1. May 20, 2013The Right to Be Who I Am:
Threats to women's and
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
(LGBT) rights.
2. SPEAKER’S INCLUDE
Rana Abdelhamid, AIUSA National Youth Action Committee
Cristina Finch, Managing Director, AIUSA's Women's Human Rights
Program
Alisa Roadcup, member of AIUSA Women's Human Rights Cogroup
Emily McGranachan, member of the AIUSA LGBT Cogroup
Anna Aagenes, Executive Director of GO! Athletes
3. AGENDA
1. Overview of Women’s and LGBT Human Rights
2. Women's rights at risk
3. LGBT rights at risk
4. Youth activism
5. Take action! Pride Kit and Congressional action
6. Questions and interactive discussion
5. THE HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK
Every human being has the right to equality and personal security
--UDHR Articles 1, 2 & 3
This means that everyone, including women and
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have the right
to live free of violence and discrimination
Human rights have long been understood to apply universally—to all
people, at all times, in all places. Yet discrimination due to factors
such as race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity– or a
combination of factors – persists in every country in the world.
6. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL
ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY AND GENDER
All people should be able to enjoy all of their human rights but millions of
people across the globe face human rights abuses such as
execution, imprisonment, torture, violence, and discrimination because
of their sexual orientation, gender identity or because of gender norms.
For example, violence against women is one of the most pervasive
human rights abuses in the world.
7. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
WORLDWIDE
1 in 3 women worldwide will be physically, sexually or otherwise
abused during her lifetime
Rates reach 70 percent in some countries
One of the world’s most pervasive human rights abuses
Rooted in a global culture of discrimination that denies women
equal rights with men
8. INTERSECTS OF DISCRIMINATION
Multiple dimensions of who a person is compound their vulnerability
to human rights violations and their ability to access redress for
those violations
•Discrimination may be based on a combination of gender and;
•Sexual orientation;
•Gender identity; and
•Race, religion, national origin, disability, etc….
9. INTERSECTS OF DISCRIMINATION: GENDER
Women and LGBT people are particularly at risk when they fail
to conform to gender norms, especially those related to sexuality
10. INTERSECTS OF DISCRIMINATION
Abuses of lesbian women include:
Women raped to ―cure‖ their lesbianism, sometimes at the behest
of their parents;
Attacked, sometimes killed, on the street – a victim of a ―hate
crime;‖
Raped and otherwise tortured in detention
12. AIUSA WHRCG WORK FOCUSES
ON:
5 Basic Categories
Violence Against Women
Women's Health and Sexual and Reproductive Rights
Gender-Based Discrimination
Women’s Human Rights defenders
Women, Peace, and Security
13. NATIVE AMERICAN AND ALASKA NATIVE WOMEN
Amnesty International report: Maze of
Injustice: The Failure to Protect Native
American and Alaska native women from
Sexual Violence in the US
At least one in three Native women will be
raped in her lifetime.
86% of perpetrators are non-Native men
Tribal courts lack jurisdiction to prosecute
non-Native perpetrators
14. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL RECOMMENDATION:
US RATIFICATION OF CEDAW
CEDAW, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women, is a landmark international agreement
that affirms principles of fundamental human rights and equality for
women around the world
Offers countries a practical blueprint to achieve progress for women
and girls by calling on each ratifying country to overcome barriers of
discrimination in a range of areas, such as:
- Violence against women and girls
- Marriage and family relations
- Maternal healthcare services
- Economic participation
15. We are asking the U.S
Government to adopt an Action
Plan for Afghan Women
• - Developed in collaboration with
Afghan women on the ground
- Contains steps such as:
- U.S. commitment to
maintaining Afghan
Constitution’s
guarantee of equality
- Full implementation of
EVAW law
Afghan Women and Girls Security
Promotion Act
- More police women!
