rudisafari on "A war that can be won"

rudisafari — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 07:47:42 +0000

After world War II, with the emergence of the United Nations Organization, new hope developed that a world free of any kind of violence, harassement will develop. That was only sixty years ago, at a time when racial segregation was a fact not only in South Africa, but also in the US, when in a lot of countries of the world woman had no rights whatsover. Unfortunately rights of women today continue to be tabu in quite many countries, which by beeing members of the United Nations, do not follow the spirit and the Letter of its Charter to provide all guarantees and protection for equal rights and freedoms to each of it citizens irrespective as to their gender, race, colour of skin etc.! I have to disagree strongly with the distinguished Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes. His observation that the UN faces Limitations in what it can do represents a trend, existing for decades within the UN secretariat. Nobody has ever stopped the secretariat of the United Nations to disseminate information on the Work of the United Nations on its decisions, in particular on those noumerous acts( resolutions, decisions,plans for action, calls ob goevernment etc.) since the sixties of last centuries, aimed at drawing the attention of the respective governments, as well as of t public oppinion, to need to guarantee equal rights for women in every corner of the world. Indeed the UN Secretariat has not been stopped to establish a list of and name all governments which continue to deprive its citizens, women in particular,of its rights to equality and freedom as inscribed in the UN Charter, and various decisions of the UNGA, the ECOSOC,and other UN bodies etc. In growing number of societies in our world however, within countries which are members of the United Nations, the world and in particular the United Nations secretariat conitues to witness silently the selective application of the UN Charter and UNGA Resolutions and decisions, especially for ist female citizens, denying equal rights to women, which in effect gives a card blanche for an degrading and inhuman treatment of women, leading finally to unprocecuted harrasment and sexual violence in those states and societies against women. Those Countries and governments must be named! So that actions by member states of the United Nations can, and ideeded should be, envisaged. Nobody has stopped the UN Secretariat from doing that. It is indeed very sad to here from a High UN Official such a statement, it shows only that his personal capacities are limited for the job the world community, indeed human beings of this world devoted to enlightenment, are expecting him to do!

A war that can be won,

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:12:21 +0000

Play:
Artist: openDemocracy
Title: John Holmes
Album: 16 days
Genre: speech
Year: 2007
Length: 15:57 minutes (14.6 MB)
Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Subscribe to openDemocracy Podcasts in iTunes
Download the MP3 File here

At the Commission on the Status of Women in February 2007 the United Nations launched an agency wide campaign to 'Stop Rape Now'. John Holmes was then in his first week as Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and declared that tackling sexual violence against women in conflict was a "war that could be won".

Ten months into the job, having met women who have been mutilated by sexual violence in conflict, he told Jane Gabriel that he is a 'marked man': his commitment to reducing the violence against women through the work of the United Nations is increased, but the limitations of what the UN can do remain enormous.

This interview is part of our coverage of the 16 Days Against Gender Violence. Also in openDemocracy on the 16 Days theme, a multi-voiced blog, part of our overall 50.50 coverage, with contributions from women and men around the world.

Click here for a full list of articles and podcasts in the 16 Days 2007 series.

open Democracy News Analysis - A war that can be won, - Comments

rudisafari on "A war that can be won"

A war that can be won,