Sunday, 28 April 2013

177 REASONS FOR THE HIGH STATUS OF WOMEN IN ISLAM

This is a compilation of all the verses in Quran that refer to "women".
 
From 002.TheCow
49. And when We delivered you from Firon's people, who subjected you to severe torment, killing your sons and sparing your women, and in this there was a great trial from your Lord.

221. And do not marry the idolatresses until they believe, and certainly a believing maid is better than an idolatress woman, even though she should please you; and do not give (believing women) in marriage to idolaters until they believe, and certainly a believing servant is better than an idolater, even though he should please you; these invite to the fire, and Allah invites to the garden and to forgiveness by His will, and makes clear His communications to men, that they may be mindful.

222. And they ask you about menstruation. Say: It is a discomfort; therefore keep aloof from the women during the menstrual discharge and do not go near them until they have become clean; then when they have cleansed themselves, go in to them as Allah has commanded you; surely Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves.

228. And the divorced women should keep themselves in waiting for three courses; and it is not lawful for them that they should conceal what Allah has created in their wombs, if they believe in Allah and the last day; and their husbands have a better right to take them back in the meanwhile if they wish for reconciliation; and they have rights similar to those against them in a just manner, and the men are a degree above them, and Allah is Mighty, Wise.

231. And when you divorce women and they reach their prescribed time, then either retain them in good fellowship or set them free with liberality, and do not retain them for injury, so that you exceed the limits, and whoever does this, he indeed is unjust to his own soul; and do not take Allah's communications for a mockery, and remember the favor of Allah upon you, and that which He has revealed to you of the Book and the Wisdom, admonishing you thereby; and be careful (of your duty to) Allah, and know that Allah is the Knower of all things.

232. And when you have divorced women and they have ended-- their term (of waiting), then do not prevent them from marrying their husbands when they agree among themselves in a lawful manner; with this is admonished he among you who believes in Allah and the last day, this is more profitable and purer for you; and Allah knows while you do not know.

235. And there is no blame on you respecting that which you speak indirectly in the asking of (such) women in marriage or keep (the proposal) concealed within your minds; Allah knows that you win mention them, but do not give them a promise in secret unless you speak in a lawful manner, and do not confirm the marriage tie until the writing is fulfilled, and know that Allah knows what is in your minds, therefore beware of Him, and know that Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing.

236. There is no blame on you if you divorce women when you have not touched them or appointed for them a portion, and make provision for them, the wealthy according to his means and the straitened in circumstances according to his means, a provision according to usage; (this is) a duty on the doers of good (to others).

241. And for the divorced women (too) provision (must be made) according to usage; (this is) a duty on those who guard (against evil).

282. O you who believe! when you deal with each other in contracting a debt for a fixed time, then write it down; and let a scribe write it down between you with fairness; and the scribe should not refuse to write as Allah has taught him, so he should write; and let him who owes the debt dictate, and he should be careful of (his duty to) Allah, his Lord, and not diminish anything from it; but if he who owes the debt is unsound in understanding, or weak, or (if) he is not able to dictate himself, let his guardian dictate with fairness; and call in to witness from among your men two witnesses; but if there are not two men, then one man and two women from among those whom you choose to be witnesses, so that if one of the two errs, the second of the two may remind the other; and the witnesses should not refuse when they are summoned; and be not averse to writing it (whether it is) small or large, with the time of its falling due; this is more equitable in the sight of Allah and assures greater accuracy in testimony, and the nearest (way) that you may not entertain doubts (afterwards), except when it is ready merchandise which you give and take among yourselves from hand to hand, then there is no blame on you in not writing it down; and have witnesses when you barter with one another, and let no harm be done to the scribe or to the witness; and if you do (it) then surely it will be a transgression in you, and be careful of (your duty) to Allah, Allah teaches you, and Allah knows all things.

