Comments on: 16 Days - Day 4: Targeting Women http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/ the blog of the international rescue committee Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:48:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Elizabeth http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-3410 Elizabeth Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:26:22 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-3410 Bravo Ann and the IRC. It is so important to build the self esteem of these women. They are the backbone of the country, and with their strength, courage, healing, and hope, the country will begin to heal. I hope that someone is educating the men that there is no magic or power to be gained from brutalizing women, as is often the superstition. It is so sad to see what human beings can do to one another in times of war. We must all teach our children love, compassion, and humanity in order to make a difference in the world. Thank you Ann for your strength and bravery and best wishes on this important mission. Bravo Ann and the IRC. It is so important to build the self esteem of these women. They are the backbone of the country, and with their strength, courage, healing, and hope, the country will begin to heal. I hope that someone is educating the men that there is no magic or power to be gained from brutalizing women, as is often the superstition. It is so sad to see what human beings can do to one another in times of war. We must all teach our children love, compassion, and humanity in order to make a difference in the world. Thank you Ann for your strength and bravery and best wishes on this important mission.

]]> By: Jerry http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-3388 Jerry Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:22:16 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-3388 "Violence against women and girls always explodes during and after war." War-time violence against females is reprehensible. But so is the violence against males. I believe inciting your readers only about the former increases the potential for more violence against both sexes. How many readers noticed the statement “women were forced to watch the murder of their husbands”? (Husbands are often killed after being forced to watch the rape of their wife). I suspect most readers barely noticed it. Judging by your readers' responses, reports such as yours tend to reinforce the belief that only women are harmed during war, that women are innocents who “shouldn't be hurt.” They seem not to believe that no one – male or female -- should be hurt. We must not forget that while young females are being kidnapped for sexual trafficking – which we often hear about -- young boys as young as six are being kidnapped, beaten, and forced to fight in wars or to slave in work camps. We rarely hear about this. How might some of these young boys feel when they finally come to realize that the international community cares only about females? Might they develop a lethal bitterness? There is danger in expressing outrage only for female victims. For the sake of balance, I urge you to read "The Greater Outrage for Female Victims of Governments’ Brutality Perpetuates Risk to Both Sexes" at http://battlinbog.blog-city.com/governments_violence_against_the_sexes.htm. “Violence against women and girls always explodes during and after war.”

War-time violence against females is reprehensible. But so is the violence against males. I believe inciting your readers only about the former increases the potential for more violence against both sexes.

How many readers noticed the statement “women were forced to watch the murder of their husbands”? (Husbands are often killed after being forced to watch the rape of their wife). I suspect most readers barely noticed it.

Judging by your readers’ responses, reports such as yours tend to reinforce the belief that only women are harmed during war, that women are innocents who “shouldn’t be hurt.” They seem not to believe that no one – male or female — should be hurt.

We must not forget that while young females are being kidnapped for sexual trafficking – which we often hear about — young boys as young as six are being kidnapped, beaten, and forced to fight in wars or to slave in work camps. We rarely hear about this.

How might some of these young boys feel when they finally come to realize that the international community cares only about females? Might they develop a lethal bitterness?

There is danger in expressing outrage only for female victims.

For the sake of balance, I urge you to read “The Greater Outrage for Female Victims of Governments’ Brutality Perpetuates Risk to Both Sexes” at http://battlinbog.blog-city.com/governments_violence_against_the_sexes.htm.

]]> By: Dennis Espinoza http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-3321 Dennis Espinoza Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:04:22 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-3321 This pictures made cry becase i taught this finished years ago i don't matter what people do if it continues like this it won't finish it'll continue... maibe forever This pictures made cry becase i taught this finished years ago i don’t matter what people do if it continues like this it won’t finish it’ll continue… maibe forever

]]> By: dave http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2234 dave Mon, 12 May 2008 16:03:09 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2234 That is horrible. That looks like a child beating his mother in the last picture. Tradition or not, this suffering must be stopped. This footage is so well documented that it tells me a story; a story of violence, and a call for help. That is horrible. That looks like a child beating his mother in the last picture. Tradition or not, this suffering must be stopped. This footage is so well documented that it tells me a story; a story of violence, and a call for help.

]]> By: manuel http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2231 manuel Sat, 08 Mar 2008 04:33:10 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2231 sure is hard to look at.... but to live it, i just couldnt imagine .... the world is f*cked.. sure is hard to look at…. but to live it, i just couldnt imagine …. the world is f*cked..

