Dialogue With Radhika Coomaraswamy: Economic and Social Policy

Does economic and social policy have an impact on violence against women? This is a question that was explored to facilitate a report for the U.N. and the Commission of Human Rights.

The term "violence against women" means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deptivation of liberty, whether occuring in public or private life. Violence against women is not always an individual act. Macro-policies of states and Governments may also result in human rights violations and violence. According to the research documented by Coomaraswamy, economic and social policies can exacerbated the disparities between men and women and worsen women's situation.

Legislation that affects the economic or social sphere of life, policies that are regarded as gender neutral, and governmental inforced executive plans can lead to violence against women. Violence can come in many forms. Preventable malnutrition, preventable diseases or complications during pregnancy and childbirth resulting in death are just a few of the invisible predators.

To answer the above asked question: YES, economic and social policy have an impact on violence against women.

Technology At What Cost?

It's true. I have a hard time living without my cell phone. It's what connects me to the "world" or rather my "world". I am also in the market for a lightweight laptop with a super capacity. Technology is the mainstay for many of us but at what cost?

Many of the armed groups fighting in Congo financed their stay largely by stealing the nations's minerals. Among the many sought after minerals is coltan. Coltan is a major player in the manufacturing of cell phones and laptops. "Western" companies had a vested interest in this resource because of the capital gains it could bring.

The fighting in the Congo continues. The rape and pillaging of villages continues. Technology continues but at what cost?

Confidential Violence Against Women Info Form

As I was conducting research and perusing the U.N. Website I came across a very interesting yet perplexing form. Before I go in depth about the sections that troubled me, I want to establish that I attempted to deconstruct this form in a non-biased anthropological method. I wasn't successful in my non-biased opinions of this form. I found it somewhat degrading and insensitive. I have not reached the level of desensitivity and although my profession as an Anthropologist will require me to become somewhat anesthetized, I am not so sure it will happen.

The Form:

Page 3: "alleged Incident" - I had an issue with the rhetoric used for this title. I'm pretty sure that if, let's say a woman is sitting in front of an interviewer and she is missing an appendage or there is visible trauma, the incident is more than likely a "true" incident and has moved beyond the spectrum of "alleged.

Page 12: "Laws or policies which are or are likely to cause or contribute violence against women" - I was trying to ascertain what this was implying. Are they saying that there are distinct laws and policies that justify or make allowable exception for violence against women and girls? Are these written laws or are they merely implied cultural practices? There should be no such allowable anything that explains and justifies violence against anyone.

The form is 14 pages in length and can be accessed here: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/7/b/women/issues.htm

I realize that this form is intended to serve as an efficient tool for interviewing; however, I do believe that it should be re-worked to some degree.

Jeannette

Jeannette is one of the many women of Congo who have suffered at the hands of militants in her country:

Rwandan militants stormed into the village that she and her husband resided in. They were armed with machetes, guns, and several boxes of matches. Jeannette ran with her baby in her arms as the soldiers began to torch her home. She fell. The soldiers went over to her and began hitting her with the machetes and then they raped her. When they were finished they spread her arms out and cut off her hands. They left her there to bleed to death.

Rape As A Tactic of War: Congo

Virtually all armies systematically used rape and sexual torture to tear apart families, destroy communities, and secure their hold on territories.

Documented rape victims in the Congo included babies as young as four months and women as old as 84 years.

What must be done to stop the abuse of rights in the Congo?