Violence on Women: The Different Forms, The
Different Impacts, The Same On-going Issue
Our
reporter Sobia Khan looks at the different forms of violence on women and discloses
shocking statistics which demonstrate that attacks on women are very much alive
in the UK where more focus needs to be emphasised on the growing problem before
it worsens.
Photo used from www.globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/25/video-end-violence-against-women-around-the-world
Itemization
of violence on women
There will never be a time where violence against women is not seen as a prevalent human rights abuse worldwide.
According to the End Violence Against Women (EVAW) Organisation,
every single year across the UK, approximately 3 million women experience some
form of violence.
Photo used from www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk
What is even more alarming is that there are many
more women living with the affliction of mistreatment that have gone
unreported.
- Rape and sexual violence crimes
- Forced marriage
- Female genital mutilation (FGM)
- Murders committed in the name of ‘honour’
- Sexual harassment and domestic violence
- Commercial sexual exploitation such as prostitution and pornography
- Stalking
Misconception
of rape & women
- According to The Guardian, “a survey
reported one in three women have reported some form of physical or sexual abuse
since the age of 15, while 8% suffered some form of abuse in the last 12
months.”
- “The same survey, based on interviews
with 42,000 women across 28 EU member states, found extensive abuse across the
continent, which typically goes unreported and undetected by the authorities.”
The EVAW Coalition is a UK group of more than 60
women’s organisations, rape crisis being one of them, together working to end
all forms of violence against women.
Sarah Green, part of EVAW coalition told The
Realist: “We’re constantly surrounded by the idea that women make it up and that they make false allegations, there is authoritative government research
that shows that there is not a high number of false allegation of rape.”
In fact, according to Rape crisis organisation, approximately, 85,000 women are raped on average in England and Wales every year.
In fact, according to Rape crisis organisation, approximately, 85,000 women are raped on average in England and Wales every year.
The
effects of violence on women
Violence and the threat of violence impact women globally,
irrespective of culture, race, and wealth.
Statistics used from www.theprogressivesinfluence.com.
The damage forces demoralizing physical and
psychological bearings on women and has extensive costs for their loved ones,
communities and societies.
Traditionally, violence against women, predominantly
domestic violence, has been secreted, disregarded and absent from the humanrights agenda.
It is often seen as a 'private issue' or a ‘women's issue' which leads women rights campaigners to believe that it is not treated
with the importance that it is worthy of.
Society’s
perception on violence on women
In a survey for Amnesty International: ‘Over 1 in 4 respondents thought a woman was partially or totally responsible for being raped if she was wearing sexy or revealing clothing, and more than 1 in 5 held the same view if a woman had had many sexual partners.’ Amnesty UK (2005) Sexual Assault Research. Amnesty. London.
Image used from www,thebackpackerintern.com.
Rape crisis found that large proportions, near
enough to half their users, were abused as girls.
In a survey for Amnesty International: ‘Over 1 in 4 respondents thought a woman was partially or totally responsible for being raped if she was wearing sexy or revealing clothing, and more than 1 in 5 held the same view if a woman had had many sexual partners.’ Amnesty UK (2005) Sexual Assault Research. Amnesty. London.
Image used from www,thebackpackerintern.com.
Rape crisis found that large proportions, near
enough to half their users, were abused as girls.
EVAW coalition labelled this a very ‘important fact’
that gives the public a better understanding of child sexual abuse and rape.
The
future of violence against women
Photograph used from twitter.com/JanGrasty.
President of UK National Committee for GenderEquality & the Empowerment of Women, Jan Gratsy described violence against women as a ‘global pandemic’.
She added: “Sexual violence against women and girls is used as an instrumental war which is quite chilling and awful.”
In the media clip below, Jan Gratsy talks about the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence which is set to take place this summer in London.
Gratsy said: “People should endorse the summit as a
great initiative by Foreign Secretary William Hague,” who will co-chair the
summit with Angelina Jolie, to generate a sense of irreversible measures
towards terminating the practice of sexual violence and rape.
Used from http://www.daily-sun.com.
Hopefully this
summit sparks some kind of revolution towards cutting down the violence against
women.
