Imagine living in a world where decisions are not made by you based on your wishes, but by your family based on their needs. This is a reality for women in both developed and developing countries. Imagine the fear in knowing that once you get married, there will be no getting out of it. Imagine a world where even if you do know what your rights are, there will be no possibility of exercising them. This is might sound farfetched to us, safe in Sweden, but it is a reality to many women. Imagine a world where a day when you don’t get raped by your husband is considered to be a good day. I know I can’t, but it is a reality for many.
20 years ago the Cairo Consensus, (A 20-year Programme of Action which aims to improve reproductive health and rights, as well as women’s empowerment and gender equality, in the 179 countries that adopted the Consensus) was signed and soon the countries will be meeting again to discuss the results.
To herald the improvement of women’s right during the past years while showing that yes, even as kids we do have a say in our future, Amnesty will be holding a campaign on Friday between 11:00 and 14:00.
It might be some weighty stuff to digest after, perhaps, another somewhat dubious school lunch; but think about it this way, if you procrastinate during the weekend you can at least say that you advocated for women’s rights during your Friday lunch.
After all, who should have to live under those circumstances?