Freedom and Gender Equality in Iran:
(www.irangenderequality.com)Over a month ago a group of Iranian women’s activists called for all defenders of women’s rights, women’s organizations and networks to take action in support of the women’s and civil rights movements in Iran, and to prepare measures of support and protest under the banner of “freedom and gender equality in Iran”. They requested, in case of repression in Iran, that these organizations act as the voices across the world of their sisters in Iran, and in that way demonstrate solidarity with them. Thus far many women’s and human rights organizations have responded to this appeal and some of them are planning events for March. Now the women of the world are calling to everyone to show solidarity with the people of Iran. Please join us. The names of individuals and organizations supporting the appeal and holding events will be announced as confirmed.
Show Your Support by Signing Our Statement:
Call for Solidarity - Freedom and Gender Equality in Iran
From Change for Equality Website:
How can international organizations or individuals support your effort?
Many international organizations, especially human rights organizations, have expressed their support for our work, which we appreciate. The most important and helpful type of support comes from independent human rights and women’s rights organizations. It is important for the safety of activists that support is not posed in terms that can be closely linked with "regime change" efforts or propaganda, because not only is this not a goal of the Campaign, but it will endanger activists working on the ground and the Campaign too will lose credibility among its true audience which is the Iranian public. It is not to the benefit of individual activists or the Campaign to receive support from government groups or quasi- government groups which are closely linked with or are traditionally viewed as hostile to the Iranian government, because we will suffer a backlash at home. We cannot control the type of support we receive from international groups, but we urge international groups to take into consideration the best interest of the Campaign and its activists and act ethically and responsibly in this respect.
Support us through the following means:
• Support us by publicizing our efforts;
• Post our articles on your website: we have an English website that posts translations of articles by activists or original articles on the Campaign. Our English site is updated regularly. You can link our site or post articles by our members, which appear on our English website (credit should be given to the author, translator and the site). Take a look at: www.we-change.org/english;
• Express your solidarity for the campaign in polite and non-political terms (we are not an opposition group and should not be touted as such);
• Support us when activists get arrested by writing polite letters to Iranian officials requesting their immediate release, their fair treatment in prison and in court, or by posting news on your website about our imprisoned colleagues; and
• Share with us experiences of women’s movements in your countries addressing similar issues or utilizing similar strategies, so that we can learn from the experiences of women around the globe.
From Feminist School Website:
Campaign in defence of Equal Right & against the discriminatory laws
On 12nd of June 2006 different women organisation gathered in Haft e Tir square and as a result 70 women and men were arrested. Numbers of women’s right activists were summoned to court and were given long sentences and lashes.
In continuation of the first gathering 54 women’s right activists gathered on August 27 2006 to implement the resolution from the June 12nd and in conclusion the establishment of Campaign for One Million Signatures was formulated. The campaign was quickly recognised by Iranian women and men and many numbers of activists who believe in equal rights in Iran and outside joined and support the campaign.
The activists of this campaign began their peaceful canvassing by distributing our literature against the discriminatory laws and collecting signature in support of changes to those laws. Unfortunately many of the campaign activists are arrested from public places such as parks or writing for women’s web sites or even arrests for holding meetings or allowing meetings to take place in their own private homes and receive summons by courts.
Activists of this campaign and as a whole the women’s movement activists have chosen the most peaceful way possible to formulate their demands but they are constantly harassed and arrested and receive court rulings such as "threat against national security", or their web sites are filtered. All this, is not in conjunction with any existing law in Iran where it states that collection of signatures is against the law and the punishment is arrests and imprisonment.
Hence we call up on all Human Right organisations to issue letters of support and call for the release of arrested activists or condemn the action of suppressing Freedom of Expression by banning or filtering our web sites.
You can support our Campaign in Iran by:
• Sign petition for support of Campaign for One Million Signatures.
• Sign the petition (for release of Iranian women’s rights activists)
