How autocrats use women’s rights to boost themselves
Source: The Business Standard
Automatically bundling equality and democracy has led to the rise of “genderwashing”.
"Being a champion of gender is the same as being the champion for justice and human rights," proclaimed the winner of the 2016 Gender Champion Award recipient during his acceptance speech. The country he leads has the highest share of legislative seats in lower houses held by women in the world at 61%. But this "gender champion"—Rwandan President Paul Kagame—is no champion of democracy. For more than 20 years, he has rigged elections, coerced opponents, and disregarded human rights to keep a tight hold on power.
Kagame is but one of many autocrats who have learned to exploit women's rights as a means of furthering their authoritarian goals. By taking credit for advances in gender equality, autocratic regimes distract their critics: They put the spotlight on an area that is widely (and correctly) seen as linked or bundled with democracy while drawing the focus away from their authoritarian abuses. We call this phenomenon "autocratic genderwashing."
Click here to read the full article published by The Business Standard on 6 June 2022.
Automatically bundling equality and democracy has led to the rise of “genderwashing”.
"Being a champion of gender is the same as being the champion for justice and human rights," proclaimed the winner of the 2016 Gender Champion Award recipient during his acceptance speech. The country he leads has the highest share of legislative seats in lower houses held by women in the world at 61%. But this "gender champion"—Rwandan President Paul Kagame—is no champion of democracy. For more than 20 years, he has rigged elections, coerced opponents, and disregarded human rights to keep a tight hold on power.
Kagame is but one of many autocrats who have learned to exploit women's rights as a means of furthering their authoritarian goals. By taking credit for advances in gender equality, autocratic regimes distract their critics: They put the spotlight on an area that is widely (and correctly) seen as linked or bundled with democracy while drawing the focus away from their authoritarian abuses. We call this phenomenon "autocratic genderwashing."
Click here to read the full article published by The Business Standard on 6 June 2022.