By Geneva Centre
GENEVA, Nov 26 2018 (Geneva Centre)
On the occasion of the observance of the 2018 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue reiterates the urgent need to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, as a sine qua non condition for the achievement of gender equality worldwide.
Echoing UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who deplored violence against women and girls as “a mark of shame on all our societies”, the Geneva Centre notes that it is estimated that a third of women worldwide have experienced either sexual or physical violence, including domestic violence, in their lifetimes(1). Phenomena such as femicide, human trafficking and other forms of exploitation, cyber-violence against women, early and forced marriage, sexual harassment and intimidation are on the rise and undermine the halted progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of women globally.
In relation to the situation in the Arab region, the Geneva Centre recalls that discriminatory laws providing impunity to perpetrators of violence against women and girls must be repealed. The Centre commends the recent efforts of Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia to repeal discriminatory laws against women and girls. They stand out as shining examples of how to address the prevalence of gender-based violence through legislation and practical measures that protect victims’ rights. Loopholes in national legislation should not allow that wrongdoers escape the long arm of justice.
The Geneva Centre also notes that the unprecedented rise of extremist violence and armed conflict in the Arab region has likewise contributed to worsening the status of Arab women. The effects of armed conflict and insecurity have disproportionately affected women and girls. Conflict situations and humanitarian crises constitute fertile grounds for the perpetration of grave forms of violence against women, aimed at tearing apart the social fabric and thus further destabilizing societies undergoing conflict. Rape and other forms of sexual violence are used by some belligerents in Syria and in Iraq as weapons of war. Victims of these forms of sexual abuses face long-term psychological and social effects, as well as exclusion from society due to persisting stigma.
Furthermore, Resolution 1820 of the UN Security Council of 19 June 2008 prohibits and condemns all forms of sexual violence and rape targeting women and girls, which can amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, or may be acts constitutive of genocide.
The Geneva Centre underscores the nexus between violence against women and the pervasiveness of gender inequality in leadership positions. Violence against women under its multiple forms, including sexual harassment, is frequently used as a means of intimidation and exclusion of women from the political arena, and from the private sector. A 2016 study by the Inter-Parliamentarian Union revealed that a staggering 82% of the interviewed women parliamentarians had experienced psychological violence, whilst 44% had received death, rape or abduction threats.
The use of violence with the aim of excluding women from societies and of undermining their civil and political rights becomes even more evident during election times. Women experience more than twice as much electoral violence than men(2), according to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. In this regard, The Geneva Centre calls for the full political inclusion of women worldwide and in the Arab region in particular, and for the adoption of targeted measures to remedy any deliberate attempts to exclude women from leadership positions through the use of violence and intimidation.
In order to improve the status of women in the Arab region, the Geneva Centre appeals to Arab governments to address all challenges impeding the full realization of Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this connection, he noted that Arab countries must uphold the positive momentum witnessed in the region with regard to the status of women.
The advancement of women’s rights and the enhancement of gender equality constitute the pillars of an inclusive and harmonious society. Decision-makers must remain committed to taking concrete measures for the elimination of gender discrimination and violence, as well as for lifting the barriers that hinder the empowerment of women.
The Geneva Centre will shortly issue a new publication dedicated to the progress and the persisting challenges with regard to women’s rights in the Arab region. Under the title “Women’s rights in the Arab region: between myth and reality”, the upcoming publication will include a comprehensive account of the panel discussion organized in 2017 on this theme, featuring a compelling statement from Ms. Dubravka Simonovic, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, as well as an in-depth study of the situation of gender equality in the Arab region and worldwide by Ambassador Naela Gabr, member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The Geneva Centre remains committed through its initiatives to giving prominence to women’s rights and gender equality worldwide, in all spheres of the society.
(1) According to data provided by UN Women.
(2) International Foundation for Electoral Systems: Breaking the Mold: Understanding Gender and Electoral Violence, by Gabrielle Bardall, December 2011.
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This report is for the media and the general public.
Summary
Ceasefire violations[1]
In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 23 and 24 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 150 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 175 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded south-east and south-west of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), south-west of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) and south-west and west of Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk).
Between the evenings of 24 and 25 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 170 explosions), compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were again recorded in areas south-east, south and south-west of Svitlodarsk (including almost 160 explosions) and north-west of Horlivka.
