My Thoughts on South Sudan
For the last few nights sleep is something I have to search for. I just cannot get rid of the images described by the UN Peacekeepers of "women and children in the Sudan being mowed down". In 2002, when I visited South Sudan for the first time I was really [...]
His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan’s 77th Birthday
Today, Ismaili Muslims residing in 25 countries around the world will gather to celebrate the seventy-seventh birthday of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. As a proud Muslim woman, I would like to remark on the great work his Highness the Aga Khan, an honourary citizen of Canada, has done [...]
Ongoing Risk of Female Genital Mutilation
Worldwide, there are 125 million girls and women alive today who have been subjected to female genital mutilation, also known as cutting. Cutting refers to all procedures which involve cutting away part or all of a girl's external genitalia. Globally, the practice is recognized as a violation of the human [...]
Journey to Kolkata: Bringing an End to Teenage Sexual Trafficking – Part 2
During the orientation session, I was given an introduction to the problem of trafficking in India. I learned that India's population is 1.27 billion. The population of West Bengal, India is 91 million. Kolkata, India has a population of 15 million. Most of the children trafficked in Kolkata and West [...]
United Nations Security Council Passes New Resolution to Fight Wartime Sexual Violence
On Monday June 24 2013, the United Nations Security Council met to vote on a new resolution on wartime sexual violence, which has reached epidemic proportions in conflicts around the globe. Resolution 2106 was passed unanimously and is the sixth United Nations resolution related to women, peace and security (joining resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889, and 1960). [...]
The Plight of the Female Refugee – Breaking Barriers
We have learned from Bebe that the spirit of female refugees all over the world is unwavering. Every day more than 7.3 million women live and work, regardless of setbacks, to provide for their families. Women, who like all people, want nothing more than to have a better life for [...]