93
much worse, is the fact that old patriarchal views attempt to hold women to ancient
roles. When a woman steps outside her patriarchy-designated role in the home, she
may find herself chastised, criminalized, assaulted or even killed.
Jakeline Romero, a Wayuu and women’s rights activist has been threatened on
numerous occasions. In December of 2016, she received the following text message:
Don’t focus on what doesn’t concern you [if] you want to avoid problems. Your daughters
are very lovely, so stop stirring other people’s pots […] Bitch, avoid problems because even
your mother could be disappeared if you keep talking (McLaughlin 2017).
Although she was continuously threatened, she has remained true to her cause
against extractive industry in Colombia. These tactless and criminal attempts to
silence women are found more often in the aforementioned patriarchal societies
where defenders are targeted solely for their gender.
Female environmental, and territory defenders are at specific risk from gender
violence generated by various assailants, including the State. Just as we noted in the
verbal attacks on young Greta Thunberg, women are sexualized, marginalized and
stereotyped.
Gender-based violence is also present when women human rights defenders are subjected
to sexist remarks, acts of sexual violence and threats made, against their children or families
(Vidal 2018)
These attacks are particularly problematic in community contexts; even though violence
against women activists has increased in cities, the number of cases is bigger in rural communities. The most common aggressions include: false accusations and launching defamation campaigns that jeopardize women’s credibility, harassment and threats. Attackers make
false accusations by using activists’ personal information, photoshop and slander campaigns in social media, have increased through the promotion of gossip that undermines
their work (McLaughlin 2017).
Perhaps the most frightening idea here is not only are the state and local governments failing to end these attacks but the fact that in many cases, they have been said
to participate in them. Governments stooping to the level of criminal involvement in
defamation campaigns and much more serious attacks on these women will continue until both governments and big business are held accountable and forced to be
transparent.
5.2 The Continued Failure of State and Local Governments
In the 2018 publication by the Global Ecological Integrity Group, Ecological
Integrity and Land Uses, Chapter 10, The Silence of the State: The Failure of State
and Local Governments in Protecting Environmental Defenders discussed the devastating statistics regarding the assault, murder and disappearance of environmental
defenders around the world. Further study has revealed that an immense number of
those attacked were women.
In the publication, “Criminalization of the work of human rights defenders” of
2015, a study showed the staggering figures and statistics affecting women just like
Saving Species, Healthy Humanity: The Key Role of Women in Ecological Integrity
much worse, is the fact that old patriarchal views attempt to hold women to ancient
roles. When a woman steps outside her patriarchy-designated role in the home, she
may find herself chastised, criminalized, assaulted or even killed.
Jakeline Romero, a Wayuu and women’s rights activist has been threatened on
numerous occasions. In December of 2016, she received the following text message:
Don’t focus on what doesn’t concern you [if] you want to avoid problems. Your daughters
are very lovely, so stop stirring other people’s pots […] Bitch, avoid problems because even
your mother could be disappeared if you keep talking (McLaughlin 2017).
Although she was continuously threatened, she has remained true to her cause
against extractive industry in Colombia. These tactless and criminal attempts to
silence women are found more often in the aforementioned patriarchal societies
where defenders are targeted solely for their gender.
Female environmental, and territory defenders are at specific risk from gender
violence generated by various assailants, including the State. Just as we noted in the
verbal attacks on young Greta Thunberg, women are sexualized, marginalized and
stereotyped.
Gender-based violence is also present when women human rights defenders are subjected
to sexist remarks, acts of sexual violence and threats made, against their children or families
(Vidal 2018)
These attacks are particularly problematic in community contexts; even though violence
against women activists has increased in cities, the number of cases is bigger in rural communities. The most common aggressions include: false accusations and launching defamation campaigns that jeopardize women’s credibility, harassment and threats. Attackers make
false accusations by using activists’ personal information, photoshop and slander campaigns in social media, have increased through the promotion of gossip that undermines
their work (McLaughlin 2017).
Perhaps the most frightening idea here is not only are the state and local governments failing to end these attacks but the fact that in many cases, they have been said
to participate in them. Governments stooping to the level of criminal involvement in
defamation campaigns and much more serious attacks on these women will continue until both governments and big business are held accountable and forced to be
transparent.
5.2 The Continued Failure of State and Local Governments
In the 2018 publication by the Global Ecological Integrity Group, Ecological
Integrity and Land Uses, Chapter 10, The Silence of the State: The Failure of State
and Local Governments in Protecting Environmental Defenders discussed the devastating statistics regarding the assault, murder and disappearance of environmental
defenders around the world. Further study has revealed that an immense number of
those attacked were women.
In the publication, “Criminalization of the work of human rights defenders” of
2015, a study showed the staggering figures and statistics affecting women just like
Saving Species, Healthy Humanity: The Key Role of Women in Ecological Integrity