Nobel Women's Initiative

In the face of increasing threats and intimidation, Shirin Ebadi remains courageously determined to stay in Iran to defend fellow human rights advocates. She needs your support.

TAKE ACTION:

Join the international community in demanding the Iranian government put an end to the intimidation against Shirin Ebadi and other human rights defenders.

Click here to find the Iranian representative/embassy in your country. Write and urge them to secure the safety and protection of Ebadi and other human rights activists, so they may continue their critical work in Iran free from fear.

Read more »

The Iranian regime has stepped up its campaign against Shirin Ebadi.

On August 8, 2008, an article was published on the website of the official Iranian Republic News Agency (IRNA) and in the newspaper Jomhouri Eslami leveling a series of attacks against Dr. Ebadi and her family, including false accusations that her daughter converted to the Bahai faith, and appeared to be related to Dr. Ebadi’s decision to defend in court seven members of the Bahai minority in Iran.

On August 11 the Nobel Women's Initiative issued a statement condemning such accusations against her.

In September, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs canceled a series of university lectures by Ebadi. The Iranian Foreign Ministry pressured their Malaysian counterparts, warning "Her public speaking engagements in Malaysia would cause a disruption of the good relations between the governments of Malaysia and Iran."

On October 1, while Ebadi was in Germany receiving the "tolerance prize" (toleranzpreis), the IRNA warned that Ebadi was exploiting the "patience and tolerance" of government authorities.

For months Ebadi has been the target of campaigns in government media, leading her to state that if something were to happen to her, IRNA and Kayhan (a government-sponsored daily newspaper) should be held responsible.

Recently Ebadi spearheaded a group of leading civil society activists, intellectuals, lawyers, artists, and others to launch the National Peace Council to oppose military conflict over the nuclear crisis or threats of military action against Iran and in demanding a negotiated resolution to the crisis.

She has also supported other women's rights activists of the Campaign for Equality, or One Million Signatures Campaign, to end discriminatory laws against women. Ebadi has defended many peaceful campaigners who are increasingly sentenced or charged, insisting that campaigning for women's rights is not a threat to national security.

Join Human Rights First's demand to end the Iranian regime's attempts to intimidate and silence Ebadi and other human rights defenders.

 

TAKE ACTION: Click here to tell the Iranian authorities to halt their threats against Ebadi and her family, so that she and other human rights activists in Iran may continue their nonviolent, legitimate activities free from fear.

***

Read the latest Nobel Women's Initiative news on the Middle East and Women's Rights.

Learn more about the Middle East and Women's Rights in our website's Issues section.

Read more »

Sign a petition :

Stand With Our Sisters in Iran: Virtual March Feminist Majority Foundation

Free Women's Rights Defenders in Iran Meydaan: Women's Field

Write a letter :

You can write directly to the Iranian authorities, including Mr. Seyed Mahmoud Shahroudi, the Head of Judiciary, Mr. Golam-Ali Haddad-Adel, the leader of the Iranian Parliament, and Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In your letter, please ask the Iranian authorities to uphold the law and refer to the article 27 of the Iranian constitution, "Public gatherings and marches may be freely held, provided arms are not carried and that they are not detrimental to the fundamental principles of Islam." Ask for an immediate and unconditional release of all the women rights defenders.

Please send letters to:

Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: irjpr@iranjudiciary.org (mark 'Please forward to HE Ayatollah Shahroudi')

(Salutation: Your Excellency)


President:
His Excellency Dr. Mahmoud AhmadiNejad
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 649 5880
E-mail: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir

(Salutation: Dear Sir)


Leader of Iranian Parliment
Golam-Ali Haddad-Adel, the leader of the Iranian Parliament Majles-e Shura-ye Eslami
Imam Khomeini Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 646 1746 (occasionally difficult to reach, please be patient)

(Salutation: Dear Sir)

• Please note that it is not always easy to send fax and email to Iran, therefore we urge you to also courier your letters to the Iranian embassy in your country (see the listing of an Iranian embassy in your country here).

