What’s involved?
Taking action on something like honour killings may seem daunting, or something you don’t feel you can really have an impact on, but there is always something you can do to contribute. From raising awareness amongst your friends to volunteering with a Human Rights organisation, it all helps. Remember that most action starts out small–with a conversation or a letter. Each issue needs everyday people, like you, to be the one to step out.
*Volunteer*
In Australia, we don’t have any organisations dedicated to combating the issue of honour killings, but we do have many that target violence against women and address various human rights issues–honour killings included. By volunteering with one of these you will be helping to strengthen the organisation, enabling them to more effectively fight against the honour killing phenomenon. Check out the organisations below.
*Donate*
As with volunteering, by donating to organisations addressing human rights injustices and violence against women, you are helping to strengthen the organisation, enabling them to be more effective in the fight to stop this injustice. Check the orgs out below.
*Raise awareness*
A crucial part of taking action on this particular issue is raising awareness. The more people know about and care about an issue, the more change will happen. With a raised consciousness comes more people power, funding and a belief that something can be done. Did you know that more women die in Australia each year from heart disease than breast cancer? Yet you are more likely to see people sporting breast cancer bands or ribbons. Why? Because there is an increased consciousness around breast cancer and more campaigns targeted at making the public care about the issue.
So how can you raise awareness? First, get informed. Then start small. Talk to your family and friends. Then think bigger. Arrange a talk at your school, uni, workplace or in your local community. Paint a mural, shoot a short film, write a song or write in to your newspaper or a magazine. You can find tools to do all these things in the toolkit.
*Change the rules*
You may think you can’t do much to change the system–honour killings are the result of many different factors that may seem out of your control, but there are things you can do. Your government is there to represent you, and has the ability to put pressure on governments of countries where honour killings are a reality. You can take action by putting pressure on the government to do this. You can also lobby the government to accept more refugees from countries where honour killings are a reality, and make it easier for them to get here by trying to combat language barriers. You could put pressure on international bodies, such as the UN, to become more heavily involved in the area of honour killings.
How can you do this? You could start a petition or sign a petition, for example, at http://www.thepetitionsite.com. You may want to write a letter, phone or email, or even organise a protest. You can find tools for these in the toolkit.
You can also support individuals who are taking action. Norma Khouri, an activist for women’s rights, focuses on honour killings by asking for letters of protest against honour killing. You can send a letter of protest to her to help combat the issue at honourcrimes@lycos.com
*Organisations and groups*
*_The Australian Virtual Centre for Leadership for Women_
Support them by becoming a member and you will receive extra resources and benefits. Check them out at http://www.leadershipforwomen.com.au
*_Human Rights Watch_
You can get involved by making a donation or by joining a campaign such as ‘Stop Violence Against Women in Pakistan’. Check them out at http://www.hrw.org.
*_Amnesty International: Stop Violence Against Women_
You can help by making a donation, becoming a member, signing and sending a pre-written letter or join their campaign to Stop Violence Against Women. Check them out at: http://www.amnesty.org or http://www.amnesty.org.au
*_WomenWarPeace_
You can contribute by writing an article for their website.
Check them out at http://www.womenwarpeace.org.
*_Unifem_
This is the women’s fund of the United Nations. You can support them by donating, fundraising, or by volunteering for a national committee which helps to raise awareness. Check it out at http://www.unifem.org.
*_The National Jordanian Campaign to Eliminate the So-Called Crimes of Honour_
This group is focused on law change in Jordan. You may not be able to sign their petition (unless you are a Jordanian citizen) but you may be able to help with the process of getting signatures. See http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/jordan/jordan-cmpgn.htm or email them at ranahuss@nets.com.jo or honorcrimes99@yahoo.com.
*_V-Day_
A global movement to stop violence against women and girls. You can contribute by joining a campaign, organising or attending a V-Day event, donating or by simply buying something from the online V-Day shop. Check it out at www.vday.org.
*_OxFam_
You can get involved by donating, getting involved in a campaign or volunteering. Check them out at www.oxfam.org or www.oxfam.org.au.
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