Ending violence against women and girls?

States now have a responsibility to duty tour the firmness of purpose into reality.

A United Nations pledge to end and prevent violence against women and girls has been signed, spare-time activity tense devil-week negotiations between 130 member countries.

The resoluteness by the UN Commission on the status of Women calls on governments to commit to refreshing and concrete actions to end ab persona and places an emphasis on legal profession as well as response.

Implementation is voluntary but universe a signatory means there is peer compel expectation of progress.

A delighted Michelle Bache permit, ambassador for UN Women, declared: “The world has been watch us.

“We came here two weeks ago with the opportunity, and the obligation, to do all we could to nurse the rights of women and girls, the right to live in dignity, free of violence and favouritism.

“ quite a little expected action and we have no right to let down the world’s women. And we have not failed them. Yes, we did it!”

The declaration had faced being derailed after some conservative Muslim countries and The Vatican expressed concerns about language used concerning versed, reproductive and comic rights.

Eqypt’s ruling Muslim matrimony warned that the declaration could ‘ go society’ by giving women the right to travel, work and use contraception without their husband’s approval.

Reuters reported that the Muslim Brotherhood objected on ten grounds. They said the declaration would give girls sexual freedom, legalise abortion, provide teenagers with contraceptives, give equality to women in trades union and require men and women to share duties such as pincer care and chores.

But an amendment proposed by Egypt that would have allowed countries to avoid implementing the declaration if it clashed with field of study laws or religious and cultural values failed.

A coalition of Arab gracious rights groups – from Egypt, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Tunisia – called on countries at the Commission on the Status of Women to stop using religion, culture, and tradition to justify abuse of women.

“The true positions taken by some Arab governments at this meeting is clearly not representative of civil society views, aspirations or outflank practices regarding the elimination and prevention of violence against women and girls within our countries,” said the statement, issued by the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies.

However, in the end, no country blocked the adoption of the 18-page report.

The signing came at the end of two weeks of talks at the 57th Commission on the Status of Women in New York and succeeded where a similar go about in 2003 failed in getting a consensus.

At the start of the two weeks of talks, Bachelet said: “Up to seven in ten, yes 70 per cent of women spherically, will be beaten, raped, abused, or mutilated in their lifetimes.

“This epidemic strikes the lives of millions of women, fractures families and communities and impedes development, costing countries billions of dollars each year in healthcare be and lost productivity.

“I really cannot say it strongly sufficiency – the 21st century has no place for violence and discrimination against women.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said states now had a responsibility to turn the 2013 declaration into reality.

“Violence against women is a heinous human rights violation, global menace, a public health threat and a incorrupt outrage,” Ban said in a statement.

“No outcome where she lives, no matter what her culture, no matter what her society, every cleaning lady and girl is entitled to live free of fear.”

The UN declaration is explained in more detail here.

 

Materials taken from Womens Views on News