From 003.TheFamilyofImran:

14. The love of desires, of women and sons and hoarded treasures of gold and silver and well bred horses and cattle and tilth, is made to seem fair to men; this is the provision of the life of this world; and Allah is He with Whom is the good goal (of life).

41. He said: My Lord! appoint a sign for me. Said He: Your sign is that you should not speak to men for three days except by signs; and remember your Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and the morning. f42. And when the angels said: O Marium! surely Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of of the world.

61. But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: Come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and our near people and your near people, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars.

From 004.Women:

O people! be careful of (your duty to) your Lord, Who created you from a single being and created its mate of the same (kind) and spread from these two, many men and women; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, by Whom you demand one of another (your rights), and (to) the ties of relationship; surely Allah ever watches over you.

And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two and three and four; but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them), then (marry) only one or what your right hands possess; this is more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course.

And give women their dowries as a free gift, but if they of themselves be pleased to give up to you a portion of it, then eat it with enjoyment and with wholesome result.

Men shall have a portion of what the parents and the near relatives leave, and women shall have a portion of what the parents and the near relatives leave, whether there is little or much of it; a stated portion.

And as for those who are guilty of an indecency from among your women, call to witnesses against them four (witnesses) from among you; then if they bear witness confine them to the houses until death takes them away or Allah opens some way for them.

O you who believe! it is not lawful for you that you should take women as heritage against (their) will, and do not straiten them m order that you may take part of what you have given them, unless they are guilty of manifest indecency, and treat them kindly; then if you hate them, it may be that you dislike a thing while Allah has placed abundant good in it.

And all married women except those whom your right hands possess (this is) Allah's ordinance to you, and lawful for you are (all women) besides those, provided that you seek (them) with your property, taking (them) in marriage not committing fornication. Then as to those whom you profit by, give them their dowries as appointed; and there is no blame on you about what you mutually agree after what is appointed; surely Allah is Knowing, Wise.

And whoever among you has not within his power ampleness of means to marry free believing women, then (he may marry) of those whom your right hands possess from among your believing maidens; and Allah knows best your faith: you are (sprung) the one from the other; so marry them with the permission of their masters, and give them their dowries justly, they being chaste, not fornicating, nor receiving paramours; and when they are taken in marriage, then if they are guilty of indecency, they shall suffer half the punishment which is (inflicted) upon free women. This is for him among you who fears falling into evil; and that you abstain is better for you, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

And do not covet that by which Allah has made some of you excel others; men shall have the benefit of what they earn and women shall have the benefit of what they earn; and ask Allah of His grace; surely Allah knows all things.

Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.

O you who believe! do not go near prayer when you are Intoxicated until you know (well) what you say, nor when you are under an obligation to perform a bath-- unless (you are) travelling on the road-- until you have washed yourselves; and if you are sick, or on a journey, or one of you come from the privy or you have touched the women, and you cannot find water, betake yourselves to pure earth, then wipe your faces and your hands; surely Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving.

And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.

And they ask you a decision about women. Say: Allah makes known to you His decision concerning them, and that which is recited to you in the Book concerning female orphans whom you do not give what is appointed for them while you desire to marry them, and concerning the weak among children, and that you should deal towards orphans with equity; and whatever good you do, Allah surely knows it.

They ask you for a decision of the law. Say: Allah gives you a decision concerning the person who has neither parents nor offspring; if a man dies (and) he has no son and he has a sister, she shall have half of what he leaves, and he shall be her heir she has no son; but if there be two (sisters), they shall have two-thirds of what he leaves; and if there are brethren, men and women, then the male shall have the like of the portion of two females; Allah makes clear to you, lest you err; and Allah knows all things.

From 005.TheFood:

5. This day (all) the good things are allowed to you; and the food of those who have been given the Book is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them; and the chaste from among the believing women and the chaste from among those who have been given the Book before you (are lawful for you); when you have given them their dowries, taking (them) in marriage, not fornicating nor taking them for paramours in secret; and whoever denies faith, his work indeed is of no account, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.