AFGHAN WOMEN
17. MONICA ROA (WOMEN’S LINK WORLDWIDE)
Colombian activist and attorney
Helped to legalize abortion in
exceptional circumstances
(rape, incest, life of mother)
AIUSA featured her as one of the
2012 Write for Rights cases and
continues to shine a light on her
work
18. GINETTA SAGAN AWARD
• The Ginetta Sagan Award is given to women human rights
defenders who work to protect the human rights of women and
girls
Yolanda Becerra Vega
(Colombia, 2009)
Rebecca Masika Katsuva
(Democratic Republic
of Congo, 2010)
Betty Makoni
(Zimbabwe, 2008)
Lydia Cacho Ribeiro
(Mexico, 2007)
19. JENNI WILLIAMS (ZIMBABWE, 2012)
Founder of the social justice movement Women of Zimbabwe Arise
(WOZA), which encourages women and men to speak out about issues
such as domestic violence and rape
In the last decade, over 3,000 WOZA supporters have been in police
custody
Jenni Williams has been beaten, imprisoned without food or medical
supplies, and threatened with execution
“The power of love can conquer the love of power”
20. LGBT RIGHTS UNDER THREAT
Homosexuality is criminalized in about 76 countries.
Only 15 states and DC have laws that prohibit discrimination
based on sexual orientation and gender identity
Map: ACLU
21. DEFINITIONS
LGBT -Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender
LGBTI- Common in Europe. “I” stands for Intersex- a general
term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born
with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit
the typical definitions of female or male” (Intersex Society of
North America)
Sex- Biological. Often male or female
Gender- The social attributes and opportunities associated with
being male and female and the relationships between women
and men.
22. DEFINITIONS
Gender Identity- A person's innate, deeply felt psychological identification as
male or female, which may or may not correspond to the person's body or
designated sex at birth. Everyone has a gender identity
Cisgender- When a person’s biology and identity correspond- i.e. biologically
female and female-identified
Transgender- When a person’s biological sex does not match their gender
identity- i.e. born biologically female but identifies as a man
Sexual Orientation- Who you are attracted to physically and/or emotionally
Gender Expression- How you choose to express your gender identity and
represent yourself
23. CASE STUDY – ANTI-LGBT VIOLENCE IN UGANDA
AND MALAWI
In 2011, a Ugandan tabloid bore the front page headline ―100
Pictures of Uganda’s Top Homos Leak‖ with a caption reading ―Hang
Them.‖
Malawi couple sentenced to 14 years of hard labor for holding
commitment ceremony. Charged with ―gross indecency‖ and
―unnatural acts.‖ Pardoned by President after international pressure
24. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL RECOMMENDATION:
LGBT EQUALITY
To fulfill the human rights of LGBT people Amnesty International
recommends:
Decriminalization of homosexuality;
Nondiscrimination laws inclusive of sexual orientation, gender and
gender identity, and;
Accountability for violations of rights.
26. WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
LGBQ student-athletes …
Have more negative campus climate than
heterosexual teammates.
Are three times more likely to experience harassment
in campus housing.
Don’t believe athletics staff address their concerns.
Negative culture impacts academics
27. WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
―1 in 4 LGBQ student-athletes are pressured
to be silent about their sexual identity among
teammates, coaches, and other athletes.‖
29. TAKE ACTION: PRIDE TOOLKIT
Features ready-to-copy, slice and use materials.
It includes tips, general materials, and two
featured actions:
Support the Student Non-Discrimination Act to
end bullying of LGBT students
31. TAKE ACTION!
Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA)
80% of LGBT middle and high school students experience harassment
while in school for their gender identity or sexual orientation.
3/5 of the same students felt unsafe at school.
SNDA expands upon existing federal legislation that protects students on
the basis of other aspects such as sex, religion, race, and ability.
32. PRIDE TOOLKIT FOR ACTIVISTS
Download Amnesty International USA’s Pride Toolkit for
Activists at:
www.amnestyusa.org/pride2013
33. TAKE ACTION ON IVAWA
Legislation will be introduced this summer in Congress
Makes ending violence against women and girls a U.S. diplomatic
priority
Integrates throughout: health, legal, economic, social, and
humanitarian assistance and programs
36. “If you think you are too small
to be effective, you have never
been in bed with a mosquito.”
- Betty Reese
THANK YOU!
