International Day for Eliminating Violence Against Women Statement 2001
November 25, 2001: In recognition of the fact that violence against women is a serious global problem, in October 1999, the United Nations proclaimed November 25 as International Day for Eliminating Violence Against Women. The Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) takes this opportunity to draw attention to the brutal, inhuman and continuing violence perpetrated against Tibetan women at the hands of the Chinese state.
Tibetan women in Chinese prisons (the majority of whom are detained for peacefully expressing their political views) are subject to severe violence including repeated torture and rape. Tibetan Buddhist nuns, who account for over 80% of political prisoners, are systematically targeted for gender-based violence. Severe beatings, starvation, rape, attack by vicious dogs, standing in the sun for hours and sexual assault are common forms of torture. Sexual violations include laceration of nipples, electric cattle prods being forced into the vagina and the wrapping of electric wires around nipples. Blood extraction, hard labour and 'exercise sessions' are other forms of torture imposed on women in Chinese prisons. There have been reports of pregnant Tibetan women being beaten until they miscarried, and since 1995, twelve women have been reported to have died as a result of mistreatment in Chinese prisons.
TWA calls on the Chinese government to immediately halt the inhuman and degrading torture and cruel treatment of Tibetan women during detention and imprisonment.
Although Tibet is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world Tibetan women are subject to severe and coercive family planning measures. Family planning policies include contraception, sterilization, abortion, delaying of marriage, and an enforced waiting period between births. Requiring permits to have a child, monitoring of menstrual cycles and impromptu periodic examinations to determine pregnancy have also been reported. For women who fail to comply with the quota of two or three children there are penalties in the form of fines, denial of health and educational benefits for the child, loss of jobs, reduction in pay and loss of housing. It is estimated that between four and twenty percent of Tibetan women are no longer able to reproduce due to forced or coerced sterilizations. Physically the procedures are dangerous and often take place in make shift facilities. The poor quality of operations and lack of follow up care often results in women becoming seriously ill. Tibetan women are also subject to forced abortions regardless of the stage of the pregnancy. Abortions are often followed by sterilization operations, without the consent of women. These actions of the Chinese state constitute acts of genocide against Tibetan women.
TWA calls on China to stop all reproductive rights violations against Tibetan women. Specifically, China must stop forced and coerced abortions and sterilization of Tibetan women, monitoring of reproductive cycles, and implementation of its population control policies.
Since 1995, there has been a large-scale introduction of prostitution in Tibet. In 1998, it is estimated that over 658 brothels existed in Lhasa alone. As the tolerance for the sex trade in Lhasa increases so does the culture of degradation and the exploitation of women, which inevitably lead to an increase in gender-based violence.
TWA urges China to make a concerted and comprehensive effort to eliminate prostitution in Tibet.
TWA urges the international community to ensure that China adheres to its international obligations and immediately ceases the state violence perpetrated against Tibetan women in Tibet.
Tibetan Women's Association
November 25, 2001