Work Against Honor Killings of
Women Puts Human Rights Defenders at Risk
United Nations Commission on Human Rights, 55th session
Geneva, April, 9, 1999
(action alert attached below)
Statement prepared by the Center for Women's Global Leadership, the
International Human Rights Law Group and the International Women's
Tribune
Centre in collaboration with a coalition of other human rights
organizations.
On Tuesday, April 6, 1999, a 29-year-old woman was killed by a gunman
hired
by her family, in the chamber of her attorneys, Asma Jahangir and
Hina
Jilani, in Lahore, Pakistan. Ms. Jilani, a human rights advocate,
was
representing her as she sought a divorce from her husband from whom
she had
been separated for four years. The act of filing a divorce on her
own was
considered by the woman's family as dishonouring their name, and therefore
justifying the murder.
The murder was another in the series of so-called "honour killings"
as
described by the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary and
Summary
Executions. In many of these cases, instead of protecting the woman,
the
police and the judiciary side with the family. For example, the lenient
treatment meted out to convicted killers by the courts has spurred
on
"honour killings." In some cases, the state machinery creates
obstacles when
a woman seeks to take legal action on her own, against the wishes
of her
family. In other cases, women are even denied the legal capacity to
act on
their own behalf.
In this particular case, the woman had reluctantly agreed to a meeting
with
her mother on condition that the meeting take place in her attorney's
office
with no one else from the family present. Her mother, however, brought
the
killer with her saying that he was there to help her as she had difficulty
walking. After a few moments, the mother's escort pulled out a pistol
and
fired two shots at the woman and a third at the attorney. The woman
died
instantly. The shot at Ms. Jilani missed her by inches.
We highlight this case as the most recent known example of murders
of women
by family members. Such human rights violations occur too frequently
in all
countries of the world. We are aware of such crimes in the name of
"honour"
occurring in a wide range of countries including, but not limited
to,
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Iraq, Jordan, Nepal, Peru,
Turkey
and the United Kingdom.
We urge the Commission on Human Rights to condemn such killings of
women as
a human rights violation. We also call upon the Commission to welcome
the
initial investigation by the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial,
Arbitrary
and Summary Executions, and encourage further investigation of the
causes of
and remedies for these crimes in her next report.
We also urge the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of the Judiciary
and
Lawyers to pay special attention to incidents of violence against
lawyers
defending women and girls who seek legal redress in opposition to
claims of
"traditional values." Lawyers, particularly women lawyers,
have had to face
serious threats and attacks by extremist individuals and groups while
pursuing their professional duties. Many leave this profession because
of
such intolerable pressure. In addition, the Special Rapporteurs on
Religious
Intolerance, Freedom of Expression and Violence Against Women should
consider these crimes in relation to their mandates.
Finally, we are gravely concerned about the recent threat to the life
of
Mrs. Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary
and Summary Executions. Members of the Peshawar Chamber of Commerce
in
Pakistan and a section of religious groups have demanded that Mrs.
Jahangir
be arrested and hanged because, they claim "she takes the small
problems of
Pakistan to international forums and creates a bad name for Pakistan."
They
also argue that she is encouraging women and girls to rebel against
their
families. These groups have warned that if the government of Pakistan
does
not take these actions, they will kill her themselves. They have placed
head
money for taking her life. A meeting against Mrs. Jahangir was held
by
supporters of Mr. Ghulum Sarwar, the president of the Peshawar Chamber
of
Commerce and the father of the woman killed in Ms. Jahangir's office
on
April 6. The police are trying to arrest Mr. Sarwar for his involvement
in
the murder of his daughter.
We urgently call on the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the
UN
Commission on Human Rights to take serious note of this incident,
especially
in light of the recent passage of the human rights defenders Declaration,
and take all steps within their power to secure her safety. We also
urge the
government of Pakistan to ensure Mrs. Jahangir's safety and take appropriate
action against those threatening her life.
