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By Madhumita Purkayastha Addressing a public meeting at the World Social Forum 2004, on the theme 'Wars Against Women, Women Against War', Irene Khan, secretary-general of Amnesty International (AI) said that domestic violence kills more women in the age-group 14-44 than do road accidents. She said that there's the common misconception that women in developed countries are not subject to sexual and physical violence as are women in developing countries. This is because even in the so-called ' First World ' countries many cases go unreported. In Norway , conviction of rape is only 11%, Khan said. Irene Khan explained how women contribute 60% of total working hours and earn only 10% of total income. They own only 1% of total resources. Amnesty International plans to launch a worldwide campaign against violence towards women, beginning March 2004. "We are not poor, we are (being) robbed," says Nawal el Saddawi, an activist from Egypt , who vehemently criticised the growing imperialism and the concept of Third World and First World countries. First World countries are the ones plundering the resources of other countries. Ridiculing the concept of post-colonialism, Saddawi argued that colonialism had never ended. "At present we are witnessing neo-colonialism," she said. She also criticised the concept of post-modern feminism. Saddawi claimed that the invasion of poor countries in the name of human rights protection and women's liberation was the worst kind of violation of human rights. The liberation of women was one of the 'explanations' given for the US 's military invasion of Afghanistan . She urged women to demystify words such as 'cultural relativism', 'development' and 'peace' in order to expose the ulterior motives behind them. To respect, protect and promote women's rights importance should be given to all aspects of human rights, the right to livelihood and the right to an adequate standard of living. According to Saddawi, the 'imperialists' were earning profits from three major sources: trade and arms, medicines and cosmetics. She accused MNCs (multinational companies) of abetting the spread of AIDS in South Africa . She appealed to women to resist the nexus of states and MNCs across the world. Arundhati Roy, renowned writer and activist, said that women were trapped between traditionalism and imperialism. She believed that women were the worst sufferers of development-related displacement, as compensation is more often in the name of men, not women. Saher Saba, a women's rights activist from Afghanistan , narrated the plight of women in her country under military invasions that began way back in the '70s with the arrival of Soviet troops. Citing the plight of women during the Taliban regime, she accused the US of promoting the 'talibanisation' of her country as part of its cold war politics. Saba urged the international community to extend support to the women of Afghanistan . Focusing on the new constitution that is being written in her country, under the aegis of the US , she alleged that the constitution-makers were neither consulting the people and women's groups in particular, nor were they addressing human rights. (InfoChange News & Features, January 2004)
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