women’s rights are human rights

I’m still running the Amnesty International(AI) group that I started at my university.
I am both happy and unhappy to share with you that AI has a campaign to Stop Violence Against Women.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/stopviolence/
When you visit the website, you’ll see a small box framed in blue that has quotes from people who have entered their ideas about a world without violence against women. Most of these thoughts are both profound and enlightening. Take a moment to read a few of them, and please consider supporting this campaign.
The World Health Organization reports that 70% of female murder victims are killed by their partners, and a quarter of the world’s female population are violently abused in their own homes. It’s not someone else’s problem. According to AI, women’s shelters across the United States report that violence against women spikes on Super Bowl Sunday.
Personally, having a sister brings a different perspective. One day, after being annoyed by my sister’s fervent and disciplined habit to always lock her car doors, I made a sarcastic comment about it. My sister explained that she always locks her car doors–no matter where she is or how long she is in or away from her car–because of the ever-present threat that a male attacker could potentially enter the vehicle and hide in the back seat. I was stunned. As a man, it has never occurred to me that I should need to protect myself in this or similar ways, and I have hardly given much thought about this or other measures women must take to protect themselves all day, every day, everywhere. Are your car doors unlocked at any time? Do you leave your bedroom windows open on a warm summer’s night? Do you walk home alone? Ask the men in your life these questions and ask the women in your life these questions. Then ask yourself why the responses should be different.
I invite you to raise your awareness of women’s rights. Take a new perspective. Prisoner abuse may be a war crime, but what about rape of women and girls? What about “honor” killings? Where is the outrage for the repeated murder and abuse of the world’s female populations?
Support the AI campaign. Sign a petition, call your congressional rep, donate money, join or start an AI or other activist group, or spread the word and raise public awareness. The quickest way for bad people to triumph is for good people to do nothing.
Thanks for your consideration.