Champions for Women's Rights

By Tiffany Battle on September 23, 2016

2016 has been a big year for women, particularly those in the States. No matter the outcome of the presidential election, we can now say that a woman is a party nominee. We still have bridges to cross for total gender equality, but this achievement is huge, especially taking into account where we started.

However, the world doesn’t stop where the U.S. ends and many women are not only still fighting for their rights, but for their lives. I want to highlight a few inspiring stories of people risking their lives, their reputations, and much more in the name of women’s rights.

Cycling for Awareness

Buddhist nuns are cycling from Nepal to India to send a message.

These nuns belong to the Drukpa Order, and are cycling the dangerous mountain terrain to raise awareness of human trafficking. When they heard that impoverished young girls and women were being sold, they knew they had to step up.

While honor killings, child marriages, and slavery sound like things of the past, they are still prevalent forms of evil in our society.

Although you may not have heard about the Drukpa Order and their mission, this is actually the fourth time they’ve made the trip. Along the way, they supply food and medical care to the villagers.

In South Asia, several factors including global warming, war, and natural disasters leave many poor without the resources necessary to survive. This causes some families to turn to selling their children, and makes it much easier for kidnapping to occur.

Some are amazed when they see that the cyclists are women rather than men, and some believe that nuns are not meant to do this kind of rigorous outdoor activity, but these nuns believe that “his Holiness” has called them to act.

“His Holiness teaches us that we have go out and act on the words that we pray. After all, actions speak louder than words,” said Jigme Konchok Lhamo.

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image.tsn.ua

Fighting for Justice

Dennis Muñoz is labeled as the “Abortion Lawyer”, but he is so much more than that.

With support from the country’s Catholic Church, El Salvador criminalized Abortion in 1998. This includes cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother or child. However, they don’t stop there: they criminalize women who have miscarried or have had a stillbirth.

Teodora del Carmen Vásquez was sentenced to 30 years in prison after delivering her baby stillbirth at nine months because the Police held her responsible.

Interestingly, many of these women do not even face abortion charges (which are two to eight years). Rather, they’re charged with homicide because their fetuses were “viable”. However, Muñoz has come to the rescue of Vásquez and other victims like her.

Not only does he defend them in court trying to get their sentences reduced, but he does so free of charge.

“I’m addicted to fighting for these women. I’m not afraid to say I’m a feminist,” Muñoz stated.

In a country where men aren’t quick to join the fight for women’s rights, Muñoz stands out as the champion they desperately need.

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bbc.co.uk

An Important Dialogue

The first Black Feminism’s Forum was held in Bahia, Brazil with a focus on radical love, transformation, and inclusivity for the entire community.

Some spoke up of their concern about gendered language used in the community, vying instead for more inclusive language. Afro-Honduran activist Miriam Miranda chose to use the word “comrades” rather than “sisters” as a way of acknowledging and embracing the critique.

During the forum, they also discussed “being accountable for a larger community”. Instead of assuming that feminist is a blanket term that covers everyone’s experiences, they spoke of taking each individual’s life experiences into account and by doing so, unifying the movement even more.

By the end of the forum, they settled on a plan of action: “affirmative and inclusive processes that aim to build bridges”. By understanding each other’s needs and differences, they hope to build a stronger community capable of truly changing the world.

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forum.awid.org

It’s easy to notice the bad in life, but it takes patience to seek out the good. I promise you: it’s out there. Good people exist, and these evils we’ve come to know so well will end.

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