This being the first “Women in the Wold Summit” put together by The Daily Beasts' Tina Brown, one is probably wondering what it is that is being brought to light? To put it simply, it's the forgotten stories of women in this world, but mostly by the mainstream press.
Headlines in America generally don't discuss the Middle East unless it's a really big suicide explosion, where the body count is above a dozen minimum, or a new offensive tactic put on by the military, you might hear a newsreader on a morning show read a headline that a suicide bomb explosion killed 32 in Pakistan this morning. Or US military troops have stepped up a military offensive in Marja. But very seldom do we in America get the headlines of what is going on with the women inside a country of nearly 28.5 million people.
Yes, we are told that women are going back to school in Afghanistan, but we aren't told that literacy rates are only at 11% in Afghanistan, 33% in Pakistan, and that only includes not just the ability to read and write, but also the simple act of signing one's name.
Yes, we are told that things are still bad, but we aren't told that since the US troops have entered things haven't gotten much better. See the United States has in the past, and some may argue today still pursues a policy that has funds the warlords, that refuse to impose any kind of new reforms that would give additional rights to women, and many of new efforts have been in vain.
Yes we are told that Pakistan is unsafe, but rarely are we told how unsafe it is to be a girl, that it is not uncommon to be sentenced to death for rape, and your testimony counts for only half a man's in court.
So what do the women of Afghanistan and Pakistan want? They want equal representation., and not just for women's rights, but according to Suraya Pakzad, Executive Director, Voice of Women“Women should be at the table for making laws, at peace negotiations, at the origination point for the laws.” Right now there are peace negotiations taking place Afghanistan and they want there seat at the table. They want the US to ensure through aid, that they have representation. Afghanistan, a nation of nearly 28.5 million people has a population of gross inequality.
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