Challenges remain including gender-based violence

Dear Editor:

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. IWD 2023’s campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity. Equality (equal rights, status and opportunities) is the goal, and equity (fairness and justice) is the means to get there.

While there has been progress with gender equality over the last decades, many challenges remain including gender-based violence. The United Nations states that violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. Yet it remains shrouded in a culture of silence. Still.

As a woman impacted by abuse, I have been reflecting on this year’s theme and wondering how to boldly use my voice and responsibly be an ally. Although heart-wrenching and disturbing, I decided that sharing just a few of so many women’s stories of inequity from 2022 may be the most revealing of truth and a call to action:

Kyla Frenchman, a mother from the Thunderchild First Nation, told police that her child’s father was dangerous and she was worried for the baby’s safety. Her child is now dead, and the father has been charged with second-degree murder.

Elnaz Hajtamiri was assaulted by two men and hit in the head with a frying pan; three weeks later, she was abducted and is still missing. Her ex-boyfriend has been charged with criminal harassment and kidnapping.

There have been so many cases of rape in the capital region of Kyiv, Ukraine, doctors have had to order 5,000 pregnancy termination pills for women and girls as young as fourteen.

Lorelei Williams, MMIWG advocate, explains “When I look at reconciliation, the genocide actually has to stop. Not a lot of people know this or want to believe this but it is still happening.”

There is almost no international response to the Taliban’s intensifying attack on women as almost every human right disappears. Journalist Yalda Ali reports “They’ve brought back the burka, banned women from driving and backtracked on girl’s education.”

An Ottawa woman’s victim impact statement at convicted sex offender Jacob Hoggard’s sentencing hearing reveals “the assault took away my worth, my privacy, my body, my confidence and my voice.” She was also traumatized by the court proceedings as the defence tried to undermine her credibility.

One in three women and girls in our own Columbia Valley either has or will experience gender-based violence in her lifetime.

Carolyn Rogers,

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