The question remains that do women really have, right? Global Women | 1
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I
ED ITOR ’ S
NOTE
am the editor of Global Women. I am a magazine fan, who believes the role of an editorial team is to distribute a package of concepts, words and pictures to engage an audience and pass a meaningful message.
Global Women is a publication which is rich in content and avails quality. It is meant for women all over the world. Its objective is to feature captivating stories of interest which will motivate and empower women who are oppressed and discriminated against. We believe that highlighting the plight of women all over the world, in term of job discrimination, lack of equal opportunities, sexual harassment and lack of education shall open doors to solve these problems. Global Women emphasizes that women need to be offered equal opportunities as men, in order to prove themselves and flourish. The magazine draws attention to professional, successful and entrepreneurial women of all origins and cultures, who reside in all parts of the globe. Our endeavor is to shine a bright light on their lives which is also positive and portray to women ways of conquering challenges and difficulties in their lives to gain success and happiness in their lives.
Amna
The idea of Global Women magazine stems from the idea of embracing culture, diversity and the appeal of being a woman in the world. Women promote uniqueness, initiate change and spread values. A woman holds positivity and love.
Editor-in-chief
It is the aim of Global Women to develop as a brand that is treasured and held in high esteem, creating a professional and personal community which communicates, cooperates, works in partnership and participates via social media, the magazine and holding functions in order to get a chance to network.
AMNA ABUSHAQARA
4 | Global Women
To learn about the challenges faced by women internationally and how to overcome them as well as succeed in order to gain happiness, keep reading this unique magazine! There is absolutely so much to learn!
DK N Y
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CO N T E N TS FE AT U R E STO RY THE QUESTION REMAINS THAT DO WOMEN REALLY HAVE, RIGHT? PAGE 24
THE TRAVAIL OF EARLY MARRIAGE FOR UNDER AGED GIRLS AND THE WAY OUT PAGE 19
WOMEN’S NEWS PAGE 12
TURKEY: MOTION 'PROTECTING CHILD MARRIAGE' DRAWS DEBATE 15
IS BRAZIL'S GOVERNMENT ROLLING BACK WOMEN'S RIGHTS? 22
THE INDIAN WOMEN FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS 14
FAMOUS WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVISTS 16
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PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND
EMPOWER WOMEN
Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education. While most of the Millennium Development Goals face a deadline of 2015, the gender parity target was set to be achieved a full ten years earlier - an acknowledgement that equal access to education is the foundation for all other development goals. Yet recent statistics show that for every 100 boys out of school, there are still 117 girls in the same situation. Until equal numbers of girls and boys are in school, it will be impossible to build the knowledge necessary to eradicate poverty and hunger, combat disease and ensure environmental sustainability. And millions of children and women will continue to die needlessly, placing the rest of the development agenda at risk. Advancing the rights of women and children advances humanity. Two-thirds of the world’s 799 million illiterate adults ages 15 and over are women. Many children in developing countries start life without adequate means of nutrition, learning, and protection. Women and girls are particularly challenged. Some 67 countries have primary school attendance and enrolment rates for girls less than 85 per cent. Globally, there are just 96 girls for every 100 boys in primary school, with disparities at the secondary level even more acute. Yet uneducated girls are more at risk than boys to become marginalized. They are more vulnerable to exploitation. They are more likely than educated girls to contract HIV/AIDS, which spreads twice as quickly among uneducated girls than among girls that have even some schooling. Nearly a third of all adults living with HIV/AIDS are under the age of 25, and almost two thirds of these people are women. As unschooled adults, these girls will be less likely to have a say socially and politically and to be able to support themselves. Women’s rights and access to land, credit and education are limited not only due to legal discrimination, but because more subtle barriers such as their work load, mobility and low bargaining position in the household and community prevent them from taking advantage of their legal rights. These problems affect their children: Women earn only one tenth of the world’s income and own less than one per cent of property, so households without a male head are at special risk of impoverishment. These women will also be less likely to immunize their children and know how to help them survive. Gender bias undercuts women’s rights in other areas. Practices such as early marriage or poor health services result in high rates of maternal mortality. Some 529,000 women died giving birth last year, 99 per cent of them in developing countries. Global Women | 9
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WO M EN ’ S
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you deserve better than to be called “pretty” you deserve better than to get upset and go online to act petty. you deserve better than to be on “hold”. you deserve better than to hold onto someone who’s already let go. you deserve better than to be held in convenience. - REYNA BIDDY -
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BRITISH OPPOSITION MP JO COX DIES AFTER BEING SHOT AND STABBED
A Labour MP has died after she was shot three times and repeatedly stabbed in a shocking attack as she arrived at her constituency surgery. Mother-of-two Jo Cox, 41, was airlifted to hospital after a gunman opened fire on her in Birstall near Leeds. Witnesses said the man was at the office before she arrived and shot her three times, once in the head, before stabbing her as she lay on the ground.
