With some electoral gains in Iraq, women candidates work towards change

Cross-posted from UN Women

To run as a political candidate in Iraq demands courage and determination – even more so for a woman. Fourteen candidates, including one woman, were murdered in the run-up to local elections held in April – the first elections to be run by the Iraqis themselves without any international help since 2003.

Maryam Abdulla, 31, was recently elected to the regional council in Kut, southern Iraq. She is proud of her success and pleased that training from UN Women helped her achieve more votes than predicted.

Women candidates and their election trainer following a recent training in Kut. Pictured from left to right: Sanaa Isaa, candidate from the Iraq of Wealth and Giving coalition; Radhiea Ali Salim, candidate of the Gathering of Loyal Hands party; Sanaa Al-Taai, trainer; and Sajida Nezer, Al-Ahraar coalition. Sajida Nezer won her seat with a total of 1,495 votes. Photo courtesy of the Iraq Foundation

“The training provided by UN Women to us as women candidates was a good and positive step to broaden the women’s culture. We as women need to work more, especially in the south of Iraq where we have to break through the tribal layer. We need more training to be able to change people’s attitudes,” said Maryam, sounding sprightly and positive despite the obstacles she faced.

Maryam is one of approximately 300 women candidates from five governorates who were trained by the Iraq Foundation and their local partners in the run-up to the local elections in Iraq on 20 April. Supported by UN Women, the three- to five-day sessions covered issues like dealing with the press, how to put together a campaign, presentation techniques and self-management. All political parties were asked to nominate their women candidates for training, but not all did.

“Today women face more challenges. I’m always asked by other women how did I break through the tribal layer, my answer to them is it was possible through dialogue and improving myself to convince them that I understand women issues and I can be a leader,” said Maryam.

According to the UN’s Women in Iraq factsheet, women “represent one of the most vulnerable segments of the population and are generally more exposed to poverty and food insecurity as a result of lower overall income levels.”

Despite the large peak in violence in the run up to the elections, election day itself passed off without incident; approximately 50 per cent of the population turned out to vote, of which 40 per cent were women.

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“They force him to rape his daughter”: Saran Keïta Diakité on how rape is used as a weapon of war in Mali

Cross-posted from UN Women

Saran Keïta Diakité is a lawyer in Mali and President of the Malian branch of the NGO Working Group on Women Peace and Security (Réseau Paix et Sécurité des Femmes de l’Espace CEDEAO). As the Donor Conference on Mali starts in Brussels, in her own words she speaks about the atrocities occurring in her country, which has been plagued by political instability and the proliferation of armed groups that have uprooted more than 415,000 people since a military coup d’état in March 2012. She also talks about the work of her NGO, supported by UN Women, to assist survivors of violence, provide access to justice, and to ensure women have a say in peace negotiations. She was one of four female mediators who took part in peace negotiations from 15-17 April 2012 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Saran also recently spoke in April 2013 at the UN Security Council’s Open Debate on conflict-related sexual violence in New York.

Saran Keïta Diakité (right), speaking on behalf of the Malian branch of the non-governmental Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, addresses the Security Council debate on sexual violence in conflict on 17 April 2013, in New York.
Photo credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

“It is true that there was genocide in Rwanda and there have been cases of rape in Congo, but what happened in Mali is unprecedented.

At the outbreak of the crisis, UN Women commissioned a study in the regions of Gao, Menaka and Ansongo, in April and May 2012 and in September 2012. The outcomes of that study revealed over 100 cases of rape, both individual and gang rape. When these women talk about what happened, it’s appalling. The victims’ ages range from 9 to 70. Imagine the horrors that these survivors have endured.

Throughout the occupied regions, girls are forced into marriage. When an Islamist marries you, you can be sure that, at night, you will be visited by at least four or five people, and that every night, you’ll receive a visit from a different man, a “new husband”. One girl told me: “it was by the smell that I knew that it was a different man coming to me every time. Every time, I was aware of a different smell than the last time.”

The Islamists perform religious marriages in order to escape the clutches of international criminal justice. They carry out a form of “marriage” so that, at night, you can be treated as a sexual slave. During the day, you are there to serve tea to the men and attend to their every need. This is why I always say that what’s happened in Mali is unprecedented.

It’s true to say that rape is being used as a weapon of war.  Read More »

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When sexism endangers innocent lives

Over the past few days, I’ve been following discussions stemming from this appalling story over at Stuff Fundies Like. Honestly, the way Pensacola Christian College treated this young woman is wrong on so many levels that I don’t even know where to start. I’m just going to address the overreaching theme here, which is so eloquently expressed in their fire safety policy:

“For years the rule has remained on the books that all female students must be in “proper” attire before they leave their rooms for a fire drill. If you happen to be sleeping in pajama pants, you must take the time to put on a skirt before you try to escape the flames. If you should perish then at least you’ll know you died for the cause of not tempting the fire fighters to lust after you.”

