EQUALITY NOW 1994

EQUALITY NOW
1994-1995 REPORT
EQUALITY NOW
Equality Now
international force, capable
outside the scope of the
was founded in
of rapid response to crisis
mainstream human rights
1992 to work
situations and committed to
movement, such as domestic
for the protec-
voicing a worldwide call for
violence, reproductive rights,
tion and pro-
justice and equality for
trafficking of women, female
motion of the human rights
women. Equality Now
genital mutilation, and equal
of women around the world.
addresses issues which have
access to economic opportu-
Working with national
historically been considered
nity and political participation.
human rights groups and
individual activists, Equality
Now documents human
rights violations against
women and adds an international action component—
to support their efforts to
advance women’s rights and
to defend individual women
who are suffering abuse.
Equality Now’s action techniques have proven effective.
By distributing information
through its Women’s Action
Network to concerned
groups and individuals
SOMMAIRE
Egalité Maintenant a été fondée en 1992 afin de travailler pour la protection et la promotion des droits individuels des femmes dans le monde entier. Travaillant avec des
groupes locaux de droits individuels et des militants individuels, Egalité Maintenant
documente les violations de ces droits et ajoute un aspect international d’action pour
soutenir les efforts locaux et nationaux au nom des droits des femmes et au nom des
femmes individuelles qui subissent des violations de leurs droits humains. Egalité
Maintenant aborde les questions qui ont généralement été considérées en dehors du
champ des droits humains internationaux, telles que la traîte des femmes, la violence
familiale, les droits de reproduction, la mutilation féminine génitale et égalité d’accès
économiques et participation politique.
RESUMEN
Igualdad Ya fue fundada en 1992 con el propósito de luchar por los derechos
humanos de la mujer alrededor del mundo. Trabajando con grupos locales de derechos
humanos y con activistas individuales, Igualdad Ya documenta las violaciones de los
derechos humanos de la mujer, además de agregar una dimensión internacional para
apoyar a los esfuerzos que se hacen para promover los derechos de la mujer y para
defender a las mujeres que sufren abusos a nivel individual. Igualdad Ya se dedica
a asuntos que históricamente han sido descuidados por el movimiento de derechos
humanos, tal y como lo son la violencia doméstica, el derecho a la reproducción, el
tráfico des mujeres, la mutilación genital femenina y el derecho de participar en condiciones iguales en la economía como en la vida política.
around the world, with
recommended actions for
publicizing and protesting
human rights violations,
Equality Now is building an
1
THE WOMEN’S ACTION NETWORK
The Women’s Action
participate in campaigns on
mation and to facilitate grass-
Network is the core of
broader women’s issues, and
roots participation. Equality
Equality Now’s work. As of
channel information and
Now has undertaken eight
year-end 1995, the Network
strategy on concerns in their
Women’s Actions to date.
consists of almost two thou-
own countries back through
sand groups and individuals
the Network.
in 65 countries around the
All Women’s Actions are
world who take action in
issued in English, Spanish,
response to appeals on
French and Arabic to pro-
behalf of individual women,
mote equal access to infor-
SOMMAIRE
A la fin de l’année 1995, le réseau consistait de près de deux mille groupes et individus dans 65 pays autour du monde qui répondent aux appels au nom des femmes
individuelles, participent à des campagnes sur des questions plus générales relatives
aux femmes et disséminent des renseignements sur le statut des femmes et les violations des droits indiviuels dans leurs pays par l’intermédiaire du réseau. Egalité
Maintenant a lancé des Actions Femmes sur les droits de reproduction, l’asile politique basé sur le sexe, le viol comme arme de guerre et de génocide, la violence
familiale, la traîte des femmes et la mutilation génitale féminine.
RESUMEN
A fines del año 1995, la Red consiste en casi dos mil grupos e individuos de 65 países
que actúan en respuesta a los llamados que se hacen para que se interceda a favor
de la mujer a nivel individual, participan en campañas sobre los asuntos de la mujer
en general, y hacen llegar a la Red información y estrategias sobre asuntos que se
presenten en sus países. Igualdad Ya ha promulgado varias Acciones Mujeres acerca del derecho a la reproducción, el asilo político en base al género, la violación de
mujeres como arma de guerra y genocidio, la violencia doméstica, el tráfico de mujeres y la mutilación genital femenina.
