Global Roundup: Europe Migrant Women GBV, Ghana LGBTQ+ Activists, Mourning NYC Trans Activist, Japan Youngest Woman Mayor, India Sexism in Chess

Curated by FG Contributor Samiha Hossain

[Giannis Papanikos/Shutterstock]

While the EU agreed on its first-ever legislative arsenal to fight violence against women, the final agreement provides no guarantee that undocumented migrant women will be able to lodge a complaint without risking deportation.

After several months of intense negotiations, the European Commission, Parliament, and Council reached an agreement last week on a directive to fight violence against women. The text sets out a series of measures to better protect women in Europe, notably against forced marriages, sexist cyber-harassment and genital mutilation.

However, despite the collective enthusiasm, one category of women seems to have been forgotten, according to PICUM, a Brussels-based NGO that promotes respect for the human rights of undocumented migrants in Europe. These are women in precarious situations, undocumented, whether they are migrants or have obtained a temporary residence permit. Although there is no reliable estimate of the number of undocumented women in Europe, according to the PICUM they number in the tens of thousands.

Undocumented women have no access to justice. As soon as they approach the authorities, their immigration status is going to be more important than meeting their needs as victims. Who would report violence and abuse if she risked being locked up and deported instead of receiving support and protection? -Louise Bonneau, advocacy officer at PICUM

Women accounted for 31% of asylum seekers in Europe in 2021, according to Le Monde. Female asylum seekers are particularly vulnerable, and more exposed to physical and sexual violence than the rest of the population. The Council’s position, which reflects the priorities of the member states, shows the tightening of access to the right of asylum throughout Europe. “At the cost of excluding a whole group of women […] who are likely to suffer violence and abuse precisely because their status places them in a vulnerable situation,” PICUM said.

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In a country where religious leaders openly condemn homosexuality and gay sex is punishable with jail time, Ghanaian couple Kay and Naa Shika fear more for their lives and safety than whether a church will bless their same-sex union. They have lived together for eight months, hiding their relationship by pretending to be sisters, even as they face gossip that risks spilling into hostility due to suspicions about their sexual orientation.

Their precarious situation has not been helped by a landmark ruling in December, approved by Pope Francis, to allow Roman Catholic priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples. The move, which has met particularly strong resistance and in some cases rejection from African bishops, has fuelled resentment rather than acceptance of the gay community among Catholics in Ghana, Kay said. Kay, a former Methodist, and an LGBTQ+ advocate, is not surprised by the backlash and sees church blessings as a luxury for the future since Ghanaian gay people still struggle to live and identify as themselves openly.

What is the use (of a blessing) if my partner and I can’t hold hands and walk down the street. Even when we don’t identify openly, some people, based on rumours, can harm us mentally or even physically. -Kay

Kay said opposition to the Pope's move had increased calls for the quick passage of a bill that would further criminalise same-sex relations and being transgender, as well as any advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. Gay sex is already punishable by up to three years in prison. A coalition of Christian, Muslim, and traditional leaders has sponsored the new legislation, which is favoured by most lawmakers, that would punish the promotion of LGBTQ+ rights with up to 10 years in prison. It also encourages those accused of homosexuality to submit to conversion therapy, which claims to change sexual orientation, in exchange for reduced sentences.

Kay and her 30-year-old partner, a traditional priestess, look forward to a future where they can formalise their marriage in an LGBTQ+-friendly church, but in the meantime they also wish for more acceptance.

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“Cecilia gave hope to the youth, trans and Latinx communities,” Liaam Winslet, center, said at the memorial on Wednesday.Credit...Sarah Blesener for The New York Times

Hundreds gathered in a Greenwich Village church in New York to pay their respects to the transgender activist Cecilia Gentili, who died last week at 52.

Cecilia’s my mother. She’s an icon. She’s a legend in the trans, undocumented and sex-work community. -Oscar Díaz, artist in Queens

In recent years, Gentili had branched out from her main calling: publishing a memoir, starring in a one-woman show and even appearing in several episodes of Ryan Murphy’s “Pose.” But last Wednesday, she was remembered chiefly for her advocacy on behalf of trans people, the undocumented and others living on the margins. She was a part of many LGBTQ organizations and went on to start two of her own, Decrim NY, which seeks to decriminalize sex work, and Trans Equity Consulting, a consulting agency for transgender people.

The memorial was organized by Qween Jean, the founder of Black Trans Liberation and a close friend of Gentili’s. She opened the service with a moment of silence followed by a guided breathing meditation. “I saw her and I felt home,” Qween Jean said, referring to their kinship as trans women of color.

Despite the somber occasion, there were still some joyful moments shared among the mourners. A few paid their respects through performances. Qween Jean honored Gentili’s legacy with a dance to the song “Never Enough” from the 2017 film “The Greatest Showman.” Liaam Winslet, the executive director of an organization seeking to broaden access to health care, was brought to tears on the microphone before the crowd applauded for her. She said Gentili stepped up as a role model after her previous mentor, the transgender activist Lorena Borjas, died from complications of Covid-19 in 2020.