For me, this was one of those moments where I stop and hope the story I’m reading is some sort of exaggeration/misinterpretation. Chalk it up to my stubborn faith in humanity, but it’s just so far beyond my comprehension that modesty of all things would even be a factor in a situation where lives might be endangered. But then I have to remind myself that when dealing with fundamentalists, subverting female sexuality is consistently and grotesquely prioritized over basic human rights.

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Impact and Response: SAPR officials charged with sexual assault

This blog was originally posted on Boston Area Rape Crisis Center blog

When I first heard the story about the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response chiefwho was accused of sexual assault, my heart sank.  As an advocate in this field, it has always been a fear of mine to hear about an advocate assaulting someone.  And then, in the same month, another similar story comes out about an Army enlisted SAPR personnel who assaulted multiple female soldiers of a lower rank.

The impact that these stories have go beyond the respective bases where these individuals were stationed.  These assaults and charges, especially since they involve SAPR personnel, do not happen within a vacuum and the ripple effect created by these two incidents will impact survivors who have and haven’t reported, military personnel, and environments.  The work to repair the trust and safety in addition to alleviating the new doubts and barriers will be long, hard, and multi-faceted.

We already knew that the majority of sexual assault survivors did not report their case, either in a restricted or unrestricted manner.  The previous numbers (based on anonymous survey) reflected that almost 3,200 reports were made in FY2011 but the estimated number of survivors was well over 19,000.  The newest report for FY2012 reflects an uptick in both numbers – the number of reports increased to almost 3,400 but the number of people anonymously reporting unwanted sexual contact dramatically increased to 26,000!

What I believe, although there is no scientific evidence, is that this increase in anonymous reports is because people felt safer to report their experiences than in previous years.  It does not necessarily mean that there is an actual increase in the prevalence of sexual violence within the military.  We have seen similar trends in reports of civilian experiences with rape and sexual assault.  While many of these individuals still didn’t make an official report, having more accurate numbers of the people impacted can be beneficial for programs, service providers, funding, and creating policies.  Read More »

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My conflicted feelings about sub/dom relationships as a feminist

So, allow me to vent for a moment.

First of all, I’m “new” to feminism. I hate saying that, because I feel like being a feminist isn’t something you adopt, it’s something ingrained in who you are, what you believe, and how you think from the moment you start cultivating your own personal opinions. However, I think we can all remember that occasion, or situation where we realized “Holy shit, I’m a feminist.” What I mean by being “new” to feminism is that I’ve only  in the last year or so began to really own it proudly, and actively do my part AS  a feminist in fighting patriarchy. So there is my little introduction. Hello, hi, how are you. Also, please go a wittle easy on me, because I’m a baby. I’m still learning, and as someone who literally  has no active feminist friends, I’m looking for some guidance here.

A few months back I kinda stumbled upon my best friend’s “secret” blog about her sub/dom relationship. I kind of just assumed that sub/dom relationships were really just a fancy shmancy way of saying a committed couple was into some really serious BDSM, which I have absolutely no problems with.

A few months prior to me finding the blog on accident, my best friend had moved states away to be with a significantly older dude she met online. I knew that she had been talking to the dude for quite awhile before visiting him a few times, and then ultimately moving in with him. I had my reservations, because I think I’d be a shitty friend if I hadn’t. She was, after all, uprooting her entire life for a man. BUT WHATEVER, I wasn’t going to judge her or make her own relationship choices my business past what I sensed she was comfortable with.

When I found her blog, it was  mostly consisting of dirty pictures, sexual preferences, and really cheesy stories about their sexual interactions. It was apparent that she was really into the typical things that come with being a “sub,” like being ordered around in bed, “man handled,” spanking, cuffs, whatever. I doubt I need to go into detail with you ladies.  Read More »

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Singin’ the praises of American Idol season 12’s all-female finale

Kree Harrison and Candice Glover went head to head tonight, each with three stellar performances. This was no surprise, as judges Keith, Nicki, Randy and Mariah have been singing their praises all season, predicting successful careers in the industry for both finalists. But as these two talented women belted their hearts out on stage, I started singing their praises for a different reason entirely.

What had been percolating in the back of my mind all season finally struck me, front and center. Each time Candice or Kree step on stage, looking all kinds of fabulous, they are making a powerful statement. Not fitting the cookie cutter mold of female pop stars today, their mere presence on the Idol stage serves to redefine cultural notions and standards of beauty.

Each week, along with over 11 million people, I get to see beauty in a slightly different package than is typically presented on tv. I sit in awe every Wednesday and Thursday night and admire the way these two women look. Don’t get me wrong, I am most in awe of their talent, and the way they command the stage, as if they know at their core that they belong there. However, the visual appeal of these two women does not go unnoticed. And while that is revolutionary in and of itself, it doesn’t stop there.  Read More »

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