Fempower – Women experience violence in all areas of society, in the so-called private sphere as well as in public, in institutions and at the workplace, and at all times, be it during peace or in times of armed conflict and war. There is not yet a place in this world, where women are completely safe and free and furthermore, in times of war women suffer sexual violence at the hands of enemies as well as husbands or boyfriends.
The aim of this edition of Fempower is to focus on the situation of women in armed conflict and war, while recognizing that all forms of violence are interlinked. Today millions of refugees are fleeing the wars and armed conflicts from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other regions, and many of them, including women and children, embark on dangerous and often life threatening journeys to Europe. Hence, it is particularly important to recognize the interconnectedness of all forms of violence and build alliances to stop violence and war and show our solidarity towards refugees. The Istanbul Convention postulates the “right for everyone, particularly women, to live free from violence in both the public and the private sphere” and states that all measures of the Convention “shall apply in times of peace and in situations of armed conflict.” It is urgently necessary that states and European institutions strengthen their efforts to prevent violence against women and protect victims in all situations of violence. The focus on the prevention of violence against women in war and armed conflict is also important because we are celebrating 15 years of resolution 1325 and 20 years since the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. The aforementioned resolution had underscored the pivotal link between gender equality and international peace and security. As of recent, the UN Security Council has adopted Resolution 2242, to improve the implementation of that landmark text on women, peace and security agendas.
By ensuring its approval, the Council has shown a commitment to integrate women, peace and security concerns across all country-specific situations. The international community has adopted a broad normative framework with regard to sexual violence in conflict. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court that came into force in 2002 outlines a comprehensive list of crimes against women. With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its goal on achieving gender equality and eliminating violence against women, we have a new international momentum towards the recognition of women’s rights and women’s empowerment lying at the heart of sustainable progress for all. Nevertheless, many challenges remain. All articles from the current issue of Fempower convey a message, which emphasizes that the duty falls upon all members of society to guarantee safety and access to justice to women survivors of these types of violence, as this represents a crucial aspect of peace and reconciliation processes in post-conflict situations. The articles have mainly been written by women’s human rights advocates and activists. They highlight how important it is for all of us to show solidarity and care for other women when these are experiencing violence. Furthermore, they emphasize how crucial it is that women’s organisations exist and keep their doors open for all survivors, whether these were subjected to violence during war, in their homes or both. We wholeheartedly thank all authors for their contributions and their efforts in retelling their experiences on paper, next to their extraordinary commitment for women and children’s human rights! We also thank Iris Golden, who has been the editor of Fempower since 2012 and will be finishing her work at WAVE by the end of January 2016, for all her efforts.
Andrada Filip (WAVE Office) & Rosa Logar (President of WAVE)
Please read the full edition of Fempower on the situation of women in armed conflict and war here.
