International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women
November 20, 2007
For Immediate Release
"Violence against women is always a violation of human rights; it is always a crime; and it is always unacceptable. Let us take this issue with the deadly seriousness that it deserves - not only on this International Day, but every day," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Violence against women is a serious global issue and is of great concern to the Tibetan Women’s Association. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) defines violence against women as, "any act of gender based violence that results in, or is likely to result in physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to Women." It also includes "physical, sexual or psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the state...forced prostitution, forced sterilization, forced abortion, coercive/ forced use of contraceptives."*
The 25th of November is observed as the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women. On this day, we commemorate the sacrifices made by our sisters in Tibet. Tibetan women living under Chinese oppression suffer severe restrictions with regards to their political, religious, educational, reproductive and social rights. They are in dire circumstances as their basic fundamental human rights are denied. Women living within Tibet are subjected to higher levels of sexual violence and exploitation. For instance, many of our sisters continue to suffer in Chinese prisons for attempting to stand up for their basic rights as women. Women held as political prisoners are subjected to brutal violence, particularly sexual violence and torture. Recently CEDAW expressed concern at reports of violence directed against women in detention centres within Tibet.2 Furthermore, the committee has also highlighted the disadvantaged position of rural women with regard to access to education, health, employment, participation in leadership and land property. Of particular concern is the situation of rural minority women, including Tibetan women, who face multiple forms of discrimination based on sex, ethnic or cultural background and socio-economic status.**
Within the last few years, the sexual exploitation of women within Lhasa has grown into a prosperous industry that the Government of China has chosen to ignore. Currently, the growing number of brothels in Tibet, especially within the city of Lhasa, is an issue of critical concern. The expansion of prostitution networks in Lhasa can be linked to rapid urbanization by an influx of migrants. Economic hardship, unemployment, discrimination and a lack of educational opportunities have forced many Tibetan women into the sex trade. Furthermore, growing tolerance for the sex trade in Lhasa leads us to believe that the exploitation of women will not end soon enough. Prostitution in Lhasa continues to increase behind a guise of businesses such as bars and beauty parlors. The sexual exploitation of Tibetan women is of particular concern with regards to the spread of HIV/AIDS, as Tibetan women are known to receive, in general, lower quality healthcare.
Aside from sexual violence and exploitation, Tibetan women are also continually denied the right to reproductive freedom. The use of forced sterilization and abortion in the name of family planning is still prevalent even in the remotest parts of Tibet. Under the pretext of population control the Chinese Government is playing with the lives and rights of the Tibetan people. The Chinese Government continues to reaffirm that "the current family planning policy in Tibet has been formed in full consideration of the realities and wishes of the Tibetan people". This statement has been continually contradicted by stories of forced abortions and sterilizations from Tibetan refugees. Tibetan refugees tell stories about abortions that are often followed by sterilizations that are done without consent.
Consider China's family planning policies in the light of the current situation in Tibet. China has the world’s largest population of any country, with Tibet having only a population of six million Tibetans amongst a geographical area of over 2.5 million square kilometers. In consideration of the areas China controls, the Tibetan population is only considered to be a minority amongst ethnic groups living within China's borders. With this in mind, we must question China's reasoning behind the implementation of family planning and birth control policies towards Tibetans, who are an ethnic minority within China. We can only conclude that Chinese birth control policies directed at the Tibetan people are an attempt at destroy and assimilate Tibetan culture. In response to the current situation within China the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has called upon the State party of China to counteract the low levels of women, particularly ethnic women, within public and political life and decision-making positions through training programmes. These training programmes, directed at current and future women leaders, are to focus on leadership and negotiation skills.**
TWA calls on the Government of the People's Republic of China to immediately halt violations of fundamental, reproductive, economic, educational and political rights of the Tibetan people and to adhere to the clauses mentioned in the 2005 Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). We also urge Tibetan support groups worldwide to support our struggle and to lobby the Chinese Government to act in accordance with International laws.
References
*- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. December 1979.
**- CEDAW 36th Session. August 2006. Concluding comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. China.