From March 5 to 14, the 57th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women was held in New York, where the new declaration was developed. The document aims to strengthen women's rights to sexual freedom and inviolability, as well as enhance preventive measures to protect the fair sex from sexual violence. The final version of the declaration contains 17 pages and calls on countries to provide sex education in schools, protect women's rights to reproductive health, abortion, and emergency contraception, eradicate gender inequality in all spheres of life, and provide legal and psychological support to victims of violence. Moreover, no religious norms or traditions can justify committing violent acts against women.
As tradition dictates, it was not without objections. The initial draft of the declaration did not sit well with Russia, the Vatican, and a number of Muslim countries, especially Egypt. The religious-political organization 'Muslim Brotherhood' stated that the provisions of the new document significantly undermine the foundations of Islamic society and could lead to its complete degradation. As a result, some articles regarding the protection of the rights of sexual minorities had to be excluded in order to reach some consensus. The final version was adopted by a resolution of the UN General Assembly on March 17.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all countries to immediately implement the provisions of the new declaration: 'Violence against women constitutes the most flagrant violation of human rights; it is a threat to the entire world, to people's health and moral character. No matter where she lives, in what cultural environment, in what society she is raised—every woman and girl has the right to live freely.'
According to the World Health Organization, a 2012 study conducted in many countries showed that from 15% to 71% of women worldwide aged 15 to 49 have experienced sexual violence at least once. Women suffer most in Japan, Ethiopia, and Peru. The situation also remains sad in Muslim countries, where the fair sex can only dream of the freedoms we take for granted. The declaration itself is not mandatory for ratification by countries; otherwise, it would become a real challenge to the entire Islamic world.
Galina VOROZHUN,
'Russkaya Germaniya'.