to helping them help themselves, and among supported a speaking tour for the Kandie empower villagers to take charge of their its focus areas are reproductive health, the sisters in their province, organized by own development and participate fully in elimination of FGM, and vocational training CHRD, to talk to other girls about the society. In addition to providing basic adult and skill development. After attending dangers of FGM and their legal victory, education, Tostan has also made a sig- educational workshops organized by KMG, which saved them from the practice. The nificant impact in the eradication of the hundreds of young girls have publicly following year an additional seventeen girls practice of FGM by organizing public village declared that they will not undergo the took similar action and secured protection declarations, unprecedented events in practice. KMG’s executive director, Boga- orders from courts. CHRD continues to which whole populations of villages pledge letch Gebre, and a young couple from Kem- play an important role in mobilizing public not to subject their daughters to FGM. As batta participated in Equality Now’s media resistance to the practice and has placed of April 2003, 816 villages (16% of the prac- tour in December 2002 to highlight the monitors in various villages to help girls in ticing communities) have publicly declared extraordinary way in which this couple need of legal support as well as to convince that they will abandon FGM. Tostan is now turned their wedding ceremony into a parents to save girls from FGM. In Decem- extending its Village Empowerment public declaration of opposition to FGM. ber 2002, Edna and Beatrice participated in Program throughout Senegal as well as to The Gambia Committee on Traditional Equality Now’s media tour honoring the neighboring African countries. Practices (GAMCOTRAP). The Gambia. work of young activists against FGM. Galkayo Education Center for Peace and GAMCOTRAP works to create awareness Tasaru Ntomokok Initiative (TNI). Kenya. Development (GECPD). Somalia. Among on harmful traditional practices in The TNI is engaged in community awareness- GECPD’s goals are strengthening women’s Gambia, and among its goals are promoting raising against FGM using workshops and capacity to seek, defend and advocate for and protecting the human rights of women seminars for specific target groups, includ- their fundamental rights in all spheres of and girls as well as identifying and encour- ing community leaders, circumcisers, life, and promoting education for girls, aging positive traditional practices that youth, women’s groups, and peer educators women, youth and the community at large enhance the political and socio-economic to inform them about the dangers of FGM. for social reconstruction and the peaceful status of women. GAMCOTRAP uses com- TNI also provides shelter and safety to girls rebuilding of Somalia. GECPD works to munity training and information campaigns who have escaped their families to avoid facilitate discussion and raise awareness to help eradicate FGM, and also provides FGM. With a grant from the FGM Fund, TNI about FGM and its effects among every consultancy and training to other groups has been conducting research and collect- sector of the population through training, working against the practice. ing data on incidences of death or injuries workshops, and educational programs Cellule de Coordination sur les caused by FGM in the Rift Valley Province targeted at parents, elders, girls, medical Pratiques Traditionelles Affectant la Santé of Kenya. professionals, women’s groups, and politi- des Femmes et des Enfants (CPTAFE). L’Association pour le Progrès et la cal and religious leaders. Guinea-Conakry. CPTAFE works to change Défense des Droits des Femmes (APDF). Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC). public opinion through mass media. Mali. APDF engages to inform, educate, Tanzania. The FGM Fund grant to the LHRC Through local rural radios, CPTAFE train and create awareness among the was related to the case in Morogoro of reaches out to all communities in Guinea Malian people, particularly among women, three sisters who unsuccessfully tried to informing them of the negative effects of on the dangers of FGM through actions escape FGM and were returned by the FGM. Subsequent sessions with the com- aimed at eradicating FGM in Mali. These police to their father, who subsequently munities complement the radio program actions include community workshops, a had them forcibly circumcised and married. giving CPTAFE an opportunity to dialogue radio program disseminating anti-FGM LHRC documented the case and assisted with members of the communities and messages and a high school competition alocal pastor to sue the father of the reinforce messages sent through the radio on generating effective messages to stop girls for violating their rights and breaking as well as seek feedback from them. FGM varying from pictures to songs and the law. FGM has been outlawed in Tan- CPTAFE also mobilizes religious authorities poems. zania since 1998. LHRC also trained local to speak out publicly against FGM, and Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI). Nigeria. With police to be more informed of the law and motivates circumcisers to stop performing support from the FGM Fund, GPI undertook encouraged them to take action to save FGM through skills training and funding to a project in the Cross River and Edo states girls from this harmful practice. This start income generating activities using of Nigeria. The project began with a work- project complemented Equality Now’s their newly acquired skills. Some converted shop in February 2001, held to draw the Women’s Action, which continues to mobil- circumcisers have become activists against attention of the public to the issue of FGM ize international public pressure for more the practice, participating in CPTAFE’s and to train field workers to carry out com- effective enforcement of the Tanzanian law activities. munity advocacy in two rural communities against FGM.

