AUTHOR
BY LISA JUNG, ROBIN DIETEREN, HELENA PARISE SANVICENTE & SIAVASH GHASEMI
THIS WEEKS ISSUE OF THE BLOG CONCERNS THE TARGETING OF CHILDREN IN THE ONGOING PROTESTS AGAINST LUKASHENKO, THE PROHIBITION TO DISCRIMINATE BASED ON DISABILITY OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN THE DUTCH CONSTITUTION, THE ABORTION LAWS IN HONDURAS, THE DUTCH ADOPTION PROCESS AND THE SITUATION IN MYANMAR.
AUTHORITIES IN BELARUS TARGET CHILDREN TO SUPPRESS DISSENTING OPINIONS
BELARUSIAN AUTHORITIES ARE MAKING AN INCREASINGLY DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO SUPPRESS DISSENTING THOUGHTS THROUGH THREATS, INTIMIDATION AND ALSO PERSECUTION OF CHILDREN, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAID A DAY BEFORE THE PROTESTS IN THE COUNTRY REACHED THEIR SIX MONTH ‘MILESTONE’. THE PROTESTS STARTED AFTER THE DISPUTED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS ON AUGUST 9, 2020. PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS EN MASSE TO DEMAND THE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT LUKASHENKO. AMNESTY HAS STARTED THE #STANDWITHBELARUS CAMPAIGN TO CREATE AWARENESS SURROUNDING THIS ISSUE. SOME CHILDREN FACE YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT, WHILE OTHERS LIVE IN FEAR THAT THEIR PARENTS WILL BE IMPRISONED OR PLACED UNDER STATE CARE. GOVERNMENT HOSTAGES EVEN VERY YOUNG CHILDREN OF 8 YEARS OLD ARE THREATENED WITH REPRISALS AT SCHOOL AGAINST THEIR POLITICALLY ACTIVE PARENTS. THERE ARE ALSO THREATS TO TAKE CHILDREN AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS AND PLACE THEM UNDER STATE CARE. IN EFFECT, THEY HAVE BECOME HOSTAGES OF THE GOVERNMENT.
‘THE CONSTITUTION IS LIKE A HOUSE IN WHICH WE LIVE'
LAST TUESDAY THE DUTCH SENATE (DE EERSTE KAMER) OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO BAR DISCRIMINATION BASED ON DISABILITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION. CURRENTLY THE ARTICLE EXPLICITLY PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION ON THE GROUNDS OF RELIGION, BELIEF, POLITICAL OPINION, RACE, AND GENDER. IN 2001 THE NETHERLANDS INTRODUCED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. ON APRIL 1ST OF SAID YEAR TWO MEN WHERE TO BE JOINED IN HOLY MATRIMONY FOR THE FIRST TIME. TWENTY YEARS LATER, HOPEFULLY, ANOTHER IMPORTANT MILESTONE WILL BE ACHIEVED. THE AMENDMENT WAS PROPOSED BY D66 (SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS), PVDA (LABOUR) AND GROENLINKS (GREEN LEFT) AND MORE THAN TWO THIRDS (58 OF THE 75 SENATORS) OF THE SENATE VOTED IN FAVOUR OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. ONLY THE PVV (GEERT WILDERS’ PARTY), THE SGP (ORTHODOX PROTESTANT) AND SENATOR VAN PAREREN (FORMER MEMBER OF FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY) VOTED AGAINST. FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY WAS ABSENT. SINCE PEOPLE FROM THE LGBTQ-COMMUNITY ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY THAN HETEROSEXUALS TO DEAL WITH VIOLENCE, THIS AMENDMENT IS MUCH NEEDED. SEVEN OUT OF TEN LGBTQ-MEMBERS HAVE EXPERIENCED "SOME FORM OF DISCRIMINATORY VIOLENCE," ACCORDING TO SURVEYS CONDUCTED WITH VICTIMS. THE RESEARCH WAS PART OF A REPORT COMMISSIONED BY THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE IN 2009.
