Women – Page 2

Kiwis trounce Indian eves to take 2-1 lead

July 3, 2015 by Nasheman

Bengaluru: Half centuries by openers Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest and their 125-run opening partnership carried New Zealand to a comfortable six-wicket win over India for a 2-1 lead in their five-match women’s One-Day International (ODI) series here on Friday.

Skipper Bates (59, 87b, 7×4) and Priest 64 (101b, 7×4, 1×6), after surviving a few close calls early in their respective knocks, waded through the Indian attack to set up the victory as the Kiwis overhauled the home team’s total of 182 for nine.

India put up a seemingly challenging total as skipper Mithali Raj (30), Veda Krishnamurthy (61, 85b, 6×4) who batted with confidence and panache, and Deepti Sharma (22) held the innings together.

Krishnamurthy and Sharma were involved in a 71-run stand for the fifth wicket before the Kiwis checked the progress, although a small cameo by Niranjana Nanjappa (12 off seven balls) took India past the 180-run mark.

However, the target proved grossly inadequate as Bates and Priest made light of the Indian bowling with their century-strong opening partnership to effectively seal the issue. Although the hosts grabbed a couple of quick wickets, the Kiwis were not to be denied.

New Zealand, thus, staged a fine comeback after losing the series opener to win the next two games for a 2-1 advantage. The fourth match is scheduled for Monday and the series will conclude on Wednesday before the teams play three T20 games.

Brief scores:

India 182 for 9 in 50 overs (Mithali Raj 30, Veda Krishnamurthy 61, Deepti Sharma 22, Sophie Devine 3 for 30) lost to New Zealand 186 for 4 in 45.4 overs (Suzie Bates 59, Rachel Priest 62, Amy Satterhwaite 22).

(IANS)

Why women are more at risk than men in earthquake-ravaged Nepal

May 2, 2015 by Nasheman

by Shelly Walia & Akshat Rathi, Quartz

Natural disasters are thought to be indiscriminate killers—but is that strictly true?

It turns out disasters affect women much more than men. A 2007 study by researchers at the London School of Economics and the University of Essex found that between 1981 and 2002, natural disasters in 141 countries killed significantly more women than men, and that the worse the disaster, the bigger the gender disparity.

The latest figures from Nepal show that among the 1.3 million affected by the earthquake, about 53% are female—a small but not yet statistically significant bias.

That might soon change. According to the Women Resilience Index, a metric developed to assess a country’s capacity to reduce risk in disaster and recovery for women, Nepal scores a paltry 45.2 out of 100. Japan scores 80.6, by comparison, and Pakistan 27.8.

And lessons from previous disasters show that the bias affecting women can worsen in post-disaster relief.

Is biology destiny?

There are many factors that contribute to this bias—both social and biological.

For instance, the excess female deaths during both the 2001 Gujarat and the 1993 Maharashtra earthquakes, which killed 20,000 and 10,000 people respectively, were blamed on the fact that more women were indoors while men were in open areas.

In 2004, when the third-largest earthquake in recorded history triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean, up to four women died for every man in hard-hit Aceh, Indonesia. One factor: women in Indonesia do not usually learn how to swim or climb trees.

During and after the 1998 floods in Bangladesh, many women suffered from urinary tract infections, due to the lack of sanitation and the taboo attached to menstruation.

“Common cultural practices dictate that women’s needs for privacy tend to be higher, so relieving themselves in public is harder than it is for men. Menstruating women face additional difficulties when access to water is lost or limited,” a spokesperson from the international aid agency Oxfam told Quartz.

After the calamity

The discrimination doesn’t stop after the immediate search and rescue is over. Sushma Iyengar, a social educator who works in Gujarat, told Quartz that during the 2001 disaster, “there was a much higher percentage of orthopaedic injury—and a lot of people got spinally impaired. And among those who became paraplegic, a huge number were young women, because they happened to be inside their houses.”

The paraplegic young women then became more vulnerable to the risks of their husbands leaving them if they were alive. “Not immediately after the calamity, but as the reality unfolded, and families come to know that the woman is not going to bear children, and that she is spinally impaired, and dependent, and she will not be earning, so she was abandoned,” Iyengar said. “It’s too early to figure out the extent of injuries, but what happened in Kutch [site of the Gujarat earthquake] might unfold in Nepal, too.”