19 SOMMAIRE uncircumcised woman.” Genet and Le Fonds pour la lutte contre les muti- Addisie were accompanied by Boga- lations génitales féminines (MGF) a été créé par Egalité Maintenant pour letch Gebre, the founder and apporter spécifiquement un soutien fi- nancier aux organisations locales re- Executive Director of the Women’s groupant de simples citoyens qui s’ef- forcent dans leurs communautés de Self-Help Center in Kembatta. mettre fin aux MGF. En 2002, le Bureau région al d’Afrique a réuni les The tour participants visited with bénéficiaires du Fonds. En décembre 2002, Egalité Maintenant a organisé une students from high schools in New tournée des média américains à l’in- tention des jeunes activistes : Beatrice et York and Los Angeles to share their Edna Kandie, deux sœurs d’Eldoret au Kenya, qui ont fui leur domicile pour experiences with people their own échapper à la MGF et qui ont ensuite age and encourage these students to obtenu de la cour une ordonnance in- terdisant à leur père de leur faire subir become more aware of the injustices de telles mutilations, ainsi qu’un jeune couple de Kembatta en Ethiopie, suffered by their peers in other Genet Girma et Addisie Abosie, qui se sont mariés en début d’année et—fait countries. The tour was a great sans précédent—se sont exprimés con- tre la MGF lors de la cérémonie de success securing considerable media mariage publique. L’Eveil est une publi- cation lancée en 1997 par Egalité Main- exposure including a television news tenant pour soutenir les organisations et les activistes individuels qui travail- program, a number of articles in lent pour mettre fin à la mutilation génitale féminine (MGF). national women’s magazines and major newspapers, and a press conference in Los Angeles moderated by actor Calista Flockhart. A subsequent press conference RESUMEN El Fondo contra la MGF fue creado por was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to bring the impact of the tour back to East Igualdad Ya para aportar apoyo finan- Africa. Both organizations supporting these young activists, CHRD in Kenya ciero específicamente a grupos locales de base que están trabajando en sus and the Kembatta Women’s Self-Help Center in Ethiopia, are grantees of the comunidades para poner fin a la prácti- ca de la MGF. En junio del 2002, la FGM Fund. Oficina Regional de Africa convocó una reunión de becarios del Fondo. En diciembre del 2002, Igualdad Ya orga- nizó una gira periodística en EEUU AWAKEN: A VOICE FOR THE ERADICATION OF FGM para activistas jóvenes: Beatrice y Edna Kandie, dos hermanas de Eldoret, Awaken is a publication created by Equality Now in 1997 to support organizations Kenya, que se escaparon de su casa para evitar la MGF y luego consiguieron un and individual activists working to end FGM. It is a forum for information and mandamiento judicial prohibiéndole a su padre someterlas a la práctica; así discussion to promote better understanding and a more effective strategy for the como también una joven pareja de eradication of this harmful traditional practice. Awaken is published in English, Kembatta, Etiopía, Genet Girma y Addisie Abosie, que se casaron en 2002 Arabic and French to promote its accessibility to grassroots activists in communities en una ceremonia pública sin prece- dentes durante la cual la novia y el where FGM is practiced, and is distributed free of charge to groups and individuals novio expresaron su oposición a la MGF. Awaken (Despertar) es una pub- in these communities. licación fundada en 1997 por Igualdad Ya para apoyar organizaciones y activis- tas quienes trabajan para poner fin a la mutilación genital femenina (MGF). Excerpts from Awaken in 2002 European Union: “The European Parliament reiterated its interest and support for the anti-FGM movement with the adoption of a Resolution on Female Genital Mutilation, which re- asserts the Parliament’s commitment to anti-FGM provisions in international and regional human rights legislation.” (Volume 6, Issue 1) The Gambia: “Women supporting FGM protested outside the Brikama Magistrates

20 Court against the arraignment of seven women accused of conspiracy to commit a felony and assault causing actual bodily harm after they were said to have forcibly cir- cumcised a girl from Tanji village, Western Division.” (Volume 6, Issue 3) Kenya: “On January 4, 2002, the Children’s Act was enacted by Parliament, a great victory for anti-FGM activists in Kenya. This new law makes it a crime for anybody, including a parent, to practice FGM on children.” (Vol- ume 6, Issue 1) Nigeria: “On 12 September “Everybody shunned me, everybody laughed at me, but and 10 October respectively, the House of today, everybody is applauding us.” Addisie Abosie Assembly of Bayelsa State passed the Bayelsa “I took responsibility for my own life and I am starting a State Female Genital Mutilation Prohibition new generation of women.” Genet Girma Law 2002 and the Revised Edition (Law of

