Reem Alsalem responds to the personal and political attacks after she linked prostitution to violence against women

[IwantToRetire]

Reem Alsalem, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, Its Causes and Consequences, responses to the false and unfounded accusations and personal attacks on her Report on Prostitution and Violence Against Women presented before the 56th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, 2024.

I presented new evidence regarding the relationship between violence against women and girls and prostitution. Using human rights law, the Report described how prostitution is a system of abuse, exploitation, and violence against women and girls.

The Report’s goal was to clarify concepts and terminology, to describe the root causes and consequences of prostitution. The report’s success lies in breaking the domination of the one-sided narrative that was largely imposed by powerful lobbies and interest groups that benefit from the exploitation and abuse of women’s bodies and seek to legitimize it.

When prostituted women’s testimonies are given the weight they deserve; when the data is allowed to speak for itself, it is clear that prostitution is a system of violence against women and girls

This is a very long and detailed response and (I think) is as much about the culture in the UN (pro sex work and gender id) as any individual criticism of her.

Can be read in full at https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1433&context=dignity

There are a number of articles giving back ground to the backlash she has suffer and a letter of support has been circulated for anyone interested to sign. See https://www.reseaufeministeqc.org/en/publication_en/signatory-call-for-a-global-action-of-support-for-un-special-rapporteur-on-violence-against-women-and-girls-ms-reem-alsalem

Though doubt the UN will take notice.

The Response article seems to include her own personal email address so hope she gets more supportive emails than hostile ones.

Reem Alsalem

Good for her. And it's very very clear if you've spent any time around prostituted women, as I have. Additional violence was ever present.

She has done some outstanding work. No wonder they attack her

I've signed the letter, she is one of the very few people in the UN I have anytime for, I think she does a brilliant job, no wonder the grifters hate her, she show's them up every time.

Thank you Reem Alsalem 👏🎉

I must admit I was a bit confused when I saw the letter circulating for support as I hadn't realised just how strong the back lash had been.

And thought surely even main stream media should have reported that a UN Rapporteur was being so publicly undermined.

Since then I have received this which I will paste in full although some who have signed will probably have been sent this.

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Today the support letter for Reem Alsalem, for her work to continue and be spread, has been sent to UN Secretary General and relevant UN bodies and international actors. The letter was also published on WoPAI website HERE

The letter has been signed by you, spread over more than 100 countries, signed by more than 500 organisations and more than 6000 individuals. Together we have taken action for the rights and freedoms of women and girls. Please read Ms Alsalems tweet expressing her appreciation of our support, HERE

Now, we ask you to take further action to amplify the effect of the letter. Send the letter to for instance your Members of Foreign Affairs Committees, to your missions in New York and Geneva, to UN National Associations and others you know need to get this letter. Please find information to help you find important emails: the list of human rights council states where you easily find your country HERE and also the UN blue book where the emails of country missions can be found HERE

Please share the letter on social media and channels available and ask for signatures of organisations and individuals.

The letter remains open for signatures and will be updated with new signatories
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE LETTER

Yours sincerely,
Gertrud Åström, president, WoPAI
Susannah Sjöberg, general secretary, SWL

Read the letter

I have signed the letter. Good for her standing up to the vested interests behind prostitution.

Signed.
Although the letter has been sent it is still open for signatures online, so if you thought you had missed the boat it's not too late to show support.

New article about her and her work:
https://thecritic.co.uk/a-champion-for-women/

Thanks its a great read, the 4 billion female's of the world are lucky to have her on their side fighting to protect them, all 'trans' feminists should be ashamed of themselves for not heeding her words.

The article also references the letter from the OP and this topic.

This part following also shows her work about women in sport found so many cases where trophies were taken away from women:
"The document, the first of its kind, detailed the different forms of violence that women and girls face in sport, including infringements on the female category. She identified 890 instances where male athletes competed in and won female-only sporting categories."

She definitely has her hands full; I hope she has good support staff and I think an institution like hers should be set up on an even broader foundation, something like her own ministry, as there is just so much work, unfortunately.

Why is it that Reem Alsalem is such a rare voice of someone holding the position they do, genuinely and tirelessly working to protect women and girls and sees male violence, and all those who pretend it’s not, for what and who they are? Why is she so unsupported by other women in positions of authority and privilege? None of the sex workers that I met wanted to be doing that ‘work’. I don’t get why that is so hard to understand.