Women are typically more vulnerable than men, especially in patriarchal societies, due to issues of personal safety and violence and access to scarce resources. Therefore, when a calamity strikes, the situation is accentuated.

“In calamities, you’ll see the best of humankind for the first few days. And then slowly, as the struggle looms large that you’re going to be without shelter and livelihood, that’s when a lot of conflicts occur,” Iyengar said. “At such times, women are vulnerable to different forms of trafficking and exploitation.”

A report by the UK department of international development refers to this as “double disaster,” where indirect or secondary impacts make life worse for women. But some efforts are being made to address the disparity.

Flipping the situation

In Nepal, the plight of thousands of pregnant women is being given particular attention. The UN Population Fund, for example, is distributing hygiene and reproductive health kits.

Such efforts have in the past been shown to have a two-fold benefit. Not only are the lives of women improved, but many of them then get involved in relief activities. Local women, for instance, are the most effective at mobilising their communities.

For instance, an Indian non-governmental organisation, Swayam Shikshan Prayog (Hindi for “learning from one’s own experiences”), which had been focused on helping women in disasters for 15 years, helped spearhead a programme to help rebuild homes after earthquakes in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

So those working on relief efforts in Nepal would do well to pay a little more attention to the needs of women. The rewards would be well worth it.

21 couple participate in 'thali' removal festival convened by Dravidar Kazhagam

April 14, 2015 by Nasheman

Chennai: Anticipating legal intervention the Dravidar Kazhagam preponed its thali removal festival by three hours against the scheduled time of 10 am.

As many as 21 couples participated in the programme convened at Periyar Thidal wherein the women discarded the thalis and pledged to lead a life of gender equality.

It may be recalled that when Dravidar Kazhagam had announced that they would conduct the thali removal festival the police had imposed ban on the event stating that it would disrupt the law and order situation. Many Hindu organisations and religious leaders too had expressed their opposition about the event. However, a division bench of the Madras High Court comprising of Justices Satish K. Agnihotri and M. Venugopal had granted an interim stay on a single judge’s order, which quashed the police ban on Tuesday, April 14.

Dravidar Kazhagam had gone ahead with the event on Tuesday and when the police communicated the stay order issued by the division bench all the functionaries were asked to disperse peacefully.

(Agencies)

Police firing on women on International Women’s Day in Odisha

March 26, 2015 by Nasheman

Representational Image

by Ganatantrik Adhikar Surakhya Sangathan

On 8th March 2015, when the world was observing International Women’s Day, Odisha police fired upon women agitators at Namatara village of Rajakanika block of Kendrapada district and injured 16 villagers, mostly women.

Out of those injured people, 9 villagers (five women, two girl children and 2 men) got admitted in Cuttak Medical College because of serious bullet injury. Now the police have already arrested 6 people for attacking the police and have filed cases against 60 people also. Namatara village having 200 houses are mostly of dalit communities.

Such act of brutality of Odisha police is condemnable.

The women around Rajakanika area were observing Women’s Day on their own way and on that day they went on burning foreign liquor shop, at Namatara village. They were demanding of closing down of that shop for last two years. Even they had given their demands in writing to Mr. Baijayanta Panda, Member of Parliament and Mr. PratapDev, MLA and to the District Collector, several times, what local activist of NishaMuktiAbhijan speaks.

So, failing from those sides they themselves decided to destroy the shop on International Women’s Day. While coming back from that place, district armed police reached to the village and fired them.

The state government, with the logic of earning targeted revenue of 1800 crores, has started a drive to open up more and more liquor shops both in rural and town areas. But this has been opposed by several groups in the State. Recently, when a team of social activists of NishaMuktiAbhiyan met the excise minister at the Secretariat, the later assured them of not opening any new shop without consent of pallisabha and gramsabha. This has been reported in the media. But in this case, when the dalit women of Namatara village were demanding of closing down of that shop, that went unheard.

It is not only at Namatara village, but in several parts of Odisha, both in tribal as well as in non-tribal areas, people, largely dalit and adivasi women, are now coming on the street and are opposing opening of liquor shops in their own areas. At many places in Odisha, like in Kashipur of Rayagada, Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon of Koraput district, Mathili of Malkangiri, Nikirai and Mahalhat of Kendrapada district, women and men have destroyed liquor shops in last 4 years due to deaf year of the government. They are all facing legal charges.

