|
EQUALITY NOW LAUNCHES "100 STEPS TO EQUALITY" CAMPAIGN IN CELEBRATION OF 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
March 4, 2011 – On the momentous occasion of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, March 8, 2011, international human rights organization Equality Now calls on the public to take 100 Steps to Equality. Globally, one in three women has faced some form of violence or abuse; 3 million girls in Africa are at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) every year, an estimated 500,000 women die of pregnancy-related causes annually; and more than 100 million girls will probably be married as children in the next decade. But what does the status of women look like on the ground every day in different parts of the world?
Despite a popular uprising calling for democracy in Egypt, an all-male constitution committee is currently drafting amendments that would exclude women candidates from Presidential elections. Just a few weeks ago in Afghanistan, the government was trying to take over the operation of women’s shelters, a move that would undoubtedly jeopardize the security of women victims of violence. Last year in the United States, despite advocates’ intensive efforts, Congress failed to pass several pieces of legislation that could have saved the lives of women and girls including: the International Violence Against Women Act, the Girls Protection Act (a bill to strengthen the federal law against female genital mutilation (FGM), or the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act (a law that would have enabled a comprehensive response to child marriage prevention around the world). Equality Now’s list of 100 Steps, includes one hundred current facts and instances of women’s inequality and ties them to actions, however small, that individuals can take towards equality and a safer world for women and girls.
Equality Now Executive Director, Taina Bien-Aimé emphasizes, “Nationally and internationally, women’s movements have registered significant progress in the last 100 years, from the right to vote to recognizing FGM as a human rights violation to the possibility of owning land. This is due to the determination of courageous individuals brave enough to challenge their governments’ lack of political will; hold them accountable to their promises in protecting women and girls from violence and discrimination; and to the advocates’ ability to persuade the average citizen to join them in taking action. May the next 100 years deliver full equality to all, a critical key for economic development, eradication of poverty, human security and democracy. Being born female cannot be in so many corners of the globe a sentence of deep suffering or even death.”
As the 100 Steps to Equality clearly illustrates, much work must be done to advance women’s rights, but research shows that funding and support for women’s rights fall short and are rapidly dwindling. In the meantime, each individual can: call, donate, write a letter or send an email to ensure governments change laws and policies that negatively affect the fundamental rights of women and girls. Please visit: equalitynow.org/100Steps.pdf
Equality Now was founded in 1992 to work for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women around the world. Working with national human rights organizations and individual activists, Equality Now documents violence and discrimination against women and mobilizes international action to support their efforts to stop these human rights abuses. Through its Women’s Action Network of concerned groups and individuals around the world, Equality Now:
- distributes information about human rights violations
- takes action to protest these violations
- brings public attention to human rights violations against women
About Equality Now
Equality Now was founded in 1992 to work for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women around the world. Working with national human rights organizations and individual activists, Equality Now documents violence and discrimination against women and mobilizes international action to support their efforts to stop these human rights abuses. Through its Women’s Action Network of concerned groups and individuals around the world, Equality Now:
distributes information about human rights violations
takes action to protest these violations
brings public attention to human rights violations against women
The Women’s Action Network is committed to voicing a worldwide call for justice and equality for women. Issues of urgent concern to Equality Now include rape, domestic violence, reproductive rights, trafficking of women, female genital mutilation, and the denial of equal access to economic opportunity and political participation.
Human rights violations against women have historically been denied the attention and concern of international organizations, national governments, traditional human rights groups and the media. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of girls and women around the globe continue to endure debilitating and often fatal human rights abuses.
India: A 10-year-old girl is rescued by a flight attendant who notices her crying. Her father has sold her to the 60-year-old Saudi Arabian man sitting next to her for the equivalent of US$240.
- Kenya: At a boarding school, 300 boys attack the girls' dormitory. Seventy-one girls are raped. Nineteen are trampled to death in the stampede to escape. The school's vice principal remarks, "The boys never meant any harm against the girls. They just wanted to rape."
-
Brazil: A man who confessed to stabbing his wife and her lover to death is for the second time acquitted of murder by an all-male jury. The acquittal is based on the argument that he acted in legitimate defense of his wronged honor.
-
Ireland: A 14-year-old girl, raped by the father of her best friend, learns she is pregnant. She is prohibited from travelling to England where abortion is legal. Only when she indicates she will commit suicide if forced to carry the pregnancy to term does the Supreme Court allow her to proceed.
-
United States: A 51-year-old woman is stabbed 19 times and killed by her former boyfriend as she waits inside a courthouse to extend an order of protection. Twice before he had been charged with harassment. Both times the charges were dropped.
These are only a few instances of abuses which occur every single day. Human rights violations against women must be documented, publicized--and stopped. We need Equality Now.
For more information, visit www.equalitynow.org Back to main Spotlight page
|
