Grab and Keel

Each year the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers highlights sixteen women, men and organizations that standout in the fight against gender violence. Representing December 3rd, is:

Anaraa Nyamdorj

Coalition of LGBT Rights Activists

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

LGBT Activist in Mongolia

Anaraa Nyamdorj is one of the few activists who have been working for the rights of the LGBT community in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where persecution and violence against them is widespread. Anaraa has worked with a range of governmental, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations on the promotion of LGBT rights.

Most recently, she co-wrote a shadow report on “The Status of Lesbian and Bisexual Women and Transgendered Persons in Mongolia” for the 42nd session of the United Nations’ CEDAW Committee.

Anaraa is a member of the Coalition of LGBT Rights Activists, an informal network of concerned people committed to raising awareness and facilitating legislative change to protect the rights of LGBT people in Mongolia. She is also a member of Human Rights Watch’s LGBT Advisory Council.

http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/kit08/exhibit/nyamdorj.html

In a country with a population of a little under 3 million people and with square miles little less than Alaska, many human rights violations probably go unreported. Ironically, modern cell phone use may be the communication technique of first resort in a country where there are few other methods. Communication and information dissemination is one of the prime difficulties in providing support and raising awareness.

The CIA has an estimate of only 500 HIV/AIDS positive people in Mongolia. The small estimated number, plus lack of government support, has led to a high level of marginalization. The 2008 Shadow report states:

[The Government of Mongolia does not officially recognize the existence of LBT persons within its territory, with an overwhelming legal silence regarding the LBT community. The words “homosexual”, “lesbian”, “gay”, “transgendered” or “transsexual” do not appear in any laws and regulations, and the only specific references in the Mongolian law to gays or lesbians or to homosexual sex is the identification of homosexual men as a high risk group for HIV/AIDS]

Yet Anarra’s voice and other workers in Mongolia are heard. In October 2008, The Committee on Discrimination against Women met and heard this testimony:

COMMITTEE ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN MEETS WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

20 October 2008

[Statements on Mongolia



ANARAA NYAMDORJ, of the Coalition of Mongolian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Advocates, said that the Government of Mongolia had acted and continued to act in contravention of its international obligations under the Convention and other international conventions through its engagement in exclusionary practices that denied lesbian and bisexual women and female-born transgender persons the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Lesbian, bisexual or transgender persons were often subject to a range of human rights violations, including harassment, physical violence, hate crimes and sexual assaults. There was enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that sexual violence against such persons in Mongolia by both State and non-State actor was pervasive, and that the Government had failed to provide protection. 



ZANAA JURMED, of the Centre for Citizens’ Alliance, said that high rates of unemployment and poverty among young women made women more vulnerable, in particular to trafficking and sexual harassment. Furthermore, discrimination and violence against disabled women, Kazakh and reindeer women remained rampant and without redress. Mongolia to date had not criminalized a number of violent crimes against women such as marital rape, incest and date rape. And, although the law on domestic violence had been in force for over three years now, only 20 cases had been prosecuted under that law, while the National Centre Against Violence provided legal and psychological support and counseling to six women per day.
]

http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpNewsByYear_en)/804E017F0FAD5B8AC12574E80034E1D1?OpenDocument

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CIA WorldBook of Facts: Mongolia

Human Rights and HIV/AIDS Consultative Meeting Report

Mongolia: Anaraa Nyamdorj 317

Library \ Book \ ISBN – 9292230344 \ Call# 305.3 BER

Women’s Gender Studies in Asia-Pacific

English / Editors- Bergstroom, Philip:Compilers- Bergstroom, Philip: (Bangkok: UNESCO, 2004)

Edited and Compiled by Philip Bergstroom.

Record Number – {09991}

http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/Library.nsf/(docid)/E18EBDE4FAF0947865257242003596CC?OpenDocument&StartKey=Women%E2%80%99s&count=50

Australia Decision Record: 2007

Committee on the Elimination of the Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

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