Most of the women who are participating in such struggle are from poor background. In a male dominated society like us, when daily wage workers, small peasants and village artisans, mostly male, are expending major amount of their income in consuming liquor then other members of their respective families are not getting proper food, education and health treatment. In these cases the most vulnerable are children and aged people in their familiesbecause of addictive-consumption of liquor of male earner.

Specifically, in post-economic reform phase, when burden of education and health care are lying more on individuals because the State is withdrawing from its welfare-role, so slightest unmindful expenses of the bread earner is causing much havoc in the family. On the other hand, both corporate and bureaucrats are taking away lion’s share of the State which ultimately is causing more gap between the poor and the rich. At this stage we, in Odisha, are finding more rural poor women who have one agenda, destroying of liquor shop and in retaliation, police is resorting to arrest and firing.

So in case of Namatara incident several organisations like Ganatantrik Adhikar Surakhya Sangathan, Lok Shakti Abhiyan and Committee Against Fabricated Cases etc. are demanding of announcement of rupees one lakh as compensation for the injured people, arresting those police engaged in such firing under 307, attempt to murder, of IPC and treating decisions of Pallisabha and Gramsabha in both tribal and non-tribal areas regarding opening up of new shops and running of existing oneas final decision of the government.

Nandigram: Perfect example of disempowering empowered Women

March 18, 2015 by Nasheman

by Nisha Biswas

Nandigram, a rural area with two community development blocks in Haldia subdivision of Purba Medinipur, is not known as such but is the name of historic resistance – struggle and the win of its people against the forcible acquisition of 10,000 acre land by the West Bengal government for proposed Chemical hub between 2007 to 2010. Since then Nandigram is inspiration for many agrarian and anti- land acquisition struggles. It was mainly due to Nandigram that the then UPA government was compelled to change SEZ and Land Acquisition Acts. The movement took the steam out of the more than three decades CPI(M) rule and TMC won the state assembly election in 2011 with unprecedented majority.

Women of Nandigram played a key role in its resistance movement. They were in the forefront. Supriya Jana lost her precious life in indiscriminate firing by police. As many as 17 women were raped, many were molested and around a hundred were injured. Women like, twice gang raped Radha Rani Ari, Tapasi Das whose thigh was almost sawed and had uterus hit when police opened fire on unarmed women and children and who still lives in perpetual pain, Swarnmoyee Das whole left elbow was so badly injured that it still remains badly injured, elderly Narmda Shee became the face of the Nandigram movement.

Their courage, energy and never dying attitude inspired many. It was the time to dream, time to hope, time to empower, time to live and time to die. They went all over the country to tell their tales. The then opposition party chief Ms Mamata Banerjee supported them and shrewdly snatched the credit. People of Nandigram in general and women in particular thought that she would bring the change that they had dared to dream. Riding on the waves of Singur and Nandigram movements she snatched power from CPI(M) and became Chief Minister of West Bengal on May 20, 2011.

A seven-member team of Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression, West Bengal (WSS, WB) visited Nandigram 4days ahead of observation of “Martyr’s Day”, observed on 14th March of each year to commemorate the historic struggle of Nandigram against land acquisition, this year.

What the team saw was terrible saddening and disturbing. That these women who were once the powerful leaders are today not only distressed but are also disempowered.

Now, they are nowhere in the leadership of Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC), formed at the time of struggle. They are not even invited for BUPC meetings or on March 14 to observe Martyr’s Day. The leadership of BUPC did not know what happened to the cases that they filed against police and ruling party goons. On the other hand, in December 2013 CBI has instituted case against more than 30 men and women, including women who were severely injured/ raped for inciting violence and attacking the police and the CBI’s request for permission to initiate criminal proceeding against some police officials is still lying with the state government. The women, who not only suffered rape, bullet wounds and state terror but had remained in the fore front of the heroic struggle against forcible land acquisition, and were subsequently instrumental in unseating Left Front from power, have today been completely edged out of the political space.

Women like Tapasi Das and Swarnmoyee, who needed prolonged treatment and support for the disability caused by bullet injuries were left to fend for them selves. None of the women was awarded or given any job in recognition of their contribution to the movement. In rare cases men of the family are given some temporary job with Metro Rail, but women were just forgotten. Tapasi Das, who lives in continuous pain and is bed ridden for most of the time, is not provided any medical or emotional support. Local MP gives her Rs 1500.00 per month, out of which the courier pockets a hundred rupees, is not sufficient for her travelling to doctor’s chamber. Her family finances do not permit to consult a specialist.

