Muvman Liberasyon Fam supports women Speaking Out against Predatory Men
05.04.2018
LALIT publishes below the Communiqué we received from the Women’s Liberation Movement, the MLF. It is interesting to read the MLF communiqué together with LALIT’s article on the women and children’s movements (mainly in the USA) against patriarchy. Here is the MLF communiqué:
The Muvman Liberasyon Fam supports the women who are speaking out about sex predators. The circumstances in both cases are extremely difficult for the women.
In one case, the woman concerned Jessica Rosun is away from home at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and has had to give a statement to the police for indecent assault by the chef de mission of the Mauritian delegation, Kaysee Teeroovengadum. The “power differential” between a chef de mission and an athlete is immense. What this means that struggles against sexual assault and sexual harassment in Mauritius coupled with the #metoo movement world-wide has given athletes the chance to speak out, instead of just feeling humiliated.
The other case is tragic. A woman has sworn an affidavit about her ex-partner, who is also her ex-boss, so that he can no longer have access to their child. The bosses at the newspaper where the man, Nad Sivaramen, was Chef des publications, have suspended him since the charges against him are so serious. It is not yet clear at what stage charges will actually be laid against him. The Child Development Unit has taken up its statutory role in the case. In this case, too, the woman who has spoken out through an affidavit is taking on someone who has three kinds of power over her: he is her ex-partner, he is father of her child, and he is her ex-boss.
Recently, on this very subject of the importance of speaking out against predatory men, the Muvman Liberasyon Fam circulated a Declaration signed by 50 women, for International Women’s Day the year of 50 years Independence. The 50 women are leaders of the women’s movement at the grassroots as well as nationally, and women who have, in their own sectors, contributed to women’s emancipation.
Here is the content of the Declaration, and its signatories:
Common Declaration
I, the undersigned, stand with women all over the world who are raising their voices against predatory men, men who use their positions of “relative power” on the worksite – or in other institutions – so as to abuse women. Times are changing. Organizations with a modicum of democracy – including political parties, unions and professional associations – are beginning, everywhere in the world, to hold men accountable, or to revoke them or expel them for abusing women. We, women, worldwide are beginning to raise our voices against sexual and sexist abuse. I for one will no longer collude with this.
Thus, I add my signature, me too.
Aisha Doba
Allia Syed Hossen-Gooljar
Ambal Jeanne
Ananda Devi
Anjani Murdan
Anne-Lise Mestry
Anne-Marie Joly
Anooradah Pooran
Anushka Virahsawmy
Aurore Perraud
Begum Badullah
Daniella Bastien
Danielle Turner
Djemillah Mourade
Francoise Labelle
Francoise Lamusse
Gaëlle Tossé
Husna Ramjanally
Julia Maigrot
Kisna Kistnasamy
Kumari Issur
Laure Soobrayen
Lindsey Collen
Linzi Bacbotte
Manda Boolell
Marie Claire Bibi Diop
Marie-France Favory
Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy
Marlène Urcile Ladine
Marousia Bouvery
Mary Jane Gaspard
Maya Hanoomanjee
Mélanie Vigier de Latour-Bérenger
Merline Francois
Micheline Virahsawmy
Mohni Bali
Monique Descombes
Munavvar Namdarkhan
Myriam Narainsamy
Patricia Day-Hookoomsing
Pramila Patten
Pushpa Lallah
Rajni Lallah
Ranjita Bunwaree
Sadna Jumnoodoo
Sandra O’Reilly
Sarah-Jane Vingta
Sheela Baguant
Sheila Bappoo
Sheila Bunwaree
Veronique Topize
Vidula Nababsing
