Julianne Moore, Alan Cumming and TIE Endorse Gender Equality
In 2013, Jill Humphries conducted several filmed interviews inside an Afghan shelter for women. Her films led to the production of an online video narrated by Dan Rather, called “ Spirit Indestructible“…that everyone should watch.
What if Your Signature Could Lead to Improving Millions of Lives?
Trust In Education began a petition movement asking the President, the US Senate, and the US House of Representatives to make gender equality a foreign policy priority for the United States.
The United States Government and TIE, for that matter, are engaged in what is essentially a “hope strategy” for women. We educate and advocate, hoping that women will become “empowered”, acquire more rights over time, and that “things will get better”.
The hope strategy isn’t working in many developing countries and won’t. For too many men the right to dominate women is the “natural order of things”.
Our government’s support for women’s rights, beyond our border’s, can be and is trumped by national “strategic interests”, namely oil, commerce, and defense.
Lives led in the shadows and in fear, something the world must change.
In October of 2012, the world was deeply saddened and outraged to learn of the shooting of a young girl in Pakistan. Malala Yousofzai, age 14, was shot by a Taliban-gunman while riding home on a school bus.
A planned assassination attempt on her life occurred simply because she publicly advocated that girls be allowed to attend school. She survived and lives keenly aware of vows to kill her and her father.
Several weeks ago, the Sultan of Brunei implemented a strict form of Islamic Law known as Shariah Law, which sanctions harsh punishments such as stoning and amputation for offenses like theft, infidelity and abortions and is particularly oppressive to women.
Boycotts were immediately organized in Los Angeles against hotels owned by the Sultan. Reservations, conferences, and parties were cancelled. The least we can and should do is boycott those who who launch an attack on human rights.
A Harsh Reality
Most Americans don’t realize how grave the consequences can be to an Afghan woman who flees an abusive household, refuses to accept an arranged marriage, or rebels against a subservient life prescribed by her family. Women living in the shelter portrayed in the video survived “honor killing” attacks by their fathers and brothers. Some have been told that if they ever leave the shelter they will be killed.
What can be done, other than Educate, Advocate and Commiserate?
First, the United States government announces to the world that Americans care about women, women’s rights, and gender equality! The achievement of gender equality becomes one of our national priorities.
Next, government agencies will be required to take into consideration whether countries applying for aid are moving toward gender equality or not. The projects and programs of countries who are, will improve their chances of being funded. It’s their choice, as it is ours, to spend our foreign aid dollars wherever and on whatever we decide.
I learned early on in my visits to Afghanistan that “money does”, in fact, “speak louder than words”, particularly in countries that are heavily dependent on foreign aid. The petition, in effect, asks our government to put our money where our values lie. It’s a proactive rather than reactive boycott.
Please consider joining Julianne Moore and Alan Cumming
in lending your name in support of this petition.
Click here to read the Petition.
Please forward to friends, and enlist others.
Note: Click Here to Send us an Email and we’ll add your name to the petition.