The Dignity of Womanhood

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The Dignity of Womanhood

• An Initiative of the Womens Federation
• for World Peace
• European Chapter

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2002 Hannover, Germany A Beginning

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Women and Human Dignity

• Where do we stand today?

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What has been achieved?

• Right of education
• Equality in Politics and Industry
• Voting rights
• Valued as human being with human
  rightsRespected as woman and motherThe fact
  that it is widely accepted
• that feminine values can bring a cosmic
  balance
• Women in high positions heads of state

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Rape as a weapon of war

• But there still are

Prostitution
Trafficking of women
Enforced veils
Domestic violence
Marketing with the naked body
Child and enforced prostitution
Widow burning
FGM female genital mutilation
Pornography
Honour killings
Sex problems at work
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RAPE PART OF WAR STRATEGY

• In Darfur and in other war torn areas like the
  Democratic Republic of Congo or in Burundi rapes
  are part of war strategy. Sexual violenceis
  deliberately used as a tool to destabilize and
  intimidate targeted groups of civil society.
• According to UNICEF thousands of young women were
  raped in Darfur last year. Some of the victims
  were as young as 7 or 8 years old.
• From autumn 2003 until spring 2004 alone over
  8000 women sought help from UNICEF after having
  been raped in the east of the DRC.
• In connection with the war in Kosovo mainly women
  are the victims of violence and rape.

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Trafficking of women

• Nothing has changed, as prostitution and human
  trafficking for sexualexploitation constitute
  violence against women. Therefore, they are
  absolutely irreconcilable with the dignity and
  value of the human being, the maintenance of
  which is guaranteed by the International
  Declaration of Human Rights.

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• Domestic violence

In history, especially during the last century, 
many women have fought for equal rights Women's
shelters are a sign of the continual suppression
women bear in the family In Germany, every 4th
woman has experienced domestic violence .More
than 40,000 women flee to women's shelters each
year. The known cases are only 20 The
unreported (dark figures) cases are much higher.
Shame, guilt, fear or mistrust prevent the 
person  from reporting the incident Children
who experience violence at home, suffer from
internal psychological problems
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• Many European countries, over the last few years,
  have elevated the status of prostitution to a
  recognized profession by making it legal.In
  Germany, prostitution is categorised as service
  provision this means that women's sexuality is
  a service provided for men and assuch, women's
  bodies are merchandise available for purchase.
• The prostitute does receive her right to claim
  her wages. Does she also have the right to live
  like any other woman? Is hers the right to be
  free from the daily degradation to a
  mereobject, one towards which the random partner
  freely practices his uncontrolled needs? Is she
  given the right of protection within oursociety
  in her capacities as woman, wife, mother and
  colleague?
• When considering the wonderful human potential,
  latent in each woman on the basis of her natural
  undisturbed development, this state of affairs
  is unforgivable

Prostitution
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SEXUAL ADVERTISMENT

• Where ever there is advertising, on television,
  on the internet, in magazines and on bill boards,
  everywhere the female body is abused and used for
  commercial gain.
• This manner of advertising has become so common,
  that it is used for numerous products.
• In this way the image of women has been distorted
  and has been degraded to an object for sexual
  gratification.
• This has nothing to do with gender equality in
  our society.
• This kind of misuse has been opening the doors to
  violence against women and is harmful to their
  dignity.

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• Pornography
• We are engulfed in a tidal wave of violence in
  literature and film with realistic depiction of
  sexual relationships, rapes and murders.
• The wilderness of pornography in books,
  magazines, films and television is unprecedented
  in history.

Pornography
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Cause and Effect?

• Everywhere the female body is abused as
  enticement for commercial profit.
• A billion dollar industry is spreading the
  message that brutality torture, enslavement,
  disregard and humiliation of the feminine gender
  brings sexual entertainment.
• As such the image of women has been distorted
  and has been degraded to an object for sexual
  gratification.

• According to the estimate of a national
  criminal agency, 200,000-300,000 children are
  sexually abused every year.
• Every year 13,000 rapes get reported.
• The unofficial figure is estimated to be much
  higher.

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Human Rights for women too

• According to the Human Rights Charter of 1948,
  all people have a right to life, freedom, and
  work, without being discriminated by race,skin
  colour or sex.
• The reality that women, minorities, and  children
  are disadvantaged is obvious.
• In some regions, to be born as a girl means less
  food, less healthcare, as well as diminished
  right to education and perspectives forjob
  training .
• Even a basic right to life and existence is
  questioned.
• The UN World Population report 2005 500,000
  Maternal Birth deaths !Poverty and missing of
  equal opportunities is given as the reason

Equality for both sexes in public and private
spheres is essential for development
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Declaration of Human Rights 

• Excerpts of the Preamble
• Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and
  of the equal inalienable rights of all members of
  the human family is the foundation of freedom,
  justice and peace in the world,...
• Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in
  the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental
  human rights, in the dignity and worth of the
  human person and in the equal rights of men and
  women and have determined to promote social
  progress and better standards of life in larger
  freedom, ...

