Monday 28 February 2011
Thursday 17 February 2011
stopping sexual violence and harassment with technology
There was a lot of buzz created by the assault CBS reporter Lara Logan in Tahrir Square. On the twittersphere a lot of the discussion has pointed to the blame and owness that is placed on the survivors - Still!
There are a lot of tools out there to break the stigma of talking about sexual harassment and assault. A number of which were spearheaded in the middle east where taunting and catcalling are endemic, and little fault or blame is placed on the perpetrator. Instead, the survivor - primarily women - is blamed and her freedoms are curtailed in order to preserve honour and to "prevent" these acts from "occurring again" (wear less revealing clothes, don't go outside without a male escort etc.).
Despite tireless efforts to dispel myths surrounding SGBV, it still occurs and can be difficult to combat because there is so little hard data on the topic. This is why new initiatives using technology to map from the ground up are so important.
Here are some tools I have come across:
Hollaback : Global site using online and mobile technology to track and collect data/information on street harassment.
HarassMap Similar to HollaBack, spear headed in Egypt (in arabic)
There is Visualising Women's Rights in the Arab World is an online space for women's rights initiatives including SGBV work.
In DRC there is Si jeunesse savait an online and mobile support network for young feminists. (in French)
A general project taking place during the 16 days of Activism is Take Back the Tech imploring women to use technology to combat violence against women and girls and highlighting projects. It has a handy map of what is going on tech wise associated with the project around the globe.
On a more national/state driven and generic level there's CartoCrime, and initiative by l'Observatoire National de la Délinquance in France that maps crime in general. (in French)
These are the few I can think of with websites. Any more? (I'm sure there are tons)
There are a lot of tools out there to break the stigma of talking about sexual harassment and assault. A number of which were spearheaded in the middle east where taunting and catcalling are endemic, and little fault or blame is placed on the perpetrator. Instead, the survivor - primarily women - is blamed and her freedoms are curtailed in order to preserve honour and to "prevent" these acts from "occurring again" (wear less revealing clothes, don't go outside without a male escort etc.).
Despite tireless efforts to dispel myths surrounding SGBV, it still occurs and can be difficult to combat because there is so little hard data on the topic. This is why new initiatives using technology to map from the ground up are so important.
Here are some tools I have come across:
Hollaback : Global site using online and mobile technology to track and collect data/information on street harassment.
HarassMap Similar to HollaBack, spear headed in Egypt (in arabic)
There is Visualising Women's Rights in the Arab World is an online space for women's rights initiatives including SGBV work.
In DRC there is Si jeunesse savait an online and mobile support network for young feminists. (in French)
A general project taking place during the 16 days of Activism is Take Back the Tech imploring women to use technology to combat violence against women and girls and highlighting projects. It has a handy map of what is going on tech wise associated with the project around the globe.
On a more national/state driven and generic level there's CartoCrime, and initiative by l'Observatoire National de la Délinquance in France that maps crime in general. (in French)
These are the few I can think of with websites. Any more? (I'm sure there are tons)
Monday 14 February 2011
Egypt! Where are the women?!
As the Egyptian government is transformed a great opportunity presents itself. Women are often excluded or at the very least underrepresented in state affairs, peace processes and statebuilding exercises. Egypt is presented with an opportunity to buck the trend and involve women in the formation of their new state governing apparatus. A democratic reform process has the aim of creating a freer, fairer governing apparatus that respects the rights and will of all people, including women. This end goal is impossible without the inclusion of women, a point recognised and highlighted internationally through the Beijing Declaration and subsequent UN resolutions. Yet women still remain excluded. Journalist and political commentator Mona Eltahawy tweeted on 14 February that despite women being active in the Egyptian revolution, they have been all but excluded from talks with the military. Only one woman, Asmaa Mahfouz, who’s Vlogs are cited as one of the drivers of the youth movement, was present at talks between youth organisers and the military. Egypt and other stakeholders need to recognise the importance of having a balanced perspective when building a new governance structure. Egypt can provide women with an equal voice, unprecedented in that region (or further afield for that matter). Let us support women activists in having their voices heard.