Women and men who defend the human rights of women are threatened
and killed
in all countries of the world. Today we are wearing white arm bands
to
indicate our solidarity with human rights defenders who seek justice
in this
case and in other such situations, as well as to mourn the victims
of crimes
against women.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Case PAK 120499.VAW
At the request of an international coalition of women's organisations,
the International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Pakistan.
Brief description of the situation:
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned over
the
killing of Ms. Saima Sarwar, a 29 year old woman, mother of two
boys,
by a gunman hired by her family. She was killed on 6 April 1999
in
the offices her attorneys: Asma Jahangir, United Nations Special
Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary and Summary Executions and
her
sister Ms. Hina Jilani, a human rights advocate, in Lahore, Pakistan.
According to the information, Ms. Saima Sarwar, who lived in Peshawar
with her parents for four years after leaving her husband, fled
to
Lahore after her family threatened to kill her if she tried to divorce
her husband. She was given shelter at Dastak, a organisation run
by the
legal aid team headed by Ms. Hina Jillani and Ms. Asma Jahangir.
Ms.
Hina Jilani was representing Ms. Saima Sarwar in her divorce procedure.
Following her escape, Ms. Saima Sarwar's family said they were prepared
to accept her divorce and she agreed to meet her mother (but no
other
members of the family) in Ms Jilaniís office so that they
could give
her the appropriate papers. Her mother did not come alone as agreed,
and before the meeting began, the killer - a driver in the government
Education Directorate in Peshawar - drew out a pistol and shot Ms.
Saima Sarwar through the head. She died instantly. A shot fired
at Ms.
Hina Jilani missed. The killer was shot dead by a security guard.
This murder is another in a series of so-called "honour killings"
-
killing by family members to protect the "honour" of the
family.
Instead of protecting the women, in many cases the police and the
judiciary side with the family and the killings often go unpunished.
In addition, the family of Saima Sarwar are apparently closely
connected to the government and the International Secretariat has
serious grounds for concern that these links may prejudice the
investigation and prosecution of those involved.
The International Secretariat has to further express its grave
concern over death threats made to Ms. Asma Jahangir. Members of
the Peshawar Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan and a section of
religious groups have demanded that she be arrested and hanged,
claiming that Ms. Asma Jahangir "takes the small problems of
Pakistan to international forums and creates a bad name for
Pakistan." Furthermore, they also argue that she encourages
women and girls to rebel against their families. These groups
have warned that if the government of Pakistan does not take
action, they will kill her themselves. Moreover, it is alleged
that they have announced a monetary reward for anyone taking her
life.
Ms. Asma Jahangir is currently attending the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, where she presented her
first report as UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial,
Arbitrary and Summary Executions. OMCT is gravely concerned
about the safety of Ms. Asma Jahangir at her return in Pakistan.
Action requested:
Please write to the authorities of Pakistan urging them to:
i. guarantee the security and the physical and psychological
integrity of Ms. Asma Jahangir and Ms. Hina Jilani
ii. guarantee an impartial and exhaustive inquiry into the murder
of
Ms. Saima Sarwar, bring those responsible before a competent
and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or
administrative sanctions provided by law;
iii.publicly condemn such "honour killings", and all other
forms of
violence against women and ensure all human rights of women as
guaranteed in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women, the Declaration on the
Elimination of Violence Against Women and other human rights
instruments;
iv. ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and
international human rights standards.
Addresses:
President Rafiq Tarar, Office of the President, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Fax : + 92 51 920 40 67/921 10 18
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Office of the Prime Minister, Islamabad,
Pakistan.
Fax : + 92 51 920 88 90/920 15 45
Pakistan Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva,
Fax : 0041 22 734 80 85
The Embassy of Pakistan in your respective countries.
Geneva, 12 April 1999
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT)
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
OrganizaciÛn Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT)
37-39 Rue de Vermont
Case postale 119
CH-1211 Geneve 20 CIC
Suisse/Switzerland
Tel. : 0041 22 733 31 40
Fax : 0041 22 733 10 51
E-mail : omct@omct.org
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