- International Tribunal on Crimes against Women
The International Tribunal on Crimes against Women was a people's tribunal which took place on March 4-8, 1976 in
Brussels . [Doughty, Frances. "lesbians and International Women's Year: A Report on Three Conferences", in "Our Right to Love: A Lesbian Resource Book", Ginny Vida, Prentice Hall, 1978, ISBN 0136444016, p148] The event was created with the intention to "make public the full range of crimes , both violently brutal and subtly discriminatory , committed against women of all cultures." [Doughty, Frances. "lesbians and International Women's Year: A Report on Three Conferences", in "Our Right to Love: A Lesbian Resource Book", Ginny Vida, Prentice Hall, 1978, ISBN 0136444016, p148]History
Diana E. H. Russell and Nicole Van Den Ven, the main organizers of the tribunal, [Chesler, Phyllis. "Rape as a War Crime: Reaching Moral Clarity", "On the Issues", May 1996, p14] , were inspired byBertrand Russell 'sInternational War Crimes Tribunal , a people's tribunal on crimes committed in theVietnam War .Content
The ITCW was attended by over 2000 women from 40 countries, and specific topics include medical and economic crimes,
rape ,political prisoners , crimes againstlesbians ,spousal abuse ,prostitution ,pornography andfemicide . [Doughty, Frances. "lesbians and International Women's Year: A Report on Three Conferences", in "Our Right to Love: A Lesbian Resource Book", Ginny Vida, Prentice Hall, 1978, ISBN 0136444016, p148] [Chesler, Phyllis. "Rape as a War Crime: Reaching Moral Clarity", "On the Issues", May 1996, p14]Numerous testimonies were provided in writing by women who were unable to attend the tribunal. [Doughty, Frances. "lesbians and International Women's Year: A Report on Three Conferences", in "Our Right to Love: A Lesbian Resource Book", Ginny Vida, Prentice Hall, 1978, ISBN 0136444016, p148]
Attendee Frances Doughty noted that the Tribunal confirmed for her that "the oppression of women in general and of lesbians in particular is truly worldwide" [Doughty, Frances. "lesbians and International Women's Year: A Report on Three Conferences", in "Our Right to Love: A Lesbian Resource Book", Ginny Vida, Prentice Hall, 1978, ISBN 0136444016, p149]
Lesbian poet
Pat Parker was among the contributors of testimony, speaking about her eldest sister, who was murdered by her husband.Alexander, Ilene 1998 [http://voices.cla.umn.edu/vg/Bios/entries/parker_pat.html ] ]The first
Take Back the Night march took place as a candlelight procession in association with the Tribunal. [ [http://www.dso.uncc.edu/women/TBN_Web/history.html Take Back the Night History] ]Impact
Organizers Russell and Van Den Ven published a book based on the Tribunal, "Crimes Against Women: Proceedings of the International Tribunal" later in 1976. [ [http://www.dianarussell.com/publications.html#CRIMESAGAINSTWOMEN dianarussell.com] ]
References
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