6. O you who believe! when you rise up to prayer, wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles; and if you are under an obligation to perform a total ablution, then wash (yourselves) and if you are sick or on a journey, or one of you come from the privy, or you have touched the women, and you cannot find water, betake yourselves to pure earth and wipe your faces and your hands therewith, Allah does not desire to put on you any difficulty, but He wishes to purify you and that He may complete His favor on you, so that you may be grateful.

From 007.TheElevatedPlaces:

127. And the chiefs of Firon's people said: Do you leave Musa and his people to make mischief in the land and to forsake you and your gods? He said: We will slay their sons and spare their women, and surely we are masters over them.

141. And when We delivered you from Firon's people who subJected you to severe torment, killing your sons and sparing your women, and in this there was a great trial from your Lord.

From 009.Repentance:

67. The hypocritical men and the hypocritical women are all alike; they enjoin evil and forbid good and withhold their hands; they have forsaken Allah, so He has forsaken them; surely the hypocrites are the transgressors.

68. Allah has promised the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women and the unbelievers the fire of hell to abide therein; it is enough for them; and Allah has cursed them and they shall have lasting punishment.

71. And (as for) the believing men and the believing women, they are guardians of each other; they enjoin good and forbid evil and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, and obey Allah and His Apostle; (as for) these, Allah will show mercy to them; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.

72. Allah has promised to the believing men and the believing women gardens, beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them, and goodly dwellings in gardens of perpetual abode; and best of all is Allah's goodly pleasure; that is the grand achievement.

From 012.Yusuf:

28. So when he saw his shirt rent from behind, he said: Surely it is a guile of you women; surely your guile is great:

30. And women in the city said: The chiefs wife seeks her slave to yield himself (to her), surely he has affected her deeply with (his) love; most surely we see her in manifest error.

50. And the king said: Bring him to me. So when the messenger came to him, he said: Go back to your lord and ask him, what is the case of the women who cut their hands; surely my Lord knows their guile.

From 014.Ibrahim:

6. And when Musa said to his people: Call to mind Allah's favor to you when He delivered you from Firon's people, who subjected you to severe torment, and slew your sons and spared your women; and in this there was a great trial from your Lord.

From 024.TheLight

4. And those who accuse free women then do not bring four witnesses, flog them, (giving) eighty stripes, and do not admit any evidence from them ever; and these it is that are the transgressors,

12. Why did not the believing men and the believing women, when you heard it, think well of their own people, and say: This is an evident falsehood?

23. Surely those who accuse chaste believing women, unaware (of the evil), are cursed in this world and the hereafter, and they shall have a grievous chastisement.

26. Bad women are for bad men and bad men are for bad women. Good women are for good men and good men are for good women

31. And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or those whom their right hands possess, or the male servants not having need (of women), or the children who have not attained knowledge of what is hidden of women; and let them not strike their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may be known; and turn to Allah all of you, O believers! so that you may be successful.

60. And (as for) women advanced in years who do not hope for a marriage, it is no sin for them if they put off their clothes without displaying their ornaments; and if they restrain themselves it is better for them; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

From 027.TheAnt:

55. What! do you indeed approach men lustfully rather than women? Nay, you are a people who act ignorantly.

From 028.TheNarrative:

4. Surely Firon exalted himself in the land and made its people into parties, weakening one party from among them; he slaughtered their sons and let their women live; surely he was one of the mischiefmakers.

23. And when he came to the water of Madyan, he found on it a group of men watering, and he found besides them two women keeping back (their flocks). He said: What is the matter with you? They said: We cannot water until the shepherds take away (their sheep) from the water, and our father is a very old man.

25. Then one of the two women came to him walking bashfully. She said: My father invites you that he may give you the reward of your having watered for us. So when he came to him and gave to him the account, he said: Fear not, you are secure from the unjust people.

