Actions

CALL(s) TO ACTION –

Action Number 1:

Join Oxfam’s Channel 16 (Ch16.org) Green Scarves for Solidarity with Afghan Women Campaign

What can I do? — Add your photo showing you wearing your green scarf (or your hat, vest, sweater.. etc..) to show your solidarity with Afghan women on the Channel 16 website

Get the word out! Share this campaign through your announcement on your choice of social networking sites

On 7 October 2011, to mark the tenth anniversary of Western intervention in Afghanistan, Oxfam launched a multi-partner ‘Green Scarves for Solidarity with Afghan Women Campaign on Channel 16 (Ch16.org). At a time when 87% of Afghan women have faced gender-based violence or arranged marriage, and only 18% of 18-year-old Afghan girls are in education, the need for our campaign - calling on the international community to include women meaningfully in the Afghan peace process - is clear. This pick of the week provides detail of the campaign’s progress so far.

1. Green Scarves for Solidarity with Afghan Women Campaign Photowall

So far, 259 images have been uploaded to our photo petition, which will be taken to the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan this December as a symbol of the international support for Afghan women and their rights. Well-known faces who have got involved include Sohail Anjum, Nashwa Al-Ruwaini and Juliet Stevenson. However, we hope to reach at least 1000 pictures -upload your image today!

2. Green-themed, Women in Black Vigil

On Wednesday 12 October, Women in Black - a brilliant group that has been holding weekly vigils for different causes around the Edith Cavell Statue, near Trafalgar Square, for the last 30 years – showed their support for Afghan women by doing a vigil in their honour. At this, they wore green scarves for the occasion, handed out pamphlets and took photos to add to our petition. Check out the images of this brilliant action below.

3. Channel 16 campaign for Afghan women press coverage

The Ch16.org campaign for Afghan women has had great publicity since the launch of campaign. A piece appeared in the Times by Mariella Frostup, as well as in Asians: Bridging the Gap and Alert Net. Some German activists even decided to put together the brilliant video at the top of this feature!

4. The Afghan Women’s Network ‘Position Paper’

Channel 16 supports the use of the green scarf as a symbol of solidarity with Afghan women because it is one that they use themselves. For example, before the last presidential election, around 4000 wore green scarves in Kabul and in the provinces. To find out more about some of the amazing women that Channel 16 backs, take a look at these extracts of the ‘Position Paper’ released by the Afghan Women’s Network.

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Action Number 2:

Don’t Let the United States Government Ignore the Importance of CEDAW at the UN

 

 

The U.S. is one of only SEVEN countries in the world — including Iran, Sudan, Somalia, and three small Pacific Island nations — that has failed to ratify the CEDAW treaty at the United Nations. The U.S. needs to become an active member of CEDAW to help women worldwide who are suffering from discrimination, violence and denial of human rights. Demand that the U.S. join and ratify their membership in CEDAW. . .

Help Make This Happen – Join this Campaign!

Sign this PETITION:

Ask President Obama to make CEDAW a priority

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

CEDAW Committee consists of 23 experts on women’s rights from around the world.

Countries who have become party to the treaty (States parties) are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights of the Convention are implemented. During its sessions the Committee considers each State party report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of concluding observations.

In accordance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention, the Committee is mandated to : (1) receive communications from individuals or groups of individuals submitting claims of violations of rights protected under the Convention to the Committee and (2) initiate inquiries into situations of grave or systematic violations of women’s rights. These procedures are optional and are only available where the State concerned has accepted them.

The Committee also formulates general recommendations and suggestions. General recommendations are directed to States and concern articles or themes in the Conventions.

For more information about CEDAW at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights link HERE

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