]]> By: John Roshek http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2222 John Roshek Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:43:30 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2222 Is there a readiness of IRC to support and the women in certain villages where a tight, united sisterhood is ready to be formed. For instance, if any female village member is assaulted her immediate female neighbors and, if necessary, all the village's adult females would chase that male out of the area or village and not let him return unless they knew he would not attack again. The next step, if there were a strong, purposeful unity of the women, would be to stop all sexual relations with all the men in the village until the men agreed to begin to adopt full, respectful, honoring, equal relationships with the women and began to help more equally with parenting. The same could be instituted by women in many parts of the USA, especially in the rural county I live in, but the process of divide and conquer of the "culture" has splintered the women's community too much. Thank you Ann, for your work by mirroring back to me how I am part of the problem both in supporting violence against women and children in America and around the world. Armchair email stands and sending money still keep the cultural insanity in place. Too many words, justifications. Is there a readiness of IRC to support and the women in certain villages where a tight, united sisterhood is ready to be formed. For instance, if any female village member is assaulted her immediate female neighbors and, if necessary, all the village’s adult females would chase that male out of the area or village and not let him return unless they knew he would not attack again. The next step, if there were a strong, purposeful unity of the women, would be to stop all sexual relations with all the men in the village until the men agreed to begin to adopt full, respectful, honoring, equal relationships with the women and began to help more equally with parenting. The same could be instituted by women in many parts of the USA, especially in the rural county I live in, but the process of divide and conquer of the “culture” has splintered the women’s community too much. Thank you Ann, for your work by mirroring back to me how I am part of the problem both in supporting violence against women and children in America and around the world. Armchair email stands and sending money still keep the cultural insanity in place. Too many words, justifications.

]]> By: Melissa http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2230 Melissa Tue, 11 Dec 2007 03:29:33 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2230 Give these women a gun. They won't be touched again. Give these women a gun. They won’t be touched again.

]]> By: Chris Bondante http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2214 Chris Bondante Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:37:28 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2214 Thsese photos are very hard to look at. We hear about this kind of violence all the time, but to actually see it is very painful. It makes us realize how really sheltered we are here in the U.S. I know GBV exists here as well, but what's happening there is so ingrained in the social fabric. It's hard to think of the men as victims, yet intellectually I know they are. I feel so sorry for these women, but admire them greatly because they are not afraid to speak out and get help. Thanks Ann. Thsese photos are very hard to look at. We hear about this kind of violence all the time, but to actually see it is very painful. It makes us realize how really sheltered we are here in the U.S. I know GBV exists here as well, but what’s happening there is so ingrained in the social fabric. It’s hard to think of the men as victims, yet intellectually I know they are.
I feel so sorry for these women, but admire them greatly because they are not afraid to speak out and get help.
Thanks Ann.

]]> By: Thomas Sanger http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2213 Thomas Sanger Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:34:45 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2213 Ann, your efforts and the efforts of the GBV team will help plant the seeds and make the difference. Who knows how many women, now treated as chattle will be seen as beautiful creatures who deserve respect and recognition of their human dignity. In part, this is what war does to people, most often shutting down the best in us and bringing out the worst. Blessings on your efforts to spread the word of peace and non-violence against these women. Ann, your efforts and the efforts of the GBV team will help plant the seeds and make the difference. Who knows how many women, now treated as chattle will be seen as beautiful creatures who deserve respect and recognition of their human dignity. In part, this is what war does to people, most often shutting down the best in us and bringing out the worst. Blessings on your efforts to spread the word of peace and non-violence against these women.

]]> By: Thomas Sanger http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2212 Thomas Sanger Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:33:47 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/28/16-days-day-4-targeting-women/#comment-2212 Ann, your efforts and the efforts of the GBV team will help plant the seeds and make the difference. Who knows how many women, not treated as chattle will be seen as beautiful creatures who deserve respect and recognition of their human dignity. In part, this is what war does to people, most often shutting down the best in us and bringing out the worst. Blessings on your efforts to spread the word of peace and non-violence against these women. Ann, your efforts and the efforts of the GBV team will help plant the seeds and make the difference. Who knows how many women, not treated as chattle will be seen as beautiful creatures who deserve respect and recognition of their human dignity. In part, this is what war does to people, most often shutting down the best in us and bringing out the worst. Blessings on your efforts to spread the word of peace and non-violence against these women.

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