Bayelsa State) Law 2002, which prohibit FGM and provide for imprisonment and/or Page 20: Top, Edna and Beatrice Kandie. Bottom, left to right: fines in the breach.” (Volume 6, Issue 3) Senegal: “In two recent declarations by Ken Wafula and Bogaletch Gebre. villages to end the practice of FGM, 141 communities, representing over 100,000 This page: Top, Genet Girma and Addisie Abosie. Left, Africa Regional people in the Tambacounda region, held public events to show their support for an Director Faiza Jama Mohamed with Calista Flockhart at the Los Angeles end to FGM and early marriages.” (Volume 6, Issue 1) press conference, 12 December Sierra Leone: “Isatu Bangura, a 14-year-old girl from 2002. Freetown, was reported to have bled to death on 29 July 2002 after undergoing FGM the previous day. The circumciser was in police custody and was thought likely to be charged with murder or manslaughter.” (Volume 6, Issue 3) The Sudan: “The Sudan Organ- isation Against Torture protested a government decision to order a one-day suspension of Al-Ayam, a leading Sudanese newspaper, over the publication of an article in its medical column on the widespread practice of FGM in The Sudan. The government-run National Press Council accused the newspaper of ‘offending public decency.’ ”(Volume 6, Issue 3) Tanzania: “Following an outreach intervention in the Morogoro region, by the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), 126 elders of the Maasai community discussed FGM among other community issues. At the conclusion of the meeting they resolved that FGM should not be carried out, rather other rituals could be used to mark the rite of passage.” (Volume 6, Issue 2) Uganda: “Betty Cheptoek, an 18-year-old, physically handi- capped girl from the Sabiny tribe of Eastern Uganda had just started secondary school when she learned that her father intended to proceed with the ceremony to have her circumcised even though she had made it clear that she was strongly against it. She found refuge with friends and relatives.” (Volume 6, Issue 3) United Kingdom: “Doctors in the United Kingdom have been given guidelines to deal with circumcised women and girls and to protect girls from undergoing FGM in the future.” (Volume 6, Issue 1)

21 SOMMAIRE ONGOING CAMPAIGNS Egalité Maintenant poursuit la cam- pagne d’Action Femmes appelant le gouvernement tanzanien à faire appli- ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW AGAINST quer la loi interdisant les MGF. En réponse à cette campagne, le ministre du Développement communautaire et FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION IN TANZANIA des Affaires chargées de la femme et de Equality Now continues its Women’s Action campaign calling on the Tanzanian l’enfance a débattu cette question avec d’autres responsables gouvernemen- government to enforce its law prohibiting female genital mutilation (FGM). Women’s taux, et le ministre de la Justice et des Affaires constitutionnelles a décidé de Action 20.1 was issued in June 2001, highlighting the case of three young sisters faire savoir qu’il est opposé à ces pra- tiques. Egalité Maintenant continue en who ran away from their father who was going to force them outre de demander que des poursuites soient engagées contre Big Apple to undergo FGM. They found refuge in a church, and one of Oriental Tours, agence de tourisme sex- uel basée à New York qui organise pour its pastors took them to the police for protection. The police, une clientèle masculine des voyages sexuels à destination des Philippines et in defiance of the law, turned them over to their father who de la Thaïlande. La législation applica- ble dans l’Etat de New York interdit la had them circumcised the next day and forcibly married soon promotion de la prostitution qui est after. In 2002, Equality Now’s Africa Regional Director visited reconnue comme un délit. En 2002, Egalité Maintenant a commencé à Tanzania and met with a number of government officials, all explorer d’autres voies de recours légales dans cet Etat et dans les pays de of whom mentioned the letters they had received from destination. Egalité Maintenant a également déposé plainte contre Video around the world through the Women’s Action Network. In Travel, une agence spécialisée dans le tourisme sexuel dans l’Etat de Hawaii. response to Equality Now’s campaign, the Minister for Community Development, Women and Children's Affairs raised the issue with relevant government officials in RESUMEN Igualdad Ya continúa su campaña de areas of the country where FGM is practiced, and the Minister of Justice and Con- Acción Mujeres que reclama al gobier- stitutional Affairs undertook to speak out against FGM. Equality Now renewed its no de Tanzanía a que haga respetar su ley que prohibe la multilación genital appeal to the Inspector Chief of Police to issue formal guidelines to police nation- femenina (MGF). En respuesta a la campaña de Igualdad Ya, la Ministra de wide that they must enforce the law against FGM. The Women’s Action Network Desarrollo Comunitario, y Asuntos de Mujeres y Niños, presentó el tema ante will continue its campaign for increased awareness and enforcement of this law. las autoridades del gobierno, y el Min- istro de Justicia y Asuntos Constituci- onales se encargó de pronunciarse con- tra la MGF. Igualdad Ya también SEX TOURISM USA continúa reclamando el enjuiciamien- to de Big Apple Oriental Tours, una Equality Now continues to call for the prosecution of Big Apple Oriental Tours, a agencia de turismo sexual con sede en Nueva York que organiza excursiones sex tourism agency based in New York organizing sex tours for men to the Philip- sexuales para hombres a Filipinas y Tailandia. La ley de Nueva York pro- pines and Thailand. Since 1996, Equality Now has been urging local authorities to hibe la promoción de la prostitución como una ofensa criminal. En 2002, take action as New York law prohibits the promotion of prostitution as a criminal Igualdad Ya comenzó a explorar recur- sos legales adicionales en el estado de offense. In light of the Queens District Attorney's continuing inaction, in 2002 Nueva York y en los países de destino. Igualdad Ya también presentó una Equality Now began to explore other legal avenues of recourse in the State of queja ante Video Travel, una agencia New York and in the destination countries. In 2002 Equality Now also filed a com- de turismo sexual en el estado de Hawaii. plaint against Video Travel, a sex tour operator in the State of Hawaii, requesting the state's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to revoke the company’s registration as a travel agency. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WAR CRIMES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA Equality Now has been campaigning for the arrest and prosecution of war criminals in the former Yugoslavia since 1993. Former Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milo- sevic was arrested in 2001 and is currently standing trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Equality Now continues to campaign for the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, leader of the Bosnian Serbs, and Ratko Mladic, commander of the Bosnian Serb army, both of whom were indicted

22 by the ICTY in 1995 for genocide and crimes against SOMMAIRE humanity, including rape and sexual assault. In 2002, NATO Egalité Maintenant fait campagne depuis 1993 pour l’arrestation et le jugement reportedly made a number of unsuccessful attempts to arrest des criminels de guerre de l’ex-You- goslavie. L’ancien président yougo- Karadzic near the Bosnian village of Celebici, and in August slave, Slobodan Milosevic, a été arrêté en 2001 et est en instance de jugement began targeting individuals in that devant le Tribunal pénal international pour l’ex-Yougoslavie (TPIY). Egalité area who are part of Karadzic’s Maintenant poursuit sa campagne pour l’arrestation de Radovan Karadzic, chef support network and enable him to des Serbes de Bosnie, et Ratko Mladic, ON TRIAL commandant de l’armée des Serbes de remain a fugitive. General Mladic, Bosnie, qui ont tous deux été inculpés par le TPIY en 1995 pour génocide et reportedly protected by heavily crime contre l’humanité, y compris pour armed militia, has been sighted many times in and around viol et violences sexuelles. Par ailleurs, Egalité Maintenant continue d’œuvrer Belgrade. Equality Now continues to call for the arrest of pour le rétablissement de l’amendement sur la « clause perdue » dans la loi ougan- these and all remaining war criminals responsible for sexual daise sur la terre qui reconnaît à l’épouse STILL AT LARGE le statut de copropriétaire d’une parcelle violence and other atrocities in the Former Yugoslavia. de terre. Bien que cet amendement ait été voté par le Parlement en 1998, il a été omis, sans explication apparente, dans le texte définitif de la loi sur la PROPERTY RIGHTS IN UGANDA terre. Sans la protection que confère cet amendement, les femmes dont les Equality Now continues to campaign for restoration of the “lost clause” amendment époux décèdent ou qui divorcent peu- vent être expulsées de leur domicile. to the Uganda Land Act, which recognizes spousal co-ownership of land. Although it was passed by the Parliament in 1998, this amendment was inexplicably left out RESUMEN Igualdad Ya ha estado realizando una of the final text of the Land Act. Without the protection of this amendment, campaña por el arresto y enjuiciamien- to de criminales de guerra de la ex women whose husbands die or divorce them can be thrown out of their homes. Yugoslavia desde 1993. El presidente de la ex Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic Equality Now’s Africa Regional Director Faiza Mohamed participated in meetings fue arrestado en el 2001 y actualmente está siendo procesado ante el Tribunal held in March and July 2002 with women's rights activists in Uganda, to develop Penal Internacional para la Ex Yugo- slavia (TPIY). Igualdad Ya continúa su further strategies for reinstatement of the “lost clause.” In August 2002, Equality campaña por el arresto de Radovan Now helped secure the participation of Ugandan women's groups at a meeting of Karadzic, líder de los serbios bosnios, y Ratko Mladic, comandante del ejército the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against serbio bosnio, ambos acusados por la TPIY en 1995 por genocidio y crímenes Women (CEDAW), which was reviewing a report from Uganda. In addition to land de lesa humanidad, incluyendo vio- lación y agresión sexual. Igualdad Ya co-ownership, women's groups took this opportunity to ask the Committee to raise también continúa su campaña a favor de la restauración de la enmienda de la in its dialogue with the government issues such as rape, domestic violence and the “cláusula perdida” a la Ley de la Tierra en Uganda, que reconoce la propiedad impact of illegal abortion on the lives of Ugandan women. Equality Now continues común de la tierra entre esposos. Aunque fue aprobada por el Parla- to campaign internationally for reinstatement of the “lost clause” of the Land Act. mento en 1998, esta enmienda fue in- explicablemente excluída del texto final de la Ley. Sin la protección de esta Page 22: Pastor Zakayo Katungu, from Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Page 23: Top, left to right, Equality Now enmienda, las mujeres pueden ser ex- “Wanted” posters for Slobodan Milosevic and Radovan Karadzic; Bottom: On 8 March 2000, International Women's pulsadas de sus hogares. Day, hundreds of Ugandan women wearing black marched to protest denial of their land ownership rights and demand reinstatement of the "lost clause."

23 SOMMAIRE THE LAW PROJECT Lancé en juin 2001, le projet d’Alli- ance des avocats pour les femmes (LAW) vise à constituer un réseau d’avocats pour faire progresser les droits à l’égal- ité des sexes par la voie légale. En 2002, USING LAW TO PROMOTE le Projet LAW a travaillé avec CLA- DEM et CEJIL, co-requérants dans un appel dont a été saisie la Commission SEX EQUALITY interaméricaine des droits de l’homme concernant l’affaire MZ, cas de viol commis en Bolivie. En juin 2002, le Following the international lawyers’ meeting organized by Equality Now in Nairobi, Projet LAW a déposé un dossier amicus curiae dans cette affaire portée devant Kenya, in June 2001, The Lawyers’ Alliance for Women (LAW) Project was estab- la Commission. Cette même année, de lished to facilitate the networking of lawyers to concert avec le Bureau de la région “The reviewing courts of Afrique, le Projet LAW a lancé une advance sex equality rights through law and to action de soutien en faveur du projet de Bolivia disregarded critical Protocole additionnel à la Charte provide technical assistance both in cases at the africaine des droits de l’homme et des evidence that the trial court peuples relatif aux droits de la femme domestic level and in the pursuit of international en Afrique. Egalité Maintenant s’est found, misrepresented docu- associée aux organisations et aux mili- avenues of recourse. The LAW Project is co- tants en faveur des droits de la femme mentary and testimonial pour examiner et discuter ce projet de directed by Catharine MacKinnon, Professor of evidence, and instead protocole, avec la volonté de faire val- oir avec la plus grande fermeté possible Law at the Universities of Michigan and Chicago, allowed their judicial review la nécessité de protéger et de promou- voir les droits de la femme. and Jessica Neuwirth, President of Equality Now. to be guided by rape myths In 2002, The LAW Project worked with the and sexual stereotyping, RESUMEN Latin American and Caribbean Committee for rather than the rape law El Proyecto Alianza de Abogados para la Mujer (LAW) fue establecido en junio the Defense of Women’s Rights (CLADEM) and of Bolivia.” del 2001 con el objetivo de facilitar interacción entre abogados para avan- the Center for Justice and International Law from Equality Now’s amicus curiae zar la causa de los derechos de igualdad brief in the case of MZ sexual a través de la ley. En 2002, El (CEJIL), co-petitioners in an appeal to the Inter- Proyecto LAW trabajó con CLADEM y CEJIL, co peticionarias en una apela- American Commission on Human Rights on the matter of MZ, a rape case from ción a la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos sobre el caso de MZ, Bolivia. Among the findings by the Bolivian judiciary in the case were that the un caso de violación de Bolivia. En junio del 2002, El Proyecto LAW presentó woman concerned could not have been raped because she was taller than the man un amicus curiae en el caso, que sigue charged with raping her, despite the substantial evidence introduced at trial of pendiente ante la Comisión. También en el 2002, junto con la Oficina Re- violent aggression. In June 2002, The LAW gional de Africa, El Proyecto LAW lanzó una iniciativa activista a favor del Ante- Project filed an amicus curiae brief in the case, proyecto del Protocolo a la Carta Afri- April 8, 2002 cana de Derechos Humanos y de los focusing on the way in which “rape myths” Pueblos sobre los Derechos de la Mujer. Igualdad Ya se unió a organizaciones de undermine the right to equal protection of the derechos de las mujeres y activistas en Africa para la revisión y los comentar- law. The case is pending before the Commission. ios sobre el texto del anteproyecto del Protocolo, en un esfuerzo de asegurar la Also in 2002, The LAW Project began an advo- inclusión del lenguaje más fuerte posi- ble para la protección y promoción de cacy initiative in conjunction with the Africa los derechos de las mujeres. Regional Office of Equality Now for the draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. Equality Now joined a number of women’s rights organizations and activists in Africa in reviewing and commenting on the text of the draft Protocol, in an effort to ensure the inclusion of the strongest language possible for the protection and promotion of women’s rights. At year-end 2002, The LAW Project and the Africa Regional Office were plan- ning to convene a strategy meeting of African women’s rights organizations and activists to take place in early 2003 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

24 THE ACTIVISTS OF EQUALITY NOW

HONORARY CHAIR Gloria Steinem THE LAW PROJECT Navanethem Pillay Meryl Streep Catharine A. MacKinnon, Co-Director Rose Styron Jessica Neuwirth, Co-Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS Liz Young Jessica Neuwirth, President CONSULTANTS Taina Bien-Aimé, Treasurer STAFF Kenneth J. Franzblau Jacqui Hunt, Secretary Jessica Neuwirth, President Alicia Gordon Susana Chiarotti Taina Bien-Aimé, Executive Director Bonnie Greenfield Sapana Pradhan-Malla Faiza Jama Mohamed, Africa Jacqui Hunt Meaza Ashenafi Regional Director Rana Husseini Asma Khader Roselyn Odera, Africa Regional Karolyn Irvin (Kiwi Partners) Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas Program Officer Laleh Javaheri-Saatchi Colette De Troy Amanda Sullivan, Director, Women’s Shoji Masuzawa Action Network Katie Shin (Kiwi Partners) ADVISORY COUNCIL Alia Levine, Media Campaign Director TRANSLATORS Deborah Taylor Ashford Tsinu Tesfaye, Program Coordinator Winnie Byanyima Antonia Kirkland, Program Coordinator Asma Abdel Halim Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge Bethany Hurley, Program Administrator Abdelrahman Al Bashir Hanny Megally Mary Whitmore, Office Manager Elena Arengo Robin Morgan Mary Ciugu, Africa Regional Office Jana Talton Elizabeth Odio Benito Manager Top row, left to right: Roselyn Odera, Tsinu Tesfaye, Indira Rana Scott Nagel, Manager of Information Jacqui Hunt, and Faiza Jama Mohamed. Bottom row, left to right: Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas, Meaza Maurine Rothschild Systems Ashenafi, Taina Bien-Aimé, and Karolyn Irvin.

25 feminist.com Nicola Johnston THE FRIENDS The Feminist Majority Sarah Jones FEMNET Veronica Jordan Julia Fierman OF EQUALITY NOW Shelley Fischel Sally Fisher Telma Abascal Mary Ann Burris Wendy Flick Asma Abdel Halim Twiss Butler Julie Floch Addisie Abosie Andrew Byrnes Calista Flockhart Tania Adal Colleen Cannon Foley Hoag LLP Amina Adam Dawn Cardi AIDOS Casa Amiga Susan Allee CEJIL Deborah Charlemagne Esther Chávez Cano Ellen Chesler Frank Christopher Veronica Jordan Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton Beatrice Kandie Kate Clinton Edna Kandie Glenn Close Carol Kaplan Jennifer Co Fauziya Kassindja Coalition Against Trafficking in Jenifer Keiser Women Peggy Kerry Marlo Cohen Jane Fonda and Justine Auerbach Ben Kioko Steve Coleman Angela King Jenny-Brooke Condon Jane Fonda Maria Kirby Soraya Paikan Jane Connors Hannah Forster Glenys Kinnock Christopher Coombe Melissa Alonso Marsha Freeman Frances Kissling Lisa Alter Nancy Frieden Sharon Klein Janette Amer Felice Gaer Samantha Knights Jo Andrews María Clara Galvis Ambassador Peter Kolby Association of American Publishers Kim Gandy The Kopp Family Foundation Marsha Atkind Mark Gelman Lisa Korn Vanessa Atkinson Adrienne Germain Abdul Kouroma Justine Auerbach Gina Gibney Dance Viviana Krsticevic Nina Auerbach Susie Gilligan Roberta Lajous David Bale Shamaya Gilo Latham & Watkins LLP Brenda Battista Genet Girma Kate Lauer Nancy Behrman Joseph Gitari Behrman Communications Global Fund for Women Jo Ellen Bender Adrienne & Ervin Gombos Barbara Bergmann Meredith Wagner Victoria Gomez-Trenor Bernard Berkowitz Maia Goodell Robert & Helen Bernstein Judy Corcoran Jan Goodwin Bertelsmann, Inc. Joseph Costa Virginia Gordan BETTY Larry Cox Alicia Gordon Nicole Bibbins Bob Coyle Toby Graff Carole Black Barbara Crossette Wade Green Bob Boneberg Stephanie Daddi Nienke Groot Summer Boslaugh Edwidge Danticat Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda Stephanie Brandt Sheila Dauer Hague Appeal for Peace Christine Brautigam Esther de Vreede Kristina Hare-Lyons Lola Maverick-Berndt Ariane Brunet Donna Deitch Emily Harrold Laura Lederer Simon Burch Sahra Diamant Yasmeen Hassan Nadine Lefebvre Martha Burk Anna Diamantopoulou Ann Colin Herbst Mary Diaz Noeleen Heyzer Dorchen Leidholdt Julie Dinnerstein Felicity Hill Mavis Leno Mary Dixon Home Box Office (HBO) John Levin & Diane Keefe Said Djinnit Danielle Honzik David Levita Rabbi Malka Drucker Donna Hughes Jeffrey Lewis & Karin Miller-Lewis Paula Dobriansky Helen Hunt Lifetime Television Lucius & Eva Eastman Fund Ambassador Abdulmejid Hussein Linklaters Chris Eijkmans Rana Husseini Susan Linnee Eve Ensler Allison Inouye Daniel Loeb Steve Errick International Alert Victoria Love Ethiopian Women Lawyers International Women’s Health MADRE Association Coalition Josh Mailman Elizabeth Evatt Greg Jackson Idelisse Malavé Steven Eyraud Asma Jahangir Representative Carolyn Maloney Gloria Neuwirth Denise Farrell Molly Johnson Mama Cash