Notes de l'éditeur
Introductory slide to use while people are logging into webinar.
Amnesty Members (young and young at heart have been on the front lines of making the connection between Pride and Human Rights)From organizing contingents at Pride Rallies from New York to San Francisco. We will be discussing further our Pride Kit but want to make sure you know that if you have ideas or suggestions you let us know throughout the webinar.
Why is VAW one of our priorities? One of the world’s most pervasive human rights abuses1 in 3 women worldwide will be physically, sexually or otherwise abused during her lifetimeRates reach 70 percent in some countriesViolence against women is a human rights violation in and of itself but it also affects women’s abilities to access the full range of their human rights such as the right to health and the right to an education.Rooted in a global culture of discrimination that denies women equal rights with men
Discrimination and violence are often not limited to one aspect of a person’s identity.Multiple dimensions of who a person is compound their vulnerability to human rights violations and their ability to access redress for those violations. So for example a person may face discrimination based not only on their gender but also based on sexual orientation Women and LGBT people are particularly at risk when they fail to conform to gender norms, especially those related to sexuality. Non-conforming threatens the prevailing power dynamic; sexual violence or hate violence sends a message and are means to keeping women and LGBT people “in their place.”We see this clearly in abuses of lesbian women including: Women raped to “cure” their lesbianism, sometimes at the behest of their parents;Attacked, sometimes killed, on the street – a victim of a “hate crime”
You’ll hear more about this issue later in the webinar but now I want to turn it over to Alisa Roadcup from Amnesty International USA’s women’s human rights coordination group to talk more about some specific women’s human rights issues.
We are a network of women's human rights defenders made up of Amnesty International USA supporters and volunteers. The Women's Human Rights Coordination group, a small team of activists serving as experts and strategists in support of Amnesty’s efforts to promote and defend women’s human rights. The Women's Human Rights CG takes action and promotes awareness in collaboration with Amnesty International USA staff, country specialists, and experts in other areas of human rights.We have been an active group for 3 years now - Everyone who is interested in Women's Human Rights is welcome to join! Most active through Facebook and Twitter. If you are interested in joining our action network or have any questions, please email us at WHR@aiusa.org. We are currently accepting applications for new members.
VAW -- (e.g. sexual violence in Congo or IVAWA)Women's Health and SRR--(e.g. Maternal Mortality, My Body/My Rights)Gender-Based Discrimination- (e.g. political participation in Egypt)Women HR defenders-- (e.g. Jenni Williams/WOZA and/or Mao Hengfeng/China)Women, Peace, and Security-- (e.g. women as part of peace-making)From here, I’ll share a few specific examples of campaigns we’re working on relative to these 5 issue areas.
In 2007, Amnesty International issued a report entitled “Maze of Injustice: The failure to protect Indigenous women from sexual violence in the USA” which focuses on what Native American and Alaska Native women have long known: that the violence is epidemic and must stop. Amnesty launched its investigation after learning that U.S. Department of Justice statistics indicate that Native American and Alaska Native women are more than 2.5 times more likely than other women in the US to be raped; that more than 1 in 3 Native American and Alaska Native women is likely to be raped during their lives; that 86% of perpetrators of these crimes are non-Native men. And yet, Tribal courts have NO jurisdiction over non-Native perpetrators.These statistics are shocking, and Amnesty International believes that they underestimate the magnitude of the crisis. In fact, our researchers told me that in some reservations that they visited, the women they spoke with couldn’t think of a woman on the reservation who had not been sexually assaulted.The crisis of sexual violence in Indian country is one of the reasons that Amnesty International campaigned for reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, whichPresident Obama just recently signed into legislation. As many of you know, In February 2013, the Senate passed an extension of the Violence Against Women Act by a vote of 78-22, and the House of Representatives passed it by a vote of 286-138, with unanimous Democratic support and 87 Republicans voting in the affirmative. The extension was signed by President Barack Obama.
