WUNRN
The Republic
of Tatarstan is a federal subject
of Russia (a republic)
located in the Volga Federal District.
Its capital is the city
of Kazan. Tatarstan has the majority of Russia’s
Muslim Population
Russia-Tatarstan - Forum of Muslim Women Discusses Their Human
Rights
18
November 2014 - “Respect for personality is at the heart of equal opportunities
and personal fulfillment of women in life, career and society,” Ella Pamfylova,
Ombudsperson of the Russian Federation, stressed at the International Forum
“Muslim Women: Human Rights in Today’s World” held recently in Kazan, capital
of the Republic of Tatarstan. The region hosts the majority of Russia’s Muslim
population.
The Forum,
which was organized by the Tatarstan Ombudsperson with the support of Mr.
Ryszard Komenda, OHCHR Senior Human Rights Adviser based in Moscow, Russia, and
his team, brought together around a hundred government representatives, Russian
Human Rights Commissioners, representatives of international organizations and
civil society. Participants addressed a wide range of issues relating to the
enjoyment of women’s rights in the Republic of Tatarstan and other regions of
the Federation, including the North Caucasus.
Among many
themes discussed during the Forum were ways for forming gender tolerance and
for combating domestic violence; strengthening the position and role of women
in society; and empowering them and protecting their rights and interests.
“Women’s
rights are of fundamental importance to every society,” said Hulan Tsedev,
Chief of the Europe and Central Asia Section at the UN Human Rights Office. “In
many societies we see patterns of behavior indicative of a tenacious belief
that women do not have full rights of free choice. Women's empowerment can
unleash advances in economic, social and political development, and greater
social freedom and well-being – to everyone’s benefit, including families and
communities.”
Nahla
Haidar, a member of the UN Committee that monitors States’ compliance with
CEDAW, outlined common trends in discrimination against women, including
domestic and sexual violence, trafficking, forced marriage and harmful
traditional practices; unequal participation in public and economic life;
and sexist stereotypes on women’s and men’s social roles and responsibilities.
She
recalled that the principle of equality between women and men is fundamental to
the enjoyment of the rights enumerated in the Convention, and encouraged
raising awareness and building capacities of different players for its full
implementation worldwide.
Among the
good practices of promoting and protecting human rights on the regional level
was the Human Rights Strategy of the Republic of Tatarstan for a period of
2014-2018, presented by the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of
Tatarstan. The Strategy was adopted by the Prime Minister of Tatarstan,
assigning the principal role of monitoring its implementation to the
Ombudsperson of Tatarstan. The document specifically refers to recommendations
received from UN human rights mechanisms, as well as regional ones. It
also contains an Action Plan, comprising of 80 goals and activities, assigning
responsible government entities, timelines, as well as indicators for
implementation. The OHCHR supported the process by sharing the
international experience and good practices from its work at the field level.
The
Forum’s participants suggested to the Russian Federation and the Republic of
Tatarstan to create a regional mechanism for promotion of women’s
participation, and to develop a regional program for women’s advancement. They
also recommended introducing an assessment of the gender perspective of legal
acts; special municipal and socioeconomic development programs; the creation of
a permanent platform for resolving issues in the advancement of women; and to
focus on protecting the rights of women with disabilities.
The Forum
further underlined the necessity to enforce partnership among civil society,
state authorities, business, and the media, to effectively realize the social
programs devised for the advancement of families, children, and ensuring
equality of women and men in practice.