From 003.TheAllies:

32. O wives of the Prophet! you are not like any other of the women; If you will be on your guard, then be not soft in (your) speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease yearn; and speak a good word.

35. Surely the men who submit and the women who submit, and the believing men and the believing women, and the obeying men and the obeying women, and the truthful men and the truthful women, and the patient men and the patient women and the humble men and the humble women, and the almsgiving men and the almsgiving women, and the fasting men and the fasting women, and the men who guard their private parts and the women who guard, and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember-- Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a mighty reward.

49. O you who believe! when you marry the believing women, then divorce them before you touch them, you have in their case no term which you should reckon; so make some provision for them and send them forth a goodly sending forth.

52. It is not allowed to you to take women afterwards, nor that you should change them for other wives, though their beauty be pleasing to you, except what your right hand possesses and Allah is Watchful over all things.

55. There is no blame on them in respect of their fathers, nor their brothers, nor their brothers' sons, nor their sisters' sons nor their own women, nor of what their right hands possess; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is a witness of all things.

58. And those who speak evil things of the believing men and the believing women without their having earned (it), they are guilty indeed of a false accusation and a manifest sin.

59. O Prophet! say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they let down upon them their over-garments; this will be more proper, that they may be known, and thus they will not be given trouble; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

73. So Allah will chastise the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women and the polytheistic men and the polytheistic women, and Allah will turn (mercifully) to the believing women, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

From 040.TheBeliever:

25. So when he brought to them the truth from Us, they said: Slay the sons of those who believe with him and keep their women alive; and the struggle of the unbelievers will only come to a state of perdition.

From 047.Muhammad:

19. So know that there is no god but Allah, and, ask protection for your fault and for the believing men and the believing women; and Allah knows the place of your returning and the place of your abiding.

From 048.TheVictory:

5. That He may cause the believing men and the believing women to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein and remove from them their evil; and that is a grand achievement with Allah

6. And (that) He may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the polytheistic men and the polytheistic women, the entertainers of evil thoughts about Allah. On them is the evil turn, and Allah is wroth with them and has cursed them and prepared hell for them, and evil is the resort.

25. It is they who disbelieved and turned you away from the Sacred Mosque and (turned off) the offering withheld from arriving at its destined place; and were it not for the believing men and the believing women, whom, not having known, you might have trodden down, and thus something hateful might have afflicted you on their account without knowledge-- so that Allah may cause to enter into His mercy whomsoever He pleases; had they been widely separated one from another, We would surely have punished those who disbelieved from among them with a painful punishment.

From 057.TheIron:

12. On that day you will see the faithful men and the faithful women-- their light running before them and on their right hand-- good news for you today: gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide therein, that is the grand achievement.

13. On the day when the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women will say to those who believe: Wait for us, that we may have light from your light; it shall be said: Turn back and seek a light. Then separation would be brought about between them, with a wall having a door in it; (as for) the inside of it, there shall be mercy in it, and (as for) the outside of it, before it there shall be punishment.

18. Surely (as for) the charitable men and the charitable women and (those who) set apart for Allah a goodly portion, it shall be doubled for them and they shall have a noble reward.

From 060.TheExaminedOne:

10. O you who believe! when believing women come to you flying, then examine them; Allah knows best their faith; then if you find them to be believing women, do not send them back to the unbelievers, neither are these (women) lawful for them, nor are those (men) lawful for them, and give them what they have spent; and no blame attaches to you in marrying them when you give them their dowries; and hold not to the ties of marriage of unbelieving women, and ask for what you have spent, and kt them ask for what they have spent. That is Allah's judgment; He judges between you, and Allah is Knowing, Wise.

