violence against women

Lydia Cacho Ribeiro a leading Mexican defender of children’s and women’s human rights narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by means of sabotage of an official vehicle she was traveling in from the city of Juarez in Mexico City on 7 May 2007.  

Gégé Katana is a leading human rights defender working in Uvira, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. She is the president of Solidarite des Femmmes Activistes pour la Defense des Droits Humains, SOFAD (Solidarity Movement of Women Human Rights Activists) an organisation that works through a grassroots network of 625 women to research and campaign against sexual violence, and provide counselling and help to rape survivors. SOFAD also educates local communities on women and children’s rights, and lobbies the government to deliver justice and reform discriminatory laws.

Gégé Katana has worked with several non-governmental organisations including; IDEA/Afrique - Institut pour le developpement et l’education des adultes. She is a network member of the Global Fund for Women and Coordinator for the Synergie des Femmes Defenseurs des Droits de le l'Homme du Sud-Kivu en RDC (SYFEDH).  

On the occasion of the fourth session of the UN Human Rights Council,held in Geneva between 12 March and 5 April 2007, Front Line has issued a statement on on the dangers to human rights defenders in Iran and Uzbekistan Iran and Uzbekistan

Human Rights Defenders - Too Dangerous For Human Rights

Front Line the International Foundation For the Protection of Human Rights Defenders was established to provide urgent protection to human rights defenders at risk. Front Line is concerned that while the the Human Rights Council debates the situation in Iran and Uzbekistan behind closed doors – on the ground, human rights defenders risk imprisonment, torture and even their lives.

Will the HRC seriously address the issue of the dangers to HRD in Iran and Uzbekistan?

On 4 March thirty-three women were violently arrested in Tehran – their offense - taking part in a peaceful protest against discriminatory legislation. The arrests were planned to ensure that there were no demonstrations to mark International Women's Day. While in prison they went on hunger strike and on their release a number of the women claimed that they had been ill treated.  

14 june 2006

Front Line is gravely concerned over reports of the continued violent harassment of women human rights defenders in Iran. On Monday, 12th of June 2006, a number of women human rights defenders peacefully protested for women’s rights. The gathering was disrupted by female police officers, who used pepper gas and beat a number of the protesters. Approximately 60 protesters were arrested and are being held at an unknown location. Front Line is confirming the names of those human rights defenders arrested

Prior to the demonstration, on the 11th of June 2006, a number of women human rights defenders were arrested and interrogated in an attempt by the police to stop them from demonstrating. A number of women human rights defenders have also received summons and are due to appear at court.

The following press statement was released: Support Iranian Women, Condemn Violence and Arrests of Peaceful Activists  

The Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights, Mr Conor Lenihan T.D., met with Ms Maha Alsherief of Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO) on 1 February 2006, to discuss the plight of women in refugee camps in Darfur, Sudan.

Ms Alsherief works as a protection officer for SUDO in the refugee camps in Darfur. She works specifically with victims of rape, sexual assault and abduction.

According to the UN, some 3.4 million people continue to be affected by the conflict in Darfur, of whom 1.8 million are internally displaced and approximately 300,000 have fled to neighbouring Chad. This level of internal displacement has exacerbated rates of gender based violence, including rape, sexual assault and abduction.

Speaking after the meeting, the Minister said: "All too frequently we see the brutal rape of women and children used as a weapon of war. Sexual violence is now an integral and devastating part of the ongoing conflict in Darfur."

He added that meeting Ms Alsherief gave his department "invaluable information that can only enhance our understanding of the scale and harrowing affects of this type of violence."