***

Read the Latest News on Women's Rights.

Read about issues directly affecting the rights of women at our Women's Rights Issue page.

Take action to support Women's Rights.

 

Read more »

Since the 27 December elections, post-election violence has displaced thousands and killed hundreds in Kenya. Women in particular have been targeted: raped, tortured and forced into 'house arrest' (WEDO). In the face of growing political unrest and escalating violence, sister Laureate Wangari Mathai has been working tirelessly for a lasting solution to the crisis. We at the Nobel Women's Initiative support her efforts and urge an end to the violent bloodshed in Kenya, with particular attention to the violence women are facing.

We encourage you to support efforts to end post-election violence against women in Kenya and support peace and reconciliation for all Kenyans. We have listed some of the many organizations working for peace below.

---

Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO)

Post-election violence in Kenya: WEDO calls for urgent action

WEDO is urging human rights organizations and individuals, women leaders and activists, to join their Call to Action for peace and reconciliation in Kenya.

To add your endorsement to WEDO's Call to Action, send an email to lucy@wedo.org.

---

Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights

Help set up rape crisis centers

Urgent Action Fund-Africa (UAF-Africa) has supported The Nairobi Women's Hospital to set up 4 crisis response centres (Women's Gender Recovery Units) in Mathare, Huruma, Jamhuri Park and Kibera to provide shelter, security, and more importantly medical and psychological care to rape victims who are unable to access the services because the informal settlements have been sealed off by security personnel and violent protestors.

Other contributors to this initiative include St Johns Ambulance and Red Cross who have provided an ambulance and tents respectively. UAF-Africa is appealing for more funds. This money will contribute to protecting the lives of the most marginalized; women and girls living in informal settlements. Those who are most vulnerable and subject to gender based sexual violence in this situation of crisis.

If you want to assist, kindly contact

Vicky Karimi or Betty Murungi at
Urgent Action Fund-Africa
Life Ministry Centre
Jabavu Road, Kilimani
PO BOX 53841-00200
Nairobi Kenya
Tel:               +254 20 2731095       
Fax: +254 20 2731094
info@urgentactionfund-africa.or.ke OR vicky@urgentactionfund-africa.or.ke

or

Lucy Kiamaa at
Nairobi Women's Hospital
Gender Violence Recovery Centre
Argwings Kodhek Road , Hurlingham
P.O. Box 10552 - 00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 2726821/4/6/7,               +254 20 2736845       
Fax: +254 20 2716651
Email: gvrc@nwch.co.ke OR lkiama@nwch.co.ke

---

World YWCA

Action Alert: 250,000 homeless in Kenya after post-election violence

Call to Action

The World YWCA is calling on member associations, civil society, partners and donors to take the following action to alleviate the suffering in Kenya:

 

1. Donate and support ongoing efforts
2. Advocate for women's inclusion in peace building
3. Say No' to impunity for rape and abuse of women
4. Dedicate a prayer session to Kenya

---

More Ways You Can Take Action:

 

• Learn more about The Green Belt Movement's Peace Tent Initiative
• Support the The Green Belt Movement
• Send appeals to Kenyan leaders to investigate threats and protect human rights defenders
• Global Day of Action: 27 February 2008

Read more »

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reports the Iranian women's rights movement is facing unprecedented obstacles and threats as it carries out its work. A particular target of Iranian authorities has been activists involved in the One Million Signatures Campaign, which aims to revise discriminatory laws against women.

The Iranian government has routinely detained and prosecuted One Million Signatures campaigners. As of March 2008, 43 members of the Campaign had been detained and prosecuted.

Women's rights defenders have been arrested and criminally charged with endangering national security, inciting of public opinion, propaganda against the state, participation in an illegal gathering, disturbing public order and publication of false information."  Campaigners are routinely held in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison.

