* At the current session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Russia has tabled a resolution seeking to promote “traditional values” as a basis for human rights. Numerous UN experts have emphasised that traditional values are frequently invoked by States to justify human rights violations, such as family violence, marital rape, forced marriage and female genital mutilation. * Last year, the Human Rights Council tasked...
Category: Statements
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SUDAN: Free Layla Ibrahim Issa! Stop Stoning in Sudan!
Dear friends, Layla’s life is still in danger. We need you to take action to save her.Layla Ibrahim Issa is a 23-year old mother who was sentenced to death by stoning by the Mayo court in Khartoum, Sudan. We put out an action alert to support Layla earlier this month, and we extend our thanks...
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SUDAN: Layla Ibrahim Issa – Another woman sentenced to death by stoning. Take action now!
The international solidarity network Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) and the Violence is Not our Culture (VNC) campaign are dismayed to receive another confirmed report of a woman – Layla Ibrahim Issa – who is about to be stoned in Sudan. This news comes shortly after the release of Intisar Sharif Abdallah, who was the first...
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Pakistan: Killing of NGO worker Farida Afridi in Jamrud Tehsil of Khyber Agency
Women’s Action Forum (WAF) Lahore is deeply disturbed by the shocking news of the killing of Ms. Farida Afridi in the Khyber Agency. It is evident from news reports that she was killed because she was a woman human rights defender associated with a non-government organization working for the welfare of tribal women. This is...
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Oman: End the Detention of Women Human Rights Defenders
On 19 June 2012, due to their deteriorating health, women human rights defenders Basma Al-Keumy, lawyer, and Basma Al-Rajehy, writer and TV broadcaster, ended their hunger strike aimed at their administrative detention which continued until 24 June 2012 and the lack of access to their families and lawyers. Both women were arrested on 11 June...
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Update: Intisar Sharif Abdallah Released Unconditionally without Further Charge
Earlier this month we issued an action alert to stop the stoning of Intisar Sharif Abdallah* in Sudan. We are pleased to share the news from our Sudanese sisters who report that as of 21 June 2012, Intisar was released unconditionally and without further charges. Please see SIHA’s press release below. We congratulate and celebrate...
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Declaration of the Senegalese Feminist Forum statement during the Reflection on the Malian Crisis Meeting
We, members of the Senegalese Feminist Forum, would like to express our full support for the Malian people and especially to the women who are woefully underrepresented in these critical moments of the country’s political life. We also wish to express our concern about the situation of people living in the occupied territories (Timbuktu, Kidal...
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Bahrain: Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition Statement on Bahrain in Solidarity with Al Khawaja
The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRD IC) stands in solidarity with Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and women human rights defenders in Bahrain as they demand democracy, government accountability and an end to the torture and detention of those demanding political change. Al Khawaja is a long opposition and human rights activist who has defended...
