Violence Against Women is a Global Disgrace

By Michael Alavi, Board Member

Throughout the world, women are deprived of their human rights. A subject that is very touching and disturbing, yet does not get enough attention is violence against women. As reported at the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2000, globally, approximately 1 in 3 women and girls has been beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime. This is astonishingly high and is quite disgusting. It is appalling that it has become socially acceptable in many cultures and societies around the world.

In the United States, violence against women is clearly represented and supported through advertisements --- cosmetic ads are the most prevalent type and tend to depict a woman with a bruised eye or facial extremity and stating that the bruise can be covered up by makeup.  Not only do these representations in the media promote violence against women, they also tend to objectify and depict women as a resource of man that can be exploited. In Pakistan, “honor killings” of women were reported to have increased by 25 percent in 2002 (Pakistan Human Rights Commission, 2002). In Canada, 19 percent of all women reported have been beaten within a five year span (Measuring Violence Against Women: Statistical Trends 2006).

As one can see, violence against women is not just prevalent in a single country, but it is rather a global phenomenon.  It is vital that we do not just ignore these atrocities, but rather find an effective way to address the issue head on. Fortunately, there have been slight improvements in legislation to help protect women. On December 14, 2010, the International Violence Against Women Act was passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee- this act will establish an inclusive five-year strategy to end violence against women and girls around the world. It is only through a group effort that we will be able to protect these women’s rights and one day reach our goal of having a world free from the scourges of violence, oppression, and war.

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Human Trafficking: Awareness is the First Step by Ambassador Melody Duarte

            Human trafficking has been going on in our world for centuries, but in recent years it has been receiving more attention as it continues to grow as one of the leading forms of organized crime.   Human Trafficking, has been described by some as modern day slavery.  As an ambassador for Peace Worldwide Organization I hope that we can as an organization and as a part of humanity focus our attention on how we can create awareness on this unfortunate issue.  I believe that awareness is the first step in creating change.

In Eastern Europe, where economic instability continues to trouble its people, young women have a hard time finding employment, this gives traffickers the incentive to lure women with promises of employment and a better future in a foreign country.  Taking them far from what is familiar, away from family and friends, and their own culture; traffickers take advantage of a vulnerable young girl and force her into sexual slavery.  According to the United Nations Organization on Drugs and Crime’s Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, sex trafficking alone generates 27.8 billion USD a year.  Eastern Europe is one of the largest traffickers of women to other countries such as those in Western Europe and the United States of America.  Bloomberg reported that “the number of countries failing to comply with international standards to prevent human trafficking almost doubled to 23, according to U.S. State Department’s 2011 Trafficking in Persons report.”   This problem is far from limited to countries in Eastern Europe, it may start in one country but is contin  ued in the recipient countries such as the U.S.  This problem must be stopped not just by having laws but by enforcing the law.  

Here is an example of human trafficking close to home, from the U.S. State Department’s 2011 Trafficking in Persons report:

Alissa, 16, met an older man at a convenience store in Dallas and after a few dates accepted his invitation to move in with him. But soon Alissa’s new boyfriend convinced her to be an escort for him, accompanying men on dates and having sex with them for money. He took her to an area known for street prostitution and forced her to hand over all of her earnings. He made Alissa get a tattoo of his nicknames, branding her as his property, and he posted prostitution advertisements with her picture on an Internet site. He rented hotel rooms around Dallas and forced Alissa to have sex with men who responded to the ads. The man, who kept an assault rifle in the closet of his apartment, threatened Alissa and physically assaulted her on multiple occasions. The man later pled guilty to trafficking Alissa.

