Taking Women's Rights Seriously

The sustained degradation and subjugation of girls and women remains the world's most pervasive human rights violation.

Today, well over 100 million are 'missing' because of increased mortality from inequality and neglect and the majority of the 2.4 million victims of human trafficking, which treats people as products, are female. In its numbers and scale, the systematic discrimination outstrips even the wholesale abuses of the 18th and 19th century slave trade, which we today deplore as an obscene example of inhumanity from another era.

Yet, in supposedly civilised and enlightened times, girls and women around the world suffer unimaginable atrocities: forced marriage, rape, mutilation and death in pregnancy and childbirth. In Sierra Leone, a woman has a one in six chance of dying in childbirth in her lifetime -- a grotesque transformation of what should be the happiest time in a family's life into one of the most dangerous. Discrimination also means girls and women are more likely to be in poverty, denied schooling, deprived of health care, excluded from political and economic decision-making and die young.

In their important new book, Half The Sky, Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn tell very human stories of this abuse, discrimination and neglect. They argue that more girls have been murdered in the last 50 years simply because of their gender than all the people slaughtered in all the genocides. It is a conclusion which shames the modern world because, like slavery, this oppression is officially-sanctioned.

So a great challenge faces humankind: to match the abolition of slavery with the global emancipation of girls and women. This is not just moral reparation -- though it certainly is that -- rather, a fundamental empowerment essential for creating fairer, stronger and safer societies across the continents.

And it is in the interests of boys and men to do everything in their power to unleash the potential of girls and women and to champion their rights, because without their contribution we are all the poorer. So we will not rest until boys and men are persuaded to join our cause and therefore change their lives and our world.

Girls and women emancipated -- claiming and exercising power -- have made an enormous difference to their communities and the world. Enfranchisement also means more pressure to deal with the big issues affecting us all -- women, men and children alike -- transforming lives on the way. Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai has drawn attention to climate change with her Green Belt Movement. Cory Aquino brought democracy to the Philippines, while Aung Sang Suu Kyi continues to stand as a beacon of hope for the people of Burma. Their examples inspire us all and show that we cannot afford to let a future leader fail to emerge because she was never given the chance.

So in Liberia a nationwide network is giving rural women a voice from local to national to international level. A government-private sector partnership is also giving adolescent girls in urban centres, who missed out on a formal education, skills for the job market so that they can support their children.

We are clear that women are key to meeting the enormous challenges facing the international community. Thirty years ago this December, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. And next year marks the 10th anniversary of UN Resolution 1325 acknowledging the effects of war on girls and women and enhancing their participation in conflict resolution. As these landmarks loom, it is imperative that we drive forward the emancipation agenda globally.

The UN has a leading role, yet its response has been too fragmented and has lacked coherence.
In 2006 a High Level Panel recommended a new, powerful agency that could empower women throughout the world.

Its creation has been delayed too long.

It must be urgently established with strong, high-level leadership to support national efforts and strengthen co-ordination of the UN's collective resolve to improve the lives of girls and women.

As evidence of Britain's commitment we will at least double the UK's core funding for the UN's work on women's equality through this new body, once established. We will also work tirelessly over the next three weeks to help make the agency a reality by the end of this current session of the General Assembly.

One of the new agency's key roles must be to address violence against women. We welcome the call by the Secretary-General for all member states to address the use of sexual violence in conflict situations.

Liberia is working closely with other African countries to establish the Angie Brooks Center, developing women's leadership skills around peace and security and ensuring that concrete action is taken on UNSCR 1325.

And all UK-led programmes tackling security and justice, particularly in conflict and post-conflict situations, will include support to girls and women affected by violence.

And because we know that keeping a girl in school is the best way to keep her safe and her community prospering, the UK and Liberia will give strong support to a major campaign being launched in October. Centered around the FIFA World Cup, it will help bridge the funding gap which denies most poor children -- and especially girls -- a basic education.

The experience in health, as in education, is that when fees are charged, girls and women are disproportionately deprived of essential care. So at next month's UN General Assembly there will be a major event to improve the health of women and children, including support for free access to quality services. This will build on the work of the Taskforce on Innovative Financing for Health Systems, of which we were both members.

Global economic and social progress lies in every country empowering their female populations, with full participation in economic and political decision-making essential.

It is impossible today to imagine that the slave trade could have been tolerated by the world for so long. So our duty is to deny future historians the opportunity to question how this generation allowed and participated in the abuse and suppression of girls and women.

Comments

[Whitley2009]

The right wing fundamentalists still want to maintain their discriminatino against women.

http://www.squidoo.com/whitleyhodges21

[singermuse]

This is an article that re-states the obvious, and in some cases, as this one, it bears re-stating. The problem is that while we now have the information, there is still the question of what to DO about it. People who have never learned the art of critical thinking, who are several generations into a pseudo culture of constant distraction, bombardment of propaganda, kept emotionally immature in a state of arrested adolescence, cannot hope to make sense, let alone be able to take real steps to create real change. Our global society is painfully skewed in the direction of long outmoded misogynist patriarchy, out of step and out of balance; horribly so. The answer is not to go "black and white" to another extreme. The answer is first to peel the onion and find the sources of our current situation. Men act the way they do because they have been taught to from early childhood. The biggest movie-going demographic is young men in their teens and twenties. What do we feed them on the big screen? Violence, hate, murder, rapaciousness, irresponsibility, and even make them laugh about it. Because this society values the “bottom line” more than people, greed still trumps common sense and kindness. This makes it very difficult to change the current paradigm. Difficult yes, but not impossible. We can still be the change we want to see in the world.