THIS IS THE FACE OF THE ISIS SEX SLAVE MARKET
Islamic State terrorists use Facebook to sell sex slaves to fellow jihadists, justifying the price by “supply and demand.” The worrying report by the Washington Post sheds more light on hundreds of women held captive and traded by the terror group.
WOMEN STRIKE OVER PROPOSED TOTAL ABORTION BAN
Wearing black in mourning for the anticipated loss of reproductive rights, women across Poland have gone on strike to protest a new law that would ban abortion. Many men joined them in “Black Monday” demonstrations on the streets of Warsaw, Gdansk and elsewhere.
Photos of a young girl of about 18 were posted on Facebook by an Islamic State (IS, previously ISIS/ISIL) militant called Abu Assad Almani, which is Arabic for “German”.
THE FIRST SOMALI-AMERICAN WOMAN REFUGEE JUST GOT ELECTED IN THE US
If the law – which has cleared one parliamentary hurdle so far – goes through it will make Poland’s abortion laws as restrictive as those in two other countries in Europe: Malta and the Vatican.
POLICE SCOTLAND MAKES HIJAB PART OF OFFICIAL UNIFORM
Police Scotland has announced that the hijab will become part of its official uniform as it aims to create a more diverse force. The force said they hope the move will “encourage women from Muslim communities, who may previously not have seen policing as a career option, to reconsider”. In the past, Muslim police officers in Scotland were allowed to wear the hijab, but only once it was approved by senior staff members. In a statement, chief constable Phil Gormley said: “I am delighted to make this announcement and welcome the support from both the Muslim community, and the wider community, as well as police officers and staff.
HUGE STEP BACKWARDS ON CHILD MARRIAGE IN BANGLADESH
On November 24, the Bangladesh cabinet approved draft legislation that poses grave risks to girls by creating vague exceptions to the country’s ban on child marriage, and even punishing the victims. Bangladesh’s parliamentarians now have a crucial chance to stand up for girls, where the prime minister has failed to do so. 12 | Global Women
The U.S. did not elect its first female president Tuesday night, one woman still made history. The 34-year-old moved to the U.S. at the age of 12, after four years living in a Kenyan refugee camp following her escape from the Somali civil war. As well as her political duties, she is director of policy at Women Organizing Women Network—a group that aims to empower all women, particularly first and second generation immigrants, to become engaged citizens and community leaders.
FOR MORE NEWS PLEASE VISIT : WWW.GLOBALWOMEN4.COM
SEVEN THINGS WOMEN IN SAUDI ARABIA CANNOT DO Saudi Arabia's human rights record, especially with regards to protecting women, has often been called into question. Although women's rights have been incrementally extended in recent years – they were allowed to vote in municipal elections for the first time last year - their actions are still severely restricted. In a country where a woman cannot even open a bank account without her husband's permission, here are several other things they are still unable to do:
Drive a car There is no official law that bans women from driving, but deeply held religious beliefs prohibit it, with Saudi clerics arguing that female drivers "undermine social values". In 2011, the "Women2Drive" campaign encouraged women to disregard the laws and post images and videos of themselves driving on social media to raise awareness of the issue in an attempt to force change. It was not a major success. Saudi journalist Talal Alharbi says women should be allowed to drive - but only to take their children to school or a family member to hospital. "Women should accept simple things, this is a wise thing women could do at this stage. Being stubborn won't support their cause.