2
Reproductive Rights in
Poland
Gender-Based Political
Asylum in Canada—
The Case of Nada
Rape as a Weapon
of Genocide in
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Trafficking of Women
to Japan: The Death
of Maricris Sioson
UNICEF’s Failure
to Fund Efforts to
Stop Female Genital
Mutilation
Rape and Violence
Against Women at the
Durban Train Station,
South Africa
Domestic Violence in
the United States:
Judicial Misconduct in
the State of Maryland—
the Peacock Case
The Medicalization
of Female Genital
Mutilation in Egypt
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BAFROW—THE GAMBIA
Foundation for Research on Women’s Health Productivity and the Environment
It is with great regret that we learnt of the tragic and suspicious
death of Maricris. Details of the situation leading to her death are
provided to us by Equality Now, of New York. We associate ourselves with all those who publicly condemn this act, and call upon
the Japanese authorities to investigate the death of Maricris and to
bring to justice those responsible for the act.
3
SOUTH AFRICA
Rape and Violence Against Women at the Durban Train Station
In May 1994, Equality Now
issued a Women’s Action on
rape in South Africa. South
Africa has one of the highest
rape rates in the world—it is
estimated that a woman is
President Mandela
. . . is concerned
about the large numbers of
homeless people. The Government has embarked on a
Reconstruction and Development Programme which
seeks to address basic
human needs.
THE
—RESPONSE FROM
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
raped every 83 seconds. The
Women’s Action focuses on
the plight of the women who
live on the pavement of
Umgeni Road outside the
Durban train station. Although the police station is
only a few blocks away, the
police do not patrol the
stretch of pavement on
which the women live, leaving the women vulnerable to
4
We are extremely concerned about the unfortunate and
unacceptable situation of our African sisters in Durban. The
horrifying acts of rape, abuse and violence against our sisters
are intolerable and must be stopped.
—SAMIA TABARI, ASSOCIATION NAJDEH, BEIRUT, LEBANON
local thugs who rob, attack
These women want police
and rape them with impuni-
protection, and Equality
ty. The women who live out-
Now’s Women’s Action adds
side the Durban train station
an international voice to their
reported to Equality Now’s
call for help. It calls on the
mission delegates, who
police to patrol Umgeni
worked in conjunction with
Road, and urges President
the Durban-based Advice
Nelson Mandela to demon-
Desk for Abused Women,
strate to the police and the
that practically every night a
public that the new South
woman gets raped, and that
Africa will not tolerate rape
often they see their rapists
and other violence against
again, raping other women.
women.
Regina Nyanda, Umgeni Road, Durban
UNITED STATES
Judicial Misconduct in the State of Maryland—The Peacock Case
In December 1994, Equality
light sentence on the defen-
Now, working with the
dant, Kenneth Peacock, who
Women’s Law Center in
had killed his wife Sandra
Maryland, issued a Women’s
after finding her in bed with
Action on the judicial mis-
another man. In his sentenc-
conduct of Judge Robert E.
ing decision, the judge com-
Cahill in the Peacock Case.
mented, “I seriously wonder
walk away . . . without in-
On October 17, 1994, Judge
how many married men . . .
flicting some corporal punish-
Cahill imposed an extremely
would have the strength to
ment, whatever that punish-
SOMMAIRE
En mai 1994, Egalité Maintenant a lancé une Action Femmes sur le viol en Afrique du
Sud, mettant l’accent sur le sort des femmes qui vivent sur Umgeni Road, devant de la
gare de Durban. L’Action soutient leurs appels pour obtenir la protection de la police
et des patrouilles régulières. En décembre 1994, Egalité Maintenant a lancé une Action
Femmes sur la violence familiale aux Etats-Unis, se concentrant sur la mauvaise administration de la justice dans l’affaire de Kenneth Peacock. En condamnant Peacock, qui
avait tué sa femme après l’avoir trouvée au lit avec un autre homme, le juge Cahill
a sympathisé avec le défendeur, déclarant: «Je frémis en pensant à ce que je ferai.»
RESUMEN
En mayo de 1994, Igualdad Ya promulgó una Acción Mujeres acerca de la violación
de mujeres en Sur Africa, concentrándose en la apremiante situación que sufren las
mujeres que viven en la calle Umgeni, ubicada en las afueras de la estación ferroviaria de Durban. La Acción apoya el que estas mujeres pidan que se les dé protección policial y que haya rondas policíacas con regularidad. En diciembre de 1994,
Igualdad Ya promulgó una Acción acerca de la violencia doméstica en los Estados
Unidos, concentrándose en la mala conducta judicial que hubo en el caso de Kenneth
Peacock. A la hora de dictar sentencia contra Peacock, quien había matado a su
esposa al encontrarla en la cama con otro hombre, el juez Cahill simpatizó con el
acusado y declaró “Me estremezco de tan sólo pensar lo que yo haría.”
