UNHRC Speech by David Littman - WUPJ: Violence against women and related taboo subjects at the HRC

Madam, it is nearly 3 years since an 'Affair' [the 'Sharia-gate Shipwreck'] occurred at the Council on this very item, concerning our joint statement on a follow-up to the DPA regarding 'violence against women'. (1)

We were immediately stopped on a 'point of order' by a Member State delegate [Egypt] who later declared [on a 'point of order' -- followed by two dozen more and a 40 minute recess] that "Islam will not be crucified at this Council." (2) We had simply condemned FGM -- the barbaric female genital mutilation of up to three million young girls every year in 32 countries, 29 of which are members of the OIC (3); the stoning of women; honour killing and the marriage-sale of 9 year-old-girls -- all carried out in the name either of 'traditional practices' or 'cultural relativism', but with irrefutable religious connections.

We shall again quote from two experts on this crucial phenomenon, which is more and more on the rise. In 2003, Ms Radhika Coomaraswamy, stressing the integrity of the UDHR [Universal Declaration of Human Rights] and the International Covenants, provided an analysis of cultural relativism in her Final Report to the Commission on Violence against Women. She wrote:
"The greatest challenge to women's rights and the elimination of discriminatory laws and harmful practices comes from the doctrine of cultural relativism." (4)

In 2008, in a 60th anniversary UDHR lecture here in Geneva, Noble Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi declared: "The idea of cultural relativism is nothing but an excuse to violate human rights."
She also condemned the fact that, in her native country [Iran], a girl is considered an adult and liable to punishment, even execution, at 9 and a boy at 15.

Such crimes, carried out traditionally, but also with official religious backing should not be treated as taboo subjects at the Council, because of fear of religious sensitivities. The growing phenomenon of 'cultural relativism' should not be supported by self-censorship at the UN and especially not under the guise of 'complementary standards'. It is time for more and more States and NGOs to speak out against all the roots of such barbaric practices against women. We appeal to both the Council and the High Commissioner [for Human Rights] to reconsider this matter and end any complicit silence. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• David
• Littman
• Human
• Rights
• Council
• United
• Nations
• FGM
• WUPS