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I know most people love my feisty posts about women's rights inequalities and struggles, but sometimes I think its also amazing to spotlight women who are doing amazing things to advance the rights of women around the world. So, today I will also contribute two blogs to EverydayCitizen about women who are making change not only for their community, but to advance communities around the globe.
I just want to say thank you to these women, without you, girls like me would not be able to blog and spotlight the people who are insensitive to the needs of women and our rights!
According to Yahoo Extra News, "Shamima Ali, executive director of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre in Suva, received the Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand's (AIANZ's) first human rights defender award on International Human Rights Day in Auckland last night."
Congrats to Shamima Ali! :)
AIANZ chief executive Patrick Holmes said Ms Ali had been at the forefront of combating violence against women in the Pacific.
"We wanted to salute her for the immense courage she has shown in challenging the 2006 military coup in Fiji and in continuing, despite threats and intimidation, to document its impact on the people of Fiji," he said.Wow, Congrats and thank you for your tireless effort to combat domestic violence against women in Fiji!
In Response to Her Prestigious Honor, she had this to say:
"We have opposed the military regime over the past three years. We have been documenting human rights abuses and intervening on behalf of people who have been taken in and trying to find legal assistance for them," she said.So, what she is saying is that we need to do a better job around the world to fund great programs and to provide resources for these women so that they don't have to suffer torture and mistreatment, for being that, a woman!"At the moment, more women are reporting violence against them, because of the awareness that has been created. But recently we're finding that the degree of violence is intensifying, particularly sexual violence, rape, sexual assault and gang rapes. We've seen a different trend emerging over the past three years.
"Things are not getting any better. While we are raising awareness because of the political situation, service provision has deteriorated in hospitals, in law enforcement, and particularly within the court system.
"We have magistrates who are really reverting to forcing reconciliation in very violent marriages, blaming the woman and making very insensitive sexist comments which really sets us back, and lowers reporting rates.
According to Yahoo Extra News, "Ms Ali, 57, said she was quite surprised to receive the award, as she didn't even know she'd been nominated until two weeks ago. For the past 20 years she has run the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, which works with women and children who are survivors of violence, domestic violence, rape and assault. She has also served as a human rights commissioner during Fiji's military coup."
My Thoughts...
We thank courageous women such as Ms Ali for putting their lives on the line so that women in their countries are able to live healthy and sufficient lives without worry of rape, domestic violence, or any sort of pain being put upon them. I hope that you have been inspired or motivated by her story and you too decide to go out and give back to your perspective communities!
To read more on this article, click here.
Published December 11, 2009 by Tatiana McKinney |
Permalink
| Tags:
Domestic Violence
Globalization
Human Rights
International
Rape
Women
Women's Rights
Comments (1)
Thanks Tatianna for this post. I didn't know anything about Shamima Ali. it's good to hear about heroes like her. I'm hoping the publicity that this award gives to her also highlights the plight of many women in Fiji and maybe stop the rapes and violence. Ali is risking retaliation for speaking out, so I admire her courage.
Posted by Angelo Lopez
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December 11, 2009 12:53 PM
Posted on December 11, 2009 12:53