Domestic Violence Quilt, Africa Preparatory
Conference, Dakar, November 1994
ment might be. I shudder to
think what I would do.”
Equality Now’s Women’s
Action calls on judicial authorities in Maryland to take appropriate disciplinary action
against Judge Cahill for gender bias. In March 1995,
Equality Now raised the case
with the United Nations
Human Rights Committee, and
in September 1995, Equality
Now raised the case at the
United Nations Fourth World
Conference on Women, in
Beijing. A hearing by the
Maryland Commission on
Judicial Disabilities, scheduled for October 30, 1995,
was postponed to 1996.
5
EGYPT
The Medicalization of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
In September 1994, during
Health pledged to ban FGM
the United Nations Con-
in Egypt. One month after
ference on Population and
the conference ended, the
Development, held in Cairo,
Minister of Health reversed
the Egyptian Minister of
his position and issued a
“Medicalizing FGM is as good
as sanctioning it. . . . Rest
assured I will do all I can to
bring attention to Egypt’s
decision on this matter.”
—U.S. CONGRESSIONAL
REPRESENTATIVE PAT SCHROEDER
directive, on 29 October
1994, designating certain hospitals where FGM could be
performed by doctors for a
fee of LE 10 (approximately
US$ 3). After consultation
with non-governmental
organizations in Egypt working for the eradication of
FGM, Equality Now issued a
Women’s Action in March
1995, protesting the Minister
of Health’s directive and calling on him to honor the
commitment he made at the
THE WASHINGTON POST, DECEMBER 27, 1995.
UN Conference on Population and Development. The
Women’s Action generated
letters from around the
world, to which the Minister
of Health responded individually. A few months later, on
6
“[FGM] is unfortunately propagated
in almost all African countries and
presumably dates back in Egypt to
the pharaonic era, but was by any
means never related to either
Islamic or Christian orthodoxy
religious rites”
—DR. ALI ABDEL FATTAH
MINISTER OF HEALTH
SOMMAIRE
En mars 1995, Egalité Maintenant a lancé une Action Femmes protestant une directive publiée par le ministre égyptien de la Santé qui désignait les hôpitaux où la
mutilation génitale féminine (MGF) pouvait être effectuée pour une somme équivalente à US$3. Le ministre de la Santé avait promis à la Conférence des Nations Unies
sur la Population et le Développement en septembre 1994, d’interdire la MGF. Le
ministre a répondu aux nombreuses lettres qu’il avait reçu des membres du réseau
d’Action Femmes, l’invitant à honorer son engagement et en octobre 1995, il a révoqué sa directive, instruisant les médecins de ne pas pratiquer la MGF.
RESUMEN
Kristina Hare and Navanethem Pillay,
Equality Now’s delegation to the United
Nations Conference on Population and
Development, Cairo, September 1994.
En marzo de 1995, Igualda Ya promulgó una Acción Mujeres para protestar en contra
de la disposición hecha por el Ministro de Salubridad egipcio en la que se designaban
los hospitales donde podía efectuarse la mutilación genital femenina (MGF) por una
suma equivalente a EEUU$3. En septiembre de 1994, el Ministro de Salubridad había
prometido ante la Conferencia de Población y Desarrollo de las Naciones Unidas que
iba a prohibir la MGF. El Ministro respondió a muchas de las cartas que recibió de
miembros de la Red de Acción Mujeres, en las que se le pedía que cumpliera con
su promesa. En octubre de 1995, el Ministro rescindió la disposición, instruyendo a
los doctores a que no llevaran a cabo la MGF.
17 October 1995, the Minister
of Health rescinded his directive, instructing doctors not
to perform FGM and noting
its harmful consequences.
