The papers were full of the latest information on International Women’s Day yesterday – March 8th – and I still forgot to mark it.
As well as being commemorated at the United Nations, it is a national holiday in many countries. A day when women all over the world, with a diversity of ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate.
So, with apologies for my tardiness, I will let you know about the cause being taken up by the International Committee of the Red Cross to mark the occasion in 2010.
One of the most serious, but least remarked upon, side-effects of armed conflicts in the modern era is the displacement of populations. And this is a consequence that has most effect on women, who often find themselves bereft of their menfolk and forced to flee with their children in order to reach a safe refuge in a new community away from the hostilities. Because of cultural differences that make it hard for them to move about without the presence of a male relative, these brave women often find it hard to find food and water or money. Not only are they faced with poverty and social exclusion, but many become the targets of violence – both physical and sexual – discrimination and intimidation.
However, many of these resourceful women refuse to become helpless victims and they play a major part in treating sickness and helping to organise the distribution of food. As Nadine Puechguirbal, the ICRC adviser on women and war explains, “…when women are asked for input directly, their views and priorities differ from those of the men who purport to speak for them.”
In using International Women’s Day to draw attention to displaced women, the ICRC is giving a voice to women who have responded actively to their plight, thereby revealing their strength and resilience to overcome appalling suffering and ultimately emerge stronger.
To find out more, read the Interview about the Displacement of Women
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