PRESS
RELEASE
For immediate release
19 December 2002
WOMEN'S GROUPS LAUNCH
INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR JUSTICE FOR GUJARAT
See Panel's
Interim Report
See Panel's Recommendations
For more information about Gujarat, see
www.sabrang.com and
www.onlinevolunteers.org
As women’s groups in India, we are horrified by the violence that was
unleashed against Muslim communities and in particular on Muslim women
in Gujarat from February 27, 2002, onward. We are appalled at the ways
in which the instruments of a democratic state are working against the
interests of its own citizens, and the ways in which women’s bodies are
being used as battlegrounds in the struggle over defining India as a
Hindu State.
For nine months, we have seen lack of national political will to apply
existing laws and redressal mechanisms to ensure justice for the victims.
This is further compounded by the fact of continuing violence in the state.
An International Initiative for Justice in Gujarat (IIJ) was therefore
constituted, comprising jurists, activists, lawyers, writers and academics
from various parts of the world. Keeping in mind the many reports of
independent agencies and statutory bodies, the Panel, which visited Gujarat
between 14th and 17th December, investigated the violence – particularly the
physical and sexual – inflicted upon women since 27th February 2002
specifically in light of existing international laws, conventions and norms.
The Panel has also addressed the complicity of the State in the violence,
the lack of effective redressal for the victims and the implications of the
recent BJP victory in the state. This panel was not simply a ‘fact-finding’
mission, but rather to support efforts toward achieving justice for the
survivors of these attacks, as well as to support the prevention of future
attacks against minorities, particularly women.
The panelists include Sunila Abeysekara, Director of Inform, Colombo, Sri
Lanka, Rhonda Copelon, Professor of Law, City University of New York, Anissa
Helie of Women Living Under Muslim Laws Algeria/France, Gabriela Mischkowski,
Historian and co-founder, Medica Mondiale, Germany, Nira Yuval-Davis,
Professor of Gender and Ethnic Studies at the University of Greenwich, UK,
and several other prominent feminists. Members of the Panel visited
Ahmedabad, Baroda, and Panchmahals District, and spoke with various affected
people, support workers, lawyers, and held confidential meetings with
affected women.
The Panel’s Interim Report on the situation in Gujarat voiced
strong concern that “in spite of the totally inadequate legal and other
responses to the violence in Gujarat, the government has continued to deny
permission for international scrutiny of the situation…In a pluralist
society such as India, ensuring the equal representation and participation
of all communities and guaranteeing the rights of women and of minorities
are among the most important tests of a genuine democracy. The propagation
of fear and hatred among communities is anathema to these principles and is
inconsistent with both national and international law.” The Report also
addressed the similarities and uniqueness of the ways in which sexual
violence has been used in cases of religious, ethnic or communal violence in
other parts of the world, and stated: “this violence, which reflects a
longer and larger genocidal project, in our view constitutes a crime against
humanity and satisfies the legal definition of genocide, both of which are
crimes of the most serious dimension under international law.”
On the basis of their interviews and meetings, the panel has outlined
Urgent Actions to Be Taken by the state, the national and international
community. They have stressed on the restoration of the constitutional
rights of the Muslims of India and asserted the need for ensuring the
protection of their human rights in accordance with international norms.
They have outlined recommendations for the immediate redressal for crimes of
sexual violence in accordance with the provisions of the ICC and called for
specific measures with regard to the issues of justice, continuing impact of
the violence, and the continued marginalization of the Muslims of Gujarat.
The International Initiative for Justice in Gujarat was
organized by:
Citizen’s Initiative (Ahmedabad), People’s Union for Civil
Liberties (PUCL) - Shanti Abhiyan (Vadodara), Communalism Combat,
Awaaz-E-Niswaan Forum Against Oppression of Women (FAOW) and Stree Sangam
(Mumbai), Saheli, Jagori, Sama, and Nirantar (Delhi), Organised Lesbian
Alliance for Visibility and Action (OLAVA, Pune),
and other women’s organizations in India.
IIJ c/o FAOW, 29 Bhatia Bhavan, Babrekar Marg, Off Gokhale
Road, Dadar (W), Mumbai 400028
Ph: 9820833422, 9820850844, (022) 23705620 Email:
iijg2002@yahoo.com
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