UN Human Rights Council hears of violence against women

September 20, 2006 - (UN News Centre) A United Nations expert on violence against women today highlighted the problems faced by women in Russia, Iran, Mexico, Afghanistan and Sudan’s Darfur region.

In Russia the adverse impact of political and economic transition had disproportionately affected women, Yakin Erturk, Special Rapporteur on violence against women told the new enhanced UN Human Rights Council at its second session in Geneva.

In Iran, although the principle of equality was enshrined in the Constitution, gender inequality was a salient feature of Iranian society, while high levels of violence against women in Mexico were both a consequence and a symptom of widespread gender discrimination and inequality, she said.

The situation for women in Afghanistan remained dramatic, and severe violence against them was all pervasive while throughout Darfur, a surge in sexual violence continued, she added.

Ms. Erturk conducted missions to Russia, Iran, Mexico, and Afghanistan. Special Rapporteurs are unpaid and serve in an independent personal capacity.

Russian representative Valery Loshchinin said the report was politicized and not impartial – it gave the impression that there was a State policy of violence against women, which was occurring against a background of prevailing insecurity at large. Those familiar with the contemporary reality in Russia and the role of women in society could not accept these affirmations, he added.

Iranian representative Ali Reza Moayeri said women in his country had achieved much over the last couple of decades, by way of strength, optimism and courage and what challenges lay ahead to overcome and go forward and wiping out all positive steps by allegations such as continuing reports of violations of women’s human rights and restriction on political activities downgraded the report to a political statement.

The representative of Mexico, Pablo Macedo, said his country had undertaken many efforts for the promotion and protection of women’s rights and after assessing the Rapporteur’s recommendations, the Government would take further measures to improve the situation of women and reduce the rate of violence.

Afghan representative Assad Omer said his country was in reconstruction after more than 20 years of war, and five years in the dark and that the percentage of school attendance for young girls kept on growing since the ouster of the Taliban regime in 2001.

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From: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=19923&Cr=rights&Cr1=council