In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 23 and 24 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 100 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (104 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including 87 explosions, were recorded south of Putylyne (government-controlled, 44km north-west of Luhansk). Between the evenings of 24 and 25 November, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 115 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded west and south-west of Kalynove-Borshchuvate (non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk).
The SMM monitored the security situation following developments at sea near the Kerch Strait
In Kyiv, the SMM monitored the security situation in front of the Russian Federation’s Embassy where a protest had reportedly taken place on 25 November. On the morning of 26 November, the SMM observed protests at the offices of the Russian Consulate-General in Kharkiv and Odessa. For more details, please see SMM Spot Report 26 November 2018.
Disengagement areas[2]
While on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) on the evening of 23 November, the SMM heard three undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 3-4km south-south-west (all assessed as inside the disengagement area). During the night of 25 November, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard 13 explosions assessed as impacts of automatic-grenade-launcher rounds, about 30 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and three shots of 30mm cannon fire, all at an assessed range of 3-5km south-south-west (all assessed as inside the disengagement area).
Near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), inside the disengagement area, on 23 November an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) in a revetted position, covered by camouflage netting, south of the railroad and about 1km east of road T1316, and an IFV (BMP-1) south of the railroad and about 700m west of road T1316. Both were assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
On the evening and night of 23-24 November, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded 29 projectiles in flight (mostly from northerly to southerly directions), a burst of an undetermined weapon and an illumination flare (in vertical flight), all at an assessed range of 0.5-4.5km at directions ranging from east-north-east to south-south-east. (Twenty of the projectiles and one burst were assessed as having occurred inside the disengagement area, three projectiles and one illumination flare were assessed as outside the disengagement area and six projectiles were unable to be assessed as inside or outside the disengagement area).
During the evening of 24 November, the same camera recorded two projectiles in flight from south to north at an assessed range of 0.5-1.5km east-south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area).
During the day on 25 November, the SMM observed one green military truck, driven by a person in military style clothing (no badges/insignia or weapons visible), travelling south-west (inside the Zolote disengagement area) on the north-eastern edge of government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk, inside the disengagement area).
During the day on 24 November, positioned about 2km north of Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard two shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1-2km east and south-east, assessed as outside the disengagement area. [3] The following day, the SMM observed a calm situation near the Petrivske disengagement area.
Withdrawal of weapons
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.
In violation of the withdrawal lines
Government-controlled areas:
25 November:
Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites
Government-controlled areas:
23 November:
24 November:
25 November:
Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]
Government-controlled areas:
23 November:
24 November:
25 November:
Non-government-controlled areas:
22 November:
SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure
On 24 November, the SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable water pipeline repairs near Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), and on 24 and 25 November, the Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.
SMM monitors situation near Berdiansk
On 23 November, the SMM monitored areas in Berdiansk (70km south-west of Mariupol) including the port. The SMM saw some infrastructure repairs in the area and observed a calm situation.
Border areas not under government control*
On 23 November, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for an hour and a half, the SMM observed 29 cars (four with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates, and 23 with “DPR” plates), four fixed box-body cargo trucks (one with Russian Federation licence plates and three with “DPR” plates), a trailer tractor, two cargo vans and two black vans (all with “DPR” plates) escorted by a car with “DPR police” painted on it, as well as three buses (two with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates) entering Ukraine. The SMM also observed three buses (one with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates, and one with “DPR” plates), 22 cars (six with Ukrainian, five with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates, and ten with “DPR” plates), seven cargo trailers (two with Ukrainian, two with Belarusian and one with Russian Federation license plates, and two with “DPR” plates), as well as four commercial cargo vans (two with Ukrainian licence plates and two with “DPR” plates) all exiting Ukraine.
On 25 November, while at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) for ten minutes, the SMM was approached by a member of the armed formations who told it to leave the area.* At the Chervona Mohyla railway station in Voznesenivka, the SMM saw more than 100 uncovered cargo cars (unable to see whether empty or loaded) parked on rails. While present, the SMM was also told by a member of the armed formations to leave the area.*
The same day, at the border crossing point near Uspenka, the SMM observed 23 vehicles (six with Ukrainian and 14 with Russian Federation licence plates, two with “DPR” plates, one car with plates not visible), a fuel tanker, a bus (about 40 passengers) and four covered cargo trucks (Ukrainian licence plates) exiting Ukraine. The SMM also observed eight vehicles (one with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates and one car with plates not visible, and three with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine.