7
WOMEN’S ACTION UPDATES
UNICEF’S
FAILURE TO
Action calling on UNICEF to
FUND EFFORTS TO STOP
provide resources to the
FEMALE GENITAL
African women and women’s
MUTILATION
groups working for the eradi-
On 31 October 1994, UNICEF
cation of FGM. Members of
issued Guidelines for Action
Equality Now’s Women’s
on Eliminating Female
Action Network from around
Genital Mutilation (FGM),
the world had written to
eleven months after Equality
UNICEF protesting its lack of
Now issued its Women’s
funding for and attention to
SOMMAIRE
UNICEF: Onze mois après qu’Egalité Maintenant ait lancé sa Action Femmes demandant à l’UNICEF de soutenir les femmes africaines et les groupes de femmes travaillant pour la suppression de la mutilation génitale féminine (MGF), l’UNICEF a publié le 31 octobre 1994, des directives d’action pour éliminer la MGF. JAPON: Egalité
Maintenant continue à réclamer une enquête sur la mort de Maricris Sioson, une
danseuse philippine agée de 22 ans décédée au Japon le 14 septembre 1991. Malgré
les traces de coups de poignard et des preuves médicales qu’elle avait été tuée, les
autorités japonaises ont maintenu que Maricris Sioson était morte d’une hépatite.
RESUMEN
UNICEF: Once meses después de que Igualdad Ya promulgara su Acción Mujeres
urgiendo a UNICEF a que apoyara a las mujeres africanas y a las organizaciones de
mujeres en su labor para erradicar la mutilación genital femenina (MGF), el 31 de
octubre de 1994, UNICEF estableció las Pautas para acción para la eliminación de la
MGF. JAPON: Igualdad Ya continúa su llamado a que se investigue la muerte de
Maricris Sioson, una bailarina filipina de 22 años de edad que murió en Japón el 14
de septiembre de 1991. Aunque el cuerpo de Maricris Sioson tuviera heridas ocasionadas por un puñal y hubiera evidencia médica indicando que había sido asesinada,
las autoridades japonesas afirman que Maricris Sioson murió de hepatitis.
I believe that UNICEF is
moving in the right
direction. I trust that
we are complementing
the important work of
other organisations, such
as Equality Now, in raising
awareness, supporting
capacity building and
strengthening community
education efforts on this
harmful traditional practice.
CAROL BELLAMY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
efforts to stop FGM. The
organization had acknowledged spending only several
hundred thousand dollars of
its US$ 922 million budget
(less than 0.1%) on FGMrelated work. An estimated
two million girls per year—
six thousand girls per day—
are at risk of FGM, a practice
which causes life-long physical and psychological harm.
Following Equality Now’s
Women’s Action, UNICEF has
increased its work against
8
THE NEW YO
RK TIMES, SE
PTEMBER 22
, 1994
FGM, sponsoring workshops and programs in
countries including
Burkina Faso, Djibouti,
Sudan, and Guinea.
TRAFFICKING
OF WOMEN
TO JAPAN: THE DEATH OF
14 September 1991. When
MARICRIS SIOSON
her body was returned to
Equality Now continues to
the Philippines for burial,
call for an investigation into
signs of beating and stab
the death of Maricris Sioson,
wounds indicated that
a 22-year-old Filipina dancer
Maricris Sioson had been
who went to work in Japan
killed, although Japanese
in 1991 and died there on
doctors had listed hepatitis
Maricris Sioson
as the cause of her death.
An autopsy confirmed that
Maricris died of traumatic
head injuries and documented two stab wounds,
one in the thigh indicating
that a double-edged blade
tigation into the death of
had been twisted upward,
Maricris Sioson and the pros-
downward and diagonally
ecution of those responsible
in the flesh, and one in the
for it. In September 1995,
genital area indicating that a
Equality Now raised the case
blade had been inserted ver-
at the United Nations Fourth
tically. Equality Now contin-
World Conference on Women,
ues to campaign for an inves-
in Beijing.
9
WOMEN’S ACTION UPDATES
SYSTEMATIC
by Bosnian Serb soldiers as
had been committed in
AND GENOCIDE IN
the blood poured forth from
Srebrenica, citing the tragic
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
her grandfather’s body.
case of a 14-year-old girl
On 25 May 1993, the United
Equality Now continued to
who tied her scarf around
Nations Security Council
call for the arrest and prose-
her neck and hung herself
established the International
cution of Radovan Karadzic,
after being raped by Bosnian
Criminal Tribunal for the
leader of the Bosnian Serbs.
