Marginalisation and human rights in Southeast Asia

Abstract

In many respects, the book—while highly informative, very well researched, timely and an important work to read for those who are part of the movement for change—leaves us with a sense of exhaustion. When writing this review, I deleted and then added, then deleted the term ‘alleged’ (as in ‘alleged victim’) constantly. Despite the gravity of a woman’s claims and the commitments made by governments to protect women from gender-based violence and guarantee the right of women to speak, a woman is not a victim until the law says she is. There are redacted passages throughout the book, a reflection of the legal risks that women face when they speak out which are also a challenge for the authors who help tell their stories. These redactions are also a visually effective tool to demonstrate how much power law still holds—too much power. At the same time, How Many More Women prompts action and I am left returning to my usual reflections on how we can use the ‘master’s tools’ to make law more responsive to women’s lived experiences. The book is a recommended read for anyone trying to better understand one of the many challenges women face in accessing justice and adds more fuel for those up for the challenge of determining how the law and legal systems can better serve all women by adequately giving meaning to their lived experiences.