Forum: Issue: Student Officer: Position: Introduction Definition of Key Terms Social Intolerance Stigma- and discrimination Stereotype Sexism

Transcription

1 Forum: Human Rights Committee Issue: Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or gender. Student Officer: Angelina Kozhokar Position: Chair Introduction Unfortunately, the huge diversity of our world s religions, races, languages and cultures is still leading to conflicts and inequalities. The objective of this conference is to bring us one step closer towards world peace by combating discrimination against religion or gender. It is very important to eradicate this type of violence in order to insure security in work places and public areas like streets and markets, and within the privacy of a home. For a stable and democratic environment, it is crucial to provide all citizens, regardless of their religion or sex, with the same opportunities for employment and education, not only to create a successful economy, but also to promote tolerance and appreciation for individuals of a society. As Irina Bokova said during the conference held on March 21 st 2014 "Respect and tolerance are liberating acts, whereby the differences of others are recognized as the same as our own and whereby the riches of another culture are taken as the wealth of all". It is vital for our globalizing and democracy-oriented world to learn how to embrace everyone s differences on a cultural level, and end all malevolent actions towards different religions, a specific gender, or homosexuality that keep occurring all over the globe. The Human Rights Watch reports note that situations in countries such as Syria and Iraq continue to worsen, especially towards religious and ethnic minorities, men suspected of homosexual conduct, and women and girls. Definition of Key Terms Social Intolerance A negative reaction towards cultural ideas or ways different from one's own, because of unwillingness to contemplate external ideas, or value in them. Stigma- and discrimination To treat someone differently because of their beliefs, choices, or ways of being. Stereotype A popular idea that oversimplifies a person or a thing, usually degrading, which gives a negative aspect to the subject. Sexism Prejudice against someone because of their gender, or their gender identity. Feminism The fight to gain more rights for women worldwide, to achieve equal treatment for men and women. Female Infanticide The deliberate killing of newborn girls because of cultural or social beliefs. UN Women United Nations organization with the slogan United Nations entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, which actively participates in feminist causes. It tries to empower women politically and economically, and is attempting to end gender-based

2 violence and provide women with a safer and cleaner environment, having a special focus on HIV and AIDS. HRC Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief Appointed in resolution 1986/20, a designated person who promotes freedom of religion and the end to discrimination. Currently this role is taken on by Mr Heiner Bielfeldt. He is in charge of: transmits urgent appeals and letters of allegation to States with regard to cases that represent infringements of or impediments to the exercise of the right to freedom of religion and belief. undertakes fact-finding country visits. submits annual reports to the Human Rights Council, and General Assembly, on the activities, trends and methods of work. LGBT community Loosely associated social organizations, activists or homosexuals, bisexuals and transgendered people united by a common culture and social movements. ILGA ILGA represents the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association that promotes equality for these groups and collects data on their discrimination and process. Background Information Religion and the Law It is crucial to establish laws in all nations which will respect all the religious groups under their wing, and provide security and shelter to all of their citizens regardless of their beliefs. The tensions between religious groups and governments have been proven to be on the rise since the beginning of the century. In 2012, three quarters of Earth s population lived under government restraints against religion or were suffering from some kind of social intolerance because of their beliefs. According to the Pew Research Centre s analysis, published on the 20 th December, 2012 "restrictions on religious beliefs and practices rose between mid-2006 and mid-2009 in 23 of the world s 198 countries (12%)." Muslims and Christians appear to be the most targeted, in terms of the number of countries there were registered offenses against their religion, however, Hindus and Buddhists are quite discriminated as well. It should be brought to attention that Pew s research indicates that intolerance originating in the law is significantly higher in Europe and the Middle East. This not only results in national discontentment, but also in civil conflicts and new radical extreme ideas. It is very important for the state to provide everyone with the right to conversion, and insure a healthy interreligious communication. Women s Issues The World Bank Study World Development Report: Investing in Health by the Oxford University Press reported that in 1993 more women were killed or left disabled because of physical abuse than because of wars, malaria and traffic accidents. What is more, the General Assembly was presented with the Secretary General s In-Depth Study on All Forms of Violence against Women, and found that at least 1 out of 3 women present in 2006 experienced some sort of physical abuse, be it sexual or not. Although by today these figures have shrunk, women are still the ones more likely to suffer from poverty, and to be subjects to domestic violence. A woman is much more likely to be unemployed

