AFRICA

The effects of years of missionary activity has had the effect of superimposing western superstitions upon indigenous ones, with all the added problems they bring.

In the areas of religious attitudes, doctrine and practice, on women - particularly in the areas of sexual and reproductive rights, use of barrier methods of birth control in controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS has been catastrophic. It has also seriously exacerbated the problems of over population and the consequent poverty resulting in the inability to sustain healthy, educated and adequately housed populations. The political activity of the Vatican, US Evangelical Right, at the level of the UN, as well as on the ground through religious missions has impeded UN health and population control programmes by withholding funding for any that include contraceptive and abortion services or counselling. While the strong support for Islamic law in some countries has lead to harsh, cruel and unjust treatment of women.

Women in Nigeria - Athanasius Nweke & Gloria Iheme

Unsafe abortions cause 20 000 deaths a year in Nigeria

Abiodun Raufu Lagos

The Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Nigeria estimates that about 20 000 Nigerian women die from unsafe abortions each year.

The figure comes from studies carried out by the society and Nigeria's Ministry of Health. The estimate also tallies with the result of a nationwide survey conducted by Friday Okonofua, dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Benin and executive director of the Women's Health and Action Research Centre in Nigeria. This survey showed that an estimated 610 000 unsafe abortions a year are carried out in Nigeria, and that about half of the 20 000 women who die from the complications of unsafe abortion are adolescents. The death rate from unsafe abortions is thought to be one of the highest in Africa.

Abortion is illegal in Nigeria, and most medical practitioners refuse to conduct abortions because of fear of the legal consequences. The result is that most women wanting an abortion tend to patronise unqualified practitioners who offer quick and cheap abortions.

"This high rate of mortality associated with unsafe abortion is due to the prevailing restrictive abortion law in the country, which encourages women to use unqualified backstreet abortionists for the procurement of abortion," says the society's president, Linus Ajabor.

Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortalities in the world—1500 women per 100 000 births.

"The abortion rate in Nigeria is 45 per 1000," says Professor Okonofua. "About 80% of the women we interviewed said they have had an abortion in their lifetime, and that is the highest rate ever in any country in the world."

About a million births a year in Nigeria are to teenage mothers, according to former minister of health Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, and abortion complications are responsible for 72% of all deaths among teenagers below the age of 19.

Professor Okonofua said that one major reason why the abortion rate in Nigeria was so high was that only about 6% of women of reproductive age practise birth control.

The lack of enthusiasm for birth control is thought to be due to ignorance, as well as cultural and religious inhibitions. "A lot of women believe that family planning methods can harm and thus regard it to be unsafe and dangerous," said Professor Okonofua.

BMJ November 2002

Civil and Political Rights - Women's equal political representation and participation in policy and decision making at all levels in societies in fundamental in the achieving of equality and the realisation of full civic and political rights for women. Women need equal access to and full participation in power structures, decision making and governments. Capacity for woman leadership needs to be built in all parts of the world and in all societies and organisations. (Conference Statement)

Separation of religion and state: organised religion always has been and remains the greatest enemy of women's rights. In religious teachings of all the world's religions, women are considered inferior and therefore subjugated to men. The constitutional separation of religion and state is fundamental to the empowerment of women. States based on secular principles are the only ones that can allow and promote equality between women and men and the freedom on conscience and belief for all their citizens.

The conference also agreed that women and men needed to stand side by side to fight for the equality between the sexes.

Within the Humanist movement, the issues of women's empowerment must be mainstreamed. All member organisations of IHEU are urged to put gender on their political agenda. They are also urged to look within the policies and practices of their own organisations to ensure that the gender imbalance is addressed, that the voices of women are both heard and listened to, and that the leadership of women is encouraged, sustained and developed

Civil and Political Rights of Women (India & Pakistan)- Sangeeta Mall

What has a strong, almost overpowering influence on civil society in countries like India and Pakistan? Certainly not the Constitution of these countries, a document that, in India, has its roots in the liberal tradition arising out of the French and American Declaration of Independence. When India and Pakistan became independent and free of British domination, they decided to adopt a Constitution, in India, one that grants equal rights to all women. In Pakistan, submitting to the strident demands of the mullahs, the Sharia't law was adopted for personal law. India, in contrast, adopted a secular position. Fifty years down the line, there is not much to choose between the two countries as far as the rights of women are concerned.

