Coalition will not endorse EU directive against trafficking

By Laura Woodhouse | 31 August 2010, 21:54

The Guardian reports that the coalition government has chosen not to opt in to the EU directive designed to coordinate efforts to combat human trafficking, suggesting that the Tories’ euroscepticism is to blame. But as Klara Skrivankova of charity Anti-Slavery International says, “Without international co-operation, the government will lose the battle with the traffickers. By choosing not to opt in to the directive, the government is failing in its efforts to combat this transnational crime.”

A Home Office spokesman claims that “By not opting in now but reviewing our position when the directive is agreed, we can choose to benefit from being part of a directive that is helpful but avoid being bound by measures that are against our interests.” Quite what terrible fate might befall the UK if we agree to work with other European countries or - horror of horrors - eventually be bound by EU-wide laws designed to protect vulnerable people from traffickers is anyone’s guess.

The International Labour Organisation estimates that there are:

…at least 2.45 million people in forced labour as a result of trafficking in persons. Most people are trafficked into forced labour for commercial sexual exploitation (43%) or various reasons (25%). The remainder (32%) are victims of trafficking for economic exploitation. Women and girls represent 56% of victims of forced economic exploitation, while men and boys represent 44%. As regards forced commercial sexual exploitation, an overwhelming majority (98%) are women and girls.

You can read more on the directive here.

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New review - Awra Amba

By Jess McCabe | 31 August 2010, 16:37

Philippa Willitts reviews a documentary about this community in Northern Ethiopia, grounded in principles of equality between the sexes

The words Awra Amba mean ‘top of the hill’, and are the name of a small community in Northern Ethiopia which works together and believes in equal rights for men and women.

This half-hour documentary film begins with Zumra, the leader and founder of Awra Amba explaining, ““We believe that men and women are equal. They work together side by side. When it comes to decision making men and women have equal say. They are both heads of the household”.”

And that explains the philosophy of this fascinating community. The work done within the community is mainly weaving, which they can then sell, and milling which they do for neighbouring communities, because their hopes of relying on agriculture have been repeatedly dashed. Their applications for land are turned down because the community is non-religious, resulting in it being ostracised by both their Muslim and Christian neighbours.

The problems with neighbouring villagers due to Awra Amba’s lack of religion extends far beyond their inability to get approval for agricultural land: Zumra, the leader, has an armed guard due to death threats.

Click here to read on and comment

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Forced divorce and sterilisation: a reality for many transgender persons

By Helen G | 31 August 2010, 11:25

A couple of months ago I reported on the Irish Government’s decision to drop its challenge to a High Court declaration that Irish law on transgender rights is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The challenge had originally been brought as long ago as 1997 by Dr Lydia Foy and in June 2010 she finally won her battle for legal recognition as a woman, and for a birth certificate that reflects that reality.

Now the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Thomas Hammarberg, has published a Human Rights comment on the final settlement of the case in Ireland, welcoming the decision of the Irish Government to introduce legislation recognising transgender persons in their preferred gender, including the provision of new birth certificates

Commissioner Hammarberg goes on to highlight issues of concern for many transgender people in Europe, such as the need to be diagnosed with an mental disorder, or being forced to be steriliszed and divorced in order to obtain official recognition of their legal status.

Ireland is not the only country where transgender persons have faced obstacles in obtaining legal recognition of their preferred gender. Some Council of Europe member states still have no provision at all for official recognition, leaving transgender people in a legal limbo. Most member states still use medical classifications which impose the diagnosis of mental disorder on transgender persons.

Even more common are provisions which demand impossible choices, such as the “forced divorce” and the “forced sterilisation” requirements. This means that only unmarried or divorced transgender persons who have undergone surgery and become irreversibly infertile have the right to change their entry in the birth register. In reality, this means that the state prescribes medical treatment for legal purposes, a requirement which clearly runs against the principles of human rights and human dignity.

[…]

All countries need to develop expeditious and transparent procedures for changing the name and gender of a transgender person on official documents, in accordance with the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights.

The full text of Commissioner Hammarberg’s comment may be found at this link

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Curtsey to Richard at TGEU for the heads-up.

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Weekly Round-Up And Open Thread # 5

By Shiha Kaur | 30 August 2010, 14:38

Grab a coffee, sit down, relax and catch up with this week’s selection of interesting stories. We can’t always cover everything, so please share anything that has caught you eye or feel free to discuss topics with other feminists in this week’s open thread.

• Debunking Popular Anti-Choice Myths

• Deeply Problematic on ‘Why I use that word I use: kyriarchy, kyriarchal, and why not patriarchy’

• Is second pregnant ‘Apprentice’ a disgrace to feminism?

• Blogging is Activism: 6 blogging events to get involved in

• Pension changes will hit women hardest: Some of the proposed changes to pensions set out in the emergency Budget will have a negative impact on women.

• Reclaimed WWII bunker to become museum on women’s role in wars

• Feminist poster and postcard archive launches

• Activists in Puerto Rico stepping up campaign on domestic violence, in face of government inaction

• Call for submissions to Women’s Voices from the Muslim World: A Short-Film Festival

• Grazia claims that a woman competing in the Apprentice TV show is letting feminism down by being pregnant. Hannah Mudge responds here

• Kingston sees massive increase in rapes, none solved

• Spilt Milk on why Fat Acceptance is not ‘giving up’

• Laureldhl writes “Monica Dux thinks I’m Bad for Feminism’s Image”

• ‘Advice on Consent’ from Textual Deviance

• Glasgow Women’s Library are holding an Auction of Pleasures and Dinner to raise funds for their relocation, which will support their goal to be nationalised as the Women’s Library of Scotland

• Paperchase is patronising

• Famous female scientists are unknown to UK public

• Want a raise? Wash your vagina Here is a response from the brand manager

• Interview with Kat Banyard (from 16 Aug)

• Two female authors are campaigning for a change in the law to stop the “pornification” of society which they say promotes violence against women

• Feminist activist Kyle Payne charged with parole violation as officers find animated child porn

• Why women don’t ask for a pay rise.

• Analysis of Scott Pilgrim versus the World

• One in 4 lap dancers have a degree.

• Women candidates in Afghan elections

• Rise in FGM in London

• Nails removed from Sri Lankan maid

• Haitian Women fight Sexual Violence

• Susie Bright on the word cunt

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New feature: On campus, feminism wavers

By Jess McCabe | 30 August 2010, 10:46

University students are used to applying feminist theory in their academic work, but this fails to transfer out of the classroom, reports Lizzie Dearden

I realised I was a feminist when I was studying AS level sociology. Suddenly, feelings I’d had about the world for years were staring back at me from a textbook page titled ‘Liberal feminism’ (and some under ‘radical feminism’ too). But I was shocked. ‘Feminist’ was a word that was never uttered in my household, that conjured up dim visions of separatist communes and bra-burning mobs. To have everything I knew about the term blown apart, and to realise that it defined me in the same instant, came as quite a shock.

The rest of the class seemed unimpressed. Boys cracked jokes, girls sat unmoved. Only my teacher showed enthusiasm and understanding towards the theorists we were studying. From that point forward, I decided that academia was the haven where I could explore and express my views, and I looked forward to my approaching time at university as a utopia of like-mindedness and support.

Disappointment struck early. In my first English literature lecture, the professor unexpectedly commanded “stand up if you’re a feminist!” About three people, including myself, leaped to their feet. A handful followed more tentatively in the subsequent pause. We remained standing as the lecturer began challenging the room on feminist issues. “Stand up if you agree with the right to birth control…stand up if you support same-sex marriage…stand up if you believe abortion can be justified…” In the end, everyone in the packed lecture theatre was on their feet. This taught me my first lesson about feminism at university. Students may agree with it, but they might not know it and they probably won’t admit it.

In English literature, the use of feminist criticism and arguments is widespread. Entire modules are devoted to women’s writing and gender studies, and many students are comfortable using feminist analysis in essays and, at a stretch, seminars. But for the majority of students I know with feminist sympathies, their views are confined to the academic field. The weight of misunderstanding, prejudice, and stereotyping behind the term ‘feminism’ itself, is maintained, even in one of the most liberal and free-thinking of environments. Feminism at my university, as a political and cultural movement, rather than academic concept, does not exist.

Click here to read on and comment

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