Women’s Day marks poverty and violence
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 09, 2009 00:00
PARIS - Thousands of women all across the world marked International Women’s Day yesterday as they lamented a surge in violence, poverty and insecurity, still expressing demands for the maintenance of equal rights on their behalf.
Indian activists protested a spate of violent attacks launched on women by extremists in the name of "moral policing" on Women's Day. A collective formed by residents in Bangalore, in India's south, met in parks and open areas where young Hindu extremists have targeted women for wearing jeans, or being seen in public with men.
While women from Australia to Liberia gathered to hail achievements and to campaign on issues such as work equality, voting rights and abortion access, there was little to celebrate for the female population in many parts of the world.
Women are still forced into marriages or subjected to domestic violence in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, activists say.
In Iraq, according to aid agency Oxfam, they are trapped in a "silent emergency" of poverty. Oxfam released the report to highlight what it called the desperation of daily hardships women face after years of conflict and the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
"Iraqi women are suffering a 'silent emergency', trapped in a downward spiral of poverty, desperation and personal insecurity despite an overall decrease in violence in the country," Oxfam said. "Women are the forgotten victims of Iraq," it said.
High-level meeting
Meanwhile, more than 400 high-profile women, including two heads of state, pressed for equal rights for half the world's population as they gathered in Liberia on Saturday.
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first female head of state, saluted the gathering of political and business leaders, saying: "You motivate us, you inspire us, you encourage us to continue." She said experience showed that the role women play "in conflict resolution and reconciliation in post war is very vital. This country Liberia is a good example of that."
A rights group in Tunisia announced Saturday the opening of a "feminist university" to promote women's causes in the north African country where at least one in five women have been beaten.
The non-academic university will be open to young people of both sexes to learn about universal human rights and the values of equality and non-discrimination towards women.
While women from Australia to Liberia gathered to hail achievements and to campaign on issues such as work equality, voting rights and abortion access, there was little to celebrate for the female population in many parts of the world.
Women are still forced into marriages or subjected to domestic violence in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, activists say.
In Iraq, according to aid agency Oxfam, they are trapped in a "silent emergency" of poverty. Oxfam released the report to highlight what it called the desperation of daily hardships women face after years of conflict and the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
"Iraqi women are suffering a 'silent emergency', trapped in a downward spiral of poverty, desperation and personal insecurity despite an overall decrease in violence in the country," Oxfam said. "Women are the forgotten victims of Iraq," it said.
High-level meeting
Meanwhile, more than 400 high-profile women, including two heads of state, pressed for equal rights for half the world's population as they gathered in Liberia on Saturday.
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first female head of state, saluted the gathering of political and business leaders, saying: "You motivate us, you inspire us, you encourage us to continue." She said experience showed that the role women play "in conflict resolution and reconciliation in post war is very vital. This country Liberia is a good example of that."
A rights group in Tunisia announced Saturday the opening of a "feminist university" to promote women's causes in the north African country where at least one in five women have been beaten.
The non-academic university will be open to young people of both sexes to learn about universal human rights and the values of equality and non-discrimination towards women.