ASTRID OOSENBRUG, CHAIR OF THE COC (THE OLDEST EXISTING LGBT-ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD) SAID:
“THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL AND EMOTIONAL MOMENT FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN THE NETHERLANDS.” SHE CALLS IT “AN ASSIGNMENT FOR TODAY, TO PROMOTE THAT THE GOVERNMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, TACKLES VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE OF THE LGBTQ-COMMUNITY. AND A GUARANTEE FOR THE FUTURE, SO THAT IN 50 OR 100 YEARS' TIME WE CAN STILL ENJOY OUR HARD-WON RIGHTS, SUCH AS THE RIGHT TO OPEN MARRIAGE." THE COC HAS BEEN ADVOCATING TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF LGBTQ-RIGHTS IN THE CONSTITUTION FOR ALMOST TWENTY YEARS.
VERA BERGKAMP (D66), ONE OF THE PROPOSERS OF THE AMENDMENT, SAID:
“THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL AND EMOTIONAL MOMENT FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN THE NETHERLANDS.” SHE CALLS IT “AN ASSIGNMENT FOR TODAY, TO PROMOTE THAT THE GOVERNMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, TACKLES VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE OF THE LGBTQ-COMMUNITY. AND A GUARANTEE FOR THE FUTURE, SO THAT IN 50 OR 100 YEARS' TIME WE CAN STILL ENJOY OUR HARD-WON RIGHTS, SUCH AS THE RIGHT TO OPEN MARRIAGE."
THE COC HAS BEEN ADVOCATING TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF LGBTQ-RIGHTS IN THE CONSTITUTION FOR ALMOST TWENTY YEARS.
VERA BERGKAMP (D66), ONE OF THE PROPOSERS OF THE AMENDMENT, SAID:
"TODAY WE ARE TAKING AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR THE DISABLED, LESBIANS, GAYS, BISEXUALS, AND FOR THE WHOLE SOCIETY. SINCE THE SENATE HAS AGREED TO EXPAND ARTICLE 1 OF THE CONSTITUTION WITH TWO PROHIBITIONS ON DISCRIMINATION WITH SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND DISABILITY, WE ARE SETTING A CLEAR STANDARD. DISCRIMINATION ON THESE TWO GROUNDS IS UNACCEPTABLE. AS POLITICIANS, WE SHOW THAT WE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THESE PEOPLE. BECAUSE THEY LOVE WHO THEY LOVE, BECAUSE THEY ARE WHO THEY ARE."
BECAUSE IT INVOLVES A CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, FOR IT TO BECOME LAW THE PLAN MUST BE APPROVED AGAIN BY A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY OF BOTH CHAMBERS. THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN AFTER THE ELECTIONS IN MARCH. THE COMPOSITION OF THE SENATE IS NOT EXPECTED TO CHANGE BEFORE THE SECOND READING. NEVERTHELESS, THIS VOTE IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
ABORTION LAWS IN HONDURAS
HONDURAS IS ONE OF THE FEW COUNTRIES WHERE ABORTION IS PROHIBITED IN ANY CASE INCLUDING RAPE, SERIOUS MALFORMATIONS OF THE FETUS, INCEST AND EVEN IN CASES WHERE WOMAN’S LIFE IS ENDANGERED DUE PREGNANCY.
THE LAWMAKERS OF HONDURAS HAVE CHANGED THE COUNTRIES CONSTITUTION TO MAKE IT MUCH HARDER TO LEGALIZE ABORTION IN THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY. THIS NEW REFORM IS REFERRED AS “SHIELD AGAINST ABORTION IN HONDURAS” AND IT RAISES THE CONGRESSIONAL VOTING THRESHOLD REQUIRED TO CHANGE THE ABORTION LAW. FOLLOWING THE NEW AMENDMENT, 96 VOTES FROM THE 128 DEPUTIES IN THE CONGRESS ARE NOW REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MAKE ANY FUTURE MODIFICATIONS REGARDING ABORTION LAW.
ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION PUBLISHED IN 2020, UNSAFE ABORTIONS ACCOUNT FOR BETWEEN 4.7% AND 13.2% OF MATERNAL DEATHS GLOBALLY, EACH YEAR. THE REPORT ALSO NOTES THAT "RESTRICTIVE LAWS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THE RATE OF ABORTION." MOREOVER, WHEN WE FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY IN HONDURAS, WOMEN'S RIGHTS CENTER ESTIMATE THAT BETWEEN 50,000 AND 80,000 ABORTIONS OCCUR IN THE COUNTRY EACH YEAR.
