Commission on the Status of Women Pushes to Adopt Mission of CEDAW

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The Pacific Islands region, with a population of about 9 million people, presents a range of complex issues for development and gender-equality efforts, including deep social attitudes that limit women’s ability to receive education and career performance equivalent to men’s ability. The Commission on the Status of Women had a panel of presentations from several island nations who spoke of the need to have “gender-responsive programs” that grasp women’s immediate interests and implement relevant strategies for improving conditions across Pacific Island society.  A number of the presenters discussed the need to fully implement and meet the objectives of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).  CEDAW has been ratified by 185 countries but has not yet become a binding global standard for women’s equality.  The treaty has also not yet been brought before the US Senate for ratification.

Ofa ki-Levuka-Guttenbeil-Likiliki, of the Tonga National Center for Women and Children, explained the slow evolution of women’s equality in her country.  In 1975 only 1% of parliament ministers were women and in 2005 Tonga elections had 5 female candidates, the most ever.  In 2008 no women entered Parliament, and only one woman currently serves as MP.

Kairangi Samuela, of the Cook Islands Women’s Counseling Center, explained how cultural standards are used as an excuse for not advancing women’s rights further.  She added that Pacific Island society is now more in need of women in public life than before and would benefit from taking advantage of individual talents of women who may be unable to access positions of leadership or decision-making.

The rising risk of HIV/AIDS to the Pacific Island nations was also discussed and linked to women’s rights and economic independence.  Women who are bound to the home and restricted from accumulating property are less able to take preventative action to avoid becoming infected.  The risk of infection has increased as sex workers from larger Asian nations have moved into the Pacific.

During his address to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the Honorable Willy Telavi, Tuvalu’s Minister of Home Affairs listed some factors contributing to discriminated against women in the Pacific, “the use of custom, culture and tradition as justifications for discriminatory and violent treatment; early and forced marriage, especially in Melanesia; limited access to education; teenage pregnancy and the consequent impacts on health and education; and social acceptance of violent punishment of children.”

For more information, please see:
Islands Business – Commission on the Status of Women Reviews “Pacific Realities” – 16 March 2009

United Nations Development Programme – Translating CEDAW Into Law: Opening Remarks – 07 March 2009

U.S. Continues to Withhold Money from Nicaragua

15 March 2009

U.S. Continues to Withhold Money from Nicaragua

By Karla E General
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MANAGUA, Nicaragua – United States Ambassador Robert Callahan has warned Nicaragua’s Sandinista government that it will freeze $62 million in development aid until the controversy surrounding the disputed municipal elections held in Nicaragua last November is resolved. Callahan has provided a three month window for the Sandinista government to redress grievances of the alleged unfair election.

The ruling Sandinista party governed by President Daniel Ortega claimed an overwhelming victory in November’s elections. Opponents and international human rights groups have criticized the Sandinista Party of conducting fraudulent elections to secure an outcome in their favor. For instance, Ethics and Transparency, an electoral watchdog group, claims that the election was riddled with “systemic fraud.” The group found that more than ten articles of Nicaragua’s Electoral Code were violated in the electoral process. According to Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) acting Chief Executive Officer Rodney Bent, the $62 million in development aid, which is to come from the MCC, will likely be withheld because “[t]he government of Nicaragua has failed to reaffirm its commitment to democratic principles and practices since its suspension in December.”

Ortega has accused the U.S. of “taking bread” from the poor of Nicaragua by holding back the MCC aid. He attests that the election was fair and refuses to negotiate the mayorships won by his Sandinista party.

The MCC will meet in June to make its final determination of whether to award the $62 million for infrastructure and landtitling programs.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Nicaragua Blasts U.S.’s Decision to Hold Back Aid – 14 March 2009

Miami Herald – U.S. Warns Nicaragua Over Disputed Elections – 14 March 2009

Tico Times – U.S. Maintains Aid Suspension to Nicaragua – 12 March 2009

U.S. Continues to Withhold Money from Nicaragua

15 March 2009

U.S. Continues to Withhold Money from Nicaragua

By Karla E General
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MANAGUA, Nicaragua – United States Ambassador Robert Callahan has warned Nicaragua’s Sandinista government that it will freeze $62 million in development aid until the controversy surrounding the disputed municipal elections held in Nicaragua last November is resolved. Callahan has provided a three month window for the Sandinista government to redress grievances of the alleged unfair election.

