International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

BySCEME

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Today is the 30th International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

When we set out to establish SCEME, we did so because we care deeply about the rights of women and girls in the Middle East and North Africa. Over the past year, we have been continuously shocked and saddened to read stories and gradually mounting statistics about the sexual exploitation of women, about domestic violence and honour crimes. Our investigations led us to produce Karamatuna: An Investigation into the Sex Trafficking of Iraqi Women and Girls, which has uncovered a mass of abuse of vulnerable Iraqis across the region.

But we are hopeful for the future. 

In 2011, more women are employed, literate and enrol in areas of study previously deemed inappropriate for their gender; they have gained more freedom to travel independently, with laws requiring a guardian’s permission for a woman to obtain a passport have rescinded in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.

Women have also become more visible participants in public life. And women’s organisations across the region have become more vocal, stronger, and making monumental strides.  Women’s Organisations and NGOs committed to the eradication of violence against women have seen successes in Jordan. After years of hard-fought lobbying, the Government of Jordan followed the landmark lead of Tunisia and finally enacted the Family Protection Law in 2008, and in 2009, established a specialised court in 2009 that handles cases involving honour crimes.

• Domestic violence is both widespread and swept under the carpet. Across  the region, only Tunisia and Jordan offer legal protections for women and girls against domestic violence.Marital rape is not outlawed in any state across the Middle East and North Africa.
• Honour killings are consistently being uncovered in Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, Iran and Yemen. Yet, Judicial discretion allows murders to escape penalty. 
• Where women and girls are victims of violence, they cannot seek redress without fear of damaging family reputation. If they do, they encounter reluctance from officials to help, or worse, are returned to the authority of their abusers.

And, over the last few years, the condition for women in Yemen, Iraq and Palestine has even worsened. In Iraq honour killings, kidnappings and rape have vastly increased.

This can’t continue. On the International Day to End Violence against Women, please help us to do something to stop these human rights abuses and protect the vulnerable.

Join the Karamatuna Campaign
Lobby your representative in Government
Donate to help end the sex-trafficking of women
Contact us to learn more at info@sce-me.org