WOMEN STANDING AT THE INTERSECTION OF RACE AND GENDER

WOMEN'S CAUCUS STATEMENT TO THE WCAR

4 SEPTEMBER 2001

We, the Women's Caucus at the WCAR, composed of diverse women from different regions underscore the significance of this conference. We recognize the dehumanization of racialized women throughout the world who have suffered multiple forms of discrimination under colonialism, slavery, indentured labour, ethnic cleansing foreign occupation, armed conflict, the caste system, socio-economic marginalisation through globalisation, homophobia and trafficking in women.

As a Caucus, we call for the recognition of the intersection of gender and racism and the acknowledgement of multiple forms of discrimination that continue to dehumanise racially marginalised women throughout the world. Acknowledging and redressing the simultaneous experience of intersectional forms of discrimination as described in Paragraphs 81 and 82 of the WCAR Declaration is central to the outcome of this Conference.

This conference must acknowledge all forms of slavery and colonialism as crimes against humanity and therefore formulate a concrete action plan for reparations. Perpetuators of these crimes against humanity should be held accountable without impunity.

In the identification of the root causes of racism, the specific impact of slavery, colonialism, racist immigration policies, globalisation, homophobia, and armed conflict must be recognised as a fundamental source of feminization of poverty and violence against women. Strong and effective actions are required to address the interconnected forms of discrimination, with attention to upholding civil, political, social-economic and cultural rights.

Globalisation has led to the extreme feminization of poverty, which is severely exacerbated by systematic discrimination against indigenous, Afro-descendents, African, Asian and other racially marginalised women.

We call for strong and effective affirmative actions to address the socio-economic aspects of discrimination and remedy violations of socio-economic rights with respect to each of the thematic issues, remedies and strategies mentioned in the draft plan of action.

We note that this conference is being held in one of only two countries in the world that offers constitutional protection for people of diverse sexual and gender identities. Real or perceived sexual orientation constitutes grounds for severe discrimination in aH parts of the world and we call for its inclusion as part of the related intolerances.

The Women's Caucus strongly asserts that work and descent be included as grounds of discrimination and the brackets on work and descent in Paragraph 73 of the draft Programme of Action be removed. Caste especially affects the women in these communities, as the intersection of caste and gender makes them vulnerable exploitation and abuse and creates severe obstacles to their overall development.

In connection to the language paragraphs 16 and 17 of the Declaration proposed by GRULAC, we call on states to include migrant, migrant worker and refugee status, disability, sex/gender, indigenous, health status, work and descent, age and sexual orientation.

Refugee women and women asylum seekers are actively discriminated against on the grounds of their ethnicity, race, origin and their gender. Their experiences of rape and sexual torture, impoverished conditions, lack of basic health care, food scarcity, brutality and lack of security, leading to a high mortality rate are systematically overlooked as forms of persecution making it extremely difficult for women to claim refugee status.

Women under foreign occupation and related armed conflicts suffer multiple forms of discrimination based on their ethnicity, origin and descent. We call for the complete adoption of Par. 30, 53 and 65 in the Declaration.

Governments should not exploit women in the promotion of xenophobic and racist immigration and citizenship policies. WCAR should urge States to ensure that women, on equal basis with men, have the right to transmit their nationality and citizenship and migrant women including women migrant workers have the right of independent residence and employment. In addition, we urge States in their political negotiations with minority groups, not to accept those claims of culture and religion that deny women rights to equality.

We emphasize that young women are particularly vulnerable to all forms of discrimination. We urge States to respect and promote women's freedom to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights, and their rights to enjoy the highest attainable standards of health, which are especially at risk for young women from marginalised groups including those suffering from HIV/AIDs. Effective education, testing and affordable treatment, should be provided to racially marginalised women of all ages.

We urge States to ensure that racially marginalised women and girls have equal access to education that is gender conscious, culturally specific and is located within a framework of lifelong learning.

We stress the need to put an end to the continued stereotyping of women in the media and the new information and communication technologies based on race, class, work and descent, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation and other categories.

Considering the specificity of women's experiences of racism, we strongly recommend that the Programme of Action fully incorporate a gender and intersectional analysis. We urge States to develop national action plans, with targets, monitoring and follow-up mechanisms in accordance with international human rights standards. Allocation of resources for the implementation of each action plan must be guided by gender sensitive budgets at the national and local levels and in international development and human rights programs.

These issues clearly show some of the many problems faced by women all over the world on a daily basis. It is therefore imperative that WCAR adopts an intersectional approach to fully understand and address the many facets of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

As an African Women, I make a appeal to this World Conferences -- the working groups, the private consultations etc. -- to remember that it is the peoples lives that are at stake -- political and economic self interest should not take precedence over peoples lives.

END

[Taken out:

Moreover, we call on the international community to recognise that being victims of racism does not make people immune to perpetuating attitudes and practices of discrimination themselves. Therefore, no community or State should be considered above scrutiny and criticism because of past or present victimization.]