Category Archives: Human Rights

• The Vote

  Posted on November 6, 2012 by Maria Kwami Gwira in Human Rights, Politics.

  For all the families like ours, whose military son or daughter will be physically occupying a place at the dinner table this Thanksgiving instead of continuing to occupy someone else’s country, on and on for no reason;

  For all the abused women who will now get domestic violence screening as part of routine healthcare visits; for my mom and my cousin, whose bouts with breast cancer will no longer prevent them from getting affordable routine mammograms; for my long-time republican friend and colleague who, unlike Mrs Romney, cannot afford to pay for horse-riding therapy for his daughter who has MS; for my good friends whose pre-existing sickle-cell condition will no longer prevent them from getting health insurance;

  For my young daughter and her cheer squad of college-bound buddies who will not get kicked off their parents’ health insurance as punishment for turning 18 and not being in college; for their friends who can now go to college with them next year because they now qualify for in-state tuition;

  For my 2 daughters, 2 sisters, 2 god-daughters, 1 daughter-in-law, 2 sisters-in-law, my mom, my aunts and nieces, multiple female cousins, all my BFFs, home-girls; for all my International, Multicultural, Asian, Black, Caucasian, Latina, Asian, Other, Democrat, Republican buddies and colleagues;

  For my young former colleague whose then-70-year-old german-only-speaking immigrant Oma (granny) was gang-raped in a casino where she worked as a cleaning lady several years ago and, not having any health insurance, was counselled and screened for STDs and HIV at a Planned Parenthood;

  For my favourite soprano in the church-choir, and even for the bitchy nag in the too-short skirt in front of me in the grocery checkout line last night;

  Most of all, for myself – a sober, mentally competent, morally capable, looong-time, not-at-all-confused, Christian woman, who believes that I myself should be the person entrusted to make the best decisions regarding my own body:

  Today, I cast my vote for Barrack Obama. And I thank God that he won. More to the point though is that in the morning, I will stand in front of the mirror and look myself squarely in the eye, knowing that I clearly defined for myself the issues at stake, and had the guts to fight for those rights with my vote.

  Post Tagged with election, Obama, usa, vote
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• 

  Survival Tools for Forgotten Women: Rise up and WALK!

  Posted on September 30, 2012 by Maria Kwami Gwira in All, Balance, Health, Human Rights, One-on-One, Relationship, Series, Survival Tools.

  Do you not know the measure of your own worth? That you were created for something better? That this is NOT the purpose of your life?

  Post Tagged with domestic violence, spousal abuse
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  Survival Tools for Forgotten Women: Flashlight to Search Your Soul

  Posted on January 3, 2011 by Maria Kwami Gwira in All, Balance, Health, Human Rights, One-on-One, Series, Survival Tools.

  But don’t get comfortable, it’s not over yet, this is only the beginning of the solution process. While your fire is still hot, grab the scalpel and plunge it into the flames!

  Post Tagged with Inspiration, survival tools
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  Survival Tools for Forgotten Women: Mirror-Mirror

  Posted on September 29, 2010 by Maria Kwami Gwira in All, Balance, Human Rights, One-on-One, Series, Survival Tools.

  Perhaps where she was raised, people don’t stress over their next birthday, they’re thankful to be alive right now.

  Post Tagged with balance, blog, dede gayo, milestone, survival tools
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  Ungagged: Memories Of Another Time

  Posted on July 11, 2010 by Patience Carboo-Sumney in All, Dede Gayo, Human Rights, Politics.

  Every child in Ghana knew Dr. Nkrumah was the President and Dr. Danquah the opposition leader. Supporters of both sides shouted their political slogans and hurled insults at each other.

  Post Tagged with african woman, ghana, ghanaian journalist, journalist, writer
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  Violet Matlou, Freedom Fighter

  Posted on May 30, 2010 by bmatlou in All, Human Rights, Politics, Profile, Series.

  She was arrested and transported in a ‘Kwela-Kwela’ overloaded with other women. They were incarcerated overnight in dirty cells…

  Post Tagged with african national congress, anc, Boshigo Matlou, freedom fighter, liberation movements, maria gwira, maria kwami, matlou, south african woman, umkhonto we sizwe, violet matlou
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  Violet Matlou, Freedom Fighter (Part 2)

  Posted on May 30, 2010 by sndlovu in All, Human Rights, Politics, Profile, Series.

  Mrs. Matlou made up her mind that enough was enough. This time she was going to stay put.

  Post Tagged with african national congress, african women, anc, freedom fighter, gender in development, Inspiration, Maria Kwami Gwira, ndlovu, resilience, umkhonto we sizwe, violet matlou
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  Violet Matlou, Freedom Fighter (Part 3)

  Posted on May 30, 2010 by mherbstein in All, Human Rights, Politics, Profile, Series.

  “I’ve been asked to give you this message. Your wife and six children are at the airport, waiting for you to collect them.

  Post Tagged with african national congress, african women, anc, freedom fighter, global women, manu herbstein, resilience, umkhonto we sizwe, violet matlou
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  African Women Must Form Alliances – Verveer

  Posted on November 17, 2009 by Maria Kwami Gwira in All, Human Rights, News, Politics.

  “You’ve got this great untapped potential that’s not being released in ways that could make such a positive difference.” – U.S. Ambassador-at-Large Melanne Verveer, November 17, IFC.

  Post Tagged with africa, african women, africans, development, gender in development, global women, network, verveer, women's network, women's rights
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  Woman Afrique Launches New Site

  Posted on November 13, 2009 by Xoladem Ayittey in All, Human Rights, News.

  “It isn’t so much that there aren’t organizations out there sincerely trying to help us move ahead as a group, but isn’t it about time we did for ourselves what other people are trying to do for us? They couldn’t possibly love us more than we love ourselves… or could they? Should they?”

  Post Tagged with africa, african women, information, launch, News, resources, womanafrique, women
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