Read more »

 

Since 1996, sexual violence against women and children in the eastern part of the DRC has been used to torture and humiliate women and girls and destroy families. Stop Raping Our Greatest Resource, Power to the Women and Girls of the Democratic Republic of Congo, initiated by the women of Eastern DRC, V-Day and UNICEF, calls for an end to impunity for sexual violence, for measures to ensure that state armed forces and police do not perpetrate sexual violence against women and girls and for the full implementation of national laws that protect and empower women.

Get involved. Tell the President of DRC, Joseph Kabila Kabange, to do more to stop the violence against women and girls and bring perpetrators to justice. Educate Yourself on the situation in the eastern part of the DRC.

 

---

News on the crisis:

• East Congo violence fuels rape spree, Reuters, 3 January 2008

• Rape epidemic raises trauma of Congo war, The New York Times, 7 October 2007
  

 ***

Read the latest News on Women's Rights.

Read about issues directly affecting the rights of women at our Women's Rights Issue page.

Take action to support Women's Rights.

Read more »

Tell the Iranian authorities that campaigning for women's rights is not a threat to national security. Tell them to release immediately and unconditionally all those detained in connection with recent peaceful demonstrations for equality, to drop charges and to stop harassing women's rights activists.

TAKE ACTION
Join the Campaign to Defend Women's Rights Defenders- Meydaan: Women's Field

Send a letter to the government of Iran

You can write directly to the Iranian authorities, including Mr. Seyed Mahmoud Shahroudi, the Head of Judiciary, Mr. Golam-Ali Haddad-Adel, the leader of the Iranian Parliament, and Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Please send letters to:

Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi
Head of the Judiciary
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr
Tehran, Iran
Email: Irjpr@iranjudiciary.com
Fax: +98 21 879-6671
Salutation: Your Excellency

Golam-Ali Haddad-Adel
Leader of the Iranian Parliament Majles-e Shura-ye Eslami
Imam Khomeini Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 646 1746 (occasionally difficult to reach, please be patient)
Salutation: Dear Sir

His Excellency Dr. Mahmoud AhmadiNejad
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 649 5880
E-mail: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
Salutation: Dear Sir

Dr. M. Javad Zarif
Ambassador to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
622 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10017
United States
Email: jzarif@un.int
Fax: +1-212-867-7086
Salutation: Your Excellency

• Please note that it is not always easy to send fax and email to Iran, therefore we urge you to also courier your letters to the Iranian embassy in your country (see the listing of an Iranian embassy in your country here).

A letter in your own words is best, but feel free to adapt the following sample letter:

Dear

I am writing to encourage the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect its obligation to its citizens, including those exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression. Women's rights defenders should be allowed the right to assemble peacefully. The equal rights they seek today are enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Your government also has an obligation to protect human rights defenders under the 1998 U.N. Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. It declares that individuals and associations have the right to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms. As a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, your government claims to respect human rights.

Article 27 of the Iranian constitution also guarantees this right to peaceful assembly: "Public gatherings and marches may be freely held, provided arms are not carried and that they are not detrimental to the fundamental principles of Islam."

I urge you to do drop all charges against these women's rights defenders and allow them to carry out their activities, free from intimidation and prosecution, according to Iranian and international law.

I stand with those in Iran who seek reform of laws that discriminate against women. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

For further letter writing tips, please visit WLUML's call to action.

***

Read the Latest News on Women's Rights.

Read about issues directly affecting the rights of women at our Women's Rights Issue page.

Take action to support Women's Rights.

 

 

Read more »

The process to reform the United Nations (UN) is well underway. Given the importance of this world body in advancing women's human rights, peace, human security and sustainable development, it is important for us to tell the UN that reforms proposed must protect and promote women's rights. Learn more about women's rights and the UN Reform process and take action now.

 

Visit the website of our partner AWID - the Association for Women's Rights in Development - for comprehensive news, resources, action and links for additional information. Search for "UN Reform Process."

***

Read the Latest News on Women's Rights.

Read about issues directly affecting the rights of women at our Women's Rights Issue page.

Take action to support Women's Rights.

 

Read more »