Tag: United Nations

Support women’s rights, support nonviolence

Posted on by kathiemm

On March 8, 2013, International Women’s Day, celebrate the role of the women’s movement as a force for human rights (including the abolition of slavery) and nonviolence.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2013 is “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.”

It is fitting that on February 28, 2013, after considerable delay, the U.S. House of Representatives gave final approval to a renewal of America’s Violence Against Women Act.

According to the Public Affairs Office at the United Nations, “When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.”

A few key historical events:

  • On February 28, 1909, promoted by a declaration of the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman’s Day (NWD) was observed in the United States.
  • On March 19, 1911, the first International Women’s Day, proclaimed during the 2010 Socialist International meeting, was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.
  • In late February, 1913, as part of a protest against impending war, Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day. On March 8, 1917, they engaged in a protest and strike for “Bread and Peace.”
  • In December 1977, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a U.N. Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace, which has come to be celebrated annually on March 8. In many countries, but not the United States, International Women’s Day is a national holiday.
  • In July, 2010, the U.N. created its UNWomen agency to empower women and promote their human rights.

Among their continuing struggles are women’s efforts on behalf of peace in the Middle East today. See, for example, this video about Israeli and Palestinian women.

Empowering women is a giant step toward embracing and promoting nonviolence.

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology

A new year, a new Season for Nonviolence

Posted on by kathiemm

There are some war profiteers in the world who will celebrate when their nation or group goes to war with whomever they have declared to be an enemy.

By contrast, the vast majority of people everywhere celebrate armistice days, the signing of peace treaties, the end of wars.

The Season for Nonviolence, established by Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, extends from January 30 to April 4 each year, honoring the commemorative anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is an international series of events “dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities.”

Materials provided for the Season for Nonviolence include a program called “64 ways in 64 days” that includes words, quotes, reflections, suggested practices, and simple commitments for each of the 64 days of the nonviolence season.

During the Season for Nonviolence 2013, we at Engaging Peace will continue our efforts to inform and remind our readers about various forms of violence promoted by groups of Americans for self-serving goals. We will also continue to highlight a range of efforts to promote nonviolence, often accomplished by ordinary people who are sick of deadly aggression and inhumane behavior, and are determined to take action against it.

To learn more about the kinds of activities that comprise a Season for Nonviolence and the people who make them happen, watch this video and listen to their engaging song.

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology

To make their voices heard

Posted on by kathiemm
Eleanor Roosevelt at UN
Eleanor Roosevelt at U.N. Image in public domain.

December 10 is International Human Rights Day.

According to the United Nations: “This year, the spotlight is on the rights of all people — women, youth, minorities, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, the poor and marginalized — to make their voices heard in public life and be included in political decision-making.”

The right to express one’s opinion and have it heard is among the rights affirmed on June 18, 1948, by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, under the chairmanship of Eleanor Roosevelt, in the International Declaration of Human Rights.

The Preamble begins:

“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, and

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights resulted before and during the second World War, in barbarous acts which outraged the conscience of mankind and made it apparent that the fundamental freedoms were one of the supreme issues of the conflict, and

Whereas it is essential, if mankind is not to be compelled as a last resort to rebel against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by a regime of law….”

What do you think of these principles? Do you agree that human beings have inherent rights and that violation of those rights can lead to war?

Among the universal and inherent human rights listed in the Declaration are:

  • No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
  • Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
  • Everyone has the right to freedom of assembly and association.

Do you exercise those rights?  Would you fight to defend them? Would you follow the difficult and high road of fighting for them non-violently?

Would you deny those rights to the thousands of people around the world who are fighting for them?

View this brief video from Human Rights Day 2011 and then ask yourself:  What have you done of a peaceful nature to pursue your own rights or the rights of others?

Please share your story.

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology

A good day to learn about Palestine

Posted on by kathiemm

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (UN poster)Today, November 29, 2012, is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (sometimes known simply as Solidarity Day). This day of observance has been celebrated on or around November 29 since a resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 2, 1977.

To understand why we should ALL observe solidarity today and tomorrow and all tomorrows until peace is achieved,  see this video from the Jewish Voice for Peace. It is the best summation of the issues in Palestine that I have seen.

In 1977, the General Assembly took the position that peace in the Middle East could not be accomplished “without the achievement, inter alia, of a just solution of the problem of Palestine on the basis of the attainment of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right of return and the right to national independence and sovereignty in Palestine, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.”

While some people may assume the “two-state” solution for Israel is new or revolutionary, it was in 1947 that the United Nations passed a resolution providing for the establishment in Palestine of a “Jewish State” and an “Arab State.” As most people know, only one state, Israel, has emerged, and the Palestinians have been kept in a condition that former President Jimmy Carter called apartheid. To gain a better sense of their situation, see this video made in Gaza on Solidarity Day in 2010.

Seeking solidarity with Palestinians and recognizing that they have rights is not anti-Israel or anti-Jewish. What is often lost in the media stories and political rhetoric is the strength of support for the Palestinian people offered by many Jewish Israelis and others around the world. We have featured some of their stories in earlier posts—for example,

We have also shared the story of Rachel Corrie, an idealistic American college student who went to Palestine and was killed while participating in a non-violent protest of the bulldozing of Palestinian homes.

Today is a good day for everyone to learn more about Palestine. Again, I urge you to view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y58njT2oXfE&feature=youtu.be. It has facts and suggestions for resolution of the problems. YOU can help.

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology