Equality Now 1994-1995 Report Equality Now

EQUALITY NOW 1994-1995 REPORT EQUALITY NOW

Equality Now international force, capable outside the scope of the was founded in of rapid response to crisis mainstream human rights 1992 to work situations and committed to movement, such as domestic for the protec- voicing a worldwide call for violence, reproductive rights, tion and pro- justice and equality for trafficking of women, female motion of the human rights women. Equality Now genital mutilation, and equal of women around the world. addresses issues which have access to economic opportu- Working with national historically been considered nity and political participation. human rights groups and individual activists, Equality SOMMAIRE Now documents human Egalité Maintenant a été fondée en 1992 afin de travailler pour la protection et la promotion des droits individuels des femmes dans le monde entier. Travaillant avec des rights violations against groupes locaux de droits individuels et des militants individuels, Egalité Maintenant women and adds an inter- documente les violations de ces droits et ajoute un aspect international d’action pour soutenir les efforts locaux et nationaux au nom des droits des femmes et au nom des national action component— femmes individuelles qui subissent des violations de leurs droits humains. Egalité Maintenant aborde les questions qui ont généralement été considérées en dehors du to support their efforts to champ des droits humains internationaux, telles que la traîte des femmes, la violence advance women’s rights and familiale, les droits de reproduction, la mutilation féminine génitale et égalité d’accès économiques et participation politique. to defend individual women RESUMEN who are suffering abuse. Igualdad Ya fue fundada en 1992 con el propósito de luchar por los derechos Equality Now’s action tech- humanos de la mujer alrededor del mundo. Trabajando con grupos locales de derechos humanos y con activistas individuales, Igualdad Ya documenta las violaciones de los niques have proven effective. derechos humanos de la mujer, además de agregar una dimensión internacional para By distributing information apoyar a los esfuerzos que se hacen para promover los derechos de la mujer y para defender a las mujeres que sufren abusos a nivel individual. Igualdad Ya se dedica through its Women’s Action a asuntos que históricamente han sido descuidados por el movimiento de derechos humanos, tal y como lo son la violencia doméstica, el derecho a la reproducción, el Network to concerned tráfico des mujeres, la mutilación genital femenina y el derecho de participar en con- groups and individuals diciones iguales en la economía como en la vida política. around the world, with recommended actions for publicizing and protesting human rights violations, Equality Now is building an 1 THE WOMEN’S ACTION NETWORK

The Women’s Action participate in campaigns on mation and to facilitate grass- Network is the core of broader women’s issues, and roots participation. Equality Equality Now’s work. As of channel information and Now has undertaken eight year-end 1995, the Network strategy on concerns in their Women’s Actions to date. consists of almost two thou- own countries back through sand groups and individuals the Network. Reproductive Rights in in 65 countries around the All Women’s Actions are Poland Gender-Based Political world who take action in issued in English, Spanish, Asylum in Canada— response to appeals on French and Arabic to pro- The Case of Nada behalf of individual women, mote equal access to infor- Rape as a Weapon of Genocide in SOMMAIRE Bosnia-Herzegovina A la fin de l’année 1995, le réseau consistait de près de deux mille groupes et indi- Trafficking of Women vidus dans 65 pays autour du monde qui répondent aux appels au nom des femmes individuelles, participent à des campagnes sur des questions plus générales relatives to Japan: The Death aux femmes et disséminent des renseignements sur le statut des femmes et les vio- of Maricris Sioson lations des droits indiviuels dans leurs pays par l’intermédiaire du réseau. Egalité Maintenant a lancé des Actions Femmes sur les droits de reproduction, l’asile poli- UNICEF’s Failure tique basé sur le sexe, le viol comme arme de guerre et de génocide, la violence to Fund Efforts to familiale, la traîte des femmes et la mutilation génitale féminine. Stop Female Genital RESUMEN Mutilation A fines del año 1995, la Red consiste en casi dos mil grupos e individuos de 65 países Rape and Violence que actúan en respuesta a los llamados que se hacen para que se interceda a favor de la mujer a nivel individual, participan en campañas sobre los asuntos de la mujer Against Women at the en general, y hacen llegar a la Red información y estrategias sobre asuntos que se Durban Train Station, presenten en sus países. Igualdad Ya ha promulgado varias Acciones Mujeres acer- South Africa ca del derecho a la reproducción, el asilo político en base al género, la violación de mujeres como arma de guerra y genocidio, la violencia doméstica, el tráfico de mu- Domestic Violence in jeres y la mutilación genital femenina. the United States: Judicial Misconduct in the State of Maryland— the Peacock Case The Medicalization of Female Genital Mutilation in Egypt

2 CLADEM Comité Latinoamericano para la Defensa de los Derechos de la Mujer

De nuestra consideración: Muy consternadas nos dirigimos WOMEN LIVING UNDER MUSLIM LAWS FEMMES SOUS LOIS MUSULMANES a Ud. en relación a las continuas International Solidarity Network violaciones genocidas y los Réseau International de solidarité asesinatos que se cometen en Chères Amies, Chers Amis, Bosnia-Herzegovina, y en este Nous avons reçu cet appel de Equality Now sentido pedimos un juicio prontoqui a concerne les conditions de vie insouten- los criminales de guerra, tales ables de femmes sans domicile et vivant aux como Radovan Karadzic por partealentours de la gare de Durban. Elles y sont del Tribunal Internacional. victimes de vols, viols et violences. Çet appel Confiadas en que coincide convous demande donc d’alerter les responsa- nosotras en que se le debe ponerbles de la police ainsi que le Président Nelson fin a estas atrocidades, no Mandela sur ces faits inadmissibles au sein despedimos de Ud. d’un état démocrate.

Atentamente, Envoyez vos lettres et pétitions aux adresses mentionnées dans l’appel ainsi Roxana Vásquez S. qu’une copie de vos actions à Equality Now. Coordinadora Regional En solidarité

M.A. Hélie Lucas Réseau Femmes Sous Lois CoordinatriceMusulmanes

BAFROW—THE GAMBIA Foundation for Research on Women’s Health Productivity and the Environment

It is with great regret that we learnt of the tragic and suspicious death of Maricris. Details of the situation leading to her death are provided to us by Equality Now, of New York. We associate our- selves with all those who publicly condemn this act, and call upon the Japanese authorities to investigate the death of Maricris and to bring to justice those responsible for the act.

3 SOUTH AFRICA Rape and Violence Against Women at the Durban Train Station

In May 1994, Equality Now We are extremely concerned about the unfortunate and issued a Women’s Action on unacceptable situation of our African sisters in Durban. The rape in South Africa. South horrifying acts of rape, abuse and violence against our sisters Africa has one of the highest are intolerable and must be stopped. —SAMIA TABARI, ASSOCIATION NAJDEH, BEIRUT, LEBANON rape rates in the world—it is estimated that a woman is local thugs who rob, attack These women want police and rape them with impuni- protection, and Equality President Mandela ty. The women who live out- Now’s Women’s Action adds ... is concerned side the Durban train station an international voice to their about the large numbers of reported to Equality Now’s call for help. It calls on the homeless people. The Gov- ernment has embarked on a mission delegates, who police to patrol Umgeni Reconstruction and Develop- worked in conjunction with Road, and urges President ment Programme which the Durban-based Advice Nelson Mandela to demon- seeks to address basic Desk for Abused Women, strate to the police and the human needs. that practically every night a public that the new South —RESPONSE FROM woman gets raped, and that Africa will not tolerate rape THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT often they see their rapists and other violence against raped every 83 seconds. The again, raping other women. women. Women’s Action focuses on Regina Nyanda, Umgeni Road, Durban the plight of the women who live on the pavement of Umgeni Road outside the Durban train station. Al- though the police station is only a few blocks away, the police do not patrol the stretch of pavement on which the women live, leav- ing the women vulnerable to 4 UNITED STATES Judicial Misconduct in the State of Maryland—The Peacock Case

In December 1994, Equality light sentence on the defen- Now, working with the dant, Kenneth Peacock, who Women’s Law Center in had killed his wife Sandra Maryland, issued a Women’s after finding her in bed with Domestic Violence Quilt, Africa Preparatory Action on the judicial mis- another man. In his sentenc- Conference, Dakar, November 1994 conduct of Judge Robert E. ing decision, the judge com- Cahill in the Peacock Case. mented, “I seriously wonder walk away . . . without in- On October 17, 1994, Judge how many married men . . . flicting some corporal punish- Cahill imposed an extremely would have the strength to ment, whatever that punish- SOMMAIRE ment might be. I shudder to think what I would do.” En mai 1994, Egalité Maintenant a lancé une Action Femmes sur le viol en Afrique du Sud, mettant l’accent sur le sort des femmes qui vivent sur Umgeni Road, devant de la Equality Now’s Women’s gare de Durban. L’Action soutient leurs appels pour obtenir la protection de la police et des patrouilles régulières. En décembre 1994, Egalité Maintenant a lancé une Action Action calls on judicial author- Femmes sur la violence familiale aux Etats-Unis, se concentrant sur la mauvaise admin- ities in Maryland to take ap- istration de la justice dans l’affaire de Kenneth Peacock. En condamnant Peacock, qui avait tué sa femme après l’avoir trouvée au lit avec un autre homme, le juge Cahill propriate disciplinary action a sympathisé avec le défendeur, déclarant: «Je frémis en pensant à ce que je ferai.» against Judge Cahill for gen- RESUMEN der bias. In March 1995, En mayo de 1994, Igualdad Ya promulgó una Acción Mujeres acerca de la violación de mujeres en Sur Africa, concentrándose en la apremiante situación que sufren las Equality Now raised the case mujeres que viven en la calle Umgeni, ubicada en las afueras de la estación fer- with the United Nations roviaria de Durban. La Acción apoya el que estas mujeres pidan que se les dé pro- tección policial y que haya rondas policíacas con regularidad. En diciembre de 1994, Human Rights Committee, and Igualdad Ya promulgó una Acción acerca de la violencia doméstica en los Estados Unidos, concentrándose en la mala conducta judicial que hubo en el caso de Kenneth in September 1995, Equality Peacock. A la hora de dictar sentencia contra Peacock, quien había matado a su Now raised the case at the esposa al encontrarla en la cama con otro hombre, el juez Cahill simpatizó con el acusado y declaró “Me estremezco de tan sólo pensar lo que yo haría.” United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing. A hearing by the Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities, sched- uled for October 30, 1995, was postponed to 1996. 5 EGYPT The Medicalization of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

In September 1994, during Health pledged to ban FGM “Medicalizing FGM is as good the United Nations Con- in Egypt. One month after as sanctioning it. . . . Rest ference on Population and the conference ended, the assured I will do all I can to Development, held in Cairo, Minister of Health reversed bring attention to Egypt’s the Egyptian Minister of his position and issued a decision on this matter.” —U.S. CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE PAT SCHROEDER

directive, on 29 October 1994, designating certain hos- pitals where FGM could be performed by doctors for a fee of LE 10 (approximately US$ 3). After consultation with non-governmental organizations in Egypt working for the eradication of FGM, Equality Now issued a Women’s Action in March 1995, protesting the Minister of Health’s directive and calling on him to honor the commitment he made at the UN Conference on Popula- tion and Development. The Women’s Action generated letters from around the world, to which the Minister of Health responded individ-

THE WASHINGTON POST, DECEMBER 27, 1995. ually. A few months later, on 6 “[FGM] is unfortunately propagated in almost all African countries and presumably dates back in Egypt to the pharaonic era, but was by any means never related to either Islamic or Christian orthodoxy religious rites” —DR. ALI ABDEL FATTAH MINISTER OF HEALTH

SOMMAIRE En mars 1995, Egalité Maintenant a lancé une Action Femmes protestant une directive publiée par le ministre égyptien de la Santé qui désignait les hôpitaux où la mutilation génitale féminine (MGF) pouvait être effectuée pour une somme équiva- lente à US$3. Le ministre de la Santé avait promis à la Conférence des Nations Unies sur la Population et le Développement en septembre 1994, d’interdire la MGF. Le ministre a répondu aux nombreuses lettres qu’il avait reçu des membres du réseau d’Action Femmes, l’invitant à honorer son engagement et en octobre 1995, il a révo- qué sa directive, instruisant les médecins de ne pas pratiquer la MGF. RESUMEN En marzo de 1995, Igualda Ya promulgó una Acción Mujeres para protestar en contra de la disposición hecha por el Ministro de Salubridad egipcio en la que se designaban los hospitales donde podía efectuarse la mutilación genital femenina (MGF) por una suma equivalente a EEUU$3. En septiembre de 1994, el Ministro de Salubridad había Kristina Hare and Navanethem Pillay, prometido ante la Conferencia de Población y Desarrollo de las Naciones Unidas que Equality Now’s delegation to the United iba a prohibir la MGF. El Ministro respondió a muchas de las cartas que recibió de Nations Conference on Population and miembros de la Red de Acción Mujeres, en las que se le pedía que cumpliera con Development, Cairo, September 1994. su promesa. En octubre de 1995, el Ministro rescindió la disposición, instruyendo a los doctores a que no llevaran a cabo la MGF.

17 October 1995, the Minister of Health rescinded his directive, instructing doctors not to perform FGM and noting its harmful consequences. 7 WOMEN’S ACTION UPDATES

UNICEF’S FAILURE TO Action calling on UNICEF to I believe that UNICEF is FUND EFFORTS TO STOP provide resources to the moving in the right FEMALE GENITAL African women and women’s direction. I trust that MUTILATION groups working for the eradi- we are complementing On 31 October 1994, UNICEF cation of FGM. Members of the important work of issued Guidelines for Action Equality Now’s Women’s other organisations, such on Eliminating Female Action Network from around as Equality Now, in raising Genital Mutilation (FGM), the world had written to awareness, supporting eleven months after Equality UNICEF protesting its lack of capacity building and Now issued its Women’s funding for and attention to strengthening community education efforts on this SOMMAIRE harmful traditional practice. CAROL BELLAMY UNICEF: Onze mois après qu’Egalité Maintenant ait lancé sa Action Femmes deman- dant à l’UNICEF de soutenir les femmes africaines et les groupes de femmes travail- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR lant pour la suppression de la mutilation génitale féminine (MGF), l’UNICEF a pub- lié le 31 octobre 1994, des directives d’action pour éliminer la MGF. JAPON: Egalité Maintenant continue à réclamer une enquête sur la mort de Maricris Sioson, une efforts to stop FGM. The danseuse philippine agée de 22 ans décédée au Japon le 14 septembre 1991. Malgré les traces de coups de poignard et des preuves médicales qu’elle avait été tuée, les organization had acknowl- autorités japonaises ont maintenu que Maricris Sioson était morte d’une hépatite. edged spending only several RESUMEN hundred thousand dollars of UNICEF: Once meses después de que Igualdad Ya promulgara su Acción Mujeres its US$ 922 million budget urgiendo a UNICEF a que apoyara a las mujeres africanas y a las organizaciones de mujeres en su labor para erradicar la mutilación genital femenina (MGF), el 31 de (less than 0.1%) on FGM- octubre de 1994, UNICEF estableció las Pautas para acción para la eliminación de la MGF. JAPON: Igualdad Ya continúa su llamado a que se investigue la muerte de related work. An estimated Maricris Sioson, una bailarina filipina de 22 años de edad que murió en Japón el 14 two million girls per year— de septiembre de 1991. Aunque el cuerpo de Maricris Sioson tuviera heridas oca- sionadas por un puñal y hubiera evidencia médica indicando que había sido asesinada, six thousand girls per day— las autoridades japonesas afirman que Maricris Sioson murió de hepatitis. are at risk of FGM, a practice which causes life-long physi- cal and psychological harm. Following Equality Now’s Women’s Action, UNICEF has increased its work against 8 THE NEW YORK TIMES, SEPTEMBER 22, 1994 22, SEPTEMBER TIMES, YORK NEW THE

FGM, sponsoring work- shops and programs in countries including Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Sudan, and Guinea.

TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN TO JAPAN: THE DEATH OF 14 September 1991. When MARICRIS SIOSON her body was returned to Equality Now continues to the Philippines for burial, call for an investigation into signs of beating and stab the death of Maricris Sioson, wounds indicated that a 22-year-old Filipina dancer Maricris Sioson had been who went to work in Japan killed, although Japanese in 1991 and died there on doctors had listed hepatitis

Maricris Sioson as the cause of her death. An autopsy confirmed that Maricris died of traumatic head injuries and docu- mented two stab wounds, one in the thigh indicating that a double-edged blade tigation into the death of had been twisted upward, Maricris Sioson and the pros- downward and diagonally ecution of those responsible in the flesh, and one in the for it. In September 1995, genital area indicating that a Equality Now raised the case blade had been inserted ver- at the United Nations Fourth tically. Equality Now contin- World Conference on Women, ues to campaign for an inves- in Beijing. 9 WOMEN’S ACTION UPDATES

SYSTEMATIC RAPE by Bosnian Serb soldiers as had been committed in AND GENOCIDE IN the blood poured forth from Srebrenica, citing the tragic BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA her grandfather’s body. case of a 14-year-old girl On 25 May 1993, the United Equality Now continued to who tied her scarf around Nations Security Council call for the arrest and prose- her neck and hung herself established the International cution of Radovan Karadzic, after being raped by Bosnian Criminal Tribunal for the leader of the Bosnian Serbs. Serb forces, who also raped prosecution of war crimes In July 1995, following the her 12-year-old cousin. in the former Yugoslavia. fall of Srebrenica, Radovan Equality Now noted the Meanwhile, the war crimes Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, indictment of Karadzic and continued. Equality Now commander of the Bosnian Mladic and called for their issued a Women’s Action Serb army, were indicted for immediate arrest and prose- Update in April 1994, high- crimes against humanity by cution. Equality Now contin- lighting the ongoing use of the International Criminal ues to campaign for justice in rape in the campaign of “eth- Tribunal. Equality Now Bosnia-Herzegovina, and nic cleansing” and citing the issued another Women’s accountability for genocidal case of a 15 year-old girl Actin Update on the war atrocities as an essential com- who was raped in her home crimes, including rape, that ponent of a lasting peace. 10 Opposite page: Demonstration at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women NGO Forum, Huairou. Above: Equality Now’s “Wanted” poster campaign on display at the NGO Forum.

SOMMAIRE Le 25 mai 1993, le Conseil de Sécurité des Nations Unies a établi le Tribunal Penal International pour la poursuite des crimes de guerre dans l’ancienne Yougoslavie. En avril 1994 et en juillet 1995, Egalité Maintenant a lancé des mises à jour de l’Action Femmes sur la continuation du viol systématique comme arme de «purification eth- nique» et a réclamé l’arrestation et la poursuite de Radovan Karadzic, chef des Serbes Bosniaques. En juillet 1995, Karadzic a été inculpé par le Tribunal, avec Ratko Mladic, commandant de l’armée Serbe Bosniaque. Egalité Maintenant continue à réclamer leur arrestation immédiate et leur poursuite. RESUMEN El 25 de mayo de 1993, el Consejo de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas estableció el Tribunal Penal Internacional para que se enjuicien a los que han cometido crímenes de guerra en la antigua Yugoslavia. En abril de 1994 y en julio de 1995, Igualdad Ya difundió actualizaciones de Acción Mujeres acerca del uso continuo de la violación de mujeres como método de “depuración étnica,” y pidió que se arrestara y enjuiciara a Radovan Karadzic, el líder de los serbobosnios. En julio de 1995, Karadzic fue acusado formalmente por el Tribunal, junto a Ratko Maladic, comandante del ejército serbo- bosnio. Igualdad Ya continúa su llamado a que se les arreste y enjuicie cuanto antes.

11 UNITED NATIONS FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN The Secretary General of the United Nations noted in his opening statement that “the progress we make is measur- able and it will be measured.” The Secretary General of the Conference observed “millions have placed their trust in us. We must not fail them.” Equality Now urges you not to fail us in honoring the commitments you have made here in the United Nations back home in the countries you govern. We assure you that we will measure the progress that you make. We hold you accountable for the human rights of women around the world. —From Equality Now’s statement to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women

Top row (left to right): Demonstration at the NGO Forum in Huairou. Poster Wall in Huairou. Executive Director Surita Sandosham and Geraldine Ferraro, United States Representative to the UN Commission on Human Rights. Middle row (left to right): Surita Sandosham with a member of the Tibetan delegation to the NGO Forum, Huairou. Equality Now Chair Navanethem (Navi) Pillay, Monica Selter, and Surita Sandosham, Huairou. Navi Pillay (center) with the Honorable Winnie Byanyima, Member of the Constituent Assembly of Uganda (left), and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa (right), following a panel on the promotion of women in governance and leadership positions in Africa, Beijing. Bottow row (left to right): Surita Sandosham talking to Chinese police in Huairou. The UN Fourth World Conference in session, Beijing. Surita Sandosham consulting with Elizabeth Evatt, Member of the UN Human Rights Committee.

12 BEIJING, CHINA SEPTEMBER 4–15, 1995 13 EQUALITY NOW IN ACTION PHOTO BY JULIA SMITH

14 THE NEW YORK TIMES, September 6, 1994

Opposite page: (top left) Equality Now Chair Navanethem (Navi) Pillay visits Jean Kamau, Executive Director of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Kenya, a member of the Women’s Action Network; (top right) Robin Morgan addresses an Equality Now gathering in New York, December 1994; (middle left) Navi Pillay and Run Yusuf Ayoon at a conference on women’s participation in the Somali peace process, organized by the Women’s Program of the Fund for Peace, Nairobi, January 1995 (middle right) the opening of the United Nations Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, September 1994; (bottom left) Executive Director Surita Sandosham and Equality Now Board member Hibaaq Osman at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women NGO Forum, Huairou, September 1995; (bottom right) Equality Now Advisory Council member Jewelle Taylor Gibbs, Hibaaq Osman and actress Amanda Donohoe at an Equality Now gathering in Los Angeles, May 1994. Above: Equality Now Board member Jacqui Hunt at the Africa Preparatory Conference, Dakar, November 1994.

15 THE CAMPAIGN TO STOP FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

Stop Female Genital Mutilation Poster Artist: Tijaan T. Kamara Poster Artist: Tijaan T.

16 Opposite page (top left): New York City Planned Parenthood President Alexander Sanger introduces Executive Director Surita Sandosham at a forum on FGM, October 1995; (top right) FGM activist Meserak (Mimi) Ramsey and Surita Sandosham meet with US Congresswoman Pat Schroeder; (bottom) a poster used by BAFROW, an organization working in The Gambia to stop FGM. Above: Mimi Ramsey repre- sents Equality Now at a World Health Organization conference on FGM, organized by Efua Dorkenoo (seated), Geneva, July 1995. Right: FGM activist Mimi Ramsey with New York Times correspon- dent Barbara Crossette, at an Equality Now gathering, New York, December 1995.

17 UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

Since March 1994, Equality Personally and on behalf of the Human Rights Committee Now has been working to allow me to thank you for the cooperation showed by bring human rights violations Equality Now regarding the examination of the country against women to the atten- reports during our current session. I cannot imagine how tion of the United Nations difficult and meaningless our exercises would be if we did Human Rights Committee. The not have the active cooperation of NGOs like yours. I only Human Rights Committee was hope that Equality Now will continue to work with the established by the Interna- Human Rights Committee in the protection of human rights tional Covenant on Civil and worldwide. FRANCISCO JOSÉ AGUILAR-URBINA, CHAIR, HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE Political Rights, a treaty for the protection of human human rights of women, in- Committee in its considera- rights which has been signed cluding the fundamental right tion of reports from Yemen, and ratified by 134 countries. to equality under the law and the United States, Russia, the Under the Covenant, signato- equal protection of the law. United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, ry governments are required Working with women’s rights Hong Kong and Afghanistan. to report to the Human Rights groups in countries under These issues have included Committee on their compli- review by the Committee, rape, domestic violence, ance with the provisions of Equality Now has brought female genital mutilation, the Covenant. Many of these issues relating to women’s employment discrimination, provisions encompass the rights to the attention of the exclusion from the political process, and institutionalized discrimination in law.

Following Equality Now’s protest of UN acquiesence to discrimination against women in Afghanistan, in November 1995 UNICEF announced that it would suspend assistance to educational programs in Afghanistan that excluded girls. 18 The New York Times, November 8, 1995 8, November Times, York New The

SOMMAIRE Depuis mars 1994, Egalité Maintenant a travaillé pour attirer l’attention du Comité des droits de l’homme des Nations Unis sur violations des droits civiques des femmes. Travaillant avec les groupes de droits civiques des femmes dans les pays faisant l’ob- jet d’examen par le Comité, Egalité Maintenant a soulevé des questions se rappor- tant aux droits des femmes au Yémen, aux États-Unis, en Russie, au Royaume Uni, au Sri Lanka, à Hong Kong et en Afghanistan. Ces questions comprennent le viol, la violence familiale, la mutilation génitale féminine, la discrimination en matière d’em- ploi et l’exclusion des femmes du processus politique. RESUMEN Desde marzo de 1994, Iguadad Ya ha estado trabajando para que el Comité de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas preste atención a las violaciones de los derechos humanos de la mujer. Al trabajar con las organizaciones de derechos de la mujer de los países a los que el Comité va a examinar, Igualdad Ya ha traído a cola- ción asuntos relacionados a los derechos de las mujeres en Yemen, Estados Unidos, Rusia, Reino Unido, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong y Afganistán. Estos asuntos incluyen la violación de mujeres, la violencia doméstica, la mutilación genital femenina, la dis- criminación en los empleos y la exclusión de las mujeres de la vida política. Opposite page: Susan Allee and Phyllis Hwang, Equality Now delegates to the 53rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, New York, March 1995. Above: The Afghan Women’s Network was formed in 1995, following a collaboration with Equality Now to protest the suspen- sion of female employees by United Nations agencies in Afghanistan.

19 THE EQUALITY NOW SPIN COLUMNS A New Generation of Activists

January 1994 February 1994 March 1994 UNICEF JAPAN UNITED STATES Female genital mutilation The death of Maricris Sioson Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

April 1994 UNITED STATES Domestic violence

May 1994 BOSNIA- HERZEGOVINA UN War Crimes Tribunal

June 1994 UNITED STATES Violence against lesbians

July 1994 HAITI Rape by military forces

August 1994 CHINA (TIBET) Buddhist nuns imprisoned

September 1994 SOUTH AFRICA Rape and violence against women who live on Umgeni Road 20 October 1994 May 1995 UNITED NATIONS UNITED STATES Cairo Conference on Abortion laws in Population and Development Florida

November 1994 June 1995 BANGLADESH EGYPT Taslima Nasrin Female genital mutilation December 1994 CANADA July 1995 Violence against women THE OLYMPICS Discrimination against January 1995 women in the Olympic MEXICO Games Rape by government soldiers November 1995 August 1995 GUATEMALA The abduction and rape of February 1995 POLAND Women and family planning Flor de Maria Salguero de UNITED STATES Laparra Convention on the Elimination of September 1995 Discrimination Against SINGAPORE December 1995 Women The case of Flor UNITED STATES Contemplacion FGM Act of 1995 March 1995 UNITED STATES October 1995 Domestic violence —the UNITED STATES Peacock case Women and military education April 1995 BANGLADESH The drawing above was sent to Equality Castigation of rape victim Now by a SPIN reader in response to the December 1994 Equality Now column, which is reprinted on page 20. 21 BOARD, STAFF, ADVISORY COUNCIL, PHOTO BY MARIANNE YEUNG HT YMRAN EN PHOTO BY JULIA SMITH PHOTO BY MARIANNE YEUNG BOARD OF DIRECTORS TRANSLATORS Navanethem Pillay, Chair Asma Abdel Halim Surita Sandosham, President Tagreid Abu-Hassabo Jacqui Hunt, Treasurer Patricia Meoño-Picado Taina Bien-Aimé, Secretary Pierre Weill Marjory M. Byler Jessica Neuwirth FRIENDS Hibaaq Osman The board and staff of Equality Now would like to thank the following STAFF individuals and organizations for Surita Sandosham, Executive Director their advice, encouragement and Sonia Nanda, Office Manager support: Anouchka Orenzow, Comptroller Susan Aasen Susan Allee ADVISORY COUNCIL Jody Arlington Veronica De Negri Patricia Armstrong Jewelle Taylor Gibbs Deborah T. Ashford John G. Healey Kathleen Smith Barrett Mariamma Barrie The Hon. A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. Richard Baskin Maurine Rothschild Cherif Bassiouni Gloria Steinem Barbara Bergmann Rose Styron Andrew Blane Liz Young Karen Bloom Eva Brantley PROGRAM CONSULTANTS Camilla Broomfield Charlotte Bunch Asma Abdel Halim Linda Burstyn Efua Dorkenoo Patricia Carbine Bonnie Greenfield J. Speed Carroll Akua Kuenyehia Alexandra Chasin

22 FRIENDS OF EQUALITY NOW

Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton Kristina Hare Lonny Myers Alison & Rob Seligson Edwin Cohen Shlomi Harif Sarah Nall-Lono Monica Selter Larry Cox Angela Janklow Harrington Gloria S. Neuwirth Doris Shamleffer Robert Crane Harvard Law School Human Rights Laura Neuwirth Janet Shenk Barbara Crossette Program Michael Neuwirth David Smith Leslie Couvillion Yasmeen Hassan Robert S. Neuwirth Julia Smith Ellen Cull Priscilla Hayner Carmelita Nuqui Milton Solomon Mary Davidson Robert Henigson Sarah Oppenheim SPIN Davidson, Dawson & Clark Leila Hessini Anshu Padayachee Phyllis Springer Seble Dawit Noleen Heyzer Chris Poor Evelyn Stachel Dana Delaney Paul Hoffman Micha Ramakers Henry Steiner Amanda Donohoe Tammy Horn Meserak (Mimi) Ramsey Amanda Sullivan Maria Dugan Phyllis Hwang Jaana Rehnstrom Andrew Sullivan Mari Dupar Phyllis Jenkins Amy Richards Patti Sullivan Elizabeth Evatt Robert D. Joffe Elenor Richter-Lyonette Marge Swenson Stephanie Farrior Tessa Katz Hector Rivera Dorothy Thomas Nina Feldman Kimberly Butler Photography A.M. Rosenthal Roger and Sava Thomas Charles Finch Stephen King Piper Dellums Ross Alison Van Dyk Joan Fitzpatrick Melissa Knight Maurine & Robert Rothschild Irene Wapnir Julie Floch Lisbet Koerner Tess Rumble Bill Williams Keith Gasser Kate Lauer Karen Russell Janet Yang Sarah Ghiorse Julie Leonard Adrian Saldhana Marianne Yeung Carolyn DeSwarte Gifford Amy Leveen Jean Sasson Suad Yusuf Curt Goering John Levin Ellen Goodman Catharine A. MacKinnon Photos, clockwise from top left, opposite page: The Honorable A. Leon Jan Goodwin Judy Mann Higginbotham Jr. and Navi Pillay. Jessica Neuwirth. Hibaaq Osman and Nicole Gordon Cecilia Medina Quiroga Edwin Cohen. Suad Yusuf and Lonny Myers. Karen Bloom (holding Milan Mary Gray Hanny Megally Mari Griffin Stephanie Mermin Bien-Aimé) and Anouchka Orenzow. Sonia Nanda. Jody Arlington. Gloria William Groll Frank Michelman Steinem and Robert Rothschild. 1995 holiday party. Maurine Rothschild. Bob Guccione, Jr. Carissa Montgomery Equality Now’s December 1995 Board meeting. Elenor Richter-Lyonette. Susan & Ivan Guerra Robin Morgan Rose Styron, Robert Rothschild, Liz Young and Andrew Sullivan (left to Hansen & Young Brandon Musler right). Liz Young and Jacqui Hunt.

PHOTO BY MARIANNE YEUNG PHOTO BY MARIANNE YEUNG PHOTO BY MARIANNE YEUNG

23 FINANCIAL SUMMARY Consolidated Balance Sheet and Income Statement

1994 1995 ASSETS Cash $49,703 $70,610 Grants receivable 0 35,000 Fixed assets (net of appreciation) 7,830 12,394 Other assets 666 1,470 Total assets 58,199 119,474

LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES Accounts payable and accrued expenses $4,506 $9,867 Deferred support 0 35,000 Fund Balances 53,693 74,607 Total liabilties and fund balances 58,199 119,474

SUPPORT AND REVENUES Contributions $134,281 $197,313 Donated services and fixed assets 70,760 82,840 Other 751 941 Total support and revenues 205,792 281,094

EXPENSES Program services $148,649 $187,437 Management and general 26,436 43,374 Fundraising 25,352 29,369 Total expenses 200,437 260,180

Excess of support and revenues over expenses 5,355 20,914

FOUNDATION SUPPORT 1994 –1995 Arca Foundation Bydale Foundation Echoing Green Foundation European Human Rights Foundation Fanny & Leo Koerner Charitable Trust Joyce Mertz-Gilmore Foundation Ms. Foundation for Education & Communication New York Friends Group NOVIB Nate B. and Frances Spingold Foundation Ruth Turner Fund Copies of the complete, audited reports may be obtained from Equality Now or from the State of New York, Department of Law, Office of Charities Registration, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12223.

24 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER C Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home .... Et d’ailleurs, où commence le respect des droits universels? Dans des lieux familiers, proches du foyer . . . . Después de todo, dónde comienzan los derechos humanos universales? En los lugares pequeños, cercanos a nuestra casa . . . .

.... ELEANOR ROOSEVELT