26 National Organization for Women Rudolf Scheffer Maj Britt Theorin (NOW) Jan Schneiderman Anna Thum Gloria S. Neuwirth Patricia Schroeder Tides Foundation Laura Neuwirth Debra Schultz Amin Tijani Michael Neuwirth Catherine Schwab Donna Turk Robert S. Neuwirth Margaret Tyndall New York City Bar Association UNIFEM Human Rights Committee United Nations Division for the Irene Kubota Neves Advancement of Women NOW Legal Defense and Education University of Michigan Law School Fund Urgent Action Fund Ellen Nusblatt V-Day Christiana Norgren Allert van den Hamm Open Society Institute Maeira and Cheryl Heleen van den Homburgh Jason Orme Halpern Nancy Vo Hibaaq Osman Claire von Schilling Soraya Paikan Lisa Martin Meredith Wagner Alyson Palmer Thomas Maxwell Nicole Walden Denise Parmentier Marie Claire Sima Wali David Bale Shannon McCormick Ed Walter Design Cecilia Medina Quiroga Mary Wandia Alan Seget Hanny Megally Jenny Warburg Rebecca Sellen Parul Mehta Caroline Waters Hilary Seo Sunita Mehta Cora Weiss Lesley Jane Seymour Marianne Meyer Jody Weiss Elizabeth & Stephen Shafer Jean Mfasoni Scott Welch Willa Shalit Thomas Middelhoff Westwind Travel Shan Women’s Action Network Marilyn Mazin Miller Joss Whedon Ritu Sharma Denise Mondrey-Brunson Martha Wheelock Julie Shaw Gayle Morgan White & Case LLP Shearman & Sterling LLP Melissa Morgan Lillias White Pamela Shifman Luisa Morgantini Jonathan Willens & Julia Beardwood Denise Shull Alanis Morissette Irene Kubota Neves Nina Morrison David Silverberg Stacy Morrison Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Lauri Slavitt Robin Morgan Garrison LLP Emily Sklar Kristin Moses Manuela Paz Eleanor Smeal Rosie Perez Liz Smith Wayne Pesoresi SMOKE Jazz Club Tara Polen Carol Smolenski Katha Pollitt Rifka Solomon Soteria Pologianis Spence Women’s Action Network Anastasia Posadskaya-Vanderbeck Sarah Spencer Andy Proudfoot Kathy Spillar Kavita Ramdas Ellen Sprenger Joann Spain Rasmussen Caren Spruch Janice Raymond Paul Stache Alan Seget Refugee Women in Development Irene Staehelin Marie Wilson Claire Reynolds-Lewis Anne Stark Amy Wolf Lynda Richardson Gloria Steinem Women for Afghan Women Anthony Richter Henry Steiner Sikay Tang Women’s Commission for Refugee Kathy Rodgers Meryl Streep Women and Children Ms. Foundation for Women Cathie & Robert Ross Vivian Stromberg Women’s EDGE Ruth Mueller Maurine & Robert Rothschild Rose Styron Liz Young Jennifer Murray Barnett Rubin Rosemary Sullivan YWCA, USA Betty Murungi Joan Ruddock Masuda Sultan Amy Ziff National Council of Jewish Women Sahar Saba Sikay Tang Elizabeth Ziff National Council of Women’s Susan Sarandon Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr. Joanne Zippel Organizations Shira Saperstein Pavani Thagirisa Eugenia Zuckerman

“As an actor, all my life I have tried to understand what it would be like to be different women. From this effort I have come to believe that in the core of our being we as women are profoundly similar, in what makes our hearts beat in rapture, or shame, or content, or what enrages us or makes us proud. And I have felt the necessity of raising our voices on behalf of our own because they are us, and we are them. I want to thank everyone at Equality Now around the world for being part of an organization full of very brave women and men. I hope that you will continue to support us.” Meryl Streep, Equality Now Advisory Council