To what extent can the Constitution prevail upon the law of the land? De facto, the law of the land has become one that unabashedly keeps women in a second class position. It is not the Constitution but the Laws of Manu and the religious texts that are followed when the question of allocating status to various types of people arises.

Quite clearly the status is not equal. A woman, according to Manu (the ancient law-giver of India, and particularly of the Hindus), when she is born, belongs to her father, at the time of marriage to her husband and in old age, to her son. In this entire equation, there is no mention of her status as an individual.

Thus whether it be India or Pakistan, for the most part women are reduced to the status of chattels, with few economic, civil or political rights. Can Constitutional provisions change this situation? Not particularly, unless the state becomes a fascist one, able to impose its will on thepeople unilaterally.

Civil society has to give thought to how to make one half of its population productive,constructive and functional in its own right. Selfish, vested interests will continue to

prevent such a development, and a strong alternative discourse has to directly counter

this agenda.

Sangeeta Mall: is Managing Editor of The Radical Humanist, a monthly journal published by the Indian Renaissance Institute, a member organisation of the IHEU. The Radical Humanist enjoys significant repute amongst humanist intellectuals both in India and abroad. She is also a member of the Indian Radical Humanist Association as well as the Centre for the Study of Social Change, a

Mumbai-based non governmental organisation. In addition she is a frequent contributor to journals like

The Mainstream and the Bulletin of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) of India.

Education of women and girls: education is a human right and an essential tool for achieving equality as it ensures that girls grow up with knowledge of the world, ability for critical thinking and practical skills which lead to self confidence and self respect. Creation of an educational and environment where girls and boys are treated equally and encouraged to achieve their full potential, respecting their freedom of thought and belief, and where educational resources promote non-stereotyped images of women and men, would be effective in the elimination of the causes of discrimination against women and inequalities between women and men.

Empowering Women with Health Education

Geeta Nargund

"If you educate a man, you educate an individual; if you educate a woman, you educate a family" said Mahatma Gandhi. Empowering women with knowledge and awareness about health is fundamental to achieving global health.

Every minute of every day, somewhere in the world and most likely in a developing country, a woman dies from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. When a mother dies, children lose their support and care and therefore the next generation suffers.

There are varied health risks in different parts of the world among women. Mortality and morbidity rates are unacceptable in many developing countries in this new millennium. Health risks related to contraception and conception are two sides of the same coin and could be addressed effectively through health education at primary care level.

Reproductive and sexual health education programmes are the key to moving towards global change and health.

Geeta Nargund

Geeta Nargund is a Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Honorary Consultant in Reproductive Medicine at St Georges Hospital Medical School, London. She is also the Medical Director of the Centre for Reproduction and Advanced Technology (CREATE HEALTH), London.

She has published extensively on the use of Advanced Ultrasound Technology in Reproductive Medicine. She pioneered 'One-Stop' fertility diagnosis using advanced ultrasound technology and published the first scientific paper of cumulative live birth rates with Natural Cycle IVF (IVF without ovarian stimulation).

She is also the Chief Executive of a national charity Women's Health Foundation. Through this charity she is committed to raising public awareness about health and thereby helping women themselves to health.

Geeta is an advisor to two charities supporting rural women and children in India. She is a women's officer in the Labour Party and a prospective Parliamentary Candidate on The National Parliamentary Panel. She has also been a writer and broadcaster in India on women's issues for 15 years.

Prenatal Gender Diagnosis, Sex and Gender Discrimination

Dr. Indu Grewal

Working as Medical Officer in Delhiand and engaged in supervision of Pre-Natal Dignostic Techniques (Prevention of Misuse) Act of Govt. of India in South Delhi, Dr. Grewal conducted a study to assess the implementation of this Act in the District. In many cases, if the parents find that the sex of the baby is female, they opt for an abortion. Dr. Grewal will present the findings of her study as well as examine the situation in neighbouring countries in South Asia. Also, some reflections on the implications of some other modern technological developments ike genetic screening and cloning etc.

Dr. Indu Grewal

MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi; Postgraduate Certificate in health & Family Welfare Management (PGCHFWM) from National Institute of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India. Member of Subcommittee in Prenatal Diagnostic Technique (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act in South Delhi. Conducted Anti-Smoking programmes in South District of Delhi, Directorate of Health.

