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Dear Women’s Action Network Member,
The recent arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn on sexual assault charges highlights, once again, the urgent need to address the ways in which international organizations respond to sexual misconduct and gender discrimination within their own ranks. (See also the case of Suheir El-Azzouni challenging the UN on sexual discrimination.)
Please see below our Letter to the Editor published today in The New York Times in response to Stephen Clarke's Op-Ed piece on the arrest of Mr. Strauss-Kahn.
Power, Status and a Charge of Rape
Published: May 18, 2011
To the Editor:
Re “Droit du Dirty Old Men,” by Stephen Clarke (Op-Ed, May 18), about the arrest in New York of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, on sexual assault charges:
Mr. Clarke points out French society’s leniency in dismissing sexual assault histories of their male politicians and leaders. This, unfortunately, is not unique to France alone.
If the incident had occurred within the I.M.F. or the United Nations where the victim was an I.M.F. or a United Nations employee, there is a strong possibility that the incident would not have been properly investigated and that an effort would have been made to protect the high-ranking perpetrator; the victim’s motives would have been doubted and attempts made to silence her.
Or if the case went forward, it would be lost for years in bureaucratic gridlock within internal systems of justice.
Immunity for perpetrators of sexual violence against women and marginalization of victims are bitter realities that occur everywhere, be it in France, Pakistan (as in the recent case of Mukhtar Mai), the United States military or international organizations like the United Nations.
YASMEEN HASSAN
Deputy Director,
Equality Now New York, May 18, 2011
We rely on your support to continue our work toward global equality. Thank you, always.
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