CELEBRATIONS; OUR BANGLADESHI WOMEN MAKE HISTORY

Black History Month

Let us not have a gripe at our Bangladeshi women who have made history as we celebrate Black History Month, the debate on multicultural society; integration and community cohesion are reminded heavily through this month of October. Cultural diversity and cinematic memories both painful and pleasant we turn our eyes to our women and the immigration settlement as garment workers, cooks, domestic household queens and change makers who found a little place in the political and civic arena. Despite the era; overlooking the struggles and women movements, some of our recent successes will make their mark in history, these women should be proud and take pleasure they’re will be an age where they are remembered in this light as female icons, masked with envy from fellow admirers and spectators even from the opposite sex.

Bangladeshi women have played a crucial part in the immigration settlement process need I say with their husbands and uprooted families. As we mark the male caterers and contributions they have made to the curry industry let us remember the women who cook constantly define the Bangladeshi traditional fish recipes and dishes to serve the family and husbands. Their contributions in social values, family principles and offerings to social welfare should be given a tap on the back. Let us remember these women for what they are; our local and national figurines; there are too many to mention but here are a few; Baroness Pola Uddin; peerage in the House of Lords and first elected Bangladeshi Labour Councillor to hold such an appointment, Rushanara Ali; first Bangladeshi MP, Bibi Russell; model and change maker. Monica Ali, author. I hope we will remember them for many years to come.

MODERN DAY SLAVERY

Women and children are trafficked from all parts of the hidden world, Human Trafficking is a global problem, human rights activists, anti trafficking networks and agencies plea to change the lives of women trapped amongst criminal gangs and smuggling. It happens in all communities and within the neighbourhood as we continue our daily lives. Women exploited are not aware if the dangers who willingly get into situations because of the hope for work and a new way of life for their children. From Bangladesh to Somalia women are vulnerable, exploited, sexually abused and raped and drugged to serve as slaves to criminal gangs operating in the UK. Agencies and UK Border Agency know of the problems, the Poppy project support women to rebuild lives.

CHANGE MAKERS; I200 WOMEN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SIGN PETITION

A group of women’s rights activists, human rights advocates and civil society activists have declared strong objections to the ratification of the “Family Destruction” draft bill; particularly articles 23 and 25 and demand the recognition of women’s human rights through gender equal laws in the parliament which charged with the primary responsibility of protecting men and women on the same equal grounds.

Gathering in masses they are seeking justice to show their objection and opposition towards the ratification of the bill by signing a statement.

FAMILY PROTECTION BILL

A highly controversial Bill pressurizes more oppression for Iranian women; finally discussed by Iran's Parliament last week.

Over 1200 women’s rights activists and equal rights defenders have signed a statement objecting to the draft "Family Protection" bill currently in Parliament, which they claim will erode women’s rights within the family even further. The statement issued by a coalition of women’s rights activists working to prevent the ratification of this draft bill, which they have dubbed the "Anti-Family Bill" by many.

PROTECTION OF FAMILY BILL

The Legal and Judicial Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of the Parliament, has recently re-introduced the so-called “Protection of Family Bill” to the parliament with changes to articles 23 and 25 and rushed it through parliament for ratification among the political chaos in the country. This bill is ineffective to support the institution of family and is far behind the bill that was ratified some 35 years ago in 1974.

According to the new bill, polygamy is legalized and men are given further powers to re-marry without the consent or even the knowledge of the first wife. According to the new amendments if a woman contracts a terminal disease or is away from home for 6 months or is imprisoned for a bounced check, her husband can take a new wife. On the other hand, women’s right to divorce is very limited.

In July 2007, a draft of this bill was introduced to the parliament for the first

time but was faced with widespread objections by women activists and other civil rights groups.

TAX MEHRIEH

The objections focused on articles 23 and 25, where the first was given further rights to men and the second introduced tax on women’s Mehrieh [a some of money agreed upon in the marriage contract payable to the wife on demand, which is often forgone by women in their efforts to seek a divorce, especially given their limited legal ability in obtaining a divorce.] The Mehrieh is allocated to a woman at marriage and serves often as a woman’s only guarantee and safeguard in case of divorce and maltreatment. The new bill has omitted the tax but has divided the Gift Money into ‘conventional’ and ‘unconventional’ amounts without setting a standard for this, thus restricting the only legal mechanism women had within the institution of family.

In the first instance in 2008, an alliance was formed with the participation of women activists and equal rights advocates who organized mass protests against the introduction of the bill which they called the “Anti-Family Bill”. They distributed brochures, leaflets, released statements and wrote widely about the dire implications of the amendments to the already discriminatory family law. The formation of the “No to the Anti-Family Bill coalition” attracted the biggest number of women from among women activists inside and outside the country. They campaigned vigorously; collected signatures, sent text messages on mobiles, sent postcards “no to the bill”, assembled at the parliament corridors en-masse until articles 23 and 25 were removed from the bill.

Recently, in the atmosphere of chaos and tensions created after the 10th Presidential elections, once again a group of parliamentarians have taken the opportunity to re-introduce this bill. In the political situation where the smallest protest on the part of women, students, teachers, journalists or any Iranian citizen is met by intimidation, arbitrary arrest, unfair trial and long prison sentences, the ratification of this bill will be another blow to the peace and harmony of the institution of family.

Despite the current political crisis, patriarchal and totalitarian tendencies have seized the opportunity relieve some ease for women; relative peace and harmony which exists within Iranian families.

1979 REVOLUTION

Many remember this as a hindrance for Iranian women. Women were forced into veil and a universal dress code was imposed on them. The family law which protected women to some degree was invalid and women judges were removed from their posts. Although the country was declared a republic, women were not allowed to run for president.

STONING

The outdated law of stoning people to death was re-introduced and many women were stoned to death for adultery. Strangely enough none of the informed or unconscious efforts and policies of the Islamic state to corner women and keep them as second class citizens has worked as expected. Gradually, and over the years a new generation of women has emerged from the rubbles of the old generation with higher expectations and aspirations. Thousands of women, daughters of the revolution who saw the world moving ahead leaving them behind, entered universities and higher education, pushed their way into society and opened debates and challenged the very foundations that tried so hard to keep them silent.

DEMOCRACY IN IRAN

Keeping women within boundaries due to the re-introduction of the omitted articles 23 and 25 regarding unconditional polygamy and clouding the issue of the Mehrieh indicates the malice and vindication of a group of men against the women of Iran. These two issues; the right of men to re-marry without the first wife’s knowledge and consent and the creation of ambiguities in the case of Mehrieh give men a free hand to abuse the system and deprive women from any right within the institution of family.

Women are crucial in the current political situation created after the June presidential elections. They are one of the unique driving forces of the Movement for Democracy as well as independent change makers with their own identity.

Women universally follow the path of peace and struggle against the wide-spread inequalities entrenched in the patriarchal social, political and legal systems of Iran. Women are well aware that they are being chastise for the great role they play in shaking the foundations of the system but they no longer accept the inequalities forced on them within public or private spheres. It is time to show unity and support the cause; I certainly have; sign the petition by showing your support on;

http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/en/appeals.html

Source; FROM A SAFE WORLD FOR WOMEN CAMPAIGN.

Say No to Violence against Women