Serb forces, who also raped
prosecution of war crimes
In July 1995, following the
her 12-year-old cousin.
in the former Yugoslavia.
fall of Srebrenica, Radovan
Equality Now noted the
Meanwhile, the war crimes
Karadzic and Ratko Mladic,
indictment of Karadzic and
continued. Equality Now
commander of the Bosnian
Mladic and called for their
issued a Women’s Action
Serb army, were indicted for
immediate arrest and prose-
Update in April 1994, high-
crimes against humanity by
cution. Equality Now contin-
lighting the ongoing use of
the International Criminal
ues to campaign for justice in
rape in the campaign of “eth-
Tribunal. Equality Now
Bosnia-Herzegovina, and
nic cleansing” and citing the
issued another Women’s
accountability for genocidal
case of a 15 year-old girl
Actin Update on the war
atrocities as an essential com-
who was raped in her home
crimes, including rape, that
ponent of a lasting peace.
10
RAPE
Opposite page: Demonstration at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women
NGO Forum, Huairou. Above: Equality Now’s “Wanted” poster campaign on display at the
NGO Forum.
SOMMAIRE
Le 25 mai 1993, le Conseil de Sécurité des Nations Unies a établi le Tribunal Penal
International pour la poursuite des crimes de guerre dans l’ancienne Yougoslavie. En
avril 1994 et en juillet 1995, Egalité Maintenant a lancé des mises à jour de l’Action
Femmes sur la continuation du viol systématique comme arme de «purification ethnique» et a réclamé l’arrestation et la poursuite de Radovan Karadzic, chef des Serbes
Bosniaques. En juillet 1995, Karadzic a été inculpé par le Tribunal, avec Ratko Mladic,
commandant de l’armée Serbe Bosniaque. Egalité Maintenant continue à réclamer leur
arrestation immédiate et leur poursuite.
RESUMEN
El 25 de mayo de 1993, el Consejo de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas estableció el
Tribunal Penal Internacional para que se enjuicien a los que han cometido crímenes
de guerra en la antigua Yugoslavia. En abril de 1994 y en julio de 1995, Igualdad Ya
difundió actualizaciones de Acción Mujeres acerca del uso continuo de la violación de
mujeres como método de “depuración étnica,” y pidió que se arrestara y enjuiciara a
Radovan Karadzic, el líder de los serbobosnios. En julio de 1995, Karadzic fue acusado
formalmente por el Tribunal, junto a Ratko Maladic, comandante del ejército serbobosnio. Igualdad Ya continúa su llamado a que se les arreste y enjuicie cuanto antes.
11
UNITED NATIONS
FOURTH WORLD
CONFERENCE
ON WOMEN
The Secretary General of the United Nations noted in his
opening statement that “the progress we make is measurable and it will be measured.” The Secretary General of
the Conference observed “millions have placed their trust
in us. We must not fail them.” Equality Now urges you
not to fail us in honoring the commitments you have
made here in the United Nations back home in the countries you govern. We assure you that we will measure the
progress that you make. We hold you accountable for the
human rights of women around the world.
—From Equality Now’s statement to the
United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women
Top row (left to right): Demonstration at the
NGO Forum in Huairou. Poster Wall in
Huairou. Executive Director Surita
Sandosham and Geraldine Ferraro, United
States Representative to the UN
Commission on Human Rights. Middle row
(left to right): Surita Sandosham with a
member of the Tibetan delegation to the
NGO Forum, Huairou. Equality Now Chair
Navanethem (Navi) Pillay, Monica Selter,
and Surita Sandosham, Huairou. Navi
Pillay (center) with the Honorable Winnie
Byanyima, Member of the Constituent
Assembly of Uganda (left), and Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf, Director of the UNDP
Regional Bureau for Africa (right), following
a panel on the promotion of women in
governance and leadership positions in
Africa, Beijing. Bottow row (left to right):
Surita Sandosham talking to Chinese
police in Huairou. The UN Fourth World
Conference in session, Beijing. Surita
Sandosham consulting with Elizabeth
Evatt, Member of the UN Human Rights
Committee.
12
BEIJING, CHINA
SEPTEMBER 4–15, 1995
13
EQUALITY NOW IN ACTION
PHOTO BY JULIA SMITH
14
THE NEW YORK TIMES, September 6, 1994
Opposite page: (top left) Equality Now
Chair Navanethem (Navi) Pillay visits Jean
Kamau, Executive Director of the
International Federation of Women
Lawyers (FIDA), Kenya, a member of the
Women’s Action Network; (top right) Robin
Morgan addresses an Equality Now
gathering in New York, December 1994;
(middle left) Navi Pillay and Run Yusuf
Ayoon at a conference on women’s
participation in the Somali peace process,
organized by the Women’s Program of the
Fund for Peace, Nairobi, January 1995
(middle right) the opening of the United
Nations Conference on Population and
Development, Cairo, September 1994;
(bottom left) Executive Director Surita
Sandosham and Equality Now Board
member Hibaaq Osman at the UN Fourth
World Conference on Women NGO Forum,
Huairou, September 1995; (bottom right)
Equality Now Advisory Council member
Jewelle Taylor Gibbs, Hibaaq Osman and
actress Amanda Donohoe at an Equality
Now gathering in Los Angeles, May 1994.
