The Urgent Appeals issued by the Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples through the Hotline Asia project over the last few years provide a number of examples of violence against women in Asia. The work of local and national justice and peace bodies provides many more examples.

The Murder of Navleen
Navleen Kumar was a land rights activist working for the rights of adivasis or tribals in Nallasopara on the outskirts of Mumbai, India. She was stabbed to death on the terrace of her flat at Nallasopara on 19 June 2002.
Navleen had been fighting against the "builders and land mafia", a network of developers, builders, bureaucrats, politicians and criminal elements, who, over the last 20-25 years, had been usurping tribal land by terror, force and fraud. She had been able to disclose old records, file affidavits and restore the land rights to the tribals - the original owners. This work brought her into direct conflict with the "builders and land mafia". Three months before her death she was threatened at gunpoint at Nallasopara railway station. She had also been threatened on the premises of the Thane district court.
Following Navleen's death, several other fellow activists received death threats for speaking out on the killing and for their continued work on behalf of the land rights of adivasis/tribals.
In January 2003, Navleen Kumar was posthumously awarded a sum of Rupees One Lakh (100,000) or US$2098 conferred by the Public Concern for Governance Trust which is given annually to a person who fights injustice and exploitation. On the same day of the award, the crime branch announced that they had arrested Navleen's killer and an accomplice. It was reported that the assailants, who monitored Navleen's routine movements for 19 days before the killing, would be handed over to the state CID joint commissioner of police.
For more details of this case, see UA020711(7) and related updates.

The Tiananmen Mothers
At 10pm on 3 June 1989, the Chinese government ordered that roadblocks be removed and Tiananmen Square be cleared, suppressing the nearly two month-long democracy movement. The Martial Law Force shot at passer-bys and citizens who were attempting to stop the military. This led to the injury and death of a large number of people. The Mothers of those who disappeared or died in the 4 June 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre are still seeking accountability and justice for those responsible.

The government's refusal to disclose details of the disappearances and deaths, and continuing harassment of the mourning families constitutes a form of psychological violence.

For more details of this case see:
UA000523(7)
http://www.fillthesquare.org/
http://iso.hrichina.org/iso/article_listings.adp?category_id=85

Justice for Comfort Women
During the Second World War the Japanese army forced hundreds of women into becoming 'comfort women' serving as sexual slaves to the soldiers. Surviving 'comfort women' are now demanding an apology and compensation.

For more details see:
http://online.sfsu.edu/~soh/comfortwomen.html
http://online.sfsu.edu/~soh/cw-links.htm
http://csf.colorado.edu/bcas/sample/comfdoc.htm
http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/stetzm/women.html

'Honour' Killings in Pakistan
Ghazala was set on fire by her brother in Joharabad, Punjab province, on 6 January 1999. According to reports, she was murdered because her family suspected she was having an 'illicit' relationship with a neighbour. Her burned and naked body reportedly lay unattended on the street for two hours as nobody wanted to have anything to do with it.

Ghazala was burned to death in the name of honour. Hundreds of other women and girls suffer a similar fate every year amid general public support and little or no action by the authorities. In fact, there is every sign that the number of honour killings is on the rise as the perception of what constitutes honour - and what damages it - widens, and as more murders take on the guise of honour killings on the correct assumption that they are rarely punished.

For more information, see
http://www.amnesty.ca/library/1999/asa3318.htm
http://www.pakistan-facts.com/article.php/20030916000445575

Trafficking in Women & Children
Reflecting growing international concern, the Asia Partnership for Human Development partner agencies have undertaken a Regional Program Against the Trafficking of Women and Children in South Asia. Partner agencies have been working together at the regional level, and individually in their own countries, conducting research, raising awareness for prevention and networking with like minded groups. Brochures, posters and information kits have been prepared and distributed in 'high risk' areas and consultations and seminars have facilitated the formation of networks.

For more information see:
http://www.aphd.or.th/trafficking.html
http://www.catwinternational.org/
http://www.catw-ap.org/
http://www.unifem-eseasia.org/Gendiss/Gendiss2.htm

Dowry Deaths in India
For nineteen-year-old Rinki dreams of a happily married life was never to be. Barely a month after her marriage, she was allegedly tortured and then set ablaze by her in-laws for dowry in Indiranagar in the small hours of Saturday. Daughter of late Gyan Chand, a fish contractor who expired a year ago, Rinki was married to Anil on April 19... However, soon after the marriage, Balakram [Anil's father] demanded a colour television instead of a black and white one and a motorcycle as well. When Rinki's mother failed to meet their demands, the teenage housewife was subjected to severe physical torture, allegedly by her husband and mother-in-law... On Saturday morning she [her mother] was informed that Rinki was charred to death when a kerosene lamp accidentally fell on her and her clothes caught fire. However, prima-facie it appeared that the victim was first attacked as her teeth were found broken. Injuries were also apparent on her wrist and chest. (The Times of India, 27 May 2001)

This case is one of many. For more information about this issue see:
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/jul2001/ind-j04.shtml
http://www.indianchild.com/dowry_in_india.htm

Idea for Action: Talking About Real Cases