12. O Prophet! when believing women come to you giving you a pledge that they will not associate aught with Allah, and will not steal, and will not commit fornication, and will not kill their children, and will not bring a calumny which they have forged of themselves, and will not disobey you in what is good, accept their pledge, and ask forgiveness for them from Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

From 065.TheDivorce:

O Prophet! when you divorce women, divorce them for~ their prescribed time, and calculate the number of the days prescribed, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, your Lord. Do not drive them out of their houses, nor should they themselves go forth, unless they commit an open indecency; and these are the limits of Allah, and whoever goes beyond the limits of Allah, he indeed does injustice to his own soul. You do not know that Allah may after that bring about reunion.

And (as for) those of your women who have despaired of menstruation, if you have a doubt, their prescribed time shall be three months, and of those too who have not had their courses; and (as for) the pregnant women, their prescribed time is that they lay down their burden; and whoever is careful of (his duty to) Allah He will make easy for him his affair.
From 071.Nuh:

28. My Lord! forgive me and my parents and him who enters my house believing, and the believing men and the believing women; and do not increase the unjust in aught but destruction!

From 085.TheMansionsOfTheStars:
10. Surely (as for) those who persecute the believing men and the believing women, then do not repent, they shall have the chastisement of hell, and they shall have the chastisement of burning.

Saturday, 27 April 2013

PAKISTAN: A young man was tortured with an electric drill machine; the Chief Minister announces the formation of a medical board after three months of his death

The case of a young man from the province of Punjab exposes the lethargic and arrogant attitude of the government, the doctors and the influence of police.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a young man of 29 years was abducted by five police informers kept him for nine days and tortured him with an electric drill (A graphic picture of the victim with his wounds can be viewed here). He died after five months after his ordeal due to the negligence of government hospital authorities who refused to provide treatment even on the recommendation of the chief minister. The local police pressured the hospitals and their officials not to admit him. The persons accused of the abduction and torture remain free in spite of the orders from the highest police officer of the district.

The chief minister secretariat of Punjab province has formed the medical board for his treatment after three months of the death of victim.

CASE NARRATIVE:
Mr. Ali Usman, aged 29, son of Muhammad Aslam Bhatti, resident of Hussainabad, Chiniot, Punjab, was abducted by five men on 9 July 2012. According to the eye witnesses he was abducted on the motor bikes and blind folded. It is said that abductors were known informers of the local police. The victim was kept in a private torture cell on the suspicion of having illicit relationship with the wife of one the accused persons. For nine days he was tortured with an electric drill on his legs and sexual parts to get confessional statement that he had illicit relationship with Mr. Muhammad Yaqoob’s wife.
The victim died of his injuries after five months as police allegedly used all its influence to ensure that he could not get medical treatment. The two government hospitals refused to provide him treatment and at the end he died, lying on the veranda of Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Punjab province. The secretariat of the chief minister has written a letter to the hospital where the authorities refused to entertain him by saying that they can also write such letters.

The detail of the story of the ordeal faced by the deceased and his family is as follows:
The victim, Ali Usman, was a textile worker at Sadaqat Textile mills and the perpetrators were suspicious of his illicit relationship with the wife of an accused person. He was abducted by Muhammad Yaqoob Machi, Javed alias Gorilla, Mazher Ali Lohna and two unknown persons in the day time from outside Usman's house. Next day, his father Muhammad Aslam tried to file a complaint of abduction at the local police station, the Chiniot City Thana, police officials refused to file a case of abduction. The First Information Report (FIR) was recorded after 35 days of the incident by the intervention of the District Police Officer (DPO), the highest police officer of the district of Chiniot.