Wear clothes or make-up that "show off their beauty" The dress code for women is governed by a strict interpretation of Islamic
T
he system means women in the deeply conservative Islamic kingdom are unable to obtain a passport or travel abroad without the consent of either their husband, father or other male relative. "We all have to live in the borders of the boxes our dads or husbands draw for us," Zahra, 25 siaid Kristine Beckerle of the organisation described the campaign as "incredible and unprecedented", adding that Saudi women have made it "undeniably clear" they won't stand to be treated as second-class citizens any longer. Writing in the Saudi Gazette, columnist Abdullah Al-Alweet said it was "high time" the practice was brought to an end. "This traditional system should be removed completely as demanded by women activists and it should not be continued as a culture or custom," he said.
law and is enforced to varying degrees across the country. The majority of women wear an abaya – a long cloak – and a head scarf. The face does not necessarily need to be covered, "much to the chagrin of some hardliners", says The Economist. But this does not stop the religious police from harassing women for exposing what they consider to be too much flesh or wearing too much make-up. The dress code was extended to all female television presenters last year. The king's advisory body, the Shura Council, ruled they should wear "modest" clothes that do not "show off their beauty", according to Arab News. Interact with men Women are required to limit the amount of time spent with men to whom they are not related. The majority of public buildings, including offices, banks and universities, have separate entrances for the different sexes. Public transportation, parks, beaches and amusement parks are also segregated in most parts of the country. Unlawful mixing will lead to criminal charges being brought against both parties, but women typically face harsher punishment.
Go for a swim Women are not allowed to use public swimming pools available to men and can only swim in private ones or femaleonly gyms and spas. Reuters editor Arlene Getz describes her experience of trying to use the gym and pool at an upmarket Riyadh hotel: "As a woman, I wasn't even allowed to look at them
('there are men in swimsuits there,' a hotel staffer told me with horror) - let alone use them."
Compete freely in sports Last year, Saudi Arabia proposed hosting an Olympic Games without women. "Our society can be very conservative," said Prince Fahad bin Jalawi al-Saud, a consultant to the Saudi Olympic Committee. "It has a hard time accepting that women can compete in sports." When Saudi Arabia sent its female athletes to the London Games for the first time, hardline clerics denounced the competitors as "prostitutes". The women also had to be accompanied by a male guardian and cover their hair.
Try on clothes when shopping "The mere thought of a disrobed woman behind a dressing-room door is apparently too much for men to handle," says Vanity Fair writer Maureen Dowd in A Girl's Guide to Saudi Arabia. Other more unusual restrictions on women's lives include entering a cemetery and reading an uncensored fashion magazine. However, adds Dowd, everything in Saudi Arabia "operates on a sliding scale, depending on who you are, whom you know, whom you ask, whom you're with, and where you are". “A transformation is indeed underway, confirms royal adviser Hanan AlAhmadi: "But we need to be able to create this change gradually and maintain our identity." Global Women | 13
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THE INDIAN WOMEN FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS
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hese woman are the Pink Vigilantes, members of a group sworn to root out corruption in the police force and deliver ruthless summary justice to anyone believed guilty of domestic violence or sexual abuse.
"When I go to fetch water, the upper-caste people beat me, saying I shouldn't be drinking the same water as them. But because we're a gang, they're scared of us and will leave us alone.
The women, who operate in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, wear pink as a kind of makeshift uniform - and their ranks have swelled to several hundred strong.
"Six months ago, a woman was raped and we went to the police station. The officers initially refused
They arm themselves with lathi - traditional sticks - which they have used to beat men who have abandoned or abused their wives and policemen who have refused to register claims of rape. The group, which was formed two years ago, has even managed to unearth wrongdoing among politicians – despite the fact that its members are drawn from the lowest 'dalit' caste at the bottom of Indian society. Along the way, the Gulabi Gang, as they call themselves, have been hit by a variety of criminal charges. But they remain unrepentant. "Nobody comes to our help in these parts," says Sampat Pal Devi, the gang's fiery 47-year-old leader, who gives the other women lessons in fighting. "The police and officials are corrupt and anti-poor. So sometimes we have to take the law into our own hands. At other times, we shame the wrongdoers. "But we are not a gang in the usual sense of the term. We are a gang for justice. We wear pink because it is the colour of life." The gang is based in Banda district, one of the poorest parts of Uttar Pradesh, and the women are slowly earning the grudging respect of local officials. Over 20 per cent of the area's population are lower castes or 'untouchables', and women bear the brunt of poverty and discrimination in the district's caste-ridden, feudalistic and male-dominated society. Almost all of the Pink Vigilantes live in mud-brick huts with no running water or electricity, and survive on less than 50 pence per day. Aarti Devi, 25, says: "On my own I have no rights but together, as the Gulabi Gang, we have power. 14 | Global Women
