A U.N. commissioned report shows that women face discrimination worldwide. According to the BBC, the report indicates that:...70% of the world's poor are women and they own just 1% of the world's titled land ...rape within marriage has still not been made a crime in 53 nations ... [and] other laws discriminating women included statutes on divorce, maternity benefits and pensions.The U.N. report also notes that "...failure to create genuine legal parity between men and women is having 'a detrimental effect on women in many countries – sometimes to a devastating degree.'” As UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour lamented after the publishing of these findings:
... One of the most dangerous examples of this involves the recognition of sexual abuse as a crime under a country's laws and enforcing related legislation. “Rape is recognized as a crime in most legal systems,” said Ms. Arbour. “But, even when it is, inadequate legislation or local traditions often mean laws are not properly enforced.Yet, with all these problems still to be faced, our media still loves to paint feminism as a petty pursuit.
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2 comments:
What a sad comment about the state of public opinion towards feminism in this country. Focusing on the plight on women in other parts of the world would remind people that someone had to fight for these rights here. Its frustrating that people forget so quickly.
Sadly, the problem is far from solved in our own community. Women are still all too often the target of sexual violence in our society, are underpaid, and are often forced to choose between family and career. The fight for legal parity is, unfortunately, one with many fronts.
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