Women's Views on News |
| European Commission makes LGBT rights pledge Posted: 10 Dec 2015 09:55 AM PST
The European Commissioner for Justice and Gender Equality, Věra Jourová, has presented a 'List of actions' drawn up by the Commission to advance LGBTI equality in the European Union (EU). The list is a follow-up to the European Union Parliament's demand for an EU Roadmap against homophobia, known more as the 'Lunacek Report', which was adopted in February 2014. The 2015 Eurobarometer on discrimination showed that almost 60 per cent of EU citizens see discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as widespread. But at the same time, 71 per cent of respondents support equal rights for LGBT people. The figures on the lack of social acceptance of this group are alarming and should – must – be a wake-up call for governments. This 'List of Actions to advance LGBTI Equality' just released by the European Commission, describes comprehensively the activities the Commission will undertake in the coming years. But the European Commission alone cannot bring about change, as Member States have a key role to play, and in many areas it is Member States' competence to ensure LGBTI rights. But the European Commission can – and will – support concerted action at all levels, and has said that this pledge is a cornerstone of the List of Actions. The European Commission will also provide regular feedback to the European Council, the European Parliament, the Member States and civil society organisations on progress made in the implementation of the actions. And the European Commission will closely monitor the situation of LGBTI people in the European Union and beyond and these regular dialogues will allow us to exchange views on new developments. The actions listed aim to cover all the policy areas that are relevant for LGBTI people: non-discrimination, education, employment, health, free movement, asylum, hate speech/hate crime, the enlargement of the EU and foreign policy. I. Improving rights and ensuring legal protection of LGBTI people and their families in key areas of EU competence. II. Strong monitoring and enforcement of existing rights of LGBTI people and their families under EU law. III. Reaching citizens, fostering diversity and non-discrimination. IV. Supporting key actors responsible to promote and advance equal rights for LGBTI people in the EU. V. Figures and facts for policy makers on LGBTI challenges at the EU: Data collection and research activities. VI. External action: LGBTI issues in Enlargement, Neighbourhood and Third countries. The European Commission's objectives are to support progress in all EU and accession countries in all these policy areas, improve the social acceptance of LGBTI people and enforce EU legislation. For details, and to see the planned progress calendar, click here. But Daniele Viotti MEP, co-president of the LGBTI Intergroup, told Pink News: "Although all content of this list is positive, it is a missed opportunity that the Commission did not want to go the extra mile. "Many possible actions, for which parliamentary support exists, have been left out. "This includes mutual recognition of civil status documents, and including sexual orientation and gender identity in existing EU-wide hate crime legislation." "We will continue to push the Commission to also work on these issues."  |
| Open letter to Cameron: end Sharia courts Posted: 10 Dec 2015 08:49 AM PST
Women's rights groups are urging the UK government to hold an inquiry into Sharia 'courts' and the lack of access to justice. Representatives from Southall Black Sisters (SBS), One Law for All, Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation (IKWRO), the Centre for Secular Space (CSS) and British Muslims for Secular Democracy (bmsd) made their way to 10 Downing Street today to hand-deliver an open letter signed by nearly 400 individuals and organisations urging Prime Minister David Cameron to hold an inquiry into the discriminatory nature of Sharia 'courts' and other religious arbitration forums. These women's and human rights organisations have already led successful campaigns preventing public authorities such as the governing body of UK Universities (UUK) and the Law Society from incorporating aspects of Sharia laws into their public policies. With regards the question of parallel legal systems, they argue that in these times of draconian austerity measures and cuts to legal aid, these unaccountable, arbitrary and religious 'courts' presided over by fundamentalist religious forces are increasingly filling the vacuum that is created. They dispense a second rate system of justice that denies vulnerable women and children access to equality and human rights. Currently, marriages and divorces carried out by sharia courts are not legally valid in this country unless another ceremony is conducted under British legislation. Critics complain, however, that rulings are accepted and enforced with some Muslim communities, meaning that the courts have greater power than their legal status suggests. Sharia courts also arbitrate disputes. Supporters say that they provide a quicker and way of resolving problems than the mainstream legal system and help to reduce the burden on the courts. Campaigners are calling on the government to exclude Sharia and all other religious forums, including the Jewish Beth Din, from presiding over divorce and family matters; to reinstate legal aid; to stop the repeal of the Human Rights Act and to re-affirm the principle of the separation of religion and the law. The law is a key component of securing justice for citizens and there must be one law for all, campaigners say. Pragna Patel, of Southall Black Sisters, said: "Discriminatory religious codes are very much a part and parcel of the continuum of domestic and gender based violence and other abuses that BME women face in their daily lives since they reinforce discrimination, deny exit and prevent women from accessing justice or from asserting their right to equality… "For these reasons and more, parallel legal systems must not be allowed to exist." Maryam Namazie, of One Law for All, said: "Dismantling religious courts isn't a denial of people's right to religion, it's a defence of human rights, and particularly women's rights vis-a-vis the religious-Rightwing and their attempts at restricting women's rights in the family. "By allowing religious courts to operate, we are saying that Muslim or Jewish women do not have the same rights as others in this country. This is unacceptable." Gita Sahgal of the Centre for Secular Space said: "Sharia Councils drag women into living out a fundamentalist vision of Islam. "They do this by promoting 'Islamic law' as higher than the law of the land and by marketing divorce as a solution for a problem they have created. "It is a disgrace that they are tolerated by the authorities and allowed to become charities. "All parallel legal systems are discriminatory and undermine women's rights under the law. It is time that they are dealt with." Diana Nammi, of IKRWO, said: "The whole premise of religious 'courts' is discrimination to women, they represent a major barrier to women's rights and not only do they deny women justice, they also distance women from the mainstream court system and safety measures, such as civil protection orders, which can have dire consequences. "Given that religious 'courts' are community based and often mediate, there are dangerous implications including locking women within violent marriages and "honour" based violence. "The government must prioritise women's safety by ensuring access to mainstream justice and preventing the proliferation and deepening entrenchment of these parallel legal systems." Nasreen Rehman of British Muslims for Secular Democracy said: "Government, Parliament and the courts have a duty to protect the rights and prevent the exploitation of the most vulnerable members of society. "But all too often we find they abrogate this responsibility by condoning parallel systems of justice that promote cruel and discriminatory practices perpetuated by obscurantists and fanatics in many faith communities – often, falsely pleading divine sanction as a smokescreen for cruelty. "The only way to ensure equality and justice is to stand together for clarity and 'one law for all.' "This does not mean that we do not accept religious, cultural and ethnic diversity; rather we raise our voices against injustices perpetuated in the guise of faith and culture."  |
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