to take the complaint, but together, we were able to force the police to take action. "We dragged the police officer from the station and beat him with our sticks." The group has attracted the support of an increasing number of men. "My father is a member of the Gulabi Gang," says Aarti. "We are not against men. We are for the rights of everybody and against people who don't believe in that." Sampat, a mother of five who was married at nine, has become a local celebrity. Intensely proud of her work, she says: "We have managed to stop women being raped and sent girls to school. Violence and rape against women is very common here, so we're trying to educate them so that they know their rights. "In cases of domestic violence, we go and talk to the man and explain why it is wrong. If he refuses to listen, we get the woman out of the house, then beat him. If necessary, we do it in public to embarrass him. "Men used to think the law didn't apply to them but we are forcing a huge change." Last year, after receiving complaints that a government-run shop was not giving out the food it was supposed to hand out free to the poor, the gang kept watch on the owner. One night, they saw two truckloads of grain on their way to the market, where the shop owner was planning to sell them and pocket the profits. The Pink Vigilantes pressured the local administration to seize the grain and so they ensured that it was properly distributed
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TURKEY: MOTION 'PROTECTING CHILD MARRIAGE' DRAWS DEBATE
A
government proposal to quash the convictions of men convicted of child sex assaults if they marry their victim has sparked furious debate in Turkey, with critics accusing it of encouraging child rape and the ruling party insisting it will protect those who were too young to marry legally.
Thursday's motion stated that in the case of sexual abuse of a minor committed before November 11, if the act was committed without "force, threat, or any other restriction on consent" and if the aggressor "marries the victim" the sentence will be postponed. The motion was issued 49-article bill draft in parliamentary session. passed, but the bill did majority vote.
as part of a a night-time The motion not receive a
The government angrily hit back at the criticism, calling the opposition claims a crude distortion of an attempt to grapple with the legal consequences of child marriage in the country.
The parliament will vote again on the entire bill on November 22, and if it passes, then the motion will also be validated. If this happens, it will then go to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and following his approval, it will be published in the official gazette and come in to force.
"The issue is simple," Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters after attending Friday prayers in the Turkish capital Ankara.
Omer Suha Aldan, a member of parliament with the opposition CHP, criticised the motion, saying it will "encourage forced marriages" and "legalise marriage to rapists", according to the Turkish daily Hurriyet.
"We determined that there are 3,000 families living like this."
"If a 50 or 60-year-old is told to marry an 11-year-old after raping her, and then marries her years later, she will suffer the consequences," he was quoted as saying on Friday. "If you give him a pass by marriage, the young girl will live in a prison for her whole life," Aldan said.
"There are people who marry early. They do not know the law, so they have children. The father goes to jail and the children is left alone with their mother.
Under current law, the age of consent in Turkey is 18 years old, meaning individuals aged 17 or younger are not legally able to consent to sexual activity, and such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape . Turkey's statutory rape law is violated when an individual has consensual sexual contact with a person under the age of 18, but sexual contact with minors between the ages of 15-17 can only be prosecuted upon complaint.
Yildirim said the motion will be a "oneoff" pardon for people who violated the law "unknowingly". "Everyone made promises to solve this problem during their election campaigns. Everything is out in the open. This is not a pardon for rape." In Turkey, child marriage occurs widely in all regions of the country. Although marriage can be contracted by two persons of 17 years, according to the Turkey Civil Code, it is widely known that many marriages occur before that age. While holding a religious marriage before the conclusion of the civil marriage is not legal, the practice is widespread in Turkey and most child marriages are unofficial religious marriages. Since these marriages are not registered, there are no accurate statistical data on child marriages.
Global Women | 15
Famous Women's Rights Activists
Carol Moseley Braun
Civil Rights Activist, U.S. Representative, Women's Rights Activist (1947–) Carol Moseley Braun became the first African-American woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992. First Black Woman Elected to the Senate
Kirsten Gillibrand
Since joining theSenate in 2009, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has been a fearless advocate for women. She's fought against sexual assault both in the military and on college campuses, called on Congress to help close the gender pay gap, and advocated for better policies to support working women and families. Now, she's turning her attention to getting women involved—a powerful message delivered in her new memoir
16 | Global Women
Queen Rania
Queen, Women's Rights Activist (1970–) Queen Rania of Jordan is best known for her advocacy work in public health, education and as an outspoken opponent of the practice of "honor killings.