27 2002 2001 STATEMENT ASSETS As of 12/31 As of 12/31 Cash and cash equivalents $632,562 $1,032,771 OF FINANCIAL Investments 387,592 1,032 Grants receivable 227,655 336,446 POSITION Accounts receivable 15,395 11,314 Prepaid expenses 20,281 28,871 Property and equipment, net 30,849 37,846 Other assets 16,754 19,404 Total assets $1,331,088 $1,467,684 LIABILITIES Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 89,005 $ 159,263 Fiscal sponsorships — 54,329 Total liabilities $ 89,005 $ 213,592 NET ASSETS Unrestricted $1,170,428 $ 915,294 Temporarily restricted 71,655 338,798 Total net assets $1,242,083 $1,254,092 Total liabilities and net assets $1,331,088 $1,467,684

UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETS 2002 2001 STATEMENT PUBLIC SUPPORT AND REVENUE Contributions and grants OF ACTIVITIES Foundations $1,145,283 $1,499,305 Individual donors 150,477 229,414 Corporations 237,320 211,735 Legacies and bequests — 88,432 Special events, net 49,292 12,926 Donated goods and services 236,698 65,745 Investment income 13,263 14,495 Other income 1,138 6,887 Net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on investments (1,588) 322 Public support and revenue before net assets 1,831,883 2,129,261 released from restrictions Net assets released from restrictions 280,743 285,224 Total public support and revenue 2,112,626 2,414,485 EXPENSES Program services Women’s Action Network 889,075 562,541 FGM Program 351,415 101,255 UN Human Rights Committee 42,512 31,982 Regional Coordination 42,898 75,867 V-Day 18,150 377,945 Afghan Women’s Summit for Democracy 108,233 305,816 The LAW Project 77,465 41,245 Lawyers’ Meeting — 71,167 Total program expenses 1,529,748 1,567,818 Supporting services Management and general 190,963 198,795 Fundraising 136,781 88,552 Total supporting services 327,744 287,347

Total expenses 1,857,492 1,855,165

Increase in unrestricted net assets 255,134 559,320

TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS Copies of the complete, audited Contributions 13,600 85,000 reports may be obtained from Net assets released from restrictions (280,743) (285,224) Equality Now or from the State Increase in temporarily restricted net assets (267,143) (200,224) of New York, Department of Law, Total (decrease) increase in temporarily restricted and unrestricted net assets (12,009) 359,096 Office of Charities Registration, The Capitol, Albany, NY Net assets: January 1 1,254,092 894,996 12223. Net assets: December 31 $1,242,083 $1,254,092

28 FOUNDATION AND CORPORATE SUPPORT 2002 Equality Now wishes to acknowledge and thank the following foundations and corporations for their support: Bertelsmann, Inc. Patrick & Aimee Butler Family Foundation Bydale Foundation Dreitzer Foundation Ford Foundation Home Box Office Jana Foundation John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Moriah Fund NOVIB Payton Foundation Ruben & Elisabeth Rausing Trust Streisand Foundation Ruth Turner Fund V-Day Fund Winds of Change Foundation

AFGHAN WOMEN LAWYERS AND PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION On behalf of the Afghan Women Lawyers and Professionals Association (AWLPA), Equality Now wishes to thank the following for their support of the work of AWLPA: Global Fund for Women Open Society Institute Rockefeller (a family member) Sister Fund

PHOTO CREDITS Lifetime Television: Ken Wafula and Bogaletch Gebre (page 20). Meredith Wagner (page 26). Alan Seget (page 27). Jessica Neuwirth: Fauziya Kassindja (both photos), International Women’s Day March in Nepal, and Edna and Beatrice Kandie (cover). Starlin Arush (page 1). Terry Greenblatt and Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas (page 10). Faiza Jama Mohamed and Calista Flockhart (page 21). Pastor Zakayo Katungu (page 22). Rosemary Sullivan: Cecilia Medina Quiroga, Robin Morgan and Jane Fonda (page 16). Taina Bien-Aimé (page 25). Gloria Neuwirth, Jane Fonda and Justine Auerbach, and Veronica Jordan (page 26). Maeira and Cheryl Halpern, and Sikay Tang (page 27). Pavani Thagirisa: Irene Kubota Neves (page 27). Jenny Warburg: Gloria Steinem (cover). Fauziya Kassindja, Amy Ziff, Alyson Palmer, Lesley Jane Seymour, and Angharad Davies and Eden Mazer (page 14). Gloria Steinem and Elizabeth Ziff (page 15). Wireimage.com: Sarah Jones and Kate Clinton (page 14). 10th Anniversary group photo, Meryl Streep, Asma Khader, Edwidge Danticat, Alanis Morissette, Lillias White and Eugenia Zuckerman (page 15).