Above: Equality Now Board member
Jacqui Hunt at the Africa Preparatory
Conference, Dakar, November 1994.
15
THE CAMPAIGN TO STOP
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
Poster Artist: Tijaan T. Kamara
Stop Female Genital Mutilation
16
Opposite page (top left): New York
City Planned Parenthood President
Alexander Sanger introduces
Executive Director Surita
Sandosham at a forum on FGM,
October 1995; (top right) FGM
activist Meserak (Mimi) Ramsey
and Surita Sandosham meet with
US Congresswoman Pat
Schroeder; (bottom) a poster used
by BAFROW, an organization
working in The Gambia to stop
FGM. Above: Mimi Ramsey represents Equality Now at a World
Health Organization conference on
FGM, organized by Efua Dorkenoo
(seated), Geneva, July 1995.
Right: FGM activist Mimi Ramsey
with New York Times correspondent Barbara Crossette, at an
Equality Now gathering, New York,
December 1995.
17
UNITED NATIONS
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
Since March 1994, Equality
Now has been working to
bring human rights violations
against women to the attention of the United Nations
Human Rights Committee. The
Human Rights Committee was
established by the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, a treaty for
Personally and on behalf of the Human Rights Committee
allow me to thank you for the cooperation showed by
Equality Now regarding the examination of the country
reports during our current session. I cannot imagine how
difficult and meaningless our exercises would be if we did
not have the active cooperation of NGOs like yours. I only
hope that Equality Now will continue to work with the
Human Rights Committee in the protection of human rights
worldwide.
FRANCISCO JOSÉ AGUILAR-URBINA, CHAIR, HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
the protection of human
human rights of women, in-
Committee in its considera-
rights which has been signed
cluding the fundamental right
tion of reports from Yemen,
and ratified by 134 countries.
to equality under the law and
the United States, Russia, the
Under the Covenant, signato-
equal protection of the law.
United Kingdom, Sri Lanka,
ry governments are required
Working with women’s rights
Hong Kong and Afghanistan.
to report to the Human Rights
groups in countries under
These issues have included
Committee on their compli-
review by the Committee,
rape, domestic violence,
ance with the provisions of
Equality Now has brought
female genital mutilation,
the Covenant. Many of these
issues relating to women’s
employment discrimination,
provisions encompass the
rights to the attention of the
exclusion from the political
process, and institutionalized
discrimination in law.
Following Equality Now’s protest
of UN acquiesence to discrimination against women in
Afghanistan, in November 1995
UNICEF announced that it would
suspend assistance to educational
programs in Afghanistan that
excluded girls.
18
The Ne
w York
Time
s
,
N
o
vembe
r 8, 19
95
SOMMAIRE
Depuis mars 1994, Egalité Maintenant a travaillé pour attirer l’attention du Comité des
droits de l’homme des Nations Unis sur violations des droits civiques des femmes.
Travaillant avec les groupes de droits civiques des femmes dans les pays faisant l’objet d’examen par le Comité, Egalité Maintenant a soulevé des questions se rapportant aux droits des femmes au Yémen, aux États-Unis, en Russie, au Royaume Uni,
au Sri Lanka, à Hong Kong et en Afghanistan. Ces questions comprennent le viol, la
violence familiale, la mutilation génitale féminine, la discrimination en matière d’emploi et l’exclusion des femmes du processus politique.
RESUMEN
Desde marzo de 1994, Iguadad Ya ha estado trabajando para que el Comité de
Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas preste atención a las violaciones de los
derechos humanos de la mujer. Al trabajar con las organizaciones de derechos de la
mujer de los países a los que el Comité va a examinar, Igualdad Ya ha traído a colación asuntos relacionados a los derechos de las mujeres en Yemen, Estados Unidos,
Rusia, Reino Unido, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong y Afganistán. Estos asuntos incluyen la
violación de mujeres, la violencia doméstica, la mutilación genital femenina, la discriminación en los empleos y la exclusión de las mujeres de la vida política.