A grand hospital built in the memory of martyrs and to take care of medical needs of the locality, is a picture of grim dereliction and waste. Main gates remained locked and the watchman’s assertion of doctor visiting once or twice a month remains questionable.

Radha Rani Ari, who travelled all over the country with Ms. Banerjee to narrate the barbaric sexual atrocities inflicted on her, recalls how in the run-up of assembly election she was much sought after by the present ruling party. Now that the TMC party of Ms Banerjee is firmly in power, she has been carelessly abandoned. She says “My body was like a property that would get votes” and that now very often she contemplates suicide. Angur Das, who was raped along with her two daughters, one married with two kids and the other unmarried at that time, is today a grim picture of neglect. She remembers the promise that marrying her daughter was party’s responsibility. Her all the three sons work in UP in a carpet factory. Elder daughter Kabita was not allowed to return to her marital home after this incident. Younger daughter Ganga’s well – being hangs on the thin thread of payment/nonpayment of hefty dowry agreed. Only three out of sixteen raped have received compensation of Rs 2.00 lakh.

Brute force of male domination has silenced women. All the rape accused, like Badal Garu, Kalia Garu, Rabin Das, etc., have retuned to their homes after spending years of exile to escape public wrath. Rumor is their rehabilitation has taken place after negotiation with BUPC (male) leadership. Garu clan lives in radha Rani’s area and is next-door neighbors of Angur Das. It makes women further insecure and adds to the reasons of their depression. These men are devoid of any remorse, and with the support of BUPC to whose leadership they had paid hefty fine, causes fear in these women. On confrontation, BUPC leaders tell them, “What is your problem?” They are not ready to understand that their problem is not only justice is not done; they are being humiliated every day. Even neighbours are now pointing fingers at the rape survivors.

Being the battleground that changed the political scenario of West Bengal and have caused major policy changes, Nandigram remains the very picture of neglect. Roads are the same picture of rejection, agriculture still remains single crop, ponds are not renovated and canals are yet to be dug, causing men-folk to migrate in search of work. Even MNREGA work is erratic.

Nandigram today is a sad picture of rejection. Women, who were the integral part of the movement and were at the forefront of the anti-acquistion stir that eventually catapulted the Trinamool Congress into power in West Bengal are now confined to their homes and are subjected to all kind of oppression.

Nisha Biswas is an activist based in Kolkata.

Furore over Sharad Yadav's remarks on women's complexion

March 16, 2015 by Nasheman

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Monday witnessed a furore over Sharad Yadav’s remarks on women’s complexion, as sharp words were exchanged between the JD-U leader and Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani.

The comments created a ruckus in the upper house after union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asked the member to withdraw his comments.

The Janata Dal-United chief said his comments last week on women’s complexion were misinterpreted and refused to apologise. He said he was ready for a debate on the topic.

Yadav, during the debate on the insurance bill in the Rajya Sabha last week, spoke on India’s obsession for fair skin. “Your god is dark like Ravi Shankar Prasad, but your matrimonial ads insist on white-skinned brides.”

Referring to the complexion of south Indian women, he said: “The women of the south are dark but they are as beautiful as their bodies… We don’t see it here. They know (how to) dance.”

He got away lightly when he made the comments last week, as several members laughed over them. Only DMK leader Kanimozhi had protested.

On Monday, Prasad said: “Comments were made on south Indian women, I was also mentioned, I remained quiet. I want to keep myself away from that comment.”

“I completely disagree with the comment. Ask the member to withdraw the comment,” he urged the chair.

Trying to clarify, Yadav said his comments were misinterpreted.

“There are more dusky women in India and in the world… I can discuss the issue with anyone, we are in favour of Indian culture.”

Irani, responding sharply, said the member (Yadav) should not comment on the complexion of women in any way.

“I appeal through you (chair) to the gentleman, do not make comments about the colour of any woman’s skin. You (Yadav) are a senior member, a very wrong message is going to the rest of the country,” she said.

Yadav responded by saying: “I strongly refute the allegation.”

“From (Mahatma) Gandhi to (Ram Manohar) Lohia, I have all the record of what has been said about women. A lot of struggle has been done for women with dark complexion,” he said, to which Irani responded by saying: “Please don’t do this.

