Also, in Afghanistan education for girls is entirely forbidden, as is work outside the home, except for female doctors who may practice only at all-female hospitals. Women are not permitted in public except in the company of a male family member. Adulterers are stoned, and prostitutes publicly executed under the Taliban regime. Such laws are hideous violations of basic human rights. Yet few in the global community have done anything about it in the years since the Taliban took power back in 1996 and allowed Osama bin Laden rule. No foreign government thought these women were worth saving before the events of September 11th, despite the efforts of women's groups to publicize the chaotic state of Afghan females. The leading women's rights group, the Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), has been active since 1977 but its members operate underground and at extreme personal risk. Women can be jailed or executed for involvement with RAWA. Yet it was a RAWA activist who in secret filmed the public execution of a woman in a Kabul stadium two years ago. Thus, these are very ill-fated acts that are permitted; therefore, they should be stopped.
Firstly, there are many helpful techniques that the Canadian government is trying to do to help the women of the third world out. Canada must lead the UN Security Council in restoring the oppression of women and girls under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and other countries where women and girls suffer from serious and universal violations of women's human rights, such as denial of personal independence, freedom of movement, right of assembly, access to employment opportunities and basic services such as education and health care. In recognition of this, Canada is assuming the chair of the United Nations Security Council in April of 2000, and Canada is getting more recognition on their past leadership on issues of violence against women and women's human rights; and also in recognition of the severely unequal negative impact on women and girls in areas of armed conflict and under regimes that do not respect women's human rights. Canada has only recently been helping these third world women out. Canada also supports women’s rights in Southeast Asia. Susan Whelan, Minister for International Cooperation stated that, "Discrimination against women, especially violence against women, remains a global challenge. Canada's support to governments in Southeast Asia as they address women's rights and equality will help to empower women in the region" (http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cida_ind.nsf/). Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), will contribute $10.4 million to help governments in seven countries in Southeast Asia to promote and protect women's rights. Therefore, although Canada has started to help out, for a lot of women in the third world, it is already too late.
It appears that the Canadian government will only help these women (in the third world) if it affects them directly. If, somehow, the ill treatment of these third world women is affecting the Canadian economy, then Canada will help them out. Almost all countries follow similar policies, especially the United States; they claimed that they set the Afghan women free of the Taliban regime, but they only did it for their own personal reasons, then took the credit for freeing those women. Canada believes that because the suffering of these women is not hurting them, they do not need to do anything about it. The only way any country takes action is always through war and force. Although there are charities like Amnesty International, who fights for human rights, there are not enough, and the Canadian government as a whole is not helping as much as they really could. Most governments of these third world countries are corrupt and only want money and power; they do not care what is happening to their people. The Canadian government is also acting very selfish and even a little corrupt. Canada is a first world country; essentially it is supposed to be well aware and helpful towards the countries in need. Also, as part of the UN, Canada should be more involved in women’s rights issues in the third world. Even though Canada has a lot of its own issues to worry about, the least they could do is give more funding to the already existing charity groups that help out these women. Therefore, the Canadian government should be less selfish, and help these women out even if it does not directly affect them in any way. It is not always about money; morality is one of the biggest issues to live with, and this causes more issues within the country.
Last of all, when these immigrants arrive in Canada the cruel treatment still goes on in some of the households, and the Canadian government does not do anything to help. These women come to Canada, sometimes with their families, to get away from the ill treatment they are receiving in their homeland. When they come to Canada they are more than likely to still be living in a patriarchal family. Many of the women still have to be fully covered, wearing what is called the “barqa,” covering themselves from head to toe. They wear the “barqa’s” even in the summer, when the heat is too hot to handle. They do not have a choice; it is either wearing it or becoming a victim of her husband’s abuse. In almost all cases it is not the woman’s choice to wear the “barqa” or not, the rules have to be followed or there will be consequences. The funding, by the Canadian government, for the shelters are also decreasing. The immigrant women are not being educated enough about their rights and freedoms when they come to this country. So, half of the time, they do not and will not know if they are being discriminated against, they just let it happen to themselves.. A lot of funding only goes toward Caucasians, and the immigrants are not properly educated about their rights. Therefore, because these women who come to Canada are not properly educated, they are still losing their freedom and are being discriminated against without knowing their full rights. They do not know their rights and freedoms, and it is the Canadian government’s fault. They should have more programs to support these women, for example more women’s shelters for abused women, but before that more awareness should be created through advertisements on TV, radio, mainly multicultural stations. Also, more funding should be given to the programs already created because that is the government’s job.
In closing, women in the third world have been suppressed for many years; their rights have been taken away, more and more each day. These women have been deprived of everything on this earth, anything and everything that is worth living for, and many of them are dying each day. Canada does not yet play a big role in their freedom, but is slowly moving towards setting them free. Because of tough and immoral regimes, most of these women are not even allowed out of their own homes, to get food, become educated; they cannot become anything. A lot of countries are too proud to help the third world, and they will use war as an excuse for anything. Canada has joined the United Nations in helping out a lot of these women in the third world, but the agreement was signed only on April of 2000. There have been many women who have lost their lives before this date. Thousands of women die everyday; Canada, and many other countries only help out these third world women if their problems affect Canada directly. The immigrants who come over to Canada to get away from those harsh conditions in their countries expect to live better lives, but Canada does not educate these families. More than half of these women still live in patriarchal families and are not allowed to go out without the “barqa” on (being fully covered) or without male accompaniment (usually husband or father). So, although Canada has started to help these women out, it is not enough at this moment. They need to work harder and faster if they do not want more harsh treatment for these third world women. Canada should create more charities to raise money and awareness for the issues these women are facing. The main idea should be creating more awareness so the Canadian society could start helping these women on there own.
Works Cited
Poulin, Valérie. “Canada supports women’s rights in Southeast Asia.” 6 Mar 2003
<>.
Amnesty International. “Amnesty International's Work on Women's Human Rights”
<>.
Dickinson, Gregory, Michael Liepner, Steven Talos, and Donald Buckingham.
“Protecting the Rights of Women and Children.” Understanding the Law. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited 1996: 547-556.
Godlas, Alan. “Women in Islam: Muslim Women.” 22 July 2001
<>.
Third World Network. “Women’s Rights and Gender Issues.” 2001
<http://www.twnside.org.sg/women.htm>
OAC Family Studies ISU
Canada’s view on:
“Women in the Third World”
Good Copy
By: Suraj Singh
For: Ms. Douglas
Due: Mon. May 5th 2003