Opposite page: Susan Allee and Phyllis
Hwang, Equality Now delegates to the
53rd session of the United Nations Human
Rights Committee, New York, March 1995.
Above: The Afghan Women’s Network was
formed in 1995, following a collaboration
with Equality Now to protest the suspension of female employees by United
Nations agencies in Afghanistan.
19
THE EQUALITY NOW
SPIN COLUMNS
A New Generation of Activists
January 1994
February 1994
March 1994
UNICEF
JAPAN
UNITED STATES
Female genital mutilation
The death of Maricris Sioson
Convention on the
Elimination of
Discrimination Against
Women
April 1994
UNITED STATES
Domestic violence
May 1994
BOSNIAHERZEGOVINA
UN War Crimes Tribunal
June 1994
UNITED STATES
Violence against lesbians
July 1994
HAITI
Rape by military forces
August 1994
CHINA (TIBET)
Buddhist nuns imprisoned
September 1994
SOUTH AFRICA
Rape and violence against
women who live on Umgeni
Road
20
October 1994
May 1995
UNITED NATIONS
UNITED STATES
Cairo Conference on
Population and Development
Abortion laws in
Florida
November 1994
June 1995
BANGLADESH
EGYPT
Taslima Nasrin
Female genital
mutilation
December 1994
CANADA
July 1995
Violence against women
THE OLYMPICS
January 1995
Discrimination against
women in the Olympic
Games
MEXICO
November 1995
Rape by government soldiers
August 1995
February 1995
POLAND
UNITED STATES
Women and family planning
Convention on the
Elimination of
Discrimination Against
Women
September 1995
SINGAPORE
The case of Flor
Contemplacion
GUATEMALA
The abduction and rape of
Flor de Maria Salguero de
Laparra
December 1995
UNITED STATES
FGM Act of 1995
March 1995
UNITED STATES
October 1995
Domestic violence —the
Peacock case
UNITED STATES
Women and military
education
April 1995
BANGLADESH
Castigation of rape victim
The drawing above was sent to Equality
Now by a SPIN reader in response to the
December 1994 Equality Now column,
which is reprinted on page 20.
21
BOARD, STAFF, ADVISORY COUNCIL,
PHOTO BY MARIANNE YEUNG
PHOTO BY MARIANNE YEUNG
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TRANSLATORS
Navanethem Pillay, Chair
Surita Sandosham, President
Jacqui Hunt, Treasurer
Taina Bien-Aimé, Secretary
Marjory M. Byler
Jessica Neuwirth
Hibaaq Osman
Asma Abdel Halim
Tagreid Abu-Hassabo
Patricia Meoño-Picado
Pierre Weill
STAFF
PHOTO BY JULIA SMITH
Surita Sandosham, Executive Director
Sonia Nanda, Office Manager
Anouchka Orenzow, Comptroller
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Veronica De Negri
Jewelle Taylor Gibbs
John G. Healey
The Hon. A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr.
Maurine Rothschild
Gloria Steinem
Rose Styron
Liz Young
PROGRAM CONSULTANTS
Asma Abdel Halim
Efua Dorkenoo
Bonnie Greenfield
Akua Kuenyehia
22
FRIENDS
The board and staff of Equality Now
would like to thank the following
individuals and organizations for
their advice, encouragement and
support:
Susan Aasen
Susan Allee
Jody Arlington
Patricia Armstrong
Deborah T. Ashford
Kathleen Smith Barrett
Mariamma Barrie
Richard Baskin
Cherif Bassiouni
Barbara Bergmann
Andrew Blane
Karen Bloom
Eva Brantley
Camilla Broomfield
Charlotte Bunch
Linda Burstyn
Patricia Carbine
J. Speed Carroll
Alexandra Chasin
FRIENDS OF EQUALITY NOW
Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton
Edwin Cohen
Larry Cox
Robert Crane
Barbara Crossette
Leslie Couvillion
Ellen Cull
Mary Davidson
Davidson, Dawson & Clark
Seble Dawit
Dana Delaney
Amanda Donohoe
Maria Dugan
Mari Dupar
Elizabeth Evatt
Stephanie Farrior
Nina Feldman
Charles Finch
Joan Fitzpatrick
Julie Floch
Keith Gasser
Sarah Ghiorse
Carolyn DeSwarte Gifford
Curt Goering
Ellen Goodman
Jan Goodwin
Nicole Gordon
Mary Gray
Mari Griffin
William Groll
Bob Guccione, Jr.
