View previous stories
	Fighting back for women’s rights by International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)   March 2017   In the face of the attacks and the setbacks, Fighting back for Women’s rights!   The daily threats and attacks on women’s rights around the world are being met with new and unprecedented initiatives. No more complacency; it is time for action.   The January 21st Women’s March, joined by millions of people in the United States and around the world, protested against the new president whose ideology and sexist statements deeply marked the presidential election campaign. This unprecedented march – never before had so many people demonstrated together in the U.S. – however, did not prevent the passing of an executive order cutting off funding for NGOs that include abortion as part of their family planning counseling services two days later.   In many countries, women’s rights have been attacked during the last few years by populist, reactionary and religious movements. In Russia, marital violence is no longer considered a criminal offence. In Turkey, the Islamist party in power proposed a bill by which men accused of sexual assault on a minor could avoid prosecution by marrying their victim.   In Ireland, a 19-year old woman was sentenced to three months in prison for having taken a “morning after” pill. Abortion is still illegal in Chile, even in the case of a rape or if it endangers the life of the woman or the fœtus.   The reaction in the face of the attacks and discrimination and set-backs on all continents has been to increase mobilisation, sometimes in most unexpected ways: the creation of a fund in The Netherlands to offset the loss of funding for NGOs proposing abortion procedures following the American decree; a law against domestic violence following pressure from civil society organisations in Pakistan; campaigns that went viral and a protest march in India to fight for the place of Indian women in public areas; defeat of a draft law banning abortion in Poland, etc.   In The Hague, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued its very first sentence for crimes of sexual violence against Jean-Pierre Bemba. This warlord had his troops systematically use sexual violence in DRC and CAR. Lastly, the demonstrations against feminicide in Latin America startled everyone by their unprecedented scale.   In Argentina, in Chile, in Mexico, in Peru and in Uruguay, thousands of women chanted “Ni Una Menos” (“Not One Less”), following the rape and murder of a 16 year-old high school girl.   For International Women’s Day, FIDH produced a video clip in several languages to illustrate the scope and diversity of mobilisation currently underway. The song “Stood up” is performed by Angélique Kidjo.   By presenting this video, FIDH, which is composed of 184 organisations across the world that are fighting for women’s rights, wishes to pay tribute to this type of mobilisation. The video shows activists from Afghanistan, Colombia, Nigeria, The Philippines and elsewhere highlighting that when women’s rights are attacked and threatened, as they are today, there is no time for complacency. It’s time for action! Fighting back for women’s rights! Visit the related web page
	Cultural rights threatened by global avalanche of hate by Karima Bennoune UN Special Rapporteur for cultural rights, agencies   March 2017   The UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Karima Bennoune, told the Human Rights Council in Geneva: “We face a global avalanche of hate in the form of rising fundamentalism and extremism around the world. This must be tackled with urgency, using a human rights approach. Culture and cultural rights are critical components of this response”.   The Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned at the normalization of fundamentalist and extremist ideology and rhetoric in many political, cultural and media contexts, in diverse forms and in all regions of the world, and the increasing embrace they find in mainstream political parties and candidates.   In her report to the UN Human Rights Council, the expert highlights how diverse fundamentalist and extremist ideologies have in common a mindset based on intolerance of differences and pluralism, and all attempt to stamp out cultural diversity and dissent.   She gives examples of cultural engineering aimed at redesigning culture based on monolithic world views, focused on “purity” and enmity toward “the other”; these include the policing of “honour” and “modesty”, claims of cultural and moral superiority and the imposition of what is hailed as “true religion” or “authentic culture”.   “These ideologies abuse cultural rights by stifling freedom of artistic expression and curtailing scientific freedom,” she said. “They impose ways of life, including through pressuring educational institutions, personnel and students, targeting minorities, promoting discrimination that infringes on the right to take part in cultural life, erasing symbols of coexistence, and undermining the universality of human rights”, she added.   “Universality is one of the most important tools in the struggle against the harmful effects of fundamentalism and extremism on cultural rights, and must be resolutely defended,” Ms. Bennoune said.   Emphasizing that the threat from fundamentalist and extremist ideologies was far-ranging, she said extremists also aimed to limit the enjoyment of women’s human rights, and restrict the sexual and reproductive rights of all.   Artists and intellectuals are often targeted, she said, both because creativity and expression are seen as a threat by fundamentalists and extremists and also because they often resist and offer alternatives.   The Special Rapporteur stressed that cultural rights are a critical counterweight to fundamentalism and extremism and called for more to be done to guarantee the conditions for all to fully enjoy them. “The arts, education, science and culture are among the best ways to fight fundamentalism and extremism and to prevent or stop the human rights violations to which they give rise. They are not luxuries, but critical for promoting inclusion, making space for peaceful contestation and protecting youth from radicalization,” Ms. Bennoune emphasized.   