Friday 11 February 2011
Today we are all Egyptian.
Alhumdelah. Mubarak and his friends have listened to the 18-days worth of protests. The army will take over, and oversee a hopefully peaceful transition of power and reform. Let us hope that Egyptians will have the opportunity to actively and substantially support the change in their country. Let us hope that results of this change will be recognised by the international stakeholders (i.e. what happened in Gaza/West Bank elections). Let us hope they get what they have sacrificed for (and that we leave them alone to do it).
But for now, let us celebrate with Egyptians. They have shown us a fine example of peaceful activism to bring about change. Something we can learn from. Today we are all Egyptians.
But for now, let us celebrate with Egyptians. They have shown us a fine example of peaceful activism to bring about change. Something we can learn from. Today we are all Egyptians.
Tuesday 8 February 2011
"We" supported technology in favour of facilitating democracy. But "we" didn't mean use it! (and more hypocrisy etc)
Across the Middle East and North Africa, most obviously in Egypt, populations are coming out in droves in support of regime change. One of the many positive outcomes from the surprise overturn of the Tunisian government by the Tunisian public is that it provided an example of what masses can do. It created a fearless public face that spread to young people across the region, telling them change is possible, and you do not have to live without rights.
According to the Carnegie Foundation two-thirds of the population of Egypt are under the age of 30 and nine out of ten are jobless. This is similar to the rest of the region, where the Middle East Initiative has placed 65% of the population under 30 years of age. For many, their current regimes are all they have ever known in terms of government. Realising this, innovative programs for youth engagement throughout the Middle East provided and supported by western donors, such as the United States, have promoted the use of new technologies to build bridges and support democracy, as well as to prepare them for the work force. Programs meant as extracurricular activities promoting peace and dialogue have also prepared youth to take the reins in their country and become a driving force for change. Through connectivity, they have learned of the perceived social and economic benefits of democracy. Now youth are pouring out onto the streets in search of these democratic and social rights. They crave the ability to make effective change in their own country, rather than pandering to the concerns of an outside power. They want a real voice – and we have given it to them. Our muted responses, are an attempt to say “speak out, but not too loudly”, but in doing this, the voices will only get louder.
Using mobile phones, social networking sites and proxies to get around firewalls, youth aid each other in banding together and getting a message out to a wider, begrudged audience. The fearlessness displayed by Tunisians and now by more and more Egyptians has shown the level of anger that exists among the young populations, the power and popularity of these new tools, and also how angry people get when they are taken away. The grievances are endemic and structural. They are about access to food, jobs, inflation, freer and fairer governance, services, safety and security, and so much more. No fix can be quick. People on the ground know this. What they do not want to see is more of the same old guard. A way to prevent this is to engage those who were most instrumental in mobilising the country. Actively engage youth.
Tunisia’s new transitional government has incorporated young activists in the cabinet. Persons such as Slim Amamou (@Slim404) are available on Twitter to their constituents. There could be important lessons drawn from this case. Greater support for change in the way that Tunisia and other governments’ reform can be a model for the rest of the Middle East. What governments should not do is pick sides. This is a reform that needs to be driven from the bottom up. Support should be provided accordingly.
Youth engagement needs to continue at a broader level, making sure the voices of both young men and young women are heard. A number of men have emerged as potential opposition leaders, but few women have been catapulted to the forefront. This is an opportunity to bring women (note: plural) to a negotiating table, ensure their viewpoints are being heard, and quell fears of conservative governance.
Overall, if the West and – and other current regimes - wants stability in Egypt and wider region, the viewpoints of all must be heard, and respected. Canada can play a strong role in supporting a new government, providing and advocating for assistance to reform the constitution, as well as support whole of government reform to ministries and services with the aim of greater civilian oversight, stronger judiciary, and a vibrant civil society. Canada, as a multicultural country, with visible and strong minorities and a history of peace we have a lot to share with our friends in Egypt.
