"We stand up for women" is a call to advocate for women's rights. SIE president Renata said it clearly when she presented this slogan in her inaugural speech a year ago. What does this exactly mean?
Women still do not enjoy the same rights and chances in life as men. On one hand, Soroptimists tackle this injustice with concrete projects like mentoring young women, encouraging girls to study STEM subjects, initiating childcare centers, or by awarding scholarships to women. This is what we call “programme”, the hands-on help. On the other hand, there is advocacy. Actions for raising awareness by “oranging the world” on November 25, in order to openly denounce violence against women, or by projecting films which take up women’s issues and which are afterwards discussed with the public, are examples of advocacy.
However, we are never militant. Soroptimists are no hard-line activists, and our clubs usually are not on the forefront of political lobbying. Our foremost demand is that already existing rights are applied. When a law is passed, its degree of implementation can be very variable. When it comes to human rights, it largely depends on the citizens which ones will be implemented. If women don’t claim their rights, no politician will take measures to enforce them, because this is complicated and costs money. We have to constantly raise awareness for inequalities between men and women, and for injustices done to women, until the mindset of the majority of citizens, including the politicians, has changed. Only then a lasting and full gender equality in all aspects of life can be achieved.
Several treaties of the Council of Europe can be used to support our claims: There is for example the Istanbul Convention which covers all aspects of violence against women, or the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. Both treaties have been ratified by almost all of the European members states where SIE is present and are therefore state law. They are very detailed and complete. UN treaties can also be cited like the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) or the UN Sustainable Developmental Goal 5 which stipulates to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”.
Soroptimist clubs and Unions have already started to be more pro-active in advocating for women’s rights in many ingenious ways. Speaking up for women’s rights does not show immediate results, but it is necessary for sustainable change. And it is good for Soroptimist visibility.
Bettina Hahne
SIE Representative to the Council of Europe