After nine days of his disappearance he was dumped at the doorsteps of his house in very critical conditions and unconscious. His whole body was in blood. His father took him to the local police station where police officials again refused to make police report for medical treatment. The father than took his injured victim at 3.30 A.M. to District Head Quarter (DHQ) hospital of Chiniot district where next day doctors provided him first aid and and a blood trransfusion. The next few days he was remained under treatment however doctors said he could not survive further so he must be shifted to another hospital, the Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, 35 kilometer away from his city, for better and modern treatment. The local media published reports on the matter that can be viewed here and here.
At the allied hospital Faisalabad the doctors refused to treat Usman without the permission of the police. After a long discussion the Medical Superintendent (MS) of the hospital intervened and instructed to treat the victim. He was taken to the emergency unit initially and from there to the Operation Theater. But the Plastic Surgeon was not there, so next day Usman was physically removed from the hospital by the staff. He was again sent to DHQ hospital Chiniot where he was kept for three days and again was discharged without treatment. The police and their informers were always following the victim and used their influence on the hospital authorities. The family members of the victim told the media about the whole story. They were shuttled between DHQ hospital Chiniot and Allied hospital for more than two times. During those visits the Plastic Surgeon of the Allied Hospital Faisalabad, Dr. Zahid Mehmood Rana, once attended him and advised them to keep the victim at home for 12 days and provide good food so that he can have blood in the body. But following the doctor's instructions when they returned the staff refused to admit Usman at the same hospital.
The father of the victim, Mr. Bhatti, then met the deputy commission (DCO) and informed the entire ordeal the DCO called Medical Superintendent of Chiniot hospital and instructed to provide the all best possible treatment. However when victim and his father went to DHQ hospital of the doctors again refused to provide treatment. Bhatti has also written application to Commissioner of Faisalabad who had not taken any notice of the application.

The father took the victim along with him to Lahore on October 15, 2012, which was more than 100 kilometers from his house, to meet the Chief Minister of Punjab province where the secretary to the minister has given one letter in the name of Allied Hospital Faisalabad and instructed on behalf of chief minister to provide the victim with all possible treatment. Bhatti again went to Allied Hospital Faisalabad where he was again refused and doctors told him they they do not believe such persons like chief minister or his staff. He then again went on October 22 Chief Minister House in Lahore where the Secretary shown his apathy by saying what he can do the doctors have to do the treatment. He held a demonstration before the Lahore press club which was covered by media. After several days waiting any help from the government then he again took many people with him and held another demonstration before the Press Club Lahore. This time he was given the live coverage at different TV channels. But nothing has happened.

On December the condition of the victim deteriorated and he was taken to Allied Hospital Faisalabad where after eight hours he died of his wounds in the veranda of the hospital and doctors refused to admit him.

In the month of March 2013, the father received a letter from the Nishter Hospital of Multan asking him and his son to be present before medical board for the enquiry so that victim may be treated. He received the letter after three months of his death the letter was bearing the date of January, according to the directions of the Chief Minister's office.

SUGGESTED ACTION:Please write a letter to the given authorities calling them to initiate a judicial inquiry in to the death of a young by the torture of informers of the police and through the sheer negligence of government hospitals. Please urge them to prosecute the responsible doctors and medical staff for the killing of a young man. Also urge them to provide the compensation and justice to the family members of the victim.

The AHRC writes a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteure on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment calling for his intervention into this matter.

FGM - Female Genital Mutilation

A serious worldwide problem that many in western countries aren’t aware of is female genital mutilation (FGM).

FGM has been embedded deeply in some Arab and African cultural traditions and has symbolic meaning for many communities. The disturbing practice of FGM is based on social, religious and psychosexual beliefs which mainly include the maintenance of chastity to maintain family honor by having control over a woman’s sexuality.

Community leaders who promote FGM say that it is necessary for hygiene to prevent bad odor and that it’s a religious requirement for women to be spiritually clean. Female Genital Mutilation is being supported and sustained as a community enforcement mechanism in ways such as public recognition, through songs and poems celebrating this type of circumcision while ridiculing the uncircumcised.

Although no recorded religious text requires that a woman undergo FGM many men refuse to marry an uncircumcised woman because they fear God’s punishment. The custom is found in many religions but has gotten the most attention from its practice within Islam. It’s believed by many Muslims in North African countries such as Egypt that all women should be circumcised just like men, because it makes the woman smart and calm. 

