by Artemis
On Nov. 25, in Ivory Coast, the Ivorian League for Women’s Rights began sixteen days of activism throughout the country to oppose violence against women. The coalition of feminist groups held women’s forums with discussions and theater. A caravan stopped at schools, raising awareness about femicide, rape, forced marriage, domestic violence, and Female Genital Mutilation. The activism culminated with a march in Grand-Bassam, where over 2,000 women previously marched in 1949 to free their husbands from French authorities. League president Meganne Boho stated, “Contrary to what school textbooks say, those women didn’t just march for their husbands, they marched for themselves, for their freedom. And 75 years later, we’re retracing their steps to pay tribute to these warriors.” Wearing orange, women of all ages carried signs reading, “Tired of Being Killed, Tired of Being Raped” and “Protect Us Alive, Not Dead.” Several signs read “Fear Must Change Sides,” a statement by French woman Gisele Pelicot (see Women WorldWide, Nov. 22, 2024) taken up internationally as a slogan by anti-rape activists. They stopped at the courthouse, calling for femicide to be recognized in the penal code, harsher penalties, and protection for victims.
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On Dec. 10, women demonstrated against violence against women in the Kenyan cities of Nairobi, Mombasa, and Lodwar. In Nairobi, the capital, hundreds marched towards parliament chanting “Stop Killing Women,” “Shame on You,” and “Teach Your Sons.” Police repeatedly dispersed the demonstrators, using tear gas and arresting at least three, including Irungu Houghton, executive director of Amnesty International Kenya. Amnesty International and the Law Society of Kenya released a joint statement: “The violent response by police, including the arrest of these peaceful protesters, is a direct attack on Kenya’s democratic principles and the human rights of its citizens.” Activist Mwikali Mueni said police injured her neck. “It is very sad that I was injured while championing for women not to be injured or killed. If the president is serious about ending femicide, let him start by taking action on the officers who have brutalized us today.” One in three Kenyan women have been abused by age 18, and at least 97 women have been killed in femicides between August and October of 2024.
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Cambridge researcher Dr. Trishant Simlai published his findings on Nov. 25 showing that technology, intended to monitor wildlife in a forest in Northern India, is being deliberately misused by government authorities and male villagers to harass and intimidate women. He interviewed 270 villagers living around the Corbett Tiger Reserve national park. Women have the legal right to use the forest to gather firewood and herbs, socialize, and spend time away from male-dominated villages. Despite that right, forest rangers chase women with drones, and local men record and monitor them with cameras and microphones. A photo of a woman relieving herself in the forest was circulated on social media. Women talk and sing loudly to keep potentially dangerous elephants and tigers away but now speak softly to avoid being monitored. Simali and his team recommend conservationists carefully consider the social implications of their use of remote technology and use less invasive methods like surveys when possible.
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In December, the European Court of Human Rights put an end to the challenge against France’s law abolishing prostitution. In 2016, France adopted the Equality Model (aka Nordic Model) criminalizing pimping and purchasing of sexual services. It recognizes all prostituted people as crime victims even if they claim to have consented, providing them with services to leave prostitution. In July, the Court ruled the law did not infringe upon constitutional rights to privacy as claimed by 261 “sex workers rights” activists challenging it. The Court emphasized the law shifts the balance of power in favor of prostituted persons and resulted from a democratic process aimed at fighting violence against women. It aligns with international human rights instruments ratified by France. In December, the Court rejected an appeal, making its decision final. This is a step towards abolishing prostitution in Europe, while Belgium just legalized pimping and purchasing of sexual services, putting it in violation of international human rights law. The Supreme Court in Canada is currently hearing a similar case from two men benefitting financially from prostitution claiming their arrest violates their Charter rights.