WOMEN'S RIGHTS

                                             

 

Women’s suffrage is a fact since the late 19th century.  Today, women’s suffrage is a right under the “Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against all Women” in 1979.  It is very important to be able to vote for the candidate and  party one prefers.

 

However, despite this development, there are still countries around the world where it is very difficult for women to exercise the right to vote.  In some Muslim states, women have been cut off from all political rights.

 

Every woman and girl has sexual and reproduction rights. This means that they are entitled to have safe access to contraceptives and safe abortions, and to choose if, when, and who to marry. 

 

Women should be able to live without fear of gender-based violence including rape and other sexual violence like female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriages, pregnancies, abortions, or sterilizations.

 

Unfortunately, all women in the world cannot enjoy these rights.  For example, many women who live in uncivilized parts of the world are still unable to access safe and legal abortions and are forced to make the wrong choices putting their lives at risk or even go to jail.

In catholic countries, it was impossible to have abortions as they are considered homicides.  I am very happy that some opinions differ from those of the catholic church.   The present Pope, however, recognizes that abortion is a crime except if it brings the life of the pregnant woman at risk.  I wish to thank Pope Francis for his magnanimity.  I am very happy to live in Greece where our Church and the Metropolitan Bishop of Thebes, Hieronymus do not interfere with such matters.

 

Freedom of movement is the right to move freely as one pleases, not just in the country we live in, but also to visit others.  But many women are not allowed to do this.  They do not have their own passports and they must have the permission of a male guardian to travel.

 

When talking about women’s rights it is helpful to have an understanding about feminism, which is the right to enjoy the same rights as men.  

 

It is really dreadful to remember that in certain countries women and girls are treated in such a cruel and uncivilized manner. Let us hope that with the appropriate education and humane feelings this will eventually change.     

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