CSW has given evidence at the UN Human Rights Commission in defence of women around the world. Focussing on Egypt, Pakistan, and China, CSW presented compelling evidence of rape, forced conversion, abduction, forced sterilisation and terminations and even murder.

The statement, presented to the Commission now in session in Geneva, referred first to the country of Pakistan where the value of women is nowhere more starkly displayed than in the courtroom. The evidence of a Christian woman is valued at one quarter of that of a Muslim man and her value in compensatory damages in a murder case is just one eighth of his. In addition, the evidence of a Christian woman is not admissible in cases that are filed under the Shariah (Islamic) law although such women are subject to its jurisdiction.

Women are further discriminated against by rules of evidence in rape cases that can turn the victim into a criminal. Four male adult witnesses are required for rape to be proven. If this is not possible, or the case fails for other reasons, then the victim can face a charge of adultery under the Hadood Ordinance. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reports that this accounts for over a third of the female prison population and that over 75 percent of women who suffer rape end up being charged with Hadood offences when they seek justice. In one notable case a blind girl, Safia Bibi, was raped by her employer. Naturally she could not identify her attacker in the normal way because of her disability. She was charged with adultery under the Zina Ordinance and sentenced to three years and five lashes.

Turning to Egypt, CSW drew attention to the horrifying numbers of Christian women abducted or coerced into conversion to Islam. Six hundred cases were reported to the office of the Coptic Patriarch, Pope Shenouda III in 1997. A young man is today on death row in Egypt in connection with one such case. On March 16th 1997, 13 year old Theresa Shakir was taken to the police by her schoolteacher and pressured to convert to Islam. After being held incommunicado for 9 days Teresa was finally released. Eight months later Teresa, her parents and her younger brother were found dead, murdered by unknown assailants. Teresa was dead with her stomach cut open and disembowelled. (A method used by some Islamic extremist groups against those accused of apostasy). Her elder brother Adly was detained and tortured before being charged and found guilty of the murder of his family. He has been sentenced to death.

Finally CSW turned their attention to China where severe human rights violations committed in pursuit of the one child policy including forced sterilizations and terminations.

CSW's Advocacy Consultant Elizabeth Batha said, "The suffering of these women is unimaginable. They are voiceless victims, condemned to suffer in silence in the prison of a society that robs them of power. It is therefore essential that those of us who do have a voice use it to speak out on their behalf."

CSW is grateful to Freedom House, for facilitating and supporting our statement at the UN.

For more information, a copy of the statement and/or photographs please contact Tina Lambert at the CSW Office on +44 181 942 8810.