Some of the Women I Learn From

On this International Women's Day 2009, when people worldwide unite  to celebrate Women, their struggles, achievements and contributions to Mankind, the theme this year for the United Nations Organization has been chosen as "Women and men united against violence against women and girls".

But wait....here's the UNO's theme from two years ago :
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2007
Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls

followed by the highlighted words : "Violence against women has yet to receive the priority
attention and resources needed at all levels to tackle it
with the seriousness and visibility necessary."

Secretary-General’s in-depth study on violence against women (2006) (A/61/122/Add.1)

From that same 2007 page, further down, noble sentiments and aspirations:

Eliminating violence against women remains one of the most serious and urgent challenges of our time. Every one has a responsibility to act when confronted with violence. Each one of us has a duty to support and sustain a political and social environment where violence against women and girls is not tolerated; where friends, family members, neighbors, men and women, intervene to prevent perpetrators to go unpunished.

http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2007/background.shtml

Same old, same old, the fight goes on. When will the violence stop ?

Let's stop and think for a moment, folks. Will the violence against women
ever stop during our lifetime ? The answer is NO ! Not as long as women
are forced to live in those societies where their demands are made invalid
on the grounds of religious and political law. The best of the best at the
UNO and its ilk may have their say, hold a Day, hope and pray but the
violence will never stop.

Rape, Sexual Harassment, Incest, forced Female Circumsion, Domestic violence and other forms of abuse occur everywhere all the time. I have female friends and family members whose stories of humiliation and physical violence are forever etched in my memory. Now add to that the Internet Age and we see a whole new era of violence emerging. The Free Speech that we so desire online comes riddled with questions of just how much may be said without fear of repercussion. I am thinking of the MySpace 'cyberbullying' case. And of the unstoppable attacks being perpetrated on women daily by hackers, Moral police and self-appointed Monarchs who are out to lay down the law, create chaos and ruin via the 'Net.

Lately I was moved to comment after a memorable sentence made by an Iranian lady, the victim of a recent blinding acid atack
(linked to NP coverage by Tina Kells )

Speaking to Spain's principal Radio station, Cadena SER, and seeking retribution from the courts of Iran, she was granted a tiny iota of their version of justice, the removal of ONE of the assailant's eyes:

"They have told us that my two eyes are equal to one of his because in my country each man is worth two women. They are not the same," she told Cadena SER. ~ from Yahoo news

That one sentence reminded me that Iran, like all Islamic countries will always follow its own laws as long as the religious leaders have their way. Leaders who are laying down the law even in Western countries.

Because many of the oppressed women do not have the resources and the education to free themselves and are unwilling to give up their family and religious ties, they must find new means of fighting back. Unseen by the watchful eyes of society and the media, knowing that they face public humiliation, disgrace, slander, ex-communication, violent beatings and
possibly death, these are the women I celebrate first on this day in March designated International Women's Day. For by them, and the others who support them in what must be their never-ending fight, we are forced to learn and share their stories, in the hope of improving the lot of women everywhere.

Below, a photo and poem by Firoze Shakir, a friend who is quite
possibly the most extraordinary Blogger in the Universe.

Muslim Woman in a Mans World

she begs
while they pray
her words
they wont hear anyway
muslim male dominated society
mullah powered
fatwa generated
fire and brimstone
a woman has no say
born in a cradle
to her grave
she will go by the way
triple talaq
a sword hanging on her head
either way they slay
a mother a sister
a daughter
an aunt
she is a woman
you dont
need to repay
a toy
made of blood sinews
and a bit of clay
her world stark
black and white
no shades of grey

~ used with kind permission from Firoze Shakir on Flickr

LINKS
UN.org statement from 1995

Salon.com on Blank Noise: challenging sexual harassment in India

The Plight of the Afghan Woman from Afghanweb.com

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a leader in the fight for Women's Rights. Amongst the 100 Most Influential Persons of the World, Time Magazine 2005.

news.com.au lists some Famous Victims of Domestic Violence