IAW in Switzerland, 2009
Women's Rights Worldwide
in several short articles
IAW Board Meeting 2009
IAW covered a lot of issues in the lovely green hills of Heiden, Switzerland. The reports of affiliated organisations and representatives of IAW were printed into a handy 'booklet', so there 
was more time for discussion. They are also to be found on the IAW website.
The venue of the meeting was of wood and had a Jugenstil touch. We felt right at home with the beautiful IAW banner hanging behind the Executive Board. There was translation in English and French.
ON this page we cover mainly the discussions on issues like: Democracy - Human Rights - CEDAW - Violence against Women, Women and Peace - and also the important issue of Maternal Mortality worldwide, to be introduced at the UN in Geneva.
An impression of the wonderful 'Tour Feministe' of Switzerland, which was organised after the Board Meeting, is to be found on the Dutch pages.
Democracy
Democracy is not only about political rights. The word 'democracy' should be redefined in a feminist way. Issues of discussion were: equal rights and equal responsibility by women taking and obtaining power, economic independence, education and training, referenda and quota systems.
The Kuwaiti women got the vote in 2005. Now, in the 2009 elections, four women were elected. Congratulations from us all!
Picture: Shaika Al-Mezen, Kuwait with Arina Angerman, Netherlands
Burkina Faso has a quota system; a list of candidates will be rejected if it does not contain 30% of women. In Egypt a quota system is being introduced. Zimbabwe is moving forward slowly. Switzerland is taking big steps and told us about the elections in their cantons and about holding referenda. Sweden did a survey to know why men are getting big salaries in firms and women don't.
Human Rights
Education should be considered a human right. There are still many problems in rural areas for girls, where transport is difficult and facilities for girls are sometimens non-existent.
Sexual harassment of women and girls and trafficking were seriously discussed. Women organisations in Africa, Asia and all over the world are doing all they can ...
Sexism in the Media
Israel is worried about the way women are depicted in commercials and has started a campaign: "I don't buy, I don't sell, I am not a commodity".
In the EU a directive has been passed that gives a 
definition of sexual harassment throughout the EU.
Greece:"Sexism is the main basis for the incomplete democracy in Europe that we still have.
Even when the mechanism is there, it does not always work. Sexual harassment must be fought all the time".
Picture: Pat from Australia and Terpsi from Greece
CEDAW
Many affiliated organisations have been active in making shadow reports. Any organisation that wants to be involved in working out shadow reports, can contact IAW secretary Lene Pind, who will provide information on how to proceed.
The Human Rights Council: "Writing alternative reports when candidates are applying for membership of the Board during the Universal Periodic Review, is essentia"l, Helene Sackstein reports.
Board candidates for the Council should have a women-friendly background, which is can easely be forgotten (!) when countries are putting forward their candidates.
Violence and Peace
Joanna Manganara: "It is the women's movement that have made domestic violence known to the public and made it a criminal offence and not a private matter only".
South Africa: "Often religion and tradition are used as excuses to continue violence. Many young women from Asia are now trafficked into South Africa, although prostitution is a criminal offence". 
Wars and conflicts cause an increase in violence, as violence becomes a way for men of proving their masculinity. So far resolution 1325 has not been implemented, nor resolution 1820.
Picture: Chipo from Zimbabwe, Mmabatho and Modi from South Africa.
Domestic violence increases after armed conflicts. Trust building and mediation is a way of decreasing conflict and violence. In some countries, Sweden for example, they try to involve men as partners in the campaign against violence of women. Conflict solving should also be an issue for education.
Countries are required to have a plan of action concerning eradication of violence against women, also in peaceful countries.
Arms producers are the root cause of deaths in all kinds of violence, including domestic violence.
Violence will be one of the main themes of the Board 2010 in South Africa.
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe has produced a document on domestic violence. It is available from Anje Wiersinga and/or to be found on the website of the Council of Europe. There is also a start of producing a new, European convention on violence against women.
Picture: Anje Wiersinga arriving at the UN in Geneva.
The Wonderful Swiss Feminist Tour
The Feministe Tour of Switzerland was a great success! We were overwhelmed by the hospitality of the Swiss women’s organisations and felt privileged to join them in their festivities and discussions in Heiden, Grub, Lucern, Estavayer-le-lac, Bern and Geneva.
We offer our heartfelt thanks to the President of the Association Suisse pour les Droits de la Femme, Jessica Kehl, and to all her assisting colleagues!
For pictures, click here on the Dutch pages
In every place we visited during the Tour we were introduced to a broad knowledge on gender equality. The Swiss experts gave us a good overview on the development of their democratic system during the last 100 years.
We were very impressed when we met in Bern 'Swiss Mrs. Equality', as she sometimes has been called. She has represented Switzerland in the Commission on the Status of Women, and did this very well for all women in the world by introducing good amendments.
IAW panel at the UN in Geneva, 19 June 2009
At the end of the Tour we had introductions f UN experts and an impressive IAW workshop and panel at the UN in Geneva.
Subjects:
* HIV/AIDS and maternal mortality with Helene Sackstein, IAW representative at the Human Rights Council,
* Gudrun Haupter, convenor of the IAW Health Commission and
* Mmabatho Ramagoshi, IAW convenor of the IAW Violence Commission.
Maternal Mortality
with Helene Sackstein, Gudrun Haupter and Mmabatho Ramagoshi
Picture: Helene Sackstein, who worked during three years at the resolution on maternal mortality, talking to Simone Chapuis, IAW Switzerland.
The vast majority of maternal deaths can be prevented,
if women had access to quality family planning services, skilled care during pregnancy, childbirth and the first month after delivery, etc.
A working health system with skilled personnel is key to saving these women's lives. 
Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.
The major direct causes of maternal morbidity and mortality include haemorrhage, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour.
It means 529 000 women a year.
In addition, for every woman who dies in childbirth, around 20 more suffer injury, infection or disease – approximately 10 million women each year.
Picture: Helene and Mmabatho
We found this in the news
Maternal death and iIllness are now recognised as pressing human rights concerns. On 17 June 2009, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution recognizing maternal death and illness as pressing human rights concerns.
IAW can use the resolution by asking governments to implement better maternal health care.
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