Innovative approaches to challenge cultural practices by Chechen NGO's.

There are many problems in this culturally very diverse country, like polygamy, early marriage, honour killing and the most urgent: violence against women. Different emotional personal stories were told. One true story was about honour killing. In a village of 300 families in the south of Chechen an incredible number of 13 women were killed by honour killing. And the total number of these killings is increasing. The killers are not prosecuted and family members often agree with the murder. In this mainly islamic country they see a revival of old traditions. For example to be seen at the number of causes of genital mutilation.

One of the problematic circumstances is that problems should stay at home. Furthermore, women have low education and there is high illateracy resulting in dependence of women on men and women staying at home. Women do not have the resources of surviving by themselves and are afraid of the future if they would leave their husband. So, they are captured in their violent home situation.

Two wars in the last decade have extended the level of violence in people. Totalitarian regimes with personal agendas and no attention for women from government or institutions, make it even more difficult. Women organizations try to do something about it together. NGOs are a new phenomenon in the country but they are more and more collaborating. Ther is now a Women's NGO Network. Lawyers, psychosocial workers, and others are giving assistance and information to women in different centers. But women are afraid to ventilate their problems. Lawyers are now trying to get trial processes for women rights. Hopefully this will mobilise the policy makers to do something about the position of women in Chechen...

Josette Dijkhuizen, Women's Representative to the UN General Assembly, The Netherlands

Comments

CSW Revitalisation conversations in the region

Photo: Facilitation team (Liliane Nkunzimana, Lopa Banerjee, Nadia van der Linde, Ivy Koek) What do you think about when you hear countries are committed to 'revitalize' the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)? "Oh, is it dying?" is one of the responses I've gotten, as if the CSW is holding on to its last straws at the moment, in desparate need of resuscitation. The challenges ahead for the current multilateral system, as well as for many of our national governments, are huge. In order to give gender equality and the rights of all women and girls a bit more of a boost, UN Women has been encouraging countries to commit to a process to 'revitalize' the CSW. And now that this has indeed been taken on board by governments from around the world in the recent Pact for the Future, the conversation is moving to: So what does that mean? During the NGO Forum in Geneva that took place just prior to the UNECE Beijing+30 Regional Review in October 2024 I co-f...

The CSW68 is a wrap!

Met Nederlands ambassadeur en CSW Facilitator Yoka Brandt op de foto na afloop van de CSW68 “We have reservations on the text. We don’t have instructions to proceed to adoption .” After seven days of negotiations at the UN during this year’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), Nigeria almost blocked the negotiated outcome document from being adopted. Almost, because after some formal and informal interventions in Conference Room 4, the Nigerian delegate, flanked by the Dutch Ambassador Yoka Brandt, added: “I now have instructions to support the adoption.” On the balcony filled with civil society as well as in the plenary room there was a clear sigh of relief followed by enthusiastic applause, hugging and photo taking. We have Agreed Conclusions ! Early negotiations As usual, the CSW negotiations process started early February with a Zero Draft , developed by UN Women and the CSW Bureau. And with input and inspiration taken from the Secretary General Report. For the EU...

CSW68 Youth Dialogue statement by Fenna Timsi

Dutch youth representative Fenna Timsi gives her statement in the CSW68 Youth Dialogue On Thursday afternoon, 14 March 2024, the Dutch youth representative Fenna Timsi gave her statement in the CSW68 Youth Dialogue inside the UN. The reflections from several participants of this year's Youth Dialogue - the second ever as part of the CSW - were that it has much improved compared to last year. Importantly, many more of the people who were given the floor were actually young people themselves. Many of the statements were rich and relevant in content with clear and important messages for the government delegates in the other room in the UN who had started the negotiations for the outcome document. Read Fenna's statement below or see the full Youth Dialogue here (Fenna's statement is at 1:20:10). Dear all, As the Dutch UN Youth Representative, I thank you to speak independently on behalf of young people in the Netherlands, not on behalf of the government. I spoke to many yo...

WO=MEN in New York

Search This Blog