Special Section:
International Progress in the VAW Movement

Movers and Shakers:
Women Making a Difference Around the World

by Smita Vir Tyagi

Nisha Sharma, 21, software engineer, was waiting demurely in full bridal dress for her wedding ceremonies to begin when her brother told her that the groom, about to enter the marriage hall, was demanding a substantial dowry before he would proceed with the marriage. Refusing to become a potential dowry death statistic, she used her cell phone to call the police, who within minutes arrested the young man under India’s anti-dowry laws. (Rao, 2003) Sharma’s courageous stand has been a shining example to women across the country, who have been agitating against a practice that has resulted in violence and death for many Indian women.

Dr. Sima Samar, of the ethnic minority group Hazara, fled to Pakistan in 1984 after the Russian invasion. She started her first hospital for women in 1987 and has worked ceaselessly since then on behalf of women in Afghanistan. (Rights and Democracy, 2001) An outspoken critic of Taliban-enforced laws that kept women in purdah (secluded from the public) and covered in burqa (head-to-foot wrap), she continues to speak out against violence endured by Afghani women and advocate for women’s services in her role as Minister of Women’s Affairs.

Thousands of miles away in Bourke, Australia, Aboriginal women set up a women’s shelter in their local community in 1991. Named after Edith Edwards of the Wangkumara tribe, and with no state support, the shelter raised money from street stalls, raffles, radio auctions, and bazaars so it could keep running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Alvares, 1993) Run by women for women, the shelter continues to provide a safe refuge for women leaving violent relationships.

Refusal to accept the status quo is a familiar experience for Demet Demir, a transsexual who works with Lambda Istanbul. In 1997, she returned home after receiving an award for her anti-violence and human rights work for Turkey’s queer community. Within hours of her arrival, she was arrested for trying to stop police from beating a young girl selling handkerchiefs on the street. She has endured more than 15 years of harassment, violence, and imprisonment because of her activism against violence towards gay, lesbian, and transgendered people. (Gender Public Advocacy Coalition, 1997) She says she will never stop. “Yesterday I started as a child and I am going on as a mother today, tomorrow I will go on as a grandmother.” (Demir, 1997)

The courage and persistence of these women and others like them is making a difference in the lives of girls and women everywhere. Their struggles show us that the fight for women to live in freedom from violence is far from over. We take heart in knowing that women like these are alive and well, keeping women’s issues on the world’s agenda, and continuing to provide hope and inspiration to women all across the world. We salute them all.  u

Smita Vir Tyagi is a Toronto-based therapist and activist who believes that individual actions both great and small make a difference. She believes in a vision of the world where all sentient beings can find ways to co-exist in peace.

References

Alvares, E (1993) “A women’s refuge for Bourke: a community initiative,” in S McKillop (Ed), Aboriginal Justice Issues: Proceedings of a Conference Held 23-25 June 1992, Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.

Demir, D (1997) Demit Demir’s speech. Available online at http://.qrd.org/qrd/www/world/europe/turkey/demet.htm.

Gender public advocacy coalition (1997) “Turkish trans rights activist assaulted, re-arrested after receiving US award.” Available online at  http://www.gpac.org/achieve/news/notitle.html.

Rao, R (2003) “Dowry demand lands groom in jail,” BBC News, World Edition, May 14, 2003. Available online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3027683.stm.

Rights and democracy (2001) Dr. Sima Samar, 2001 John Humphrey Freedom Award Recipient, Biographical notes. Available online at http://www.ichrdd.ca/english/commdoc/humphrey2001/bionotesSimaSamar.html.