Last week’s issue of the New York Times Magazine brought a huge topic of conversation in the policy world to the kitchen table – namely that advancing women’s rights worldwide can lead to a steep decline in poverty, terrorism, child mortality and an increase in economic productivity, social equality and educational enrollment. The cover article, “The Women Crusade,” is adapted from Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s new book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, which comes out next month. Considering that this pair has shared a Pulitzer and the 2009 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and have individually collected innumerable accolades, the book is likely to get some attention. Why did such a powerful pair, who typically join forces to write about Asia, switch gears to focus on the world’s women? Kristof admits:
Traditionally, the status of women was seen as a “soft” issue — worthy but marginal. We initially reflected that view ourselves in our work as journalists. We preferred to focus instead on the “serious” international issues, like trade disputes or arms proliferation.
Yet examples of the ways in which undervaluing women tears at the fabric of societies – from the spread of HIV/AIDs caused by sex trafficking and sexual enslavement to maternal mortality and disability – abound. In the past decade, myriad sociological studies have suggested that there is a positive counterpart to this saddening fact: it turns out that genuinely engaging women in financial and political systems results in significant and tangible societal gains. (Google this if you’re skeptical. See the impact that women in government have had in a post-genocide Rwanda. Email me if you’re still not a believer, and we’ll talk). Microfinance is the oft-used example of an arena in which women, who had never before been entrusted with economic or social capital, have been able to empower themselves and provide opportunities for their children that were previously unimaginable. I am hopeful that Kristof’s Midas touch will get people talking, thinking and perhaps even scheming about how to turn the tables for women worldwide.
The Times Magazine also includes an interview with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in which she speaks about her wide-ranging work as a dedicated advocate for women’s issues, including her development of an Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues under the State Department. It provides numerous profiles of women across the world, from struggling truck stop sex workers in Swaziland to women innovatively using their wealth to assist other women.
The result of this increased attention to women’s rights can also be seen on the ground in Sudan. Last week, UNAMID announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigations unit which will investigate crimes involving sexual and gender-based violence, in addition to assisting survivors with the legal process of reportation and the emotional process of rehabilitation. Such violence is widespread and endemic in Sudan, where women and girls are serially vulnerable to attacks due to a lack of protection, security and justice in the region. While it will certainly take more than seven people to address widespread sexual and gender based violence, as well as the stigma surrounding it, this is a step in the right direction. UNAMID’s formalized commitment to combating violence against women is part of a larger picture in Sudan, where many NGOs have been hard at work on this issue for some time. Mercy Corps and Women for Women International, for instance, have for years now been consistently connecting peace, economic development and women’s rights by engaging local groups and with them implementing community based, capacity-building programs in South Sudan. However, with the expulsion of aid groups in early March, many NGOs are struggling to continue their work and programming with Sudanese women.
At Save Darfur, we believe that women and girls should never have to fear for their safety because of their gender – that they should be able to live free, creative and meaningful lives. We are committed to using our position, our skills and our knowledge to raise awareness about the brutality they face every single day and pushing for policies to end such horrific abuses. Together, we can raise the profile of this issue. We must stand up to ensure that :
- Women and girls are provided protection from gender-based violence inside and outside camps and villages through the full and effective deployment of the UNAMID civilian protection force;
- Humanitarian aid is facilitated, including unhindered access to healthcare, psychosocial services, and rape counseling for victims and their families;
- Women’s vital role in community leadership, the peace process, and long-term development is effectively promoted; and
- Survivors of sexual violence have access to justice and the perpetrators are held accountable.
This year, Save Darfur is supporting the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign, which is run out of the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University. We would love your participation and ideas – please email melissa@savedarfur.org to be involved. This event began in 1991 with a handful of women thinking about how to make a more just and kind world, and has grown to engage over 2,000 organizations in 158 countries. You don’t need millions of dollars or hundreds of people to campaign for an end to violence against women in Sudan and beyond – but you do need a vision. So, what’s yours?
The opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Save Darfur Coalition.
Tags: Darfur, Hillary Clinton, UNAMID, United Nations, Violence Against Women
