South Asia Court of Women on Trafficking and HIV/AIDS

[Guest guest]

PRESS RELEASE: South Asia Court of Women on the Violence of Trafficking and

HIV/AIDS Dhaka, Bangladesh August 10-13, 2003

Asian Women’s Human Rights Council (AWHRC) in partnership with the UNDP

Regional HIV and Development Programme (South and North East Asia), is

organising a South Asian Court of Women on the Violence of Trafficking

and HIV/AIDS from August 11-13, 2003. More than 1000 people including

activists, women leaders, policy makers, media representatives, students,

academicians and government representatives from across the region are expected

to participate in this first ever event of its kind in the region.

To be held in the backdrop of increasing violence against women in South Asia,

and their vulnerability to various forms of exploitation, trafficking and

HIV/AIDS; particularly in the context of globalisation, the symbolic Court aims

to catalyse responses from various sectors including Governments and civil

society, that respect the rights of people to move in search of livelihoods and

empower them against exploitation. It seeks to provide a platform to the

survivors of trafficking and HIV/AIDS, to voice their concerns,

share their experiences, and give a powerful human face to the

HIV epidemic.

Trafficking in humans for profit and exploitation is the third largest form of

illegal trade after drugs and arms trafficking. It is a fast rising

trans-border crime that requires multilateral responses from Governments, civil

society and others. However, because of the complex nature of the issues

involved, dynamic and multi-pronged responses are needed. South Asia in the

recent years has also witnessed an alarming increase in the incidence of

HIV/AIDS. The situation is worsening owing to increased unsafe/uninformed

migration, human trafficking and a lack of awareness of HIV/AIDS issues and the

close linkages between the three.

Through the voices and visions of women trafficked survivors and resistors, the

Court will seek to support and share the issues and opportunities for action.

It will also act as a forum for women from all over the world to come together,

share, reflect, learn and strategise for the future.

The highlight of the court will be the public hearing by an eminent jury of

about 40 personal testimonies of survivors, resistors and expert witness

analyses from the different countries of South Asia including Nepal, Pakistan,

India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and other Asian countries like Myanmar,

Afghanistan and the Philippines. The jury is drawn from several regions of the

world including Asia, Africa and the Arab countries and will include, to name a

few, Ms. Winnie Mandela (South Africa), Fatima Meer (South Africa), Gayatri

Chakravorty Spivak (US), Faryal Gauhar (Pakistan) and Samira Khoury (Lebanon).

Related events during the Court include detailed round-table discussions on a

wide range of critical issues including globalisation, human rights,

inter-agency partnerships and media responses amongst others.

For further information, please contact:

Pramod Kumar

Advocacy & Communications Officer, UNDP REACH

pramod.kumar@...

Madhu Bhushan

Coordinator, AWHRC, India

awhrci@...

Rie Debabrata

Programme Officer, UNDP REACH

rie.debabrata@...