[SammyD]

The U.S. and U.K. have slipped in women's rights. Young women do not seem to care about the issue as long as their boyfriend's buy them breast implants to fit in. I belive that Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf can lead the world in raising woman's standing in the entire world.

[oldgeek1]

2 modern day major world countries had women prime ministers!

If anyone believes that women have a problem in politics, they don't. Empty headed women like Palin need be held accountable for using just their gender.

[arizonawonder]

This article was written by two authors, but the only one noted on the link is Gordon Brown. It is appalling on a woman's rights article to not place President Ellen J. Sirleaf's name on the link. She is the first president of any African nation and in this man's America she has no name to the link, or portal, for an article on change for the world's women. If you can only place one name on the link, her name should be the one. Shame on you Huffington Post!

[colorperdaughter]

100% concur

[Paramendra Bhagat]

"..... the systematic discrimination outstrips even the wholesale abuses of the 18th and 19th century slave trade, which we today deplore as an obscene example of inhumanity from another era ....... more girls have been murdered in the last 50 years simply because of their gender than all the people slaughtered in all the genocides ........a great challenge faces humankind: to match the abolition of slavery with the global emancipation of girls and women"

The comparison with the slave trade is apt.

[doogiedude]

So can I assume the United Kingdom has halted all diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, where women are not legally allowed to drive on public roads?

[wordvarc]

Ask any stand-up comic:

"Seriously" is the plaintive of those who are not serious.

[JackG]

Many American women died in Lockerbie. Their wives and sisters have received a new dose of pain due to the recent release of the Lockerbie mass murderer.
An investigation of this incredible injustice and the resignation of all officials involved (including Mr Brown himself if he is involved) would show a real concern for real women during this painful time in their lives. Action by Brown would show more than his empty words on Huffington Post.

[expatwing]

Difference being: women weren't targeting b/c of their gender in the Lockerbie bombing.

This is just silly.

[pinkibus]

JackG - utterly irrelevant comment.

[posternaut]

Gordon Brown, you are truly a hypocrite, as we voters in the UK know very well. Shameful behaviour, you posting about women's equality. Laughable.

[posternaut]

Gordon Brown, you are a hypocrite, but then you know that, as do the voters in the UK. This may play well across the pond, but we here in the UK know better about your commitment to women's rights and equality. Practice what you preach and perhaps some day you might be taken seriously on the issue of women's equality. Pandering to the US voter will do you no good at home, quite the opposite. Shameful.

[Mary50]

A-MEN.

[oldbutkickin]

There is as much human trafficking in the USA. Women are still second class citizens, still are not recognized as intelligent beings unless you talk about family values, home, raising the children. Anything pertaining to the home.
Women who fight women issues are fighting for all women, Trying to make a difference.
Problem is I believe it now has become big business, not helping the cause. More tea parties and socializing than actual changes. From my few experiences with women s groups, I would give them a C-.
Most Women make less money, are torn between the family and earning an income, Left vulnerable if any disaster comes her way. She's unequipped to handle any legal/financial matters without proper training. Women balance a checkbook, try to tuck some money into savings, but its not enough to head off any disaster. Save 6 months salary?. What if you are single/divorced with children/ No child support. I believe the male understands that a woman is vulnerable and uses this to his advantage. We are not treated equal, we have to break the mold.
We need to concentrate on our w omens issues before we can help anyone else worldwide

[Cymraeg]

Amen. Well said. As one of the few women in my field of study, and also very young to be in my field, I often get funny looks from the men who are my colleagues. For years I felt like I was unintelligent, or just incapable (of anything, I suppose). I am so grateful that one of the leaders in my field had the sense to encourage my endeavours despite my gender. His wife is also a very intelligent and strong woman in the field- perhaps she inspired him to support an up-and-comer! As a result, I immediately saw myself as no longer inferior, but a colleague, with ideas to put forth. And as a result of the self confidence, people (men) actually did take me seriously. I often wonder if more women would be empowered if just one person had the guts to tell her "you have something to offer, different from everyone else, and I think more people should experience your perspective"...I know there are women in the world who go through their whole life not ever having heard that.

[goodneighbor420]

I'm a child of the 70's. Even after all the 'feminist' movements, and equal rights activity that happened when I was young, it's

STILL A MAN'S WORLD.

I feel like I've been thrown in the 'wayback machine' in this country. I am too old and too tired to go out and protest for my civil rights like I did when I was young. Women's rights causes have to be taken up by the younger generation in order for it to have any effect.

[colorperdaughter]

If you make any comments about blatant sexism inherent is say, the porn industry, you will be accused of being a bitter old feminist. And this is on HP where one might expect the oinkers to be a bit more circumspect. Hugh Hefner won apparently.

[goodneighbor420]

Most of the people I know that are in the next generation have all been brain drained or something when it comes to paying attention to the big picture....
{{{{{what big picture?}}}}I suspect the decades of propaganda have taken their toll?!/!?

[PresidentRobertBooth]

Women's rights suffer in Africa because it's a continent rife with politically violent governments, influential religious groups that deny knowledge and facts to the population, poor education systems, and barbaric tribal culture.

Unless those issues are addressed, women (and even men) don't stand a chance.


Of course, this would require the West to abandon it's unnecessary post-colonial guilt, and to actually start criticising African nations.

[marxmarv]

"Women's rights suffer in Africa because it's a continent rife with politically violent governments, influential religious groups that deny knowledge and facts to the population, poor education systems, and barbaric tribal culture."

But enough about the Southern US...