Cecilia gave hope to the youth, trans and Latinx communities. She showed us that we are strong, and that we can accomplish many things together. -Liaam Winslet

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Shoko Kawata stumps in the city of Yawata, Kyoto Prefecture, last year. | COURTESY OF SHOKO KAWATA

In a sector where women are rarely seen at the forefront, 33-year-old Shoko Kawata made history by becoming Japan's youngest woman city mayor when she was elected in Yawata, southern Kyoto Prefecture last year. Now, having spent a little more than two months in the mayoral office, Kawata has expressed her wish to listen to and incorporate people’s feedback in creating a positive community.

There is still a long way to go, however, and it may take a long time to achieve diversity in politics, Kawata said, adding that there is a need to address the gap between citizens and politics in Japan. And that is exactly why a representative such as her matters. Upon her appointment, Kawata received messages from women of various ages, saying that she had given them courage.

It seems that I, as a nonstereotypical politician, have shown that it is possible, providing a successful example. Women expressed that they felt empowered, and that made me very happy. -Shoko Kawata

Coming from a family with no political background, Kawata’s interest in politics was sparked by the lack of support that her family had with her younger brother, who has intellectual disabilities and had difficulty speaking from an early age. After graduating from Kyoto University, Kawata started her career as a welfare caseworker in the city of Kyoto. Witnessing her family’s adversity instilled in her a strong desire for a society in which aid and facilities for such struggles can be realized. 

To appeal to the young mothers' demographic, one of her campaign pledges involved support for child-rearing by advocating for free medical care for children under 18 and free lunches for elementary and junior high school students. But despite all this energy and focus, starting a career in politics as a young woman in Japan was no easy feat.

Before running for mayor, Kawata served as a secretary to the female Upper House lawmaker Akiko Santo. Kawata said she was often mistaken for a part-timer due to her appearance and youth.

When I was dealing with visitors, even when our eyes met, they would ignore me and not exchange their business cards with me. If there was a man behind me, they would give their cards to him instead and ignore me. -Shoko Kawata

Kawata encourages women to enter politics because it is important to show that women’s perspectives “are also needed in the world.”

I believe there is the most significant meaning in diversifying such players. Therefore, I hope women won't be afraid, won't think it's irrelevant to them, but will challenge themselves, participate and contribute. -Shoko Kawata

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Divya Deshmukh's Instagram post has sparked a discussion on sexism in chess

An 18-year-old Indian chess player has sparked a conversation on attitudes towards women in the sport with an Instagram post about her experiences. Divya Deshmukh, who is an International Master (the second-highest title in chess), said that her chess videos often received online comments that focused on her appearance rather than her games.

Deshmukh shared the post at the end of the recent Tata Steel Chess tournament held in the Netherlands as she said that the behaviour of the audience had irked her throughout the competition. The organisers of the tournament later issued a statement supporting her and said that they "remain committed to promoting women in chess and ensuring a safe and equal sporting environment".

Deshmukh said that she has been receiving hateful comments related to the way she dresses, looks or speaks since she was 14 years old. Thousands of people have liked her post, and many have left supportive comments. One Reddit user noted how even seemingly innocuous jokes and comments were often "laced with sexist attitudes" while another said that it was common for people to leave sexually suggestive remarks under videos featuring women players.

With an increase in online tournaments and with games being livestreamed, women players have become disproportionately vulnerable to receiving misogynistic comments from the predominantly male audience online. -Susan Ninan, sports writer

According to the International Chess Federation or FIDE, women make up just 10% of licenced players globally, and the gap only gets wider at the top. For example, only three of India's 84 grandmasters are women. Chess experts and women players have ascribed this imbalance to the lack of access, opportunity and support for women and girls due to stereotypes surrounding the sport. Ninan also mentions how there is a common misconception that men are biologically better than women at chess. Susan Polgar who is widely regarded to be among the best chess players in the world – says she experienced similar things decades ago when she was a young chess player. Polgar responded to Deshmukh's post by sharing her own experience on X (formerly Twitter). 

I did not even touch make-up until I was in my 20s… It is because I was tired of being sexually harassed/assaulted and hit on constantly by male chess players. -Susan Polgar

It will take more time for women players to wield the same amount of influence on and off the chess board as their male counterparts. One way to alter this power imbalance is to remove socio-cultural barriers that prevent women's participation in chess at the entry level. The other way to encourage more women to play chess is by increasing the number of women-only tournaments.

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Samiha Hossain (she/her) is an aspiring urban planner studying at Toronto Metropolitan University. Throughout the years, she has worked in nonprofits with survivors of sexual violence and youth. Samiha firmly believes in the power of connecting with people and listening to their stories to create solidarity and heal as a community. She loves learning about the diverse forms of feminist resistance around the world.