Hillary Clinton
When Hillary Clinton was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2001, she became the first American first lady to ever win a public office seat. She later became the 67th U.S. secretary of state in 2009, serving until 2013. In 2016, she became the first woman in U.S. history to become the presidential nominee of a major political party.
Joan Baez
Environmental Activist, Children's Activist, Civil Rights Activist, Women's Rights Activist, Guitarist, Songwriter, Anti-War Activist, Singer (1941–) Joan Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter and activist who is best known for songs serving as a voice for protest movements from around the world.
Malala Yousafzai
As a young girl, Malala Yousafzai defied the Taliban in Pakistan and demanded that girls be allowed to receive an education. She was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in 2012, but survived and went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
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WO MEN’S
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Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights - Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton -
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The
travail of early marriage for
under aged girls and the way out
M
arriage is the bond between two people signifying their love and support of one another. It’s something we celebrate in countries all over the globe, every day of every year. Although the term varies from country to country, here in the United States, we are free to choose the person we want to spend the rest of our lives with. Unfortunately, there are many countries throughout the world where marriage is not something to be happy about or even looked forward to. In some cultures, girls under 18 are forced into a relationship just for the sake of being married. And if they do not get married, they are left to live a life of scrutiny and still assigned someone to marry anyway. In a world where anything is possible and a wide range of places where an individual’s freedom is realistic, it’s unfortunate to see young women being put in these kind positions and forced to live a life they don’t want. Global Women | 19
WO MEN’S
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In 2012, 70 million women around the world had been Senior Social Work Major at Shippensburg. She said, ‘Early married before the age of 18, and the majority of those women marriage is a problem and it’s unfortunate that it’s still a came from poor, uneducated, and very religious parts of the thing. But unfortunately there are a lot of people who don’t world. The correlation between those three characteristics see a problem marrying a 15 year old. Especially those who and the numbers of forced marriages are exponential. The claim they have the go-ahead from a Holy text to marry and top 5 countries for girls being married before they turn 18 are abuse a child simply for being a woman. We take marriage Niger (75%), Chad (68%), Central African Republic(68%), for granted here in the states with half of all marriages Bangladesh (66%), and Guinea (63%). 4 of these 5 countries ending in divorce we think, ‘Screw it I’ll find someone else’, are in Africa, and they aren’t the only ones. Many countries but these girls don’t get that option. They are bound to that throughout Asia and the man from childhood and Middle East also practice that’s horrific.’ early marriage, each We take marriage for granted here in As a man, it is hard for for their own reasons. me to grasp being treated Therefore, besides being the states with half of all marriages a completely certain way less fortunate than others ending in divorce we think, ‘Screw it simply because of my around the world, young gender, let alone being women are being forced I’ll find someone else’, but these girls basically controlled for it. I into relationships just wouldn’t feel right without don’t get that option. They are bound so they can reproduce some input from someone children and make to that man from childhood and that’s who has knowledge on this provision for the man. I’m topic. Nobody should be a man in a relationship horrific. forced to be in a situation and this kind of behavior that compromises their is ludicrous and totally health, education, or overall quality of life. Every girl should unfair to the women involved, and I really feel for those get the chance to find a husband they truly care about and girls involved. Whether they do it for money, to raise a big want to be with, not someone who is going to treat them like family early, or just to have a provider, these women are not an object from childhood. The biggest challenge right now is given an equal chance like they do here and their lives are raising awareness about this issue so that something can be completely affected by it. done about it. So many here are unaware of the existence of As I’ve mentioned above, early marriage is a huge issue this issue. If we fail to tackle this, over 150 million girls will around the world, but for many here in the States, it’s almost be married before their 18th birthday over the next decade. an unknown or unacknowledged problem. I spoke to a That’s an average of 15 million girls each year, and that’s young woman about her opinion on this topic. Bri Pearson is many of lives lost, ruined, and ended before they even got heavily involved with people in the community ranging from started. those with mental disabilities to groups of women and a 20 | Global Women
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"This is a patriarchal and machista society," says Aguiar, while the women nod in agreement. "We've fought against this for years and achieved successes, but now they're taking all that away." Aguiar is referring to the interim government of Michel Temer, which took power in May after the senate voted to suspend, and ultimately impeach, President Dilma Rousseff.
IS BRAZIL'S GOVERNMENT ROLLING BACK WOMEN'S RIGHTS?
I
n an abandoned building in the centre of Brazil's financial centre of Sao Paulo, Marli Aguiar and a group of black women have come together to talk about one thing: what to do about Brazil's new interim government. After only weeks in power, it has become clear that this new administration will be a "disaster" for women's rights, they say - particularly for black, working-class women.
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In his short time in office, Temer has already made several changes to public spending as part of his plans to overhaul the economy and balance the budget. These include harsh spending caps on social programmes, reducing labour rights, and closing government ministries - all of which have contributed to major gains in women's rights over the years. "The situation right now is critical," says Aguiar, who has been regularly attending the anti-Temer protests and sit-ins that have been taking place almost every day in Sao Paulo. Women have been leading the fight to see Temer removed from office, calling his policies a dangerous step backwards. One of the more popular slogans seen at demonstrations has been "Ser mulher sem Temer", or "Being a Woman Without Temer", which is a play on words as "temer" also means "fear" in Portuguese. Many women, including Aguiar, have also to acknowledge Temer's leadership, referring administration as a "coup government", as it removed the democratically elected Rousseff and wing Workers' Party (PT) from office.
refused to his forcibly the left-
"One thing we've decided is that we're not going to recognise this government or ask anything from it, him [Temer] or his ministries. He has to leave," says Aguiar, who is also a member of the feminist organisation Marcha Mundial de las Mujeres (World March of Women), also known as MMM. Protesters, led by feminist and LGBT groups, took to the streets the next day to denounce the move, saying that the new government does not represent their diverse population, which is 51 percent female and 53 percent non-white.
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WO MEN ’ S
RIGHTS
The question remains that
do women
I
n this generation of ours, where everything is equal including sex equality, it is established that women are equal to men in all verifications. But in some part of the world, women are still considered to be least of creations and little regard are given unto them. Several cases of tragic occurrences had happened in many parts of the world where female children and woman are molested and deprived of the normal human right.
International Women’s Rights and Issues in Africa A century back, African women had cause to anticipate 24 | Global Women
change after a global conference which was much publicized. This conference set determined targets to change women’s lives globally. This great event took place in 1995 in Beijing, China and was the Fourth World Conference on Women. Similar to their counterparts in other places, African women are weighing progress and questioning to what degree guaranteed reforms have been established. They are examining also, the reason progress has been restricted in a lot of countries and are looking for methods to
deadly disease that has no cure. As can be clearly seen, the situation for women across the world is precarious and looks bleak.
African Women Still Experience Widespread Poverty and Cumbersome Labour Burdens
really have right?
Over the similar 30 years since the initial World Conference on Women held in the city of Mexico, men have traveled to the moon and returned while women remain in the same area they were, that is, attempting to sensitize the globe on the unwanted and improper marginalization of women that robs them of their human rights. Particularly in Africa, women have made great progress in the political field over the last few years. African Union (AU) made a gigantic step by motivating gender parity in its leading positions for decision-making. In 2003, five men and five women were nominated as AU commissioners. The year after that, Ms. Gertrude Mongella was elected as leader of the Pan-African Parliament of AU. Here, women form 25% of members. In spite of the progress and attainments made, African women go through huge challenges and barriers. For instance, the main development policies in a lot ofstates, recognized as poverty reduction strategies, up to now do not consider the variations in income and power between men and women. This hinders the endeavors to finance programmers which lower inequality. Additionally, most of the women in Africa go on being denied employment and education and have lower opportunities in industry, trade and government. In agriculture, which is the most important economic sector in sub-Saharan Africa, women contribute 80% of labour in the production of food for home consumption as well as for sale. But, despite doing most of the work, they do not have access to credit and markets.
Life in Afghanistan as a Woman It is a great challenge to be a woman in Afghanistan. A lot of women die during pregnancy and childbirth. 85% of the women lack formal learning and are illiterate. Causes of Challenges for Afghan Women conquer the barriers. In the past 30 years, numerous indications of improvement have been evident. Moves have been made to establish the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This is a protocol of the UN and the advancement of latest policies and guides as well as formation of networks of gender professionals. In some Africa countries, young girls are subjected to some forbidding right that entails them to have sex with a man selected by the village for the task of inducting young girls into womanhood. This has led to the spread of HIV/AIDs, a
An excess of 50% of the girls in Afghanistan are engaged or married by 12 years of age. By 16 years, nearly 60% of the girls are married. According to women activists, up to 80% of marriages in rural regions that are poor, are either arranged or forced. Many girls marry men who are a lot older; some of them are in their 60s and they meet them during their wedding for the first time. War that has racked this country for three decades has led to insecurity, danger of kidnapping and rape. This has also led a lot of families to compel their young daughters into marriage. Some girls are given out for marriage to settle a dispute or Global Women | 25
to repay a debt. Also, prevalent poverty still forces a lot of parents to marry off their daughters to avoid the expense of taking care of them. Husbands who are older and richer shall pay a bigger bride-price for a girl.
Impact of Early Marriage
that they believed that a woman should have the right to choose whether to be veiled or not when going out in public. 89% of Tunisians and 85% of Moroccans felt that this should be a woman’s choice, and not a dictate of religion or the status quo. In Jordan, Iraq and Afghanistan, the percentages were lower; hovering between 30%-46%.
When girls are married off, they discontinue with their learning and remain illiterate. They have children while still in their teens, raising health issues and they risk their life as well as their children’s.
When it came to opinions about whether a wife should obey her husband the Pew Forum found that most Muslims believed that the woman should be obedient to her spouse.
The danger of death during childbirth or pregnancy for girls below 14 is higher by five times, compared to grownup women. In Kabul, it is common for young girls to get admitted to hospitals immediately after marriage due to shock caused by severe physical injuries. Another problem encountered by girls and women is the culture. Afghanistan’s culture forces the girls and women to remain at home and only leave if they are covered completely and escorted by a male relative. Also, women have limited economic opportunities due to a widespread shortage of education.
Solution to Women Problems in Afghanistan Education presents the most ideal strategy to free women from domination of men. When a woman is educated, this reaffirms her self-worth, making her confident to tackle issues. In this regard, she can fend for herself and children, in the event of a separation or divorce. She will not feel trapped and unable to get out of a bad marriage because she and her children are at the man’s mercy.
Women’s Issues in Middle East According to the World Economic Forum of 2013, there are still many Middle Eastern countries where the disparities between the rights of women and the rights of men are significant. Many thought leaders and general citizens have expressed their opinions on the issue of gender gaps in the Middle East. The focus becomes more intense during times like International Women’s Day celebrations. The war in Syria and the rise of ISIS has led to a humanitarian and refugee crisis of inexpressible magnitude. Women have been used as sex slaves by terrorist organizations, particularly if they are of an unlike ethnicity or religious belief. The Yazidis, an ethnic group in Iraq suffered when ISIS was taking over lands and cities belonging to Iraq, and many girls and women were sold into slavery. In some Islamic states and countries there are restrictions on what women can do, what they can own and who they can marry. There are still many Middle Eastern countries where the disparities between the rights of women and the rights of men are significant. There are still uncommon 7 limitations placed on women, which range from restrictions against getting a driver’s license, driving or voting in Saudi Arabia. The women in Saudi Arabia are still deprived from right of personal possession. A woman only counting as half a witness or being unable to leave the house without their husband’s permission in Yemen, Morocco, Iran, Syria, Chad, Pakistan. In the Pew Forum on Religious and Political Life, many people who were surveyed indicated 26 | Global Women
Professor. Doaa Adel, she said “Women’s empowerment in the region is vital and inextricably tied to democratic and economic development. Today, just as before in the Arab world, women are still fighting for their political, economic and social rights.” Speaking further on lack of women empowerment in these regions, she adds “Women’s political Empowerment is still weak. Women in the Middle East and North Africa still have the world’s lowest rates of labour force participation. There is lack of employment opportunities that obstruct women’s economic and political engagement.”