It is viewed internationally as a health and human rights issue, but because the FGM is deeply rooted into cultural traditions it is difficult to address. The World Health Organization (WHO) insists that there aren’t any hygiene or health reasons to support FGM and insist that it’s a form of discrimination against women and an act of violence.

It has been estimated that 8,000 or more girls per day are being forced to undergo FGM according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with a total yearly estimate of 3 million or more females being subjected to the procedure. Although the practice has been mostly confined to the Arabian Peninsula and African countries it is now becoming a global concern, mostly due to migration of people around the world and through displacement from civil wars.

A growing number of women who have undergone FGM are now living in Europe and other western countries, and young girls are at risk as their families attempt to maintain this cultural practice even if laws prohibit it. The WHO has developed effective cultural programs at the community level to educate and protect females from the harmful practice of Female Genital Mutilation hoping to stop the practice.

Organizations Fight for Womens Rights

For many years throughout history, women haven't received the same rights that men have always know.

Women couldn't vote, women couldn't work outside of the home, and if they did, they were scorned and treated with little or no respect. Women were supposed to remain behind the men and were expected to be supportive without voicing an opinion of their own. After years of being kept down, though, many organizations and people have come forth through the years to help women get the rights that every human being deserves, regardless of their gender.

One of the most famous women's organizations that has been leading the fight for women's rights since it was established in 1966 is the National Organization For Women, or NOW. NOW has been a major source of protection for woman on every subject important to women from workplace equality, to reproductive rights. NOW was there in 1967 to adopt the passage of the ERA, and it fought hard for this law until it was finally passed in 1970. NOW is a strong organization that will never give up the fight for the rights of all women.

Although NOW is the most famous and well known women's rights organization, there are many others that cater to certain topics that are important to women worldwide (for example the march for women and many more). There are groups that help women in foreign countries, and their are groups aimed at helping women in the workplace. The group Equality Now is an organization that helps women who suffer in foreign countries. They help to protect woman from the horrors that are often endured by women in other less civilized countries. The United Nations Women's Watch is another organization that pledges to eliminate inequality amongst women in foreign countries. On the American front, Planned Parenthood is a major organization that protects women and their right to reproductive choice and freedom. They provide alternatives to women's healthcare that can't be found in any other organization.

It has been a tough fight through the years in the fight for women's rights, but with the help of so many women's rights organizations like the ones listed above, women are finally being seen as the equals they really are.

VAW - Violence against Women

Violence against women is a crime that knows no boundaries it crosses all countries, social groups and knows no age limits.

The numbers show that six out of ten women world wide are exposed to some form of violence within their lifetime. Whether the violence is physical, verbal, emotional, or financial every day women are being subjected to acts of violence. Most of the crimes are committed by the women's spouse, boyfriend, or partner, some one the women were involved with.

The first step in stopping the violence is the victim themselves, on average the victim will return to their abuser approximately four times, before they leave for good, but for each time the victim returns the chances of her making it out of the relationship alive statistically becomes less. Many of these women who return to their abuser do so out of fear of the unknown (what do I do, how do I do it, and where do I go). Another reason they might return to their abuser is because the abuser always threatens to harm them further or end their lives if they do not return. Granted when the victim returns to their abuser there might be a time where there is no abuse this is commonly referred to the honeymoon period, but this phase never last long and soon the violence starts again and quite often is worse. These same women who leave and return to their abuser's quite often file charges, just to drop them, before anything is done.

For the women who decide that they want out there are now many resources available to them, then there were just a decade ago. The public out cry to stop the violence against women many local, state, country, and internationally have programs in place to assist women who want to leave their abuser. The help that is offered is legal, counseling, employment placement services, and assistance with gaining the skills to get a job. These same resources can also assist in reaching other forms of assistance for things such as housing, child care, and assistance for food and medical. The places that a woman can look to find these sources is their local telephone book, public library, and the internet. The main thing to remember is the first step in ending the violence towards women are the women themselves. There is no shame in being a victim, it is coming out of it that will make that woman strong again.