“Now it is time for action in Europe”. The beginning of the #womensvoices event started with the powerful voice of Viviane Teitelbaum: Belgian feminist, writer, journalist, politician, and President of the European Women's Lobby (EWL).
Held yesterday at the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU in Brussels, the “#womensvoices: From conflict to peace? Women and girls’ voices on the move” event was the conclusion of a six month collaborative project between the EWL, the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) and the European Network of Migrant Women (ENoMW).
“The EWL and its members know from experience and research that European and national policies are gender blind to the reality faced by women and girls on the road, especially when it comes to the different forms of violence they face at all stages of their journey towards peace,” begins the recommendations report.
“We have three key demands: comprehensive policies to end all forms of violence against women and girls, a gender-sensitive humanitarian response, and gender-sensitive asylum policies and procedures.”
The recommendations from the #womensvoices project report were presented to an audience and panel of key members of civil society, the EU, and UNHCR amongst others. The report aims to achieve concrete action that will translate into policies that “ensure the protection of women and girl refugees and asylum seekers from all forms of male violence, at all stages of their journey towards peace.”
“My name is Mina and I’ve been a refugee since the day I was born.”
The event was divided into two parts, with keynote speakers and a subsequent panel discussion.
Amongst the voices speaking, one of the strongest was undoubtedly that of 28 year old Mina Jaf. Born in 1988 in Iraqi Kurdistan, in the midst of a chemical gas attack on her village she fled with her family over the mountains to Iran and over the next 11 years moved countries multiple times, often spending no more than one night in the same place.
“Pretending to be asleep, the young Mina listened to refugees from Bosnia, Somalia, and Rwanda tell their horrific stories of rape and domestic violence. She understood that they risked stigmatization and shame if their experiences became common knowledge.”
Mina has been an activist and vocal advocate for refugee women’s rights for a number of years now. “I have just come back from Greece, where the situation is unbelievable in terms of male violence. It is not every day I see it, but every minute. There is no progress, and no action,” said the Voice of Courage 2016 award recipient.
“I think it’s time we don’t just do research and conferences, I think it’s time to act, and make progress. I hope to see you all out on the field,” she continued.
“In Greece, the women said they don’t even feel safe going to the toilet.”
Mina’s voice carried conviction and strength, along with those of her fellow speakers. Stories were shared on the current situation in Serbia, Slovenia, and Greece. The situation for refugee women was described as “terrible” by Marcy Hersh: speaker for the Women’s Refugee Commission, and recently returned from an assessment mission in Greece and Turkey on the effects of the EU-Turkey Agreement on women and girls.
“It is not possible for a refugee woman to live a life with dignity in Greece,” she stated.
“We have three key demands: comprehensive policies to end all forms of violence against women and girls, a gender-sensitive humanitarian response, and gender-sensitive asylum policies and procedures.”
Lack of access to basic services was amongst one of the key issues that refugee women are currently facing in the camps in Greece and along the Balkan route. There are no segregated bathroom facilities, and the threat of violence is so omnipresent that women are forced to wake up their male relatives during the night if they want to use the toilets.
Other problems are those faced by mothers. “There is a glaring gap for sexual and reproductive health services. Many of the women are pregnant or with very new babies. It was very disappointing to hear that because of insufficient food rations, they cannot breastfeed because they are so malnourished,” said Hersh. “There is a lack of baby formula and diapers, and just everything that is needed for a mother and baby to start a healthy life together.”
When decisionmakers hear a voice and see a face, they change their minds,” she concluded.
Following the talks by the speakers there was a fruitful panel discussion. Some of the key conclusions included Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR Regional Refugee Coordinator for the Refugee Crisis in Europe, asking for increased accountability for UNHCR from governments and the EWL and its partners alike. Critical questions were posed from members of the audience, and general agreement on the need for concrete action that translates into policy was clear.
The #womensvoices project is of indubitable importance. Sweden is the only EU country so far to have declared itself a feminist government with a feminist foreign policy, and only 14 states have ratified the Istanbul Convention.
And so, as Viviane Teitelbaum said, it is decidedly time for action in Europe. “One of the most important points of the project is to make women’s voices heard: you are not just a statistic anymore, you become something that has a direct impact. When decisionmakers hear a voice and see a face, they change their minds,” she concluded.
Migrant women across the continent are facing violence on every step of their journey away from conflict and towards safety. With no end in sight to conflict, famine, and natural disasters worldwide, many more are destined to face violence and exploitation if change does not happen.
Photo credits: Getty Images/European Women's Lobby
