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Respect Universality in Principle and Practice: Defend Women’s Human Rights As women human rights defenders and members of the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRD IC), we note with grave concern the circumstances under which Gita Sahgal, a member of the WHRD IC Executive Committee and head of the Gender Unit of the International Secretariat of Amnesty International (AI), is currently under suspension on the same day that she publicly questioned the specific alliances entered into by AI in its advocacy to defend victims of torture in Guantanamo Bay. We are aware that she is not alone in having brought similar concerns around specific affiliations with members of extremist and fundamentalist groups to the notice of human rights organisations including AI, especially in the context of its Counter Terrorism with Justice Campaign. This issue was recently discussed in a working group on direct accountability of religious fundamentalist political forces convened during the Strategic Conversation: Addressing Gaps in the Defence of Women Human Rights Defenders organised by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) in collaboration with the WHRD IC last 27 – 30June 2009. As one of the members of the WHRD IC, we have worked with AI on several occasions to raise concerns of human rights defenders and have supported its campaigns, particularly on Stop Violence against Women. We join AI in its commitment to the universality of human rights. It is precisely for this reason that we urge AI to uphold women’s human rights as integral to human rights and seriously review its partnerships with those individuals and groups who are allied with forces that have known to have trampled on women’s fundamental freedoms. In the present context of the policy of ‘constructive engagement’ with the Taliban, AI bears the burden of closely scrutinising that its partnerships would in no way condone fundamentalist groups that are accountable for gross violations of women’s human rights, the rights of minorities and indiscriminate attacks on the civilian population in Afghanistan. Amidst the growing tendency of privileging religion and culture at the expense of women’s human rights, we must be vigilant not to undermine the extensive work we have done in exposing religious fundamentalisms and draw attention to the lack of mechanisms for accountability of non-state actors such as powerful fundamentalist forces, which have further empowered religious extremists groups such as the Taliban. The language of human rights defenders introduced in the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders clearly stipulates that defenders of human rights must espouse the principles of universality of human rights and non-violence. It also invokes that “everyone who, as a result of his or her profession can affect the human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms of others should respect those rights and freedoms and comply with relevant national and international standards”. (Article 11) Individuals also have an important role and a responsibility in contributing to the promotion of the right of everyone to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Defenders and other human rights instruments can be fully realized. (Article 18) Considering the credibility of AI as an international human rights organization, its positioning bestows political legitimacy on those with whom it forms alliances or partnerships and its choices of alliances and partners affect the shared space for the defence of rights globally. As such, we call upon AI to review the criteria by which it establishes associations and partnerships with victims of human rights abuse and organisations that represent victims, and to publicly affirm its commitment to refrain from giving legitimacy to individuals and organisations that espouse political beliefs and actions that undermine and negate universal principles of non-discrimination and respect for gender equality. AI has to help clarify the distinction between defending the right of all people to be free from torture and arbitrary arrest and detention, and entitled to due process and fair trial, and providing them with legitimacy by inviting them to share public platforms with us. Given the complexity of this issue, what is needed is an open debate, not a censoring or closure of discussion on this important concern. In AI’s inquiry following Gita’s suspension, we hope that the focus remains on confronting the critical concerns raised above, not simply on examining and passing judgement on her actions. It is an opportunity for AI to be transparent and disclose its procedures and criteria for giving someone as controversial as Moazzam Begg a political platform. In the process of its inquiry, we also expect that applicable labour standards and respect for due process is accorded to Gita and that she has right to representation in defence of her actions. We extend our solidarity and support to Gita as a fellow woman human rights defender. Endorsed by: Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID); BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights; Information Monitor (INFORM); MADRE (International Women’s Rights Organisation); Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML)
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