Talat Pasha was one of the speakers at the SI side-event "From girl child to mature woman: A life course approach to gender empowerment and a violence free life", held on 7 March at CSW57. She was part of a panel of women from around the world who spoke about violence faced by girls and women in their countries and regions. Talat is Past-President of SI Karachi Central, SIGBI Assistant Project Director for Economic Empowerment and Federation Project Action Chair for SI Pakistan. This is her speech from the event.
She first faces violence when the ultrasonologist declares that the fetus inside the womb is a female! Abortion is the first thought in her parents minds.
She is given away to settle family feuds or debts of her father –sacrificed in the custom of ‘ Vaani’. Or married off at 9 yrs of age as a Child Bride for monetary gain or to procure a bride for her brother or an uncle under the custom ‘Watta Satta’.
She faces hunger and starvation from childhood so that the male members of her family have enough to eat. She may be sold off at a very young age as a domestic servant. Later, trafficked into sexual slavery.
As she enters puberty it is decided by culture, customs and her family that she does not have the right to sexual pleasure. The sexual act must never give her pleasure. So, her genitals are mutilated.
She is sexually harassed at her workplace and streets. She is constantly worried about her appearance and expression. Is it modest enough? She may easily be accused of inviting men by her dress, facial expression and by being provocative. So, she better be covered from head to toe!
She is threatened and shot at – because she dared to think about going to school. She must be killed! Otherwise, other girls may start thinking of education and empowerment!
She dare not fall in love. No! That is not allowed at all. If she dares to fall in love, then she should be prepared to be killed in the name of ‘Honour’! And Dumped in an unmarked Grave. Her existence, forgotten forever.
She may decide to be a ‘good girl’ and not fall in love and so refuse the romantic overtures of a young man. Acid is then thrown at her. Mutilating her face and destroying her vision and life permanently. How dare she not respond??
She may be married off to a total stranger in an arranged and forced marriage, facing domestic violence for the rest of her life. If the demands for Dowry by her In-laws are not met satisfactorily, She is burnt! Another number in the thousands of cases of ‘Bride Burning’.
Her husband could be a drug addict and jobless, But, she must never venture out to work In order to end the starvation of her children. Because, if she does, six bullets will be pumped into her abdomen and she will be left to die on the streets of Karachi or Kabul.
From a seed in her mother’s womb to the day she is buried in her grave, she faces violence at every level, every stage of her life.
“She”, ladies and gentleman is today’s woman in South Asia and other developing countries.
Anisa was an orphan and lived in rural Afghanistan. She was in her early twenties and studying in 10th grade. In order to continue her studies she worked as a health worker to eradicate Polio. As Anisa stepped out of her house, six bullets were pumped into her stomach.
Naseema, 19, lived in Landhi Karachi. To help pay for the schooling of her younger siblings she worked as a health worker for 2 $ a day. She was shot dead with 6 other polio workers in Karachi .
"Damini" and her friend wanted to have a fun night out to the movies. She was lured into a bus and gang raped by 6 men and then her intestines were gouged out by inserting an iron rod into her genitals.
All Malala wanted was Education. She was shot in the head for standing up for female education. Luckily, she survived and is now recovering.
These are just a few examples of women from my part of the world. Violence against women has become uncontrolled and though much work has been done for women empowerment , unfortunately, the level of violence has increased. From battering and beatings, it has now gone up to murder and torture.
But, there is good news.
Women are joining hands all over the world. From Cairo to South Asia. From Iceland to the Middle East. Women are fighting back in innovative ways to protect each other.
We are speaking out. On the streets, on the media and Television. We are getting organized and we are getting ANGRY!!!
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
END STREET HARRASSMENT!
END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!
END RAPE CULTURE!
There is now a mood of Mutiny everywhere. We are at the tipping point! Women from my part of the world are being supported by western women.
PLEASE KEEP THE PRESSURE ON!!
What is fascinating about this new mood is its independence and courage. Brandishing knives, the women in Cairo came out on the streets to protest against street Harrassment. The Government of India was frightened into taking a stand against Rape culture. The Government of Pakistan had to speak out against the Taliban and fly Malala and her family out to safety.
One is humbled by this Courage! Courage of thousands of women, who risk rejection and violence every day; but continue to strive for a better tomorrow for their daughters. And the good news is that courage is always contagious.
So how will women attain a violence free life? EDUCATION!! Not the kind being imparted in our schools. A whole new concept will have to be introduced . ‘ Human Rights Education’ must be added to our school curriculum. Physics , Chemistry and Literature are not enough. If they were, Professors would not be molesting young students and Domestic violence would not occur in countries that have a high literacy rate.
The time has now come when we must start thinking about working on a new educational system in which ‘Human Rights’ must be introduced as a compulsory subject and taught to every child in every school of the world – including Religious schools.
Let us Pray for that day when Humans can learn to live with Peace and Harmony with each other!
Image: Talat Pasha on the panel of speakers at CSW57.