Naming Lohia and Gandhi and commenting on women.”

Kanimozhi joined Irani in her protest against Yadav. “Women from all parties are together, we demand a regret on it,” she said.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said he would not allow a discussion on the issue.

“White complexion or dark complexion, it is all the same, I am not allowing a discussion on this,” Kurien said.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the issue should not be discussed as it will get more complicated.

Yadav, however, said he was ready for a discussion.

“There has been a long struggle against discrimination based on colour… I am ready to participate in a debate any time,” he said.

Women leaders on Monday slammed the JD-U leader outside the house also.

Kanimozhi said: “The issue is why women’s body and colour was being discussed in a such a derogatory way in parliament.”

Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Brinda Karat said: “The time has now come for a code of conduct for our members of parliament and that should be very strict as far as use of languages is concerned. These are senior leaders and what they say influences people.

“It is shocking that none of the other MPs said a word,” she said.

Yadav, however, decided to brazen it out by humming a popular song — “Mora Gora Rang Laile” — from 1960s Bimal Roy-directed film “Bandini” to justify his point.

(IANS)

An interaction with entrepreneur Nandita Singgha

March 5, 2015 by Shaheen Raaj

Time to celebrate celebrate Women’s Day with Nandita Singgha, Founder & Managing Director of “Total Presentation Devices Limited”.

Nandita Singgha, happens to be a strong, wise and above all a successful albeit a gutsy woman entrepreneur synonyms to women power, she’s an epitome and a role model of millions of women who desire to carve a niche for themselves but fail to explore their credentials and bridge the gap between inspirations to aspirations.

Nandita Singgha came and she conquered the hearts of millions with her strong sense of leadership quality. Her company “Total Presentation Devices Limited” has become the 1st Bollywood Production Company to be ISO certified for quality services in the filmmaking process. ISO 9000 is a series of standards developed & published by the “International Organization for Standardization” (ISO), that define, establish & maintain an effective quality assurance system for manufacturing & service industries.

An ardent believer of the ideology #BeYourOwnBoss, Nandita Singgha has proved her mettle in the field of technology and this is just an extension of the same mission in a larger perspective. Nandita Singgha, an Indian women of 3rd world country has a vision matching to the best of American corporate practices.

Hence, for all those women harboring on the ship of desires, embark on a new journey this Women’s Day and set your sight on that one entrepreneurial goal every women wishes for. This Women’s Day activity will eventually grow into an online portal which takes place every year holding a vision to up rise women. Apart from honing aspiring women entrepreneurs, Nandita will also be looking at recruiting youngsters for her company.

Nandita averred, “I am inviting budding women entrepreneurs to share their venture dreams with me with a strong sustainable plan. If you have the determination & approach towards it, I would love to be a part of it and support the dreams. This Women’s Day, liberate your inner desire to be an entrepreneur. 8th of Mar, 2015 could be a new beginning for you and for me. If you dream of having your own business or running your own show, please write to me on nsinggha@gmail.com.”

Wishing all the readers a Happy Womens’ Day Nandita Singgha stated, “The subject of empowerment of women is becoming a burning issue all over the world including India since last few decades. There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women. The empowered women is powerful beyond measure and beautiful beyond description. Hence, as a token of love & celebration this women’s Day I am presenting them with an opportunity to fulfill their dreams and build a name for themselves.”

Being a successful entrepreneur, besides owning a production house is no cakewalk and Nandita Singhaa will surely vouch for it. Triumphing upon the hearts, Nandita Singgha has her platter full with a few films in the pipeline under her own production house banner.

Nandita Singhaa’s few films in the pipeline are ‘Middey’ to be directed by Nandita Singgha is based on true incidents where she has taken certain characters of a few journalists as reference who become powerful handling the entire system, underworld & ATS through journalism and bring justice to society; ‘J Returns’ to be directed by Nandita Singgha is based on a true incident and a story covered by a journalist named J who fights for Indian – American doctor Anandan Roy’s bail & justice who is based in US and J is from Mumbai and works as a TV newsreader; ‘Megacorp’, to be directed by Nandita Singhaa is a bilingual international movie based on a true incident & accident that had taken place in a pharmaceutical industry, the entire mystery was revealed by Jay a journalist by profession when his own sister dies untimely & ‘Red’ to be directed by Nandita Singgha, the plot of the film revolves around a group of journalists who identify themselves with Code Red, they work voluntarily by secretly fighting for injustice happening in society. They are the true heroes of the society where lots of recognition is yet to be given to them

Sure enough there is lots to look forward to, on this Women’s Day.