THE COUNTRY HAS SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN SEXUAL VIOLENCE, IN 2017 THE COUNTRY REGISTERED MOVER 2,000 AND THE OFFICIAL OF POLICE INVESTIGATION, DAVID HERNANDEZ STATED TAT BETWEEN 3 AND 4 PERPETUATORS ARE BEING DETAINED EVERYDAY REPORTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE MAKING IT THE COUNTRY WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF SEXUAL ABUSE REPORTS IN SOUTH AMERICA.
NETHERLANDS SUSPENDS INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS AFTER UNCOVERING ABUSES ON THE 8TH OF FEBRUARY 2021, THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THE SUSPENSION OF INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS. THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE AFTER A GOVERNMENT COMMISSION REPORTED STRUCTURAL ISSUES AND ABUSES IN ADOPTION CASES RANGING FROM 1967 TO 1998. THE JOUSTRA COMMISSION LAUNCHED THE INVESTIGATION UNDER PRESSURE FROM GROWN-UP ADOPTEES WHO, WHEN RESEARCHING THEIR ROOTS, FOUND THAT THEIR PAPERS HAD BEEN FORGED OR THAT THEIR ADOPTION HAD BEEN ILLEGAL. THE REPORT BROUGHT TO LIGHT CASES OF FORGERY OF DOCUMENTS, CHILD TRAFFICKING, FRAUD, AND CORRUPTION. RIGHTS MINISTER SANDER DEKKER ANNOUNCED THE HALT, APOLOGIZING TO THE FAMILIES HARMED BY THIS SYSTEM AND REITERATING THAT ACTION MUST BE TAKEN TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL PARENTS. NO DEADLINE HAS BEEN GIVEN ON THE SUSPENSION. WITH ELECTIONS COMING UP IN MARCH, IT WILL BE THE NEW CABINET’S TASK TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS IN THE COUNTRY. PARENT COUPLES WHO ALREADY HAVE A SO-CALLED “PRINCIPLE PERMISSION” CAN STILL COMPLETE THE PROCEDURE AFTER AN ADDITIONAL TEST. NEW APPLICATIONS TO START AN ADOPTION PROCEDURE WILL NOT BE PROCESSED FOR THE TIME BEING.
MYANMAR COUP: PROTESTS CONTINUE AS COUNTRY GETS SANCTIONED PROTESTS HAVE ERUPTED ACROSS MYANMAR AS DAYS PASS SINCE MILITARY FORCES TOOK CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT ON FEBRUARY 1ST. WHILE THERE WAS AN INITIAL HESITANCY TO TAKE TO THE STREETS IN THE FACE OF THE MILITARY'S BLOODY REPRESSION, CROWDS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS HAVE NOW BEEN PROTESTING FOR DAYS CONSECUTIVELY, DEMANDING THAT THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT BE RESTORED. THIS WEEK HAS SEEN GROWING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TAKING ACTION TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY IN MYANMAR, INCLUDING SOME POLICE OFFICERS IN KAYAH STATE WHO BROKE RANKS TO JOIN THE PROTESTORS. WHILE MOST OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE BEEN PEACEFUL, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REPORTS OF VIOLENCE, INJURIES, AND AT LEAST ONE DEATH. THE HEAD OF THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS DEMANDED THAT PEOPLE STOP PROTESTING AND GATHERING DESPITE THE ONGOING PANDEMIC RISKS AND URGED PROFESSIONALS TO "RETURN TO THEIR DUTIES." MEANWHILE, ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 11TH), US PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS ANNOUNCED SANCTIONS ON COMPANIES FOR THEIR ASSOCIATION TO THE COUP AND SEVERAL ACTING GOVERNMENT MEMBERS. MILITARY LEADER SENIOR GENERAL MIN AUNG HLAING WAS ALREADY UNDER SANCTIONS IMPOSED BY THE US IN 2019 OVER ABUSES AGAINST THE ROHINGYA MUSLIMS AND OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS OF PEOPLE. OTHER COUNTRIES, SUCH AS THE UNITED KINGDOM, ARE ALSO CONSIDERING POSSIBLE SANCTIONS.
Comments