On December 5, a discussion was held on the situation of women facing overlapping forms of discrimin
On December 5, within the framework of the 16-day Campaign, a discussion was held on the situation of women facing overlapping forms of discrimination – LGBT women, women who use drugs, sex workers and women living with HIV.
"Don't leave anyone behind" - we've been hearing about it so often lately. What does this mean in practice? This means that the priority should be to solve the problems of those who are thrown out and isolated, who are persecuted and stigmatized.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the situation of women with intersecting forms of discrimination and to find ways to solve problems such as stigma, isolation, violence, inability to protect themselves, to get the necessary help.
Every day, every week, every month – 365 days a year, women fight for the right to freedom from harassment and persecution, for the right to be themselves, for the right to just live.
Each group of women spoke about how those who do not fit into patriarchal norms have to survive in our country, whose lives are surrounded by aggression pouring from the media, public opinion mouthpieces and complete indifference of the state.
Lesbian: My gay friend and I were beaten up just because we looked "wrong". The police officers who came to our call spoke obscenely to us and refused to accept the application.
Sex worker: The police constantly come and demand money - 500 soms mark. If you do not give the money, the police will not give you peace – they will threaten, they can take you to the police station, they can fabricate a case, for example, by planting drugs.
A woman who uses drugs, faced with violence from her partner, most likely will not turn to anyone for help because of shame and fear of public condemnation. A woman will overcome even the most acute pain, but will not go to a place where this pain can be further intensified by distrust and the accusation that she is to blame.
A woman living with HIV is under the yoke of accusations in her own family, she may be isolated from her children, information about her HIV status may become public due to the fact that confidentiality is poorly maintained in medical institutions.
And there are as many such stories as there are crossed out women in our country. And there is more than one such story in everyone's life. The discussion took place – new like-minded people and allies found each other, but, unfortunately, people whose status allows them to make decisions did not join the meeting. We talked to each other more. Only very caring representatives of state structures came - MTSD, the Center for Coordination of state-Guaranteed Legal Aid, the AIDS Center.
We appeal to everyone whose work is related to the elimination of gender–based violence - there are no wrong women, there are stereotypes, there are poorly working laws or laws that lay the foundation for inequality and abuse.
The organizer of the event is the Informal CEDAW Coalition, consisting of 17 organizations. The Coalition has been established and is working to ensure the application of the CEDAW Convention to women with intersecting forms of discrimination.
The event was held thanks to the support of the Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan, UN WOMEN and the UNDP - Project of the Global Fund "Effective Control of HIV and Tuberculosis".
A material has been prepared for the event, which contains data from recent studies. Download from the link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ez1j6eqc0et1srx/%D0%94%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BD%D0%9F%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8232%D1%8580%D1%81%D0%BC_29%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B22019.jpg?dl=0
Expression of solidarity
We also want to express our solidarity and support to the Feminnale Team, which was subjected to unthinkable aggression because it showed all the violence and the airless space in which all women live in our country. This truth could not be overlooked. This truth is censored and they want to remove it away from the eyes. But we will continue what we are doing – to say and show what many do not want to hear.