A Victory for Women

[groovedaddy]

Three women from Guinea won a court victory in Manhattan this month in their struggle to win asylum as victims of the barbaric form of persecution known as female genital cutting. In doing so, they have shined a light on the urgent need for consistent humane policies that treat women’s rights as fundamental human rights.

The government isn’t there yet, judging from the withering opinion of a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Ruling unanimously, the judges said the Board of Immigration Appeals, the highest immigration tribunal in the country, had committed “significant errors” and ignored its own regulations in denying asylum to the women, Salimatou Bah, Mariama Diallo and Haby Diallo. It ordered the board to reconsider the cases.

Among other disturbing misjudgments, the panel said, the board had wrongly assumed that the women were safe from future persecution because their genitals had already been cut. The board had likened the women’s injuries to the loss of a limb — a bad thing but not something that happens more than once.

One of the judges wrote separately to underscore what the board failed to recognize: the ritual mutilation of girls to promote chastity and thwart sexual desire is a perpetual injury. It is performed without anesthesia, often with dirty instruments, and leads to disfigurement, severe complications and lifelong trauma.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/opinion/22sun2.html?th&emc=th

[midnight]

1. Believe it or not, I was at a women's event where a photographer

was being awarded a scholarship, because of her photography in Africa showing a documentary on this brutaltiy. I said how can this be allowed. This women, who is now going into nursing with this scholarship, told me it was a cultural thing. This women's acceptance of this brutality for the sake a cultural right made me dumbfounded.

[Warpy]

2. Brutalized daughters won't enjoy sex

and will stay virginal until marriage while being more attractive as marriage partners. That's why women are accomplices or even often the butchers who do this to granddaughters or other relatives.

A variation on this is breast ironing, a daily grinding away at breast tissue with a smoking hot log, meant to keep the girls from developing breasts and attracting men so the girls will stay in school.

Africa is a horrible place for women and women are often the perpetrators of horrors against their descendants.

However, before we start feeling superior, we have to look at things like foot surgery to fit designer heels, liposuction, Lycra undergarments in summer to corral normal bulges, and bulimia.

Why are girls never enough as we are?

[Ilyas khan Baloch]

3. Pakistani Women at crossroads?

Dear Madam/Sir,



Pakistani Women at crossroads?



Everyone has the right to live with, liberty and security of the person. Woman is entitled to equal rights as citizen of Pakistan and live in a family, which is the natural and fundamental unit of society and is entitled to be protected by society and state. The women power in Pakistan is nearly 52% of the population, but while considering the status of 'women' in Pakistan, our women still look like to be living in the dark ages. Their right for acquiring education and economic freedom is not encourage; it is a matter of deep distress that being Muslims we have completely forgotten the status of women given by Islam, as per teaching of our beloved prophet, Mohammad (P.B.U.H) that women are dignified, respected and secure in Islam than in other faith. Women are more protected by Islam then by the faith and society which preaches monogamy. Islam was the first religion to recognize the equality of sexes and granted women all rights, 1400 years ago, in those early days of Islam.

But since the creation of Pakistan the rights of women were ignored just as similarly as the rights of Pakistani to rule this country and decide the fate of their own future. After the independence of Pakistan the socio-political system does not change, little or no reform were carried out and therefore the status quo of the society remain the same as it was before. The feudal remain in power as they were before, under the rule of British Empire and even before them.

The survival of the feudal system remains in brutality, ignorance, illiteracy and poverty’s it is the system to be blame for humiliation, exploitation and cruelty with women’s. The right of women cannot be protected till we provide ample opportunity to women for uplift, such as education with skill development and an opportunity to utilize that kill to enhance economic activities such as their participation in the production and services in the country.

We must feel proud in developing and implementing our values and stop looking at the west as passage/light for women’s right, women is most exploited in the west, in the name of democracy and equal rights, the freedom allowed in the west is not for the protection of women from exploitation and maintain the dignity. Even in these modern world women is being humiliated in socio-economic and cultural front by the dominant man power. Everybody is talking about the women’s right with special reference to job, education and equal opportunity in the society with dignity and respect. But, Women’s are being exploited even since the commencement of modern society. At work place in the factory, in search of job and better chances to avail for better income and prosperous life, even in the offices women are exploited by the influential people, one way or the other.

The most exploited women’s are from working class due to economic problems, middle class in order to maintain fake standard of living and the upper class for the sake of enjoyment of life and for getting rid off frustration in their social domestic life.

It is true that women in Pakistan have never been disassociated with the struggle for democracy. However, the women's gained more maturity in its understanding of national issues because of this interaction and participation in the movement for democracy, women have been engaged in the debate on insecurity and instability and its links to critical domestic condition.

Pakistan is an Islamic state, where people, not only take pride in strictly adhering to the Islamic values but are ready to sacrifice their loved belongings for the glory and sanctity of Islam. Islam has accorded a highly respected social position to women. Islam acknowledges the rights and privileges of the women in society. Likewise, Islam does not impose any restrictions that may hamper the social growth and development of the woman within the framework of Islamic society. A woman is equally important member of society. The woman plays a vital role in building the society on healthier and stronger foundations.

The women in Pakistan have been constantly complaining of having being isolated from the mainstream of society. Women feel disillusioned on being maltreated by the male-oriented set up in Pakistan. They strongly claim that if they are given a chance, they can contribute more positively towards the development of all social aspects. Pakistani women are at crossroad and need a serious concentration on the route cause of exploitation of women’s right; the reason, the route cause is the prevailing system in the country which is needed to be changed. The current democracy and the representation of women within the assembly does not represent common Pakistani women, they are part and partial of rich and feudal families.

Therefore, Islamic Democratic Party has decided to give back dignity and respect to the women, but that dignity and respect cannot be achieved without the change of socio-political system in the country. However, to give back honor and dignity to the women, we are suggesting to the women of Pakistan;

• Education and Technical knowledge to be provided to every capable woman in separate and safe environment.
• After enhancement of knowledge and skill, provide safe and separate environment for women to work and join national production force.
• A guarantee for job opportunity should be provided to every woman wanted to work in safe and separate environment.
• When, 52% women power will join production and services sector, national gross production /services will increase and so the increase in revenue.
• Working women will earn for the family and bring happiness to the family and so the self satisfaction, dignity and respect within the family will increase.
• A separate working environment reduces the objection from the male member of the family.
• An educated mother can train new generation in better way and be a supporting partner in family as and when needed.
• Being earning member of the family, self confidence of women will enhance and so the intrinsic skill will further developed.
• The medical facilities and insurance coverage should be provided to every working woman.

• Equal participation in political wing for women in the political parties.

• Only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan.

Therefore, we, invite the women from all walks of life to come forward and join the rank and file of Islamic Democratic Party and take the rain for the change of socio-political system in their hands to acquire peace and progress for better life with women’s dignity, respect and equal opportunity in Pakistan.


www.idp.org.pk


Ilyas khan Baloch
Organizer, Islamic Democratic Party.

[musette_sf]

4. "separate but equal"

no thanks, it doesn't work. anywhere.

[femrap]

5. Maybe if men lived on the moon

and women got Earth. That might work.