Exercise on education

Session 7: Handout 7.6

Case study 4

A rebel movement has recently taken over large areas of the country. It imposes on these areas strict rules regarding the place of women and girls in society based upon the rebel movement's interpretation of the religion in that country. These include prohibitions on girls attending school, on the employment of local female staff and on women appearing in public places including markets. International humanitarian agencies had been running programmes in these areas prior to the rebel take over which include support to local schools and income generating programmes for women. In addition, many employ local female staff.

Under rules proclaimed by the new administration the schools are now for boys only. In addition, aid agencies have been told to dismiss all their local female staff and close down their programmes for women including income generation projects, literacy programmes and leadership training. International female staff have been told that they must cover themselves up completely in all public places.

Answer the following questions: What response should be made to these demands? If the answer of the group is that it is not enough for the organization to pull out, then what type of human rights violation would be enough for an organization to make such a decision? What would your line of action be? What international legal instrument would provide the framework in the analysis and on what specific provisions could you base your arguments in those instruments? Is it possible to find a response that respects local culture and custom as well as the human rights standards? What would your strategy be if you were to try?