United Nations Radio

Meryl Streep

Actress and activist Meryl Streep was among the participants as the human rights organization Equality Now launched a campaign urging governments to revoke sex discriminatory laws, in time for International Women's Day, March 8th. Equality Now has been tracking discriminatory laws around the world for over a decade and this is its third report with a sampling of laws from 36 countries from all geographic regions. Bissera Kostova has more on this.

NARR: Equality Now's Beijing +15 campaign marks the fifteenth anniversary of the Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women at Beijing in 1995, where governments pledged to repeal all gender discriminatory laws. Equality Now's Executive Director, Taina Bien-Aimé, said there has been some progress, but not enough.

Bien-Aime: More than half of the 52 laws highlighted in our Beijing+5 and Beijing+10 reports have been repealed and amended. Despite these few successes, however, too many discriminatory laws still exist and disturbingly new ones are enacted such as Afghanistan's 2009 Shia personal status law that declares the man head of household and curtails the woman's freedom of movement.

NARR: Ms. Bien-Aimé says the extent of violence and discrimination against women and girls condoned by governments around the world is staggering and unacceptable.

Bien-aime: In Singapore for example, the law allows a man to rape his wife if she is 13 years of age or older. In Iraq, the law requires the woman to get the approval of her male guardian or husband to obtain a passport. In Israel, the law prohibits a woman from getting a divorce unless her husband provides her with a get. And in Saudi Arabia women are still prohibited from driving. These are just a few examples.

NARR: Jessica Neuwirth, the Director of the New York Office of the UN High Commissioner for human rights introduced the guest of honor, Meryl Streep.

Neuwirth: An incomparable actress, who continues to move all of us of strong, spirited and indomitable women. In addition to her many inspiring films, I want to thank Meryl Streep for her dedicated and sustained commitment to the advancement of gender equality and for using the great power of her voice to promote access to justice for women and girls everywhere, including as a long time member of the advisory council of Equality Now.

Streep: Law is the most formal expression of government policy. A government that allows discriminatory laws to remain in force endorses and actively perpetuates gender inequality. Too many governments still have not fulfilled their pledged commitments to ensure equality before the law for all women and girls. I'd therefore like to add my voice to the countless women and men, who work tirelessly in their communities, sometimes at great personal risk to themselves, to secure women's empowerment and gender equality. Women should not have to wait.

NARR: Women Can't Wait is the title of a one-woman performance by Sarah Jones, who with just the help of a scarf changes personalities to illustrate the effects of discriminatory laws around the world. Ms. Streep introduced her latest update on that performance.

Streep: The stage is set at Beijing+15 in New York. Seven women from around the world have gathered to address government delegates at the United Nations. And now Sarah Jones.

Jones: The moment you are about to witness is these women having their last rehearsal before they have to come in before you. ...Everyone can we gather here quickly. I know this is an exciting event for all of us. We have not done something like this in a long time and we know that it's going to be a wonderful thing with many dignitaries there. Also, you know, Meryl Streep will be there, Gloria Steinem, I understand, will be there. I know we are very excited about that. ... Yes, Ana? No, dear. No. Okay. I know, but I don't think they will want to discuss that film Avatar with you, because it is not the time. I know it is your favorite, but... No, I do not think Ms. Streep will be offended that it is your favorite, she can't be in every film (laughter) but we should focus now, okay?

NARR: That was Sarah Jones's character Praveen Mandvi from Women Can't Wait. For UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.

Duration: 4'14"