Video used from www.youtube.com/user/GlobalPovertyProject.
Water Aid: An Insight into the Charity’s work
Can
you envision life without safe, clean water? ‘For 748 million people this is an
everyday reality’. Our reporter Sobia Khan speaks to WaterAid and the Met
Office and takes a look at the work the charity has achieved and the measures
they are taking to ensure that they continue to reach out to people who have
poor water sanitation.
Image used from www.watercyclechallenge.com.
The
luxury of water
Whether it is running a nice bath after a long day
at work or pouring water into a glass when thirsty: we never tend to really
stop and contemplate about how fortunate we are to have the comfort of clean
water running through our taps.
Unfortunately, some people in the world do not possess that luxury.
People in our nation are more likely to be consumed
by first world problems than to consider the problems of the third world.
The
actions of WaterAid
Video shared from WaterAid - www.youtube.com/user/WaterAid.
For over 30 years, the organisation, WaterAid has brought
sanitation and safe water to millions of people in the poorest communities who
suffer from disease and hardship.
They have worked with local partners to help communities
have access to safe water and sanitation.
By working with local partners they are able to
invest in the future of local communities so that they cannot continue the good
work, which is an essential part of their work.
Image used from WaterAid.org.
They believe that it is the most progressive and
sustainable tactic.
As a charity, they know better than anyone else that
the sheer scale of the crisis means that they cannot solve it alone.
They work with communities to influence governments
and other service providers to prioritise safe water and sanitation.
Image used from WaterAid.org.
Image used from WaterAid.org.
Image used from WaterAid.org.
WaterAid
donators money
Donators funding and support has assisted the
charity to enforce higher standards of training to guarantee that the vital
role of water, sanitation and hygiene by decreasing poverty which is acknowledged
universally.
Image used www.reddit.com/r/enviroaction.
Statistic Image used from blueplanetnetwork.org.
A representative for WaterAid, said: “In the last
year, in 2012-2013, for every £1 that was spent 77 pence of that went directlytowards charitable objectives providing clean water, improving sanitation and
hygiene education.”
She added: “The remaining 23 pence was spent on
governance and fundraising and to sort of put that in to context for every £1
that was spent on fundraising, in return we raised £4.74.”
WaterAid
sponsors
Image used from www.marhamhub.co.uk.
The Met Office began their affiliation with WaterAid in autumn 2012.
Deputy Head of Communications for the Met Office, Andy Yeatman said: “We look very forward to raising as much money as awareness for the work of WaterAid as we can over the coming years.”
He added: “The work that WaterAid do on water resources has a great synergy with the work we do on researching the world climate.”
To hear more of what Andy Yeatman had to say click the audio link below.
Profile Picture of Andy used from www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Andy/Yeatman.
Image used from www.marhamhub.co.uk.
The Met Office began their affiliation with WaterAid in autumn 2012.
Deputy Head of Communications for the Met Office, Andy Yeatman said: “We look very forward to raising as much money as awareness for the work of WaterAid as we can over the coming years.”He added: “The work that WaterAid do on water resources has a great synergy with the work we do on researching the world climate.”
To hear more of what Andy Yeatman had to say click the audio link below.
Profile Picture of Andy used from www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Andy/Yeatman.
Vision
of 2030
Between 2009 and 2015: WaterAid desires that an additional 25 million people will have access to safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation as a direct result of their work.
They are aiming to reach a further 100 million people.
Here is a short audio clip which contains a brief
discussion on WaterAid’s vision for the year 2030.
If you feel inspired by WaterAid’s work and would like to make a donation to WaterAid, click here.
War on Want: A Deeper Look into Their Executive Director’s
Passion for War and Politics
Everybody’s
passion derives from somewhere, Our Reporter Sobia Khan interviews War on
Want’s Executive Director, Mr John Hilary to uncover how his interest in one of
the world’s most controversial and gloomiest issues – war, started, why he
wrote his book – ‘Poverty against Capitalism’ and to uncover his outlook on the
future of our government.
Origination
of interest in politics
There always comes a point in every person’s life when
they question themselves where they are headed, what is next and what they hope
to achieve in life.
For one man, his discovery materialised while on a
trip to Pakistan, followed by China, for two years, which stimulated his desire
to be involved with “international affairs with a political angle.”
That same man, who is Mr John Hilary, became Executive Director of War on Want - which is extensively considered as one of Britain’s most radical charities.
That same man, who is Mr John Hilary, became Executive Director of War on Want - which is extensively considered as one of Britain’s most radical charities.
Mr Hilary said: “China at the time was still very much a socialist planned economy coming out its communist past and embracing the globalised capitalist economy.”
He continued, “It was an incredibly exciting time to
see a country with completely different mechanisms and that was what inspired
me to work in this field.”
He is not afraid to tackle big questions and deliver
polished responses bursting with information. Mr Hilary graduated with a degree
in Greek, Latin and ancient civilisation which elucidates his wide knowledge on
cultural issues.
'Stop arming Israel' Poster.
War on Want information booklets.
Information on Austerity booklet.
The
Poverty of Capitalism – his book and philosophy
Mr Hilary released a book last year called ‘The Poverty of Capitalism Economic Meltdown and the Struggle for What Comes Next’.
Picture used from www.plutobooks.com
He told The Realist: “The inspiration for the book really
comes out from the kind of work War on Want does, and particularly the desire
we have to challenge the root causes of poverty and injustice around the world."
He continued giving more insight to the details
behind his book: “There are a lot of different organisations & NGO’s that
focus on the symptoms of poverty and injustice and one of our key strengths I
think is to look beneath that, what are the systemic & structural reasons
why, after decades of giving aid and charity there is no long term solutions in
sight and for us."
Ultimately he concluded with a further elaboration
that the key is to trace back to the root that creates a system, and in this
case, the poverty of capitalism, he stated that: “capitalism, particularly
global capitalism, is the problem.”
His choice of the word ‘we’ when he mentioned his
book in relation to War on Want is a small illustration of his modesty and shows
unity.
War
is a business?
Mr Hilary’s answer to whether, in his opinion, war is a business is documented in the media clip below where he expands on military spending, privatisation of war and his campaign’s stance on this
notion.
The
new world order, the Bilderberg group and the possibility of having a one world
government
Mr Hilary in response to the actualities of the Bilderberg group stated: “I absolutely believe that those forums exist, the Bilderberg group has become much more candid about their meetings and who takes
part, it is quite clear that they happen.
He continued “They try lateral commission and the
world economic forum,” which are two points that he touches on his book,
Poverty Against Capitalism.
He considers these groups ‘very important’ for the
planning of the next stages of capitalist expansion, and stresses the
prominence of elitists who ensure that they have the right people in key jobs across the global economy.
He said, “There is no sense that this is conspiracy,
it is completely openly trying to further the interest of capital over the
interest of people.”
Mr Hilary’s response on the possibility of having a
one world government is documented in the audio clip below, where he continues
to touch on austerity, the system and the struggle of his life’s work.
Mr
Hilary: in the eyes of somebody else
Speaking on his opinion of Mr Hilary, Jeff Powell, Campaigns and Policy Director of War on War said: “He has provided the
organisation with analytical vision which has really made it a very unique
organisation amongst development and campaigning groups in the UK.
He continued: “He is somebody who is really well
networked into issues in the UK and internationally, and is himself a strong
campaigner, writer and thinker.”
To listen to Mr Powell’s interview, click on the media link below.
To listen to Mr Powell’s interview, click on the media link below.
War on Want inside the office
War on Want sign.
'Love fashion hate sweatshops' posters.
'Love fashion hate sweatshops' badges.
Vigil for Vanunu: Will He Ever Get To Savour The Taste of Freedom?
April 21, 2014 - marked the 10th anniversary of Mordechai Vanunu’s release after serving 18 years in an Israeli prison, he spent 11 years in solitary confinement.
The reason for these restrictions is the claim by the Israeli secret services that he may still have ‘secrets’ to reveal that could be damaging to Israel.
Imprisonment of human rights
Nancy Hawker's full interview on Mordechai Vanunu filmed and interviewed by our reporter Sobia Khan.
Upon his discharge from prison in 2004, Mordechai Vanunu has still got a long way to go until he is at liberty. A vigil took place to mark the 10 year anniversary of his release, but what did his dedicated supporters have to say about the current position that he is in? Our reporter, Sobia Khan reports the live event that took place outside the Israeli Embassy, London.
Vanunu’s release from prison: Ten years later
For most, a jail sentence begins the day one sets foot in prison, but for Vanunu, it is quite the contrary.
April 21, 2014 - marked the 10th anniversary of Mordechai Vanunu’s release after serving 18 years in an Israeli prison, he spent 11 years in solitary confinement.
Outside Kensington High Street tube station, on this occasion, it was not the Israeli Embassy that people paid their attention to, but to what was taking place on the opposite side of the road.
Photo of campaigners used from - Adeline O'Keeffe: www.nuj.org.uk/news/vigil-for-vanunu
Free Vanunu badges.
Policemen observing the vigil.
Campaigner holding an article about Vanunu.
'Let Vanunu Go' protest sign.
A vigil held to remember Vanunu: Campaigners modelled black and white, cardboard cut-out masks of his face which contravened baldly against the piercing blue sky.
In a way, the contrasting colours personified the drastic difference of perspectives of both parties concerned.
In a way, the contrasting colours personified the drastic difference of perspectives of both parties concerned.
Photo of campaigners used from - Adeline O'Keeffe: www.nuj.org.uk/news/vigil-for-vanunu
Campaigner wearing a Vanunu mask.
Organiser of the event wearing Vanunu mask.
Chief Organiser of Campaign for a Nuclear Free Middle East, Ernest Rodker said: “Mordechai wants people to know the situation that he’s in and how he desperately wants to leave Israel.”
He continued: “He’s not a free man and we’re here today to draw attention to that.”
Rodker’s full interview is presented in this clip, recorded at the vigil.
Whistle-blowing & his prison sentence
This video was recorded & the interview was conducted by our reporter Sobia Khan.
Whistle-blowing & his prison sentence
Vanunu was incarcerated for his ‘crime’ after he revealed through the pages of the British Sunday Times that Israel was secretly equipping itself with a large arsenal of nuclear weapons.
Below is a discussion between two members of the national union of journalists (NUJ). Jacob Ecclestone starts the discussion with his opinion of the treatment of Vanunu by the Sunday Times following Barry White’s outlook about the importance of whistle-blowers to journalists.
Jacob Ecclestone on the left of the photograph (speaks first in discussion), Barry White on the left of the photograph (speaks second).
But should whistleblowing such a deadly secret be seen as a courageous act in the service of humanity?
In spite of having served the full sentence for his alleged ‘crime’, on release he was immediately placed under severe restrictions on his freedom of movement, speech and association and restriction which have been annually renewed ever since.
Thus he is prevented from leaving Israel, something he fervently wants to do; to move around freely or even talk to ‘foreigners’ – he has even served another three months for this peculiar ‘crime’.
The reason for these restrictions is the claim by the Israeli secret services that he may still have ‘secrets’ to reveal that could be damaging to Israel.
Imprisonment of human rights
Nancy Hawker, campaigner of the Middle East and North Africa Programme for Amnesty International said: “He’s still in Israel, under strict restrictions which violate his human rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of movement. These restrictions are arbitrary and appear to be vindictive and they should be lifted immediately.”
Nancy Hawker at the vigil - photo taken by Sobia Khan.
She continued: “Amnesty international have been making representations to the Israeli government for many years, to allow Mordechai Vanunu to leave Israel as he wishes to do so. It’s his right.”
It could be that the real reason for Vanunu’s never-ending persecution is a form of revenge?
Perhaps it is a persecution to discourage an example to discourage others from following a similar whistle-blowing path in respect of Israel’s defence and security establishment.
In light of recent whistle-blowers, such as: Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden & Julian Assange, it is quite clear that informers are still considered as traitors.
Perhaps the genuine traitors are those who are/were accountable for the acts that they exposed.
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