Throughout the last decade, women in Afghanistan have made significant strides to advance their human rights but their hard-fought gains are under threat. Amnesty International has been working to support the women to prevent the clock from being turned back.We are asking the U.S Government to adopt an Action Plan for Afghan WomenWe developed this plan in collaboration with Afghan women on the groundContains steps such as;U.S. commitment to maintaining Afghan Constitution’s guarantee of equalityFull implementation of Elimination of Violence Against Women lawAnd I’m proud to report that thanks in large part to the hard work and courage of the Afghan women - supported by thousands of AIUSA members - the Afghan Women and Girls Security Promotion Act became law earlier this year. The bill requires the Department of Defense to report on their efforts to promote the security of Afghan women and girls during the transfer of security responsibility to Afghan forces and to train and retain female police officers.
Amnesty also works to support individual human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience. Countless women human rights defenders across the globe risk imprisonment, harassment, torture, and even death to defend human rights - including their own. In addition, men and women in countries around the world work tirelessly at grave risk to themselves to ensure women can enjoy their full human rights.It’s important to remember that much of what has been gained in regards to women's human rights has been thanks to the efforts of women themselves. Women activists have broken social norms and cultural taboos to speak out, leading brave and inspiring campaigns for their rights.They have achieved dramatic changes in laws, policies and practices even though they encounter additional risks as activists and human rights defenders because of their gender and due to the issues they address. As women work to reclaim their rights, they often have to challenge social conventions and deeply entrenched beliefs, risking their own alienation from colleagues and even family and friends.Most of the advances that women have made towards claiming their rights have been the result of grass roots campaigning, usually by independent women's rights organizations. Some work for their "disappeared" relative or are community activists, fighting for basic economic and social rights such as freedom from want. Many are lawyers seeking justice for the underrepresented. They campaign against torture, domestic violence, equal treatment at work or for land rights and access to credit.What's more, countless women and men risk their lives specifically to work for women's human rights and gender equality. Through Amnesty’s WHRNetwork, you can take action to save the lives of women human rights defenders and those who defend women's human rights!
Great example of Defending Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Rights For example, this is Monica Roa of Women’s Link WorldwideShe is a Colombian activist and attorneyHelped to legalize abortion in exceptional circumstances (rape, incest, life of mother)She is now being threatened and harassed for her work. Shots were recently fired into her office, breaking the glass over her head.AIUSA featured her as one of the 2012 Write for Rights cases and continues to support her in her work
One of the ways that we support women’s human rights defenders is by shining a light on their work. Given annually, the Ginetta Sagan Award is a recognition of those who work to protect the liberty and lives of women and children against grievous human rights abuses. The recipients of this award, chosen annually, are commended for risking their lives to promote human rights. Rebecca MasikaKatsuva and her daughters were raped, and her husband killed, by combatants in Congo’s long-running civil war in 1998. The following year, Katsuva began a “listening house” for women like her, in her home in an isolated, conflict-ridden region of South Kivu, far from urban medical aid and legal protections. She began taking women and children into her home to rebuild their lives. In 2002, she renamed her organization the Association des PersonnesDesheritesUnies pour le Development (APDUD). Today, the Association has helped nearly 6,000 women, finding them medical care, sheltering them in nearly 50 houses built by the Association, which is supported by a communal farm.For nearly 30 years, Yolanda Becerra Vega has courageously fought to help women in Colombia resist political marginalization and raise their voices against the country's long-running conflict. As National Director of the 3,500-member Popular Women's Organization (OrganizaciónFemenina Popular), she has endured physical attacks and constant threats and intimidation by armed groups. Through marches rallies and street theatre, Becerra Vega has campaigned against violence and impunity. Her organization also offers women economic assistance, training, education, health services and legal aid for victims of human rights violations.Betty Makoni is one of Africa’s most important new voices for gender justice. Since 1999, Ms. Makoni has been building the Girl Child Network (GCN), a loose network of organization