According to the Carnegie Foundation two-thirds of the population of Egypt are under the age of 30 and nine out of ten are jobless. This is similar to the rest of the region, where the Middle East Initiative has placed 65% of the population under 30 years of age. For many, their current regimes are all they have ever known in terms of government. Realising this, innovative programs for youth engagement throughout the Middle East provided and supported by western donors, such as the United States, have promoted the use of new technologies to build bridges and support democracy, as well as to prepare them for the work force. Programs meant as extracurricular activities promoting peace and dialogue have also prepared youth to take the reins in their country and become a driving force for change. Through connectivity, they have learned of the perceived social and economic benefits of democracy. Now youth are pouring out onto the streets in search of these democratic and social rights. They crave the ability to make effective change in their own country, rather than pandering to the concerns of an outside power. They want a real voice – and we have given it to them. Our muted responses, are an attempt to say “speak out, but not too loudly”, but in doing this, the voices will only get louder.
Using mobile phones, social networking sites and proxies to get around firewalls, youth aid each other in banding together and getting a message out to a wider, begrudged audience. The fearlessness displayed by Tunisians and now by more and more Egyptians has shown the level of anger that exists among the young populations, the power and popularity of these new tools, and also how angry people get when they are taken away. The grievances are endemic and structural. They are about access to food, jobs, inflation, freer and fairer governance, services, safety and security, and so much more. No fix can be quick. People on the ground know this. What they do not want to see is more of the same old guard. A way to prevent this is to engage those who were most instrumental in mobilising the country. Actively engage youth.
Tunisia’s new transitional government has incorporated young activists in the cabinet. Persons such as Slim Amamou (@Slim404) are available on Twitter to their constituents. There could be important lessons drawn from this case. Greater support for change in the way that Tunisia and other governments’ reform can be a model for the rest of the Middle East. What governments should not do is pick sides. This is a reform that needs to be driven from the bottom up. Support should be provided accordingly.
Youth engagement needs to continue at a broader level, making sure the voices of both young men and young women are heard. A number of men have emerged as potential opposition leaders, but few women have been catapulted to the forefront. This is an opportunity to bring women (note: plural) to a negotiating table, ensure their viewpoints are being heard, and quell fears of conservative governance.
Overall, if the West and – and other current regimes - wants stability in Egypt and wider region, the viewpoints of all must be heard, and respected. Canada can play a strong role in supporting a new government, providing and advocating for assistance to reform the constitution, as well as support whole of government reform to ministries and services with the aim of greater civilian oversight, stronger judiciary, and a vibrant civil society. Canada, as a multicultural country, with visible and strong minorities and a history of peace we have a lot to share with our friends in Egypt.
Wednesday 2 February 2011
All I am watching...
I'm glued to what is happening in Egypt. Fortunately for me I can watch this for work on Al Jazeera. The youth-led revolution is coming to a head with the government controlled, police enforced "pro-government supporters". In a future Egypt, it will be interesting to see how people can make amends with a police force that has been equated to thugs.
Other Arab regimes are falling in line, and trying to buck the trend - Jordan and Yemen in particular. I am most interested (aside from current events) in what will happen with the Palestinians. Will this open an opportunity to leverage on their side a better deal from the peace process? Or will it drive young people to protest en masse (more than usual) against their own government and their current situation? Does the momentum created in Tunisia compounded with the release of the Palestinian Papers provide the perfect opportunity for change?
Other Arab regimes are falling in line, and trying to buck the trend - Jordan and Yemen in particular. I am most interested (aside from current events) in what will happen with the Palestinians. Will this open an opportunity to leverage on their side a better deal from the peace process? Or will it drive young people to protest en masse (more than usual) against their own government and their current situation? Does the momentum created in Tunisia compounded with the release of the Palestinian Papers provide the perfect opportunity for change?
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