The ruling Sandinista party governed by President Daniel Ortega claimed an overwhelming victory in November’s elections. Opponents and international human rights groups have criticized the Sandinista Party of conducting fraudulent elections to secure an outcome in their favor. For instance, Ethics and Transparency, an electoral watchdog group, claims that the election was riddled with “systemic fraud.” The group found that more than ten articles of Nicaragua’s Electoral Code were violated in the electoral process. According to Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) acting Chief Executive Officer Rodney Bent, the $62 million in development aid, which is to come from the MCC, will likely be withheld because “[t]he government of Nicaragua has failed to reaffirm its commitment to democratic principles and practices since its suspension in December.”

Ortega has accused the U.S. of “taking bread” from the poor of Nicaragua by holding back the MCC aid. He attests that the election was fair and refuses to negotiate the mayorships won by his Sandinista party.

The MCC will meet in June to make its final determination of whether to award the $62 million for infrastructure and landtitling programs.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Nicaragua Blasts U.S.’s Decision to Hold Back Aid – 14 March 2009

Miami Herald – U.S. Warns Nicaragua Over Disputed Elections – 14 March 2009

Tico Times – U.S. Maintains Aid Suspension to Nicaragua – 12 March 2009

Afghan Court Upholds Student’s Blasphemy Sentence

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan – The Supreme Court of Afghanistan upheld the 20 year sentence for blasphemy of student and part-time journalist Parwez Kambakhsh.

The decision was made in secret on February 12.  Kambakhsh’s family and counsel learned of the outcome Wednesday when the attorney general’s office issued orders to the northern province of Balkh to enforce the decision.

In 2007, Kambakhsh was arrested for having written and circulating an article about women and Islam.  Kambakhsh said that he did not write it, but rather, downloaded it from the Internet.  In 2008, the appeals court converted a sentence of death to 20 years imprisonment.  Last month, this decision was upheld by the Supreme Court.

“Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has confirmed the 20-year prison sentence for my brother,” said Yaqoub Ibrahimi, who is Kambakhsh’s brother. “We did not expect it at all.”

Kambakhsh’s lawyer Azfal Nooristani said that the entire proceeding was completely unfair.  “This case has been a conspiracy, it is about politics,” Nooristani told Human Rights Watch. “I had a legal right to see the Supreme Court judges, but they would not see me; they did not let me submit my defense statement. They had already made up their minds.”

Kambakhsh’s family is also shocked and disappointed in the criminal justice system of Afghanistan.

“This is the tragic level of justice in Afghanistan today,” Ibrahimi, the brother, said in a statement. “It is just a make-believe system of justice and humanitarianism. The reality is that the Afghan government and judiciary, although supported by the U.S., the UN, the EU and other democracies worldwide, is morally bankrupt.”

Human Rights Watch, among other human rights organizations, urges President Karzai to issue a pardon.

“The Supreme Court represented the last hope that Parwez Kambakhsh would receive a fair hearing, but once again justice was denied,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Kambakhsh has committed no crime. Now it is up to President Karzai to act on principle and free him.”

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – Afghanistan: 20-Year Sentence for Journalist Upheld – 10 March 2009

International Herald Tribune – Student’s Long Blasphemy Term Upheld in Afghanistan – 12 March 2009

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty – Afghan Court Upholds Journalism Student’s 20-Year Blasphemy Sentence – 12 March 2009

BRIEF: Agenda for Forum Agreed Upon

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The 18political parties of Fiji and the interim government have come to an agreement for the President’s Political Dialogue Forum agenda after a meeting.  The groups agreed the agenda will be democratic experience in Fiji and parliamentary reform, electoral reform, general elections, and the People’s Charter.  The meeting also agreed there will be 23 representatives from the registered political parties.  The 23 representatives will include 3 members from government.  It was also agreed that 15 NGOs should be represented in the process as well.

Each political party must submit the names of their representatives and the name of 3 NGOs to the Secretariat by March 20th after which the Secretariat will decide which will be included.  The meeting also agreed that the forum can be convened after all outstanding matters are figured out and feedback from the United Nations and Commonwealth on their preparedness are received.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Political parties and Fiji interim govt agree on agenda for President’s Forum – 13 March 2009