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
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