Freedom. Every human being has the right to Freedom. I am dedicating the blog to honour all those women and men who firmly stand against violence to women. Women have reached to the sky and beyond. And yet they are viewed as weaker section of the society. Is it because they are weak or is it because they do not stand up against violence? Do we remember the cause only one month prior to November 25th? Or do we remember it at every phase of our lives?
November 25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. By resolution 54/134 of 17th December, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25th November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and invited governments, international organisation and NGOs to organize activities designed to raise public awareness. Women activists have marked this day against violence since 1981. The commemoration will be held at Bangkok, Thailand.
Why 25th November? This date marked the brutal assassination of the Harmanas Mirabal (Mirabal sisters) in 1960 who were four Dominican political dissidents who opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo.
It is shocking that one out three women worldwide is a victim. It ranges from domestic violence to sexual assault. In some countries sexual assault is not even considered a crime. According to World Bank Data, "Women aged between 15 to 44 are more at risk to such violence than from cancer, car accidents, war or malaria." To get a vivid look out on the data of victims, look into Fact sheet of UN Org.
Here are a few stories that I would like to share with you from a few countries. Follow the links below to watch few minutes video.
South Africa
India
South Sudan
Brazil
Cambodia
Liberia
These are not only a common situation for rural communities but also in urban communities. In India, Channel V initiated an user friendly emergency app for android based phones called "VithU".
How does it work? When you download the app, the app sends a message to the contacts that you have selected as your designated receivers or your guardians saying "I am in danger, I need help. Please follow my location." The receiver of the message gets a link to your location which is updated every 2 minutes. The app also sends out general updates on the crime scene in India. There is a "Tips feed" option which gives safety tips for emergency situation. If you have witnessed a crime, you can share it with Channel V by posting it to "Submit your story" option.
Other sites to get more information on what is happening around the world. You can always search for more sites.
What is Second Life doing?
Initiative started by Bea Serendipity.
Change your profile picture on facebook on 25th November. Invite your friends and take a picture with a bruise on your face. Support the event. Show that you care.
"Thy wretched souls,
Open thine eyes"
- Leonardo Da Vinci
What am I doing, being a woman, for women? This has triggered a sense of alertness in me. What am I doing? In the next part I will talk about my initiatives.
Share your views and thoughts. Comment on what special will you do on Nov 25th, 2013.
Thank you for your support Debbie - and for those important questions at the end - but I'd like to take them further - to women AND men - what are you doing, being a human being, to end violence against women?
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome Bea. Yes. you are right. By the end of the blog, I started asking questions to myself. As in I being a woman, what am I doing? We must all ask the question to ourselves.
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