Subject: [fem-women2000 663] Press Release: Outcomes of the AP NGO Kathmandu Meeting
From: lalamaziwa <lalamaziwa@jca.apc.org>
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 15:25:43 +0900
Seq: 663
Forwarded by lalamaziwa <lalamaziwa@jca.apc.org> ---------------- Original message follows ---------------- From: kathy clarin <kathy@isiswomen.org> To: apgr-list@isiswomen.org Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 13:58:13 +0800 Subject: [APGR-list] Press Release: Outcomes of the AP NGO Kathmandu Meeting -- The APGR-list, an announce-discussion list Distributed by Isis International-Manila - linking women, sharing knowledge, engendering change -------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Press Release: Outcomes of the AP NGO Kathmandu Meeting source: Allison Gita <allison.gita@apwld.org> forwarded by: Susanna George, <susanna@isiswomen.org> date: 05.11.01 -------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESS RELEASE Outcomes of the Asia Pacific NGO Networking Meeting Kathmandu 27-29 April 2001 Racism as the root cause of the insidiousness of caste, the horror faced by women and men in situations of armed conflict, the suffering from poverty and human rights abuses throughout the region were among some of the major issues discussed by over 200 representatives at the Asia Pacific NGO Networking Meeting . Delegates heard the personal testimonies of people who had been humiliated, raped; whose family and friends had been murdered because of their caste, race, and ethnicity. A young woman gave her account of being trafficked and forced into prostitution. Another woman spoke of her suffering as a migrant domestic worker. These stories brought home the reality of the life and death situations caused by racism, casteism, xenophobia and related intolerances. The stories also brought home the significant negative impacts of globalisation that is working to further exploit already marginalised groups, such as indigenous peoples, Dalits, and other minorities. The process of globalisation as implemented by the WTO regime is further marginalising Dalits, Indigenous peoples and Minorities who are already a deprived section of society. In the name of privatisation, globalisation has destroyed whatever opportunities were created by affirmative actions initiated by governments. The knowledge systems of indigenous peoples and Dalits have been expropriated by the multinational corporations (MNCs). The State is consciously withdrawing from its obligation to provide key social service sectors like education, health and employment with a devastating impact on racially discriminated groups. The policies of the World Bank and IMF such as devaluation and downsizing of the labor force adversely affect the already marginalised living standards of Dalits, Indigenous peoples and Minorities. Indigenous peoples, women of caste, ethnic and other marginalised women experience multiple forms of discrimination due to the nexus of class, gender and them being members of marginalise communities. They are denied their right to self-determination, their right to own and inherit property and control the resources; they are treated as having a lower status than men; and are exploited because they are members of the most exploited groups of society, the poor and marginalised groups. They are often excluded from political leadership and participation. Their equal status is not recognised by the State and dominant culture, or by the people within their communities and family. An urgent problem created by the growth of conflict is the increase of all forms of violence, including sexual violence against women. Intolerance in the context of conflict places many restrictions on women's freedom and mobility. The apartheid nature of caste discrimination manifests itself in the segregated housing settlements and cemeteries, access to common drinking water, restaurants, temples, tea stalls ('two-cup' system, meaning one cup for everybody, and a separate cup for the "untouchables"), restrictions on marriage and other insidious measures designed to prevent social interaction and mobility. Any attempt to assert or struggle against casteism is met with extreme violence and heinous crimes such as burning of homes, stripping and parading, rape, murder and social and economic boycott. The perpetrators of these crimes frequently enjoy police impunity, while the victims, who are mostly women, are often falsely accused and imprisoned. In the Asia Pacific region numerous minorities and marginalised communities have been subject to various forms of racism and institutionalised discrimination including denial of citizenship, state colonisation, forced population transfer, ethnic cleansing and political repression. The nation-state structures that are majoritarian deny the right of minority communities to full enjoyment of their democratic rights, including the right to self-determination and to an equal share of power. The Asia-Pacific region has seen the systematic outbreak of religion-based intolerances, often in the garb of religion based nationalism, that has resulted in the denial of basic human rights, including the right to life, liberty, equality, opportunity, freedom of residence, conscience and belief. People living under foreign occupation face one of the worst forms of racism, racial discrimination, cultural genocide and related intolerance as a direct result of state policies of assimilation and integration. add religious based intolerance. The intersectionality of race, gender, and refugee status should be recognised. Refugee women are discriminated against on the grounds of their ethnicity and their gender. Rape and forms of sexual torture are used in situation of conflict and should be recognised as a war crime and the basis for granting refugee status. Race-based discrimination against documented and undocumented migrants, migrant workers and trafficked persons is structural in nature and contravene international standards. These persons suffer gross violations of their human rights due to the lack of legal protection and redress mechanisms and are vulnerable to a range of abuse and violence. Legal and policy frameworks that enable states to make a distinction between citizens and non-citizens in terms of enjoyment of rights lay the foundation for these forms of discrimination. ----------------------------------------------------- (The deliberations and outcomes of this meeting will be included in the WCAR Asia Pacific Declaration which will be taken by the delegates to the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Forms of Intolerance, in Durban, South Africa, 28 August 7 September 2001. ) ---------------------------------------------------------------- APGR-list is a general announcement list created to facilitate information and resource sharing in Asia and the Pacific in line with the coming United Nations World Conference Against Racism. APGR-list is hosted by Isis International-Manila. It is archived at: http://www.isiswomen.org/womenet/lists/apgr-list/archive ---------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________________ fem-Women2000@jca.apc.org for Women 2000, UN Special Session on Beijing+5 Searcheable Archive http://www.jca.apc.org/fem/news/women2000/index.shtml visit fem-net HomePage for other mailing lists http://www.jca.apc.org/fem