While at a pedestrian border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about an hour and ten minutes, the SMM observed four pedestrians exiting Ukraine and a pedestrian entering Ukraine.
Gatherings in Kyiv, Lviv and Kherson in commemoration of Holodomor
On 23 November, the SMM monitored a session of Parliament dedicated to the 85th anniversary of 1932-1933 Holodomor and to commemorating its victims. The session was attended by 500-600 people, including Members of Parliament, the Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate and the Head of the Greek-Catholic Church.
On 24 November, in Kyiv, the SMM monitored a Holodomor Memorial Day ceremony at the Holodomor Monument in Eternal Glory Park at 15 Lavrska Street. The SMM observed that the wider area around the monument had been completely cordoned off by police with metal detectors installed at two opposite positions along the perimeter, and about 1,000 people (mixed gender and ages) were entering the cordoned off area. Government officials addressed the crowd with speeches. The SMM saw about 500 National Guard and police officers present and observed a calm situation.
The same day in Lviv, at the Taras Shevchenko monument on Svobody Avenue, the SMM saw about 500 people (mixed gender and ages) gathered to commemorate the victims of Holodomor. The SMM observed as those gathered joined a ‘Minute of Silence’ and others made speeches. Many participants had black ribbons that read “We remember” and carried stalks of wheat that they laid next to lit candles and lamps. The SMM saw about ten police officers and five city guard officers present and observed a calm situation.
Also on 24 November in Kherson, the SMM observed about 300 people (mixed gender and ages) walk from Freedom Square on Ushakova Street to a monument commemorating the victims of Holodomor on Tiraspol Street. At the monument, the SMM observed as some people addressed the crowd and as others laid flowers, as well as wheat stalks near the monument. There SMM saw about 20 police officers and two police vehicles present and observed a calm situation.
The SMM continued monitoring in Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Chernivtsi.
*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate
The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see below). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.
Denials of access:
Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:
The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement through the failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.
Delays:
[1] Please see the annexed table for a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as a map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report.
[2] Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.
[3] Due to the presence of mines, including on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.
[4] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.
A bíróság társtettesként, folytatólagosan elkövetett szexuális erőszak, a sértett sanyargatásával, védekezésre képtelen személy sérelmére elkövetett személyi szabadság megsértése, valamint testi sértés bűntettében és más bűncselekményekben mondta ki bűnösnek a vádlottakat.A bűncselekmények idején még fiatalkorú lány, az elsőrendű vádlott három év szabadságvesztést kapott, bátyát és barátnőjüket hét év börtönbüntetéssel sújtotta a bíróság. A testvérpár a bűncselekményekben szintén résztvevő anyját – akit kiskorú veszélyeztetésében is bűnösnek mondott ki a bíróság – négy évre ítélték.
A bíróság az ügyet zárt tárgyaláson tárgyalta.
A sértett és a három gyanúsított 2016 szeptemberétől lakott egy közös szegedi albérletben. A három fiatal több alkalommal megfosztotta társát személyi szabadságától, amikor elhagyták a lakást, albérlőtársukat többször bezárták, úgy, hogy ő nem tudott onnan távozni. Később dolgozni elengedték, de november 13-tól 24-ig egyáltalán nem mehetett ki a sértettet az ingatlanból. November közepétől különböző fizikai gyakorlatokat végeztettek vele, ha nem hajtotta végre a feladatokat, ököllel vagy különböző tárgyakkal ütlegelték. Az áldozatnak kellett ételt és italt vinnie az ágyban fekvő gyanúsítottaknak, akik nemiségében is megalázták, arra kényszerítették, hogy saját vérével szennyezett papírt egyen, ürülékéből, vizeletéből fogyasszon. A gyanúsítottak késsel megszúrták az áldozat vállát, égő csikkeket nyomtak el a hátán és öngyújtóval is megégették.
Az áldozat egész testén, köztük az arcán és a nemi szervén is sérüléseket szenvedett, de a bántalmazások módja, elhúzódó tartama súlyosabb következményekkel is járhatott volna.