In her report, Ms. Bennoune called for policies to combat discrimination in the right to take part in cultural life or promote freedom of artistic expression, scientific freedom and education as core aspects of combating fundamentalism and extremism. She also called for policies to promote and protect the separation of religion and State, and ensure that those at risk from fundamentalist and extremist abuse, including as a result of exercising their cultural rights, were not returned to any contexts where they will be at risk of xenophobic attack. “It is a tragic spectacle to witness victims of one form of extremism becoming victims of another when they seek safe haven”.   “In particular,” she said, “we must listen to the local opponents of fundamentalism and extremism – civil society, human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, educators and people who simply wish to participate in cultural life in their own way -, who have been resisting extremists in some cases for decades. They must be granted the necessary protection against the threat fundamentalist and extremist movements represent and should be included in strategic discussions at all relevant levels”.   In the report, the Special Rapporteur points to cases from all regions where fundamentalist and extremist ideology has motivated abuses of cultural rights by state and non-state actors; she condemns attacks on freedom of artistic expression in Russia, Saudi Arabia, India and Iran, and on intellectuals in Bangladesh.   She is also concerned about extremists interfering with the right to take part in cultural life without discrimination such as post-election violence and threats in the United States, sometimes targeting educational and cultural institutions. She highlighted violence against minorities and their cultural sites whether recurring in parts of Europe, or widespread as in Myanmar, and possibly rising even to the level of genocide at the hands of “hyper-extremists” such as Daesh.   Ms. Bennoune said diverse forms of fundamentalism and extremism, though sometimes viewed as opponents, often actually reinforce each other. “One form of fundamentalism or extremism is not a justification for another. Each is a reinforcing reminder of the global humanist crisis that lies before us. We must break out of this vicious circle that will leave youth globally facing a political landscape offering only a bleak choice of competing extremisms”.   The Special Rapporteur called for effective, concerted global action to combat fundamentalism and extremism, and stressed that this must be done in accordance with international standards and not misused as a justification for violations of human rights. She said: “Whereas it is important to clearly condemn and act against violent forms of extremism, we must also tackle fundamentalist and extremist ideologies as these provide the basis for violence and violations. Extremist actors will not be truly disarmed unless their ideology is comprehensively challenged and repudiated,” she emphasized.   * Access the report via the link below.   26 Feb 2017   ARTICLE 19 at the UN Human Rights Council: What is at Stake for Free Expression?   Today, 27 February, the UN Human Rights Council begins its 34th Session (HRC34) in Geneva – over the next four weeks the UN’s top human rights body is expected to act on some of the world’s most pressing freedom of expression violations and abuses.   The agenda is tightly packed: this Session kicks off with the UN Secretary General and high level representatives of the world’s governments setting out their visions for human rights in 2017. Under the multi-coloured ceiling of the Human Rights Council chamber, a month of debates and discussions on human rights will follow, with hundreds of parallel negotiations and meetings taking place alongside. The Session will culminate on the 23 and 24 of March: States will adopt resolutions with commitments to act against human rights violations and abuses, including of the right to freedom of expression.   ARTICLE 19 will be present throughout the Session to advocate for progressive free expression standards, and to hold States to account where they are failing to live up to their obligations and commitments.   Our priorities are: Accountability for freedom of expression violations in Turkey, Myanmar, and Iran; The adoption of strong resolutions on the right to privacy in the digital age, on freedom of religion or belief, and on combatting religious intolerance, with clear commitments to implementation; Mandate renewals for the UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of expression and on human rights defenders, and for the appointment of a new mandate holder on freedom of assembly and association; Opposition to the “terrorism and human rights” resolution, which threatens to undermine freedom of expression; Recognition of the dangers facing environmental human rights defenders, and the need for greater legal protections for them.   Though many of these issues were raised in Geneva last March, 2017 is a new year with a new Human Rights Council membership. The 47 member-states with voting powers include some of the world’s worst violators of freedom of expression: it is therefore essential that other States stand up for freedom of expression and ensure accountability for violations and abuses. http://bit.ly/2mtF6cX   * ARTICLE 19 envisages a world where people are free to: speak their opinions, participate in decision-making and make informed choices about their lives. Freedom of expression and freedom of information are fundamental human rights that are central to freedom and democracy. People everywhere must be able to exercise their right to freedom of expression and their right to information. Without these rights, democracy, good governance and development cannot happen. Visit the related web page
	View more stories