The experience of violence of Syrian women living in Konya: An intersectional study through the narratives of service providers

This study aims to analyze Syrian women’s experience of violence from the perspective of the service providers by using intersectionality as an analytical lens. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 13 service providers working in areas highly populated by Syrians in Konya, Turkey. Harmful traditional practices, societal violence reflected in gender-based discrimination, discrimination in work life, and inability to access to complaint mechanisms are the basic findings of the study. Revealing how the intersections and interrelatedness of class, ethnicity, culture, and migration status shape the experiences of Syrian women is expected to contribute to the implementation of anti-oppressive practices of social workers.

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and Child, Early or Forced Marriages in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Senegal

Background The effects of COVID-19 on harmful traditional practices such Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and Child, Early or Forced Marriages (CEFM) have not been well documented. We examined how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected FGM/C and CEFM in Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, and Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study design with a mixed methods approach was used. Household surveys targeting women and men aged 15–49 years in Kenya (n = 312), Uganda (n = 278), Ethiopia (n = 251), and Senegal (n = 208) were conducted. Thirty-eight in-depth interviews with programme implementers and policymakers were carried out in Kenya (n = 17), Uganda (n = 9), Ethiopia (n = 8), and Senegal (n = 4). Results In Kenya, the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the increase in both FGM/C and CEFM cases. Minimal increase of FGM/C cases was reported in Uganda and a significant increase in CEFM cases. In Ethiopia, the COVID-19 pandemic had a limited effect on changes in FGM/C and CEFM. In Senegal, there were minimal effects of COVID-19 on the number of FGM/C and CEFM cases. The pandemic has negatively affected implementation of interventions by the justice and legal system, the health system, and civil societies. Conclusions The pandemic has had varied effects on FGM/C and CEFM across the four countries. Across the four countries, the pandemic has negatively affected implementation of interventions by the various sectors that are responsible for preventing and responding to FGM/C and CEFM. This calls for innovative approaches in intervening in the various communities to ensure that women and girls at risk of FGM/C and CEFM or in need of services are reached during the pandemic. Evidence on how effective alternative approaches such as the use of call centres, radio talk shows and the use of local champions as part of risk communication in preventing and responding to FGM/C and CEFM amid COVID-19 is urgently required.

THE EMERGING ROLE(S) OF LAW IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE IN NIGERIA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

<span lang="EN-GB">There is no gainsaying the fact that the ICPD Call for Action Programme and the Beijing Conference has had pivotal roles in the evolution and growth of Reproductive Health Laws. These reproductive health laws in turn have served as a means of resolution to Reproductive health issues which include but are not limited to issues such as early and under-aged marriage, adolescent pregnancy, harmful traditional practices examples of which include Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), widowhood practice, domestic violence, abortion, HIV/AIDS, Maternal mortality/morbidities and improper family planning. Many challenges remain in the effort to address these health issues. The major setback has been the failure of state parties (countries) to incorporate these International Reproductive Health Care instruments into their legal system as well as the implementation of these laws. This paper highlights the legality of the ICPD in the context of International Law and also focuses on the emerging roles of laws in Reproductive Health Care in Nigeria</span>

Refleksi Praktek Harmful Traditional Practices di Indonesia

Fenomena kekerasan seksual kepada perempuan yang terjadi di beberapa negara termasuk di Indonesia, diyakini bukan hanya merupakan fenomena hukum semata, tetapi juga terkait erat dengan persoalan tradisi masyarakat, yang sarat dengan konstruksi ketidakadilan relasi gender, atau disebut dengan harmful traditional practices. Kekerasan seksual kepada perempuan berbasis tradisi ini sering luput dari perhatian karena dianggap sebagai hal yang biasa, namun sesungguhnya merupakan praktek-praktek yang sangat merugikan bagi kaum perempuan. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan metode kajian pustaka (library research). Penelitian ini mengambarkan penyelesaian masalah kekerasan seksual kepada perempuan berbasis tradisi harus diselesaikan dari nilai-nilai tradisi yang mendasari munculnya harmful traditional practices. Persoalan ini dapat diselesaikan dengan beberapa langkah yaitu merubah aturan dalam tradisi yang menimbulkan harmful traditional practices, penyadaran tentang kesetaraan gender, pengintegrasian kesetaraan gender dalam lembaga penegakkan hukum dan pembuat kebijakan serta memberdayakan perempuan untuk melawan praktek-praktek harmfu traditional practices.

Appraisal of harmful traditional practices in Nigeria: magnitude, justifications and interventions

Purpose: The study did an appraisal of harmful traditional practices (HTPs) in Nigeria despite global, regional, national laws, policies and programmes, women and girl-children are still being subjected to dehumanising treatments. Research methodology: Systematic search in literature, personal experiences, archival materials, and oral interviews were used in data collection, while thematic analysis was used to interpret oral confessions carried out on thirty-six (36) elderly persons who were purposively selected. Results: There is high prevalence of HTPs across the Nigeria which the cultural and secular laws are silent about. It was discovered that many children (underage 10-15years of age) in Hausa/Fulani lands are prone to marriage by adoption, force or early marriage of girls between, while in the Eastern part, the is high magnitude of child hustling, outrageous dowry payment, separatist theory as practiced in Osu caste system, servitude (Maid) etc, and in the West are practices of scarification, wife battery, polygamy. They rely on socio-cultural, psycho-sexual, spiritual and aesthetic justifications. The study recommends action-related studies followed by proper education interventions. Limitations: The study covered HTPs across Nigeria with 36 participants. Further studies should concentrate on tribe or region basis with larger participants. Contribution: This study did an appraisal of harmful traditional practices in Nigeria; magnitude, justifications and interventions Keywords: Harmful Traditional Practices, Traditions, Magnitude, Justification

VAWG and the Environment

How are environmental changes related to VAWG? Environmental changes that cause resource scarcity exacerbate VAWG. In societies where harmful traditional practices continue to regard women as property, resource scarcities intensify gender-based VAWG. Moreover, extreme weather events can exacerbate insecurities and foreshadow gender-based violence. For...

Advocating Positive Traditional Culture to Eradicate Harmful Aspects of Traditional Culture for Gender Equality in Africa

The struggle for equality for all and the abolition of discriminatory, harmful cultural practices affecting women has been occurring in the world for some time now. Most African countries outlaw harmful, discriminatory traditional practices, although they persist, causing the violation of domestic and international human rights laws. Outside efforts to eliminate these practices are often met with suspicion or hostility from communities, because Africans generally believe that these are their valuable, traditional practices. The aim of this article is to discuss alleviating harmful traditional practices suppressing gender equality in Africa by practically supplementing the law. The study examines African culture versus gender equality historically to pinpoint colonialism’s influence in current gender equality. Colonial administration influenced lives politically, economically and socially, including culture and traditions. Efforts to eradicate harmful traditional practices are most effective when originating from within the culture, as focussing on international human rights is often perceived as culturally imperialistic in African countries.