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Resolution 217A (III) of Dec. 10th, 1948,
General Assembly of the United Nations

• Article 1. All human beings are born free and
  equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed
  with reason and conscience and should act towards
  one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
• Article 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights
  and freedoms set forth in this Declaration,
  without distinction of any kind, such as race,
  colour, sex, language, religion, political or
  other opinion, national or social origin,
  property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no
  distinction shall be made on the basis of the
  political, jurisdictional or international status
  of the country or territory to which a person
  belongs, whether it be independent, trust,
  non-self-governing or under any other limitation
  of sovereignty.
• Article 3. Everyone has the right to life,
  liberty and security of person
• Article 7.  All are equal before the law and are
  entitled without any discrimination to equal
  protection of the law. All are entitled to equal
  protection against any discrimination in
  violation of the Declaration and against any
  incitement to such discrimination.

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Katharina von Siena

• Eternal God,you created me and knewwhile you
  created me
• in your image and light.With all your love
• you created me,In your likeness
• you created me

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The original beauty of woman

• Let us bring back the original value,
• the original beauty of womanto the home of the
  human family

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HOW CAN WE START?
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Good to know!

• According to a survey of the Institute for
  Rational Psychology
• (GRP) half of Germanys population dislikes
  the display of sex on TV and in advertisements.
• Every second man and two thirds of the women feel
  pressured or intimidated by the continuous
  presence of sexual images in advertisements and
  TV.
• The discrimination of women in advertisement
  media is continuously the main complaint to the
  German Advertisement Agency.

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Making our opinion public!

• With the consciousness that as women we have very
  special values, abilities and special gifts, that
  our society needs, we will contribute to its
  positive development.
• Therefore we will no longer allow that, by
  passively accepting sexist advertising, films and
  magazines that reduce woman to a sex object, the
  dignity of woman is violated and degraded
• Therefore we ask you to participate with the
  Dignity of Womanhood campaign. It will give us
  the opportunity to invest in the designing and
  shaping of our society, for the benefit of
  future generations.

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Distributing Information
Leaflets
Information Material
Magazines
Presentations
Letters
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PRESENTATIONS regarding the theme Dignity of
Womanhood!

• An Historical Opportunity for Women to make an
  Active Contribution in building a Culture of
  Peace.
• The power of femininity within me
• The Culture of Peace
• Feminine qualities of leadership
• The dignity of womanhood throughout the ages
• Living our dignity
• Is peace possible?
• Bridge of peace, a new way to heal the wounds
  of abuse, misunderstanding, intolerance,
  prejudice and war
• Thought of Women's Federation for World Peace
• Becoming a pillar in the Bridge of Peace
• Unseen spiritual power of women
• Empowering Women From Within
• Reconciliation as a basis for creating a
  sustainable culture of peace

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Write letters of Protest

• Ladies and Gentlemen,
• On, I noticed at/inyour
  advertisement for
• As a woman, I am writing to express my
  indignation about this advertisement.
• Are you aware of the fact that violence towards
  women constitutes by far the most frequent
  violation of human rights? An issue many times
  ignored but, since decades homes exist for
  battered women and children, taking refuge from
  the dangers of violence, sexual intimidation and
  bodily and psychological abuse.
• Even on a private level these are criminal acts,
  oftentimes not recorded due to the economic
  dependence of many women on their partners. This
  sex-oriented, domestic violence is closely
  connected with lack of respect towards and
  equality of women in the awareness of society.
• Through sexualized language and advertisements,
  through misuse of the female body as advert-gag
  for the greatest variety of products, this
  lacking equality is being reinforced and
  encouraged very subtly and, with it, not only the
  domestic violence against women but also the
  abuse of children.
• I, therefore request that you take responsibility
  by paying close attention in your choice of
  advertisements and would like to bring this
  to your attention that you, through ignoring
  this letter, may be found guilty of criminal
  acts and liable for prosecution.
• Therefore, it is of paramount importance to
  withdraw, with immediate effect, the advert
  mentioned above.
• A reply to this letter would be greatly
  appreciated.
• Name
• Address

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Signature Campaigns

• Against the rapes in Bosnia
• Against sex and violence in TV
• For the Dignity of Women

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Campaigning

• The WFWP branch of Hannover (Germany) took on the
  theme Dignity of Womanhood. This initiative,
  having an information table, was well accepted by
  the citizens.
• We are not alone with our indignation about the
  advertisements degrading women, which passes on
  completely wrong guidance and values
• In 2003 a politician of Niedersachsen explained
  at a press conference, that the new media law
  should contain a passage for the protection of
  the dignity of woman.

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Networking
Gleichstellungsbeauftragte
Deutscher Werberat, Am Weidendamm 1A, 10117
Berlin.
Frauenbeauftragte
Landesfrauenrat
http//www.feminenza.org/
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A last thought

• The creation is not yet finished!

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We are the forerunners for our youth!

• In every way, we women have the possibility to
  actively participate in the development of our
  communities and also to take the place where we
  wish to contribute.
• We wish that many women join our protest action.
  Thus a great womens movement will evolve,
  protecting the Dignity of Woman.
• We owe this to our youth, children and
  grandchildren

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The Creation is not yet finishedDorothee Sölle

• . Do we want to give another answer to the
  creation, a tenderness for all living things on
  our earth, and do we wish to be the co-creator
  (as planned), created in Gods image? Clearly,
  the creation not only has a relationship with our
  beginnings (origin) but also always continues
  with us in our future.
• The creation which began with the first creation,
  is not yet finished