Women raise voice against violence
Representatives from conflict zones around the world gathered in Bangalore, India, in November to share their stories and call for an end to violence. Odile Hugonot Haber of WILPF US participated along with members of Women in Black.
The World Court of Women heard testimonies from Iraq, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Kashmir. The Deccan Herald reported on video testimonies by women from around the world in which they recounted horrific instances of imprisonment, rape and torture. In a haunting clip, Veneranda from Rwanda, affected by the genocide and ethnic cleansing in her country, observed, “Around the world, 90 per cent of the decisions to buy arms, wage wars and cause destruction are taken by men while 80 per cent of the resources in the world are produced by women.”
The situation of refugees was highlighted by another speaker. The Bangalore Mirror reported: “I lost my home, my job and my life and there are millions like me who have fled their country for the sake of survival. There are towns and cities in Iraq that have been wiped out of its people, first by the US-led occupation and now by the sectarian militia. Those who have stayed face great human rights violations on a daily basis,” says Eman Khammas, an Iraqi journalist, teacher and human rights activist who has been documenting human rights abuses in her country till she was forced to leave following threats.
The court was organized by a local NGO Vimochana in association with the Indian branch of Women in Black, an international movement begun by women in Israel and Palestine in 1988 joining to protest the occupation of Palestine. The peace movement has members throughout the world. WILPF members join in vigils in a number of US cities.
Top Photo: WILPF US Program Chair Odile Hugonot Haber marches in India with Vered X and Haya Shalom. They participated in the World Court of Women in November 2015.
Bottom Photo: Sara Beauchamp and Erica X take part in a vigil in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with Women in Black. Credit: Odile Hugonot Haber