that trains girls to succeed in school, thrive in the home and society and resist sexual abuse and rape - or, if they have become victims, to survive with pride. The Network today serves over 30,000 girls in 45 districts across Zimbabwe. Ms. Makoni’s work has won supporters in Zimbabwe and internationally, including the 2007 World Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child. Nevertheless, Ms. Makoni repeatedly has been threatened, arrested, and imprisoned. In 2007, she was jailed twice: for allegedly “sneaking” foreign journalists into Zimbabwe, and for allegedly violating child protection laws by helping arrange to televise the testimonies of young rape victims.Lydia CachoRibeiro is one of Mexico's leading defenders of children's and women's rights. An investigative journalist and a specialist on gender-based violence, Ms. Cacho founded and directs the Centro Integral de Atención a lasMujeres (CIAM) in Cancún, a crisis center and shelter for victims of sex crimes, gender-based violence, and trafficking. CIAM provides free services to anyone seeking assistance and protection. To expose the sexual assault on children in Mexico, Ms. Cacho published a book entitled Los Demonios del Eden: El poderdetrás de la pornografíainfantil- 2004 (The Demons of Eden: The power behind child pornography). Throughout the course of her advocacy work, Ms. Cacho has received numerous death threats, and in 1999, was raped in an attempt to intimidate her. This particular incident emboldened her even further to protect and advance the rights of women and children in a country where impunity is widespread and commonly accepted as a part of daily life. On December 16, 2005, Ms. Cacho was arrested and denied access to her lawyer and medicine. In response to these intimidating tactics, Ms. Cacho filed a successful counter-suit for corruption and for violation of her human rights. In this regard, Ms. Cacho is the first woman in Mexico who has ever filed a federal suit against a Governor, a District Attorney, and a judge for corruption and attempted rape in prison. Furthermore, in May 2007, she will be the first woman in Mexican history to take a woman's rights case to the Mexican Supreme Court.
The most recent recipient is Jenni Williams of Zimbabwe.Founder of the social justice movement Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), which encourages women and men to speak out about issues such as domestic violence and rapeIn the last decade, more than 3,000 WOZA supporters have spent time in police custodyJenni Williams has been beaten, imprisoned without food or medical supplies, and threatened with execution. More prison numbers than NelsonMandela – a total of 34 as of last time I saw her. When Jenni speaks about her work and what it means to have Amnesty support her, she says this: When we are arrested in Bulawayo and when letters from Amnesty members start pouring in on the fax machine and the phone starts ringing in that small police station – it makes a difference. They know that the world is watching. She has said that she has often felt that it is one of the reasons that she has not been killed.Actions make a difference.From here, I will pass the torch along to Emily McGranachan, member of the AIUSA LGBT Cogroup.
Sean
Anna
Anna
NA
So take action!Call your Member of Congress and ask them to: *Cosponsor the International Violence Against Women Act *Take action to support Afghan women *Support women’s human rights defenders worldwideCall your Senator and ask them to ratify CEDAWOR. . . .
So take action!Call your Member of Congress and ask them to: *Cosponsor the International Violence Against Women Act *Take action to support Afghan women *Support women’s human rights defenders worldwideCall your Senator and ask them to ratify CEDAWOR. . . .
So take action!Call your Member of Congress and ask them to: *Cosponsor the International Violence Against Women Act *Take action to support Afghan women *Support women’s human rights defenders worldwideCall your Senator and ask them to ratify CEDAWOR. . . .
So take action!Call your Member of Congress and ask them to: *Cosponsor the International Violence Against Women Act *Take action to support Afghan women *Support women’s human rights defenders worldwideCall your Senator and ask them to ratify CEDAWOR. . . .
What is the International Violence Against Women Act?The Act wouldcoordinate and improve U.S. government efforts to stop the global crisis of violence against women and girls.Requires the U.S. to fully implement the new Administration strategy to prevent and respond to gender-based violence globally.Ensure that gender-based violence prevention is permanently integrated throughout all programs: health, legal, economic, social, and humanitarian assistance.This is something that I’m sure that many of you have first-hand experience with when you were in the field. For example, if the USG funds an education program in Afghanistan to build a school but does not address the security issues that prevent girls from attending the school, such as acid attacks, that program will fail.We expect IVAWA to be reintroduced in Congress this spring so call your member of congress and ask them to cosponsor it when it is introduced.