Womanathon: ‘Run with her’ for women's empowerment

March 3, 2015 by Nasheman

Bengaluru: In an initiative to empower women, SEEK Foundation will be holding ‘Womanathon,’ a marathon for women on March 8, across Bengaluru, Chennai & Hyderabad cities, which is International Women’s Day.

‘Run with her’ is the theme of the event. It will be held across three cities — Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad — on March 8. “The people who can do most to improve the situation of so many women and girls are men,” said Nithyshree, founder member of SEEK Foundation, an NGO that works for social welfare. “It’s in their hands to stop violence against women. This run is mainly a run for Respect.”

Actress Sanjjanaa Archana Galrani who is running for her mother says, “My mom is my wonder woman. The woman I respect and love the most”.

Womanathon is contributing to Seek Foundation which is a not-for-profit organisation working towards bringing consciousness in education and empowerment & knowledge to every citizen.

Seek Foundation has adopted villages like Poondandalam in Kancheepuram District and help to create awareness for women and girls.

80% of Anti-Muslim attacks in France against women, says report

February 20, 2015 by Nasheman

Kenza Drider, a French Muslim of North African descent, wears a niqab outside the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris April 11, 2011. GONZALO FUENTES/REUTERS

by Lucy Draper, Newsweek

80% of the anti-Muslim acts which occur in France are carried out against women a new report published today by Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe commissioner for human rights, has revealed.

The commissioner, who produced the report after visiting France in September last year, warned of increasing attacks directed at homosexuals, Jews and Muslims and said that there should be more efforts to integrate and care for immigrants and asylum seekers.

Muižnieks recommends a national plan to promote and protect human rights as well as ratifying Protocol No. 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights on the general prohibition of discrimination in order to “further strengthen the legal framework.”

Attacks on Muslims have been on the rise in France since the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January. Earlier this month the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) published data that showed that between the Charlie Hebdo attacks on 7th January and the end of that month there were 147 ‘acts’ carried out against Muslims.

In the week following the attacks the CFCM reported that 26 separate mosques had been attacked across the country. In some cases the buildings were firebombed and in other grenades were thrown.

Fiyaz Mughal, the director of UK-based interfaith thinktank Faith Matters says that the term ‘acts’ covers a huge range of hostile actions. He says they have received complaints from Muslim women which include: “Spitting, general abuse, pulling and tearing at the niqab and the hijab, plus dog faeces being thrown at women, as well as bottles from passing cars and people shouting things like ‘Muslim whore’ ‘Muslim bitch’ or ‘Muzzie’.”

On why he believes Muslim women might face more abuse than their male counterparts, Mughal says: “All our data… shows that visible women are the ones that are targeted at a street level. This means that women who wear the hijab are the ones that are sometimes targeted for abuse and those who wear the niqab suffer more anti-Muslim hate incidents and more aggressive assaults.”

He also believes that there is a gender imbalance in terms of anti-Muslim hate at a street level, saying that victim data shows that perpetrators are usually male and aged between 15-35, while their victims are mostly women and aged between 15-45.

Sahar Aziz, a professor who teaches about Middle East law at the Texas A&M University School of Law wrote an article for American news site CNN in which she condemned the lack of response to these increased attacks from French feminists who had celebrated the 2011 ban on full face veils. “As Muslim women face threats to their safety in the anti-Muslim backlash, one cannot help but notice the deafening silence of French feminists,” Aziz writes.

Muižnieks’s report addresses a wide-range of problems in France including racism and discrimination against a variety of people including Roma, migrants and those with disabilities.

Although the commissioner commended France for combating the issues he raised in their courts and institutions, he went on to suggest that the country “include the fight against discrimination in a national plan to promote and protect human rights”.

“It is essential to put an end to such acts, including on the internet, and to punish those responsible,” he wrote.

This girl explains why rape has become a joke in India

January 29, 2015 by Nasheman

If a guy is with 6 girls – he’s a STUD. If a girl is with 6 guys – she’s a SLUT. We Indians have double standards. We love getting offended on any and everything. The question here is why? Sit back, relax, watch this video and think about it. Who is responsible for making rapes a joke in India? Sadly, the answer is ‘US’.