3 and uneducated than a man. The data collected by UNESCO in 2007 shows that 41 million girls around the globe lack access to primary education, that is 10 million more than boys. Still nowadays, the woman continues to earn 25% less than a man, and is more likely to be sexually harassed in the workplace. Religion and Women There are many practices in religion and tradition that discriminate and harm women s physical and mental health, such as genital mutilation, cruelty to widows, and discriminatory personal status laws, or downright dowry murder, honor killing and infanticide. Many occur because of conflicts between religious interpretations, but also many are considered religious duties by states, churches or leaders, are women are obligated to do so. This makes it difficult to address and eradicate this sort of discrimination. Often when women do not comply with the rules they are subjected to corporal punishment and even prison sentences. In many countries, this puts to question a woman s right to self-expression and independence, sometimes impeding the woman to own property. LGBT Community It is estimated that approximately countries in the world still have criminal laws against the LGBT. More than 150 people are known to be in jail based on their sexual orientation or gender preference. Usually this is because of a nation s/government s cultural beliefs and traditions, or simply ignorance of the issue. However since 2007, the ILGA observed that there have been 10 countries that began changing their transgender policy, and in many, like in the US, petitions have been sent to the government to contemplate approving such legal changes. Nepal was the first country to legalize and politically tolerate the so called neutral gender or gender X, and in 2011 introduced it to passports. In India, the transgendered number 6 million of the community, and are now recognized on voting forms. Pakistan and Bangladesh recognized this third gender in 2009, and Germany was the first country in Europe to do so. Nevertheless, there are still more than 170 countries to go. Relevant UN Treaties and Events: UN Declarations on Religious Freedom Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), General Assembly 1979 Declaration On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Intolerance And Of Discrimination Based On Religion Or Belief, General Assembly 1981 Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, HRC 1986 Elimination of All Forms of Religious Intolerance, General Assembly 1993 Declaration of Principles on Tolerance, UNESCO 1995 Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, 2009 Possible Solutions With each year the issue of social intolerance is less present; more and more acts and laws are passed, more equal education and employment opportunities surface, and more awareness campaigns are launched. To speed up this process and minimize this issue, UNESCO suggests tackling these problems by measures such as:

4 through law, by creating equal opportunities, and punishing discrimination and violence but still in accordance to the international human rights standards; through education, in order to create morals in an individual. A democratic government should provide schools that include in their curriculum promoting sexual and religious toleration, considering the appropriate age at which certain contents are appropriate to display; by providing access to a wider range of information, by creating databases to raise awareness and spread peace encouraging ideas; by helping shape the individual consciousness and help understand the outcomes of violent actions; through local aid that would specialize on cultural or ideological conflicts. Many organizations are following this mandate, such as the UNiTE to End Violence against Women, and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief. However, so far this has not been enough to protect the victims from violence, and it seems like not enough legal measures are taken. Statistically, more religious restrictions arose, a woman is still inferior to a man in many countries around the world, and transgendered people are still not recognized in a lot of nations. Perhaps to solve this, more groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center are needed. It is an American non-profit civil rights organization which is known for many legal victories against hate groups, which helped greatly with the promotion of black rights and fought against white supremacy. If such law firms were created in other parts of the world order to protect women, or deal with religious persecution, maybe this would speed up the process by which hate groups and abuses against them are eliminated. Bibliography l Morrison, Christian, and Johannes P. Jutting. "Women's Discrimination in Developing Countries: A New Dataset for Better Policies." GSDRC: Applied Knowledge Services. N.p., Web. 07 Sept < l "Promoting Tolerance." United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Sept < crimination/promoting-tolerance/>. l "Why Hazaras Are Being Targeted, Due to Their Religion or Race?" Hazara People International Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Sept < heir-religion-or-race/>. l "Issues: Gender Discrimination." Empowering Women and Men to End Their Own Hunger. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Sept < l "Using Religion to Discriminate." American Civil Liberties Union. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Sept < l "Religious Discrimination." U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Sept < l "Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women." - Wikisource, the Free Online Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Sept

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