From Tanzania to the Maldives, here’s what you might have missed so far during #16Days
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Dear John
Last Friday marked the launch of the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence, an annual campaign uniting activists across the world. From Tanzania to the Maldives, here’s what you might have missed from Equality Now so far during #16Days:
** A Look at Discriminatory Violence Laws
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Ahead of the International Day For The Elimination Of Violence Against Women last Friday, we released a new policy brief on sex discrimination in violence laws around the world.
Only 12 out of 190 economies surveyed by the World Bank in 2022 had achieved legal equality, and a typical economy only grants women 75% of the same rights as men. Income inequality and gender inequalities are intimately linked, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that inequality kills ([link removed]) .
Our latest Words & Deeds brief highlights the laws that still need to change, including by ensuring consent, not force, is an element in rape laws, addressing intersectionality, and the need for laws to address violence in the digital world.
Download the brief ([link removed])
** Calling for the Adoption of a Universal Digital Rights Framework
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Regulation of the digital world is inconsistent and ineffective. Those who are most profoundly affected by this are the people, groups, and communities with the least power and privilege. Misogynists, discriminators, and exploiters have found a new home in the digital realm, and their harms are being exaggerated and amplified by algorithms and machine learning.
To achieve global equality of safety, freedom, and dignity in our digital future, we’ve joined together with Women Leading in AI to call for a universal approach to defining, upholding, and advancing digital rights – for everyone. This Monday, we launched the Alliance for Universal Digital Rights (AUDRi) ([link removed]) to explore ways of creating a digital future in which everyone can enjoy equal rights to safety, freedom, and dignity. Together we’re proposing a set of Digital Principles developed to inform global efforts toward a digital future in which everyone can enjoy equal rights to safety, freedom, and dignity.
Explore the AUDRi.org ([link removed])
Follow AUDRi on LinkedIn ([link removed])
Follow AUDRi on Twitter ([link removed])
** Supporting the Next Generation of Legal Minds across Africa
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The preliminary and quarter rounds of our 2022-2023 Africa Gender Equality Moot Court Competition began on Monday. The competition will see 13 teams from 8 countries battle it out to see who will make the semi-finals and finals in Nairobi in 2023.
Read more about the Moot Court Competition ([link removed]) .
** An Introduction to International Human Rights Advocacy for Feminists
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Engaging with UN treaty bodies and other UN mechanisms is a key part of our Theory of Change.
In 2022, over 85% of the submissions we've made to UN treaty bodies or the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) this year resulted in one or more of our recommendations being adopted by the relevant committee for the sessions that have been concluded.
To support our partners and other feminist advocates around the world to engage in international human rights advocacy, we’ve launched a Guide To Advocating For Women’s Rights Using International Human Rights Mechanisms in English, French, Arabic, Russian, with other languages to follow.
Download our new guide ([link removed])
** Supporting Systems for Survivors of Gender-based Violence in the Maldives
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Women and girls across South Asia face high rates of sexual violence. Protection gaps in rape laws and barriers to accessing justice continue to effectively deny justice for many survivors of sexual violence.
Equality Now joined our partners Uthema and Hope for Women as they steered a Multi-stakeholder Forum on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Maldives and engaged with the country’s Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services to create more effective support systems for survivors of gender-based violence. At the forum, ([link removed]) held on November 28, we led interactive sessions on making gender advocacy more survivor-centric in the Maldives.
Ibrahim Thayyib, ([link removed]) the Chief Executive Officer of the Family Protection Authority, delivered the keynote address. Two survivors of violence shared their stories and spoke of the vision for change they are working for.
Following the release of our report, Sexual Violence in South Asia: Legal and Other Barriers to Justice for Survivors ([link removed]) , we are continuing to work with partners across the region, particularly in the Maldives and Nepal, to call on governments to take urgent action to address sexual violence and improve access to justice for survivors.
With the power of your support, we continue to challenge injustice; stand against sexual violence; protect and advance hard-won rights, and amplify the voices of survivors – so every woman and girl can enjoy the safety, choice, and respect she deserves.
In solidarity
Niki Kandirikirira
Global Director of Programs, Equality Now
PS: Tomorrow at 10 am EAT, The African Court on Human and Peoples Rights will issue its final judgment on the case we filed, together with our Tanzanian partner, against the United Republic of Tanzania ([link removed]) regarding the government’s policy of permanently expelling pregnant girls from school & banning adolescent mothers from attending school. Make sure you’refollowing us on Twitter ([link removed]) for live updates from the courtroom.
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