Women and Superstition in Nepal Maya Devi Katuwal

As member of the women's department of the Humanist Association of Nepal

(HUMAN), and as a health professional, I have been working on the matter of health of women victims of superstition. Witchcraft practices are highly prevalent in Nepalese society, and I will discuss the health matters of victims of witchcraft

practices. The Humanist perspective is the most effective tool in treating and

addressing women issues in Nepal.

Maya Devi Katuwal

Maya Devi is deputy coordinator of the Women's Department of the HUMAN and

lecturer/vice-principal at Om Institute for Health Manpower Development.

Samita Upreti is secretary of the Women's wing of HUMAN (Humanist Association of Nepal).

Women's Struggles in Upper Castes (Study on Bihar State) - Sabita Mishra

Women in the Humanist Movement: An Australian Viewpoint

Ann Young, President, Council of Australian Humanist Societies

sent by E Mail -

Issue 3: In what way can the gender imbalance within the Humanist movement be addressed?

Australian Humanists are unaware of any gender imbalance in the Humanist movement. There is certainly no imbalance here.

In Australia the President of the federal body, the Council of Australian Humanist Societies is female, and so are the Presidents in 3 of the 4 states where we have active groups. 2 of the 3 editors of our newsletters are female. The area which is noticeably dominated by men is the chat room.

At the IHEU Congress in Mumbai it was observed that the important work of the Humanist movement was being done there mainly by women i.e. running the hospitals and training institutions, while the men appeared to do all the supporting clerical and organisational work of running committees. This was also observed at the Atheist Centre in Vijayawada. This might be merely the tourist's impression.

From our position of equality in Australia we would offer this advice to any Humanist society which still has a problem:

Humanism values humans and caring for other humans is the highest priority of any Humanist. Helping to organise a Humanist society is not an acceptable excuse for evading responsibilities for the care of family members who are dependent on care. Humanist men and women always share equally in the care of their children and other dependents.

Rationale

It will be found that when men share all the important responsibilities that traditionally women carried alone, they will no longer be more able to achieve inequitable representation in other spheres. The organisation of Humanist societies will fall upon the shoulders of those who have no dependents. In Australia this is the post-parent cohort.

To involve parents of young children in the active organisation of the Humanist movement requires the invention of a more flexible structure. New criteria for meeting-decorum, orderliness and efficiency will be required. Since the effort involved in meeting even revised criteria would be a heavy burden on any parent attempting to fill the two roles, the expectation of finding many volunteers is not high. The Humanist movement is well advised to relieve their young parents from organisational chores and adapt to the new reality.

Issue 1: What are the main problems of women today on a global scale?

Issue 2: How can the Humanist Movement become involved in solving these problems?

Australian Humanists do not wish to comment on priorities. We await the opinions of others who are closer to the problems.

KEYNOTE

"NO GODS NO MASTERS"

ANNIE LAURIE GAYLOR

Keynote Speech - Click here

Annie Laurie Gaylor is co-founder of Freedom From Religion Foundation and Editor of Freethought Today, in the United States, published ten times a year. Annie Laurie is also co-chair of the Feminist Caucus of the American Humanist Association.

A 1980 Graduate of the Journalism School, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Annie Laurie previously edited The Feminist Connection, a Madison-based monthly advocacy newspaper which she founded, edited and published from 1980 - 1985. The Feminist Connection drew warm acclaim for its exposes, perceptive stories and effective advocacy for women. Author Meridel LeSueur called it the "most nonpatriarchal" feminist periodical of its time.

Annie Laurie is author of Woe to the Women: The Bible Tells Me So (FFRF, Inc., 1981), a

reader's guide to the Bible's treatment of women, in its fifth printing; Betrayal of Trust:

Clergy Abuse of Children (FFRF, Inc., 1988), the first non-fiction book exposing widespread sexual abuse of children by clergymen and Editor of Women Without Superstition: "No Gods

- No Masters" (FFRF, Inc. 1997), an anthology of women freethinkers.

Annie Laurie has appeared on national TV talk-shows in the US, including Tom Snyder's

former "Tomorrow" Show, Sally Jessy Raphael and Donahue's "Last Word," as well as many regional and local TV and radio shows.

Annie Laurie is married to Dan Barker, a musician and former fundamentalist minister, who is now a well known free-thought activist.

Tackling Gender Issues in Norway

Siri Gunn Simonsen

The rights of female citizens of Norway seems very equal to men. For many years we have had laws and regulations to give equal rights, the Equal Status Act, already given in 1978. It was initiated by the Labour party, where the issue was dominated by labour market interest organizations.