Empowering Women in India In India, women empowerment is a difficult task since it should be acknowledged that discrimination based on gender is a social cruelty that is deeply entrenched in India in numerous forms centuries ago. This cruelty shall not disappear in a few years nor will it go away by making mild attempts. Forming policies and laws is not sufficient since it is recognized that many times, these laws and policies are not implemented. So, the situation on ground remains similar and in some circumstances, becomes worse. Dealing with cruelty associated with gender discrimination in India as well as women empowerment is a lengthy battle against strong structural forces of the community that do not support the development and advancement of women. Indian women are marginalized and discriminated at all levels of society such as: • • • • •
Economic opportunity Taking part in economy Participating in politics Accessing education Accessing reproductive and nutrition health care
Some regard women as sexual objects and there is a prevalence of gender disparity. Violence against women continues to rise and a lot of cases are not reported. Issues related to dowry and death is rising and is widely seen in the urban society. In the workplace, women are harassed and the number of girls attending school is sadly very low. Pertinent issues facing girls and women globally include: Access to education Access to education should be a fundamental human right. If I didn’t get a proper education, I would not be able to write this article today. Unfortunately, it has been identified that
more than 31 million primary school girls in the world are not provided with even primary education. As per a research that was conducted by UNESCO back in 2013, it was identified that one out of every four women in developing countries have not completed primary school education. This is a huge amount, which should not be neglected. Education is extremely important for every woman who lives out there in the world because it can help them in the future with getting a job, raising healthy kids, surviving childbirth and earning money for their living. In fact, it can contribute towards our future as well.
Gender equality Gender equality can also be considered as a fundamental right of women. Unfortunately, a considerable percentage of women who live out there in the world are not provided with the opportunity to experience it. For example, women are not being paid fare wages in some countries, whereas some are not provided with the right of education. 95% of the countries in the world that we live in are led by male leaders. Therefore, no major attention has been provided towards ensuring gender equality. As a result, it has become one of the major conflicts in ensuring women’s rights.
Employment opportunities It is Necessary to take Practical Action Women who live in all parts of the world experience a The most vital step is to begin actions at the ground level, tremendous inequality when it comes to workforce. This has however little it might appear. Ground level actions need become a prominent issue in United States as well. In United to focus on altering the social attitude and deeds that are States, women only earn $0.77 for every $1 earned by men. widespread in the communities, which are greatly biased This gap is wider in the developing countries out there in against women. the world. Empowering women in order to earn their fair share has the potential to deliver a variety of benefits to the This can be started by working together with the women society in the long run. For example, they would spend the at grass-root level and concentrating on raising the access earned money on and management Women are willing to work to fend for themselves and the development of women over of their families and become independent. Gone are the days when women just resources and raising raising their children. The decision making sat at home, waiting for the man to provide. women should management. be provided with equal employment opportunities like men so that they can Also, working on the factor of improved movement and social relation of women in the community would have a positive showcase their talents. impact on general empowerment and development of Indian Reproductive health and rights women. On pragmatic steps/actions to take to curb this Women Deliver, a women’s advocacy group estimates that situation, “It is important broadening the scope of women’s all over the world, there are about 74 million unplanned citizenship, leadership and political participation, especially pregnancies and 36 million abortions every year. There are in transition countries, this is essential to ensuring the 225 million women in the world that cannot access family transitions are both fully inclusive democratic, and respond planning services. Freeing women from their natural body to the needs and priorities of women and girls.” Adel said cycles is one of the first steps in their emancipation and empowerment. This will not only avoid unwanted expenses Equal Rights for Women for unplanned pregnancies, but will also allow women to It is said that ‘what a man can do, a woman can do better.’ pursue other life goals. Given equal opportunity, women can prove themselves in business, politics and at the work place. Gender based violence As per a study that was conducted by WHO, it has been If a woman is given the same education as a man and offered identified that one out of every three women experience the same opportunities, we can see more women lawyers, sexual or physical violation at any point in their lives. It engineers, law enforcement officers and even politicians. could be sexual trafficking, rape, domestic abuse or any other Women are willing to work to fend for themselves and form of gender based violence. However, it is a fundamental become independent. Gone are the days when women just right of the women to live healthy, happy and fulfilling lives. sat at home, waiting for the man to provide. Nowadays Nobody, including me would like to go through gender based women are going out of their way to get an education and violence. become self-reliant. So, let us all endeavor to give women an equal opportunity as men, to prove ourselves. This can Maternal health only be achieved by treating them as equal to men and not As per the reports of World Health Organization, more than looking down on them or discriminating against them. The 800 women die per day due to pregnancy related issues. world has witnessed significant improvements regarding the However, most of these issues can be prevented with proper rights of women and girls, equality and freedom, with more care. In fact, it is a right of women to receive access to the women in the meeting room, increased visibility, greater best possible healthcare services. Otherwise, more than equality in legislative rights and more. Regardless of this, 300,000 women would die per year, which clearly violates inequalities in poverty, healthcare, education and violence their rights. mean insight against women is still deep-rooted in beliefs everywhere in the world. Global Women | 27
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