Jeanne Sarson and Linda MacDonald are independent scholars and educators that tackle human rights issues from a relational feminist perspective, focusing specifically on the area of non-state torture (NST). Together they run Persons Against NST, and were present for the 59th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59) where they presented a trans-national panel on Non-State Torture & Violence Against Women & Girls. This report presents their personal reflections of CSW59, and documents their panel and some of the many talks and side-events they attended.
Chaired by Annette Lawson, ‘Non-State Torture & Violence Against Women & Girls’ was the title of the event where Jeanne and Linda presented their work of almost 22 years. Elizabeth Gordon gave her testimony of surviving non-State torture since her earliest of memories, while Jackie Jones spoke about the importance of law and summed up her experience of witnessing the reality of non-State torture victimisation.
Many other side-events and panels are summarised in the report, including:
- Keynote speaker Ruchira Gupta, who was declared the “Women of Distinction” by the NGO CSW
- A panel entitled ‘Beijing +20: Voices from the regions’, where it was acknowledged that women in all regions face many inequalities, including NST.
- A celebration march organised by New York City, UN Women, and civil society partners which closed Consultation Day activities
- Countering cyber violence against women; Preventing and responding to violence against women – a Lancet special issue
- CEDAW and gender-based violence (CBV): progress and challenges 20 years after Beijing
- Saving lives, protecting futures: an Every Woman Every Child high-level event hosted by the Secretary-General
- Stop femicide! States’ obligations and the role of women’s NGO’s
- Continuing the Global Conversation: why we need an international legally-binding instrument on violence against women, amongst others.
The report concludes with a look back on some of the influential feminists of the past, and an appendix which includes a seven-point ‘Femifesto on NST’.