Formally and legally, Norwegian women have the same rights as men. However, legal rights have proved insufficient to ensure women's equal status in society, equal access to important societal positions, or an equal share in the distribution of resources. Today statistics show a clear worsening despite many plans to ensure equalization.

The ruling political party is at the moment Christian People's Party, giving new regulations and social support to the parents, making it more lucrative to stay at home with babies than working. This model also makes women loose income, and has led to the advancement of men's conditions. Women still constitute a minority among the ruling elites and still face both horizontal and vertical divisions of labour between the sexes. The fight for equal rights as humans and humanist is a major task I look forward to dig into at the conference!

Siri Gunn Simonsen

52 years old, Siri has a son of 23, and a foster daughter of 17. Siri lives in the central part of Norway. She is a qualified anaesthetic nurse, and a nurse teacher, teaching at the College University of Gjøvik, dept of heath care, lecturing mainly on terminal care/palliative care, ethics, pain relief. She studied Gender and Politics, -and then European Comparative Gender and Politics at the College of Lillehammer. At the moment, she is doing reseach on didactics/porfolios in higher education.

"A member of Humanist Association of Norway since 1980, I am now a member of National Board. I love singing, and am member of a mixed choir. I am fond of nature, have travelled in Europe, in the northern parts of Africa, in Greenland, in Vietnam and in Spitzbergen".

Engendering Change In Scotland

Joan Gibson

Engender was formed in 1993 "to advance the education of the general public about matters relating to the relative position of women and men in Scotland; to promote the equality of women with men and to relieve poverty among women". Engender needed to demonstrate the facts as well as establish a base line from which to build change.

We published a Gender Audit annually for 7 years until the Scottish Executive took over the task in 2000. Hitherto Scottish women had been hidden, either within all-sex Scottish figures or in British statistics. The Gender Audit was produced on a shoe-string by the voluntary work of expert women and quickly received academic and government respect.

Momentous political changes were taking place in Scotland during the 90's and Engender was at the heart of them, making sure that the new Parliament would be more democratic and accessible than the Westminster model, and above all 'women friendly'; hence its hours of work are aligned with school hours and terms.

At present we have gender balance in the convenorships of all Parliamentary committees. The mainstreaming of gender equality in Parliament has been ensured by the appointment of an Ombudsman. Now the Engender Scottish Women's Budget Group works to ensure that gender impact analysis is embedded within public expenditure policies

And at the grass roots Engender continues to offer training programmes to empower women to be involved in every level of public leadership.

Joan Gibson

A happily divorced mother of 3 daughters with 5 grand children, committed feminist and one of the founders of Engender, believing that improving the condition of women will improve life for everyone and everything.

A graduate of the Open University, Joan has worked in nursing and tourism, now in retirement, active in furthering the Green Party and Earth Charter in Scotland. Came late to Humanism from a religious background.

"Challenges to Humanism, despite the 'Officiant' function include an imbalance between the

intellectual and practical. The former tends to attract cerebral men. Women are very practical and are very concerned about peace and the environment, they 'do', they make changes; perhaps that is why there is a gender imbalance within the Humanist movement. However the lack of youth maybe a more urgent problem than the lack of women".

Image of the Perfect Woman in Polish Media and Schools Manuals - Agnieszka Wolk-Laniewska

Middle East

The Muslim countries of the middle east are a focus of attention today because of the rising concern over the ways in which Muslim attitudes, doctrines and practices impinge on the lives of women. The political and military conflict between the Christian idealogues of America and Europe and their political activity in the middle east and the lure of Iraqi oil are also major factors in worsening the problems of women in these countries. For Humanist Women the issues on freedom of the individual, sexual and reproductive rights, health, education and work rights imposed by religion are of special concern. Any conflicts such as those between religious ideologies such as Israel and Palestine, US and Iraq, prevent women and children living happy, productive, normal lives free and equal under the law.

Women's movement for equality in Iraq, Americas New World order, and Political Islam - Houzan Mahmoud

Political Islam & the Secularist Liberationist Women's

Movement in Iran - Azam Kamguian

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The IHEU is circulating the following URLs to draw attention to the plight of women who are the victims of so-called "honour" killings in Turkey and elsewhere.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1132724,00.html

http://www.middleastwomen.org

The former describes a play in Kurdish that describes a true story in graphic detail. The latter is a campaign group fighting for women's rights in Islamic countries.