Congress 38: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WILL BE ELIMINATED IN A CARING ECONOMY
During Nov. 25 the 2nd day of IAW’s first-ever virtual IAW triennial Congress the IAW commemorated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Some joined the Congress dressed in its color, ORANGE. Members in their countries and municipalities are now starting activities during the 16-Days-of-activism-campaign under the harsh challenges of the Covid-19 crisis. The IAW membership has great concern: they stated a current backlash against the currently achieved status of women’s human rights. As global and regional studies show, there is an immense increase of all forms of violence against women and girls, including trafficking in women and girls. Women as caregivers and activists on the ground are at risk.
Nevertheless, our IAW women still organize on the ground for improved hygiene, access to sanitizer, basic health standards, for education and all the various needs in their communities. Women do not rest: they are agents of the change we all long for. Our members serve as volunteers in campaigns against the violation of women’s rights in their societies. Women withstand attacks, worki for a Caring Economy and empower others towards this goal.
The IAW project WATER & PADS FOR SCHOOLGIRLS is only one of the many best practice example of activities of our IAW membership.
Participants of the 38th IAW Congress underlined that every day is a Day Against Violence against Women and Girls. Instead, the many forms of violations of their human rights are a global crisis on its own: its unchanged reality is a global a scandal. Women, it was said, are not bold enough in their approaches to encounter the threats. Women are still missing effective legislation, measures in education and public action against toxic concepts and practices of traditional manhood.
Instead of reducing violence against women systematically, too many states tolerate it. New forms have emerged as hate crimes in cyberspace. It was the consensus that globally more effective legislation and financial investment is needed to punish perpetrators and to end this violence against 50 percent of the world’s population. Violence against women is a pandemic which harms all of us, our families, our communities, municipalities and states.
IAW members recommend more awareness of the binding ISTANBUL CONVENTION as a strong tool of international law: the ratification is not limited to any region.
It has a treaty body – GREVIO – and its regular review processes recognizes alternative reports by women’s organizations and experts. The Istanbul Convention is requesting a systematic, effective, and unified approach of legal and protective measures for women from its State parties.
The ISTANBUL CONVENTION aims for the reduction of all forms of violence against women and next to the UN CONVENTION FOR THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW) an effective tool of international law: often misunderstood it want our families, communities and states to prosper because the day women are free from all forms of violence they will be able to contribute more effectivly to the well-being, wealth and prosperity of their societies.
Members recommended requesting the International Community, institutions and all states to come up with bold investments to end violence against women and for peace. It was said, States must enforce life-long human rights education and finally stop Climate Change.
Men everywhere are invited to fight on the side of women for human rights: feminist men are the model of a great future of our planet because they are an integral part of our envisioned Caring Economy and Societies, globally. Men and women are not born for war and destruction; women and men are equal in rights and responsibilities, born for peace and care in harmony with human rights and the planet’s ecological balance and diversity.
While the second day of the Congress proved in passionate discussions that the IAW membership is united in cyberspace and fully able to continue its work under its extended Action Programme, the 67 participants – associates, affiliates and individual members – awaited the results of the first ever digital election of the Officers of the Board of the IAW.
When the election result was announced, the Congress gave digital “standing ovations” to the newly elected IAW-President Cheryl Hayles who has blazed paths for a new IAW approach to fundraising in her Project 21.1. The Treasurer Antonia Lavine and the Secretary General Olufunmi Oluyede had been re-elected into their second term.
The election result of the fifteen new Board members from twelve countries will be announced today, Nov 26. 2020.
Joanna Manganara
President
Olufunmi Oluyede
Secretary General
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