This is just an example of what human trafficking looks like in our world today. My hope is to continue creating awareness for those victims of sex trafficking.  In recent years government has been focusing their attention to how laws can be implemented in the protection of trafficking victims and the prevention of continued trafficking.    The more we know, the more we can do to help.  The Executive Director of the UNODC Antonio Maria Costa said, "we have a big picture, but it is impressionistic and lacks depth. We fear the problem is getting worse, but we cannot prove it for lack of data, and many governments are obstructing...If we do not overcome this knowledge crisis we will be fighting the problem blindfolded."  There are non-profit organizations today that are involved in the fight against sex trafficking of women, not only are they involved in helping the persons involved but also in creating awareness of this growing tragedy. I applaud them for their efforts, as I also applaud the governments that are increasing their efforts in ending modern day slavery, by not just creating laws but also implementing these.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2009, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns, Available: http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Global_Report_on_TIP.pdf

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-27/fight-against-human-trafficking-loses-ground-in-11-nations.html

http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2011/index.htm

www.thea21campaign.org

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Peace Worldwide Organization Message from Founder Dr. Alavi on Great Steps by Nobel Committee

I am Dr. Mehdi Alavi, the founder of Peace Worldwide Organization. According to Alfred Nobel's will, the Nobel Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who has “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” 
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has come a long way! Just a century ago, the Committee bypassed Bertha von Suttner -- Europe’s great pacifist, who had immense influence on Alfred Nobel’s decision on the Peace Prize -- for about five years before awarding her the Peace Prize 1905, which was the first ever awarded to a woman. In the entire 20th century, the Committee recognized only ten women for the Peace Prize. Now in the 21st century, it has already recognized five women in the last ten years. Congratulations to the Committee for finally fulfilling Nobel’s will by recognizing the best regardless of gender. 
On October 7, 2011, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2011 jointly to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee from Liberia and Tawakkul Karman from Yemen "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work. We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society.” 
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Liberia’s first democratically elected female President. Throughout her life, she has struggled to influence political movements in Liberia, a country often plagued with civil wars and conflicts. 
Leymah Gbowee, also a Liberian, has mobilized women across ethnic and religious sectors throughout the country to bring an end to the bloody conflicts in Liberia as well as secure women’s rights. 
In the most difficult circumstances, Tawakkul Karman has assumed leadership in the struggle for women’s rights, freedom, and peace in Yemen. 
At Peace Worldwide Organization, we are encouraged to see that women are increasingly being acknowledged for their contributions to world peace.


May peace be with you!
*ALL COMMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO EDITORIAL REVIEW 

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Peace Worldwide Ambassador on Rights in Saudi Arabia

I am Sara Alavi, Peace Worldwide Ambassador.  I am encouraged by the recent political decision in Saudi Arabia. 
“We refuse to marginalize the role of women in Saudi society,” Saudi King Abdullah said on Sunday, September 25, 2011. His Majesty deserves recognition for his long overdue courageous decision in a country that historically yields to a very narrow interpretation of Islam. Saudi women will be able to participate in municipal elections starting in 2015.
Saudis, men and women, are subjected to the most strict interpretation. Until a few years ago, even men did not have many political rights. This extremism has produced terrorists like Bin Laden.
"Muslim women in our Islamic history have demonstrated positions that expressed correct opinions and advice," King Abdulla acknowledged. In a land that its Prophet worked for a woman and has produced some of the world’s greatest women in history, it is time for permitting, recognizing, and acknowledging their contributions. 
The Arab Spring is rapidly progressing in the Middle East. The 2015 token of rights may be too limited and too late in a region that is moving forward fast! We ask His Majesty King Abdullah to PROMPTLY restore FULL political rights to ALL Saudis, regardless of gender, and set all political prisoners free. We think by taking such a moral action, His Majesty will bring honor to the Kingdom. 

Salaam Alaikum. May peace be with you!
*ALL COMMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO EDITORIAL REVIEW

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Somali refugees need your help now !

Somalia Famine Crisis:  Somalia, a country at the horn of Africa, is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Tens of thousands have fled their homes, walked for weeks in search of food. Many young children have died along the way. And all of the Somali refugees arriving in Kenya and Ethiopia are exhausted. Between 40 percent and 50 percent of the children are acutely malnourished given the Somali famine crisis. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is already scaling up work on the ground. Please provide whatever you can afford for this tragedy. You will save lives and give protection. You will offer hope to people who are in extremely desperate situations.


***Please contribute below to help make a difference for these Somali refugees:


Donate to Somalia Famine Crisis

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