© Reuters

After suffering years of abuse from her violent husband in Pakistan, Samia Sarwar decided to seek a divorce. Her parents, in a horrifying effort to preserve family honor, arranged for the ultimate punishment. Samia was shot dead on April 6, 1999. Although circumstances of her death are well known, the police have never laid charges.

Women throughout the world suffer abuses solely because of their gender. Some abuses occur at the hands of family or community members. Examples include dowry-related deaths, female genital mutilation and domestic violence.

Other abuses include rape in custody and sexual enslavement, are perpetrated by strangers such as police officers, prison guards and soldiers.

All too often, women face further discrimination at police stations and in the courts. In Kenya, where violence against women is widespread, women who dare go to the police are confronted with a system that ignores, covers up and even condones violence against them. In Saudi Arabian courts, statements made by women are considered legally less credible than the testimony of men.

People who work to defend women’s human rights often become the target of abuses themselves. In 2000, Rebiya Kadeer, one of the most prominent defenders of women’s rights in China, was sentenced to eight years in prison. Similarly, Eren Keskin, who formed an organization in Turkey for women who have been sexually abused in custody, has recently been charged with “advocating hate.”

Under international human rights law, governments have a responsibility to protect women from violence and gender-based persecution carried out within their borders. This includes preventing violence through public education, reforming discriminatory practices, ensuring the safety of women who are threatened and bringing perpetrators to justice.

Amnesty International pressures governments to uphold their obligations toward women.

Source: News from Amnsesty International, Autumn 2002, Vol. 1 No.2