Susan & Ivan Guerra
Hansen & Young
Kristina Hare
Shlomi Harif
Angela Janklow Harrington
Harvard Law School Human Rights
Program
Yasmeen Hassan
Priscilla Hayner
Robert Henigson
Leila Hessini
Noleen Heyzer
Paul Hoffman
Tammy Horn
Phyllis Hwang
Phyllis Jenkins
Robert D. Joffe
Tessa Katz
Kimberly Butler Photography
Stephen King
Melissa Knight
Lisbet Koerner
Kate Lauer
Julie Leonard
Amy Leveen
John Levin
Catharine A. MacKinnon
Judy Mann
Cecilia Medina Quiroga
Hanny Megally
Stephanie Mermin
Frank Michelman
Carissa Montgomery
Robin Morgan
Brandon Musler
Lonny Myers
Sarah Nall-Lono
Gloria S. Neuwirth
Laura Neuwirth
Michael Neuwirth
Robert S. Neuwirth
Carmelita Nuqui
Sarah Oppenheim
Anshu Padayachee
Chris Poor
Micha Ramakers
Meserak (Mimi) Ramsey
Jaana Rehnstrom
Amy Richards
Elenor Richter-Lyonette
Hector Rivera
A.M. Rosenthal
Piper Dellums Ross
Maurine & Robert Rothschild
Tess Rumble
Karen Russell
Adrian Saldhana
Jean Sasson
Alison & Rob Seligson
Monica Selter
Doris Shamleffer
Janet Shenk
David Smith
Julia Smith
Milton Solomon
SPIN
Phyllis Springer
Evelyn Stachel
Henry Steiner
Amanda Sullivan
Andrew Sullivan
Patti Sullivan
Marge Swenson
Dorothy Thomas
Roger and Sava Thomas
Alison Van Dyk
Irene Wapnir
Bill Williams
Janet Yang
Marianne Yeung
Suad Yusuf
Photos, clockwise from top left, opposite page: The Honorable A. Leon
Higginbotham Jr. and Navi Pillay. Jessica Neuwirth. Hibaaq Osman and
Edwin Cohen. Suad Yusuf and Lonny Myers. Karen Bloom (holding Milan
Bien-Aimé) and Anouchka Orenzow. Sonia Nanda. Jody Arlington. Gloria
Steinem and Robert Rothschild. 1995 holiday party. Maurine Rothschild.
Equality Now’s December 1995 Board meeting. Elenor Richter-Lyonette.
Rose Styron, Robert Rothschild, Liz Young and Andrew Sullivan (left to
right). Liz Young and Jacqui Hunt.
PHOTO BY MARIANNE YEUNG
PHOTO BY MARIANNE YEUNG
PHOTO BY MARIANNE YEUNG
23
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Consolidated Balance Sheet and Income Statement
1994
1995
$49,703
0
7,830
666
58,199
$70,610
35,000
12,394
1,470
119,474
$4,506
0
53,693
58,199
$9,867
35,000
74,607
119,474
$134,281
70,760
751
205,792
$197,313
82,840
941
281,094
$148,649
26,436
25,352
200,437
$187,437
43,374
29,369
260,180
5,355
20,914
ASSETS
Cash
Grants receivable
Fixed assets (net of appreciation)
Other assets
Total assets
LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Deferred support
Fund Balances
Total liabilties and fund balances
SUPPORT AND REVENUES
Contributions
Donated services and fixed assets
Other
Total support and revenues
EXPENSES
Program services
Management and general
Fundraising
Total expenses
Excess of support and revenues over expenses
FOUNDATION SUPPORT 1994 –1995
Arca Foundation
Bydale Foundation
Echoing Green Foundation
European Human Rights Foundation
Fanny & Leo Koerner Charitable Trust
Joyce Mertz-Gilmore Foundation
Ms. Foundation for Education &
Communication
New York Friends Group
NOVIB
Nate B. and Frances Spingold Foundation
Ruth
Turner Fund
Copies of the complete, audited reports may be obtained from Equality Now or from the State of New York, Department of Law, Office of Charities
Registration, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12223.
24
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
C
Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places,
close to home . . . . Et d’ailleurs, où commence le respect des droits
universels? Dans des lieux familiers, proches du foyer . . . .
Después de todo, dónde comienzan los derechos humanos
universales? En los lugares pequeños, cercanos a nuestra casa . . . .
....
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT