Gender Equality, CETS210 and Half the Sky

Back in May, the 121st meeting of the Council of Europe in Istanbul, where they launched the new European Convention on domestic violence.

The paragraphs below are taken directly from http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/ :


This new Council of Europe treaty is the first legally binding instrument in the world creating a comprehensive legal framework to protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence. The Convention also establishes an international mechanism to monitor its implementation at national level.

The following countries signed the new Convention during a ceremony held in Istanbul: Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey. The British government has not signed the Convention and has not commented on its decision.

Human Rights Watch's summary reads:

 The Convention on Domestic Violence –  launched in May and so far ratified by 15 countries – calls for establishing hotlines, shelters, medical and forensic services, counseling, and legal aid services. It is designed to help the estimated 25 percent of women in the European region who experience physical or sexual abused in their lifetime.

To give this convention some context...

During my time in Georgia last year (one of the worst places I have ever been to in terms of gender equality) my Mum read and shared the following statistics on domestic violence in Europe:
In the UK, a woman dies twice a week as a result of domestic violence.
Elsewhere it's twice a day (I forget the country I'm afraid).
In Russia it's twice an hour.
In Ukraine it's twice every 30 minutes.

Is anyone else now slightly horrified at Britain's apparent flat refusal to ratify this convention?!

In conjunction with this, the book on a human rights subject that I most recently finished reading (I'm still ploughing through "The Fear"), was "Half the Sky" by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.  This is a monumental book about the impact of gender issues the world over.  The statistics are overwhelming, terrifying but ultimately galvanising.  It is a rare book that combines a newsworthy observe and report approach with a multitude of avenues for action.  I recommend it whole-heartedly.  Note in particular the huge irony of the title of the book: it is based on the proverb "women hold up half the sky", coined by Chairman Mao of all people.  If Communism, in China at least, acheived nothing else, it did engage 50% of the population to boost the country's economy.  And people wonder why China is so productive!

The issue from the book and the subject of the European convention on domestic violence, is NOT that women are not being treated as equals, but rather that they are not being treated like human beings.  Perhaps we in Europe can complain about gender equality, class equality or a classless society, wage equality and so forth, but in countries where "gender inequality" is truly rampant, we are still talking about human rights across the board because the trend in many less developed countries is still to educate only their sons, to ensure proper healthcare to only their sons.

It puts me in mind of the film "300", when the Spartan King, Leonidas, is talking with the Persian emissary and the Queen interjects caution against stupidity.
Emissary: What makes this woman think that she can speak among men?!
Queen: Because only Spartan women give birth to REAL men.

"Half the Sky" makes the point that women themselves are among the worst offenders in terms of gender inequality.  The traditional belief that sons are better than daughters overrides any thought of the equality of opportunity in the modern world.  For example, many microfinance organisations will ONLY lend to women, because men - by and large - are unreliable clients.

The global issue of gender equality is monumental.  The UK's role (or lack thereof) at the Council of Europe's meeting on the domestic violence convention is right here on our doorstep.  Whatever else may be true, the UK is still an example to much of the rest of Europe, and those beyond its borders who are also welcome to ratify the convention.  If the politicians won't lead, we must lead them.

I can't help feeling that this apathy is due to the Tories ubiquitous tax reductions versus the cost of meeting the convention's stipulations.  But be that as it may, "Half the Sky" makes an excellent point: politicians may not follow morality, but they will follow votes.  If enough people raise a fuss, they will act, just to retain the concerned citizen demographic.

My first step is going to be contacting Refuge, the domestic violence charity to see who in our current government I should contact about this absurd failure to commit to this outstanding piece of legislation.

Watch this space!