Speeches
Adjournment Debate Speech on Gener Based Violence Report 24th November 2005
Adjournment debate 24th November 2005
Gender Based Violence Report
Tomorrow marks the beginning of 16 days of activism to eliminate all forms of violence against women. To some this may seem a lofty ideal, but if we don’t aspire to this goal how can we even begin to achieve it? How much violence is tolerable? I support wholeheartedly this campaign that’s why I am glad to have the opportunity to raise it in the Dail.
To coincide with these 16 days a consortium of Irish human rights, humanitarian and development agencies along with Development Cooperation Ireland have produced a report on gender-based violence entitled “ A failure to protect; a challenge to action”.
The report is a recognition that gender-based violence is rooted in gender inequality and unequal power relationships. It is usually perpetrated against women and girls though not exclusively, and is particularly prevalent in areas of armed conflict.
War has exacted a particularly high price on women. Rape is a common and devastating weapon of war. Because the subject of GBV is shrouded in silence, impunity and complacency it has been permitted to flourish.
Shockingly what the report also reveals is that GBV and sexual exploitation is also found in humanitarian situations, where sex is traded for food rations, for safe passage and also perpetuated by people in positions of power in the community such as teachers. In Mozambique last year I spoke with parents who refused to let their daughters attend school because of the price in sexual favours the teacher was exacting on them to achieve grades.
The report acknowledges the onus and responsibility on humanitarian agencies and Governments to provide for the protection of all citizens in a conflict and post conflict situation. It also recognises that failure to act on GBV compromises women and girl’s ability to benefit from development programmes and is a hindrance to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
The cost of not engaging with gender-based violence is significant indeed. People’s human rights are abused, atrocities and individual trauma and suffering continue and development interventions are undermined. The statistics are truly gruesome.
75% of women in Liberia were raped during the conflict: in Bosnia between 20,000- 50ooo women were raped during 5months of conflict in 1992.
In Thailand 14%of GDP comes from prostitution and sex trafficking.
In Germany 811 women –mainly from eastern Europe- were freed from “white slavery rings in 2002. Silent voices permit these injustices to continue.
This report describes itself as a call to action. It demands those of us with a strong voice to use it: to highlight, to provoke and to insist upon change. I salute this initiative and particularly the leadership the minister Connor Lenihan has shown on this subject. It is but a beginning, but a very important first step.
How we use the information contained in the report will measure our solidarity with the most vulnerable groups in the most atrocious conditions. I hope we will not be found wanting.