Organization of the Islamic Conference Photo Essay

The link below should take you to a really interesting photo essay put out by UNICEF. The photos are each from a different member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and showcase a different need of the children of the OIC. I found it pretty interesting. There were many countries of whose affiliation with the OIC I was unaware. Take a look!

http://www.unicef.org/photoessays/28327.html

Polygamy as Misogyny?

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/looking-for-someone-to-like/

The discussion that follows the opinion article is really interesting and reflects a little of what we were talking about today in class.

Partners in Health (Zanmi Lasante)

During my freshman year, I read a book called Mountains Beyond Mountains (highly, highly recommended!), which is an account of Dr. Paul Farmer's work in Haiti. Dr Farmer founded Partners in Health, a remarkable health organization mentioned in today's readings.

http://www.pih.org/

Dr. Sanity

Shining a psychological spotlight on a few of the insanities of life

http://drsanity.blogspot.com/2008/02/islams-vicious-misogyny.html

New UN Women’s head lays out 100-day action plan

The head of the new United Nations agency promoting women’s rights and full participation in global affairs laid out a 100-day action plan last week, embracing a full spectrum of issues from supporting national partners to promoting coherence within the UN system.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=235072

Using Islam to Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

Women's rights can be improved through the Islamic religion. In 2008, Indonesia used a religious-based approach to produce the first charter for women's rights in the Islamic world.

Gender and Islam

No Justice for Rape Victims in Cambodia

Rape is increasing in Cambodia and little is being done by officials.

Cambodia's government must protect victims of sexual violence as reports of rape increase

Barefoot College

Barefoot College is a rural education institution in India that focuses on self-sufficient, sustainable solutions to rural poverty. This organization is mentioned in our second article this week by Starre Vartan. Vartan mentions the Barefoot Solar Engineers' skilled employment and the financial dependence it provides for many Indian women.

http://www.barefootcollege.org/sol_approach.asp

Men and Gender Equality: An Evolving Union

This is a really interesting preliminary finding on men's attitudes about gender roles across 6 countries.

Some of the survey findings:

• Younger and more educated men adhered less to restrictive social norms around manhood and demonstrated behavior that upheld women as their equals.
• Men who felt stress or depression about work or income harbored more suicidal thoughts and reported more use of violence against women. This occurred at a statistically significant level in four of the countries studied.
• While women continue to do more child care work and domestic activities, unemployed men and younger men are participating more than is commonly acknowledged.
• In Brazil, Chile, Croatia and Mexico, men with higher education levels were more likely to accompany their partner to prenatal visits.
• Women with partners who share in domestic duties reported that they are more sexually satisfied.
• Rwandan and Indian men showed the most inequitable attitudes. For instance, 61 percent of men in Rwanda and more than 80 percent of men in India agreed that changing diapers and feeding children are the mother's responsibility.
• In all six countries, men reported more use of violence against their intimate partners if they experienced violence in their childhood, are stressed at work, abuse alcohol and view women as subservient to them.

http://www.icrw.org/media/news/men-and-gender-equality-evolving-union

Great links

LOOK AT THIS WEBSITE WHEN YOU ARE DOING RESEARCH!
International Center for Research on Women
http://www.icrw.org/
Great, interesting articles.

Also, I could save this for next week, but I'm just going to post it because you all need to visit and begin to adore this website: www.girleffect.org
Publish Post

DR Congo: authorities arrest army commander linked to alleged rapes, UN reports

Below is an article on the prosecution of Jean-Pierre Bemba. This prosecution is the first of its kind, prosecuting rape as a weapon of war as opposed to an effect of war. This article speaks more on the UN's declaration of rape as a weapon of war as discussed in chapter 5 of "Half the Sky" (pg 84).

http://www.womensradio.com/articles/Bemba-ICC-Trial-Showcases-War-Rape-Prosecution/8032.html

Bangladesh restricts acid sales to prevent new attacks

The following is a BBC article from last week, which discusses the acid attacks against women in Bangladesh that were very briefly mentioned in the Cohen reading (p.264). Acid attacks were not just a major issue in 2002 as Cohen notes, but continue to be currently. The article notes that 153 individuals, predominantly women and children, suffered acid attacks in 2010.

Bangladesh restricts acid sales to prevent new attacks

International Women's Day- March 8

I think we and perhaps the organizations that many of us are involved in (AIRC and Apwonjo) should do something on campus to celebrate International Women's Day this year on March 8th. This year is actually the 100th anniversary celebration of International Women's Day. To read more about International Women's Day, click here. Thoughts? Comments?