Let us work together for justice, equality and the right of life
Despite the relative improvement in the security situation is still the Iraqi people to live in an atmosphere of chaos that unprecedented or other peoples live in its airspace.
Perhaps the most important manifestation of this lawlessness and chaos exacerbated terrorism and lawlessness and the spread of organized crime, which claimed the lives of more than fifty women in Basra alone in the second half of this year, at the hands of the forces of darkness and gangs and criminal motives and pretexts different social, religious and political.
The Iraqi women who are subjected to various forms of discrimination, oppression and exploitation, and to exercise their right of violence on a daily basis and through innovative, today face mass killings because of widespread terrorism against them, and implement the most heinous murders of their right everywhere in broad daylight with impunity ..
The murders of women in the city of Basra but a terrible proof of barbarism and the perpetrators behind them.
Despite the condemnation of these crimes faced by the government and the authorities concerned did not take necessary action about these crimes to put an end to them and to punish the assailants and stand behind it.
We in the Commonwealth of Iraqi women denounce and strongly condemn the killing of women in Basra and other Iraqi cities, and denounce all forms of violation of human rights in Iraq, and we call on international organizations and the Iraqi Government and the relevant authorities to:
1.- send an international commission of the High Commission for Human Rights of the United Nations, and with the participation of international organizations advocate for human rights, truth and help the Iraqi authorities to identify the perpetrators and to work towards the immediate cessation of crimes against Iraqi women.
2. - disclosure of the perpetrators of crimes against women and stand behind them and bring them to justice.
3. - disclosure of the results of investigations and declaration of public opinion.
4. - working for the protection of women's rights and maintenance of personal freedoms guaranteed constitutionally and in accordance with international charters.
5. - to take stringent measures to protect women and the lives of citizens.
6.- serious work to improve the conditions of women and enable them to participate actively in political life and the rebuilding of Iraq.
Iraqi Women's Association / Commission coordination abroad
To sign the campaign click on the link below
Stop Violence Against Iraqi Women .. Let Us Work Together for Justice, Equality Let Us Work Together for Justice, Equality
and the Right to Life And the Right to Life
Global Campaign against and prevention of crimes of honour
Raise the voice of protest against the exacerbation of violence and killings against women in Basra
Association of Iraqi women
sivany1@hotmail.com Sivany1@hotmail.com
2008 / 1 / 3 2008 / 1 / 3
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Peace and Solidarity with the People of Kenya
Pax Christi International
Pax Christi International and its partner organisations in the Horn of Africa are deeply concerned about the violence that has shaken Kenya following the country’s 27 December elections. We lament the widespread loss of life, extensive destruction of property and massive displacement of people in a country that has been for many Africans a model of security and democracy on the continent.
We call upon all Kenyans to stop immediately the violence that is destroying their country. We also urge Kenya’s political leadership, particularly President Mwai Kibaki and the Honourable Raila Odinga, to seek a speedy and peaceful resolution to the crisis and to call upon their constituencies to end their fighting.
We commend international efforts to mediate in this situation. It is crucial at this time that agreement is reached on a way forward in order to restore security, to put the economy back on track and to permit a process of national reconciliation to begin. Pax Christi partners and other organisations are already actively engaged to make a positive contribution in this respect.
Whereas the international media has often reported the violence as ethnically-motivated, we recognize the wider historical context of Kenyan politics. Structures that perpetuate political and economic inequalities have long been tolerated in Kenya. Such policies will only engender further resentment and fragmentation at the heart of Kenya’s fragile democracy. It will be important for Kenya’s political leadership to address these matters in the years ahead.
Given the deep political divisions in Kenya at this time, it will be necessary that some negotiated solution be achieved if the government is going to accomplish anything in the coming years. Anything less will lack legitimacy and Kenya’s role as a beacon for stability and democracy in the region will remain seriously compromised.
Pax Christi International expresses therefore its solidarity with the people of Kenya and appeals to Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga to:
1. Publicly urge the end of violence and the restoration of order;
2. Favour in their public discourse the way of dialogue, transparency and a negotiated solution to the crisis; and
3. Permit an independent inquiry into the results of the December 2007 elections.
We also call upon all political, religious and civil society leaders, along with international partners, to:
1. Support a solution to the current situation that is peaceful, just and democratic;
2. Consolidate efforts to provide vital humanitarian assistance to those affected by the violence;
3. Acknowledge the painful divisions that exist within Kenyan society and seek ways to promote broader participation in public life and to strengthen democratic governance at all levels;
4. Stimulate discussion on strategies for national reconciliation with special attention to ethnicity, power-sharing and political inclusion.
Pax Christi International
Brussels, Belgium
11 January 2008
Pax Christi International and its partner organisations in the Horn of Africa are deeply concerned about the violence that has shaken Kenya following the country’s 27 December elections. We lament the widespread loss of life, extensive destruction of property and massive displacement of people in a country that has been for many Africans a model of security and democracy on the continent.
We call upon all Kenyans to stop immediately the violence that is destroying their country. We also urge Kenya’s political leadership, particularly President Mwai Kibaki and the Honourable Raila Odinga, to seek a speedy and peaceful resolution to the crisis and to call upon their constituencies to end their fighting.
We commend international efforts to mediate in this situation. It is crucial at this time that agreement is reached on a way forward in order to restore security, to put the economy back on track and to permit a process of national reconciliation to begin. Pax Christi partners and other organisations are already actively engaged to make a positive contribution in this respect.
Whereas the international media has often reported the violence as ethnically-motivated, we recognize the wider historical context of Kenyan politics. Structures that perpetuate political and economic inequalities have long been tolerated in Kenya. Such policies will only engender further resentment and fragmentation at the heart of Kenya’s fragile democracy. It will be important for Kenya’s political leadership to address these matters in the years ahead.
Given the deep political divisions in Kenya at this time, it will be necessary that some negotiated solution be achieved if the government is going to accomplish anything in the coming years. Anything less will lack legitimacy and Kenya’s role as a beacon for stability and democracy in the region will remain seriously compromised.
Pax Christi International expresses therefore its solidarity with the people of Kenya and appeals to Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga to:
1. Publicly urge the end of violence and the restoration of order;
2. Favour in their public discourse the way of dialogue, transparency and a negotiated solution to the crisis; and
3. Permit an independent inquiry into the results of the December 2007 elections.
We also call upon all political, religious and civil society leaders, along with international partners, to:
1. Support a solution to the current situation that is peaceful, just and democratic;
2. Consolidate efforts to provide vital humanitarian assistance to those affected by the violence;
3. Acknowledge the painful divisions that exist within Kenyan society and seek ways to promote broader participation in public life and to strengthen democratic governance at all levels;
4. Stimulate discussion on strategies for national reconciliation with special attention to ethnicity, power-sharing and political inclusion.
Pax Christi International
Brussels, Belgium
11 January 2008
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Gordon Zahn, Prophet of Peace
By Thomas A. Shannon
America, January 7, 2008
When Gordon Zahn (1918-2007) began his own journey to pacifism, he was convinced of two things: first, that had he been educated in the traditional Catholic schools of his time, he would never have heard of pacifism; second—and he was given rather strong encouragement to think this way—that he was on the lunatic fringe of the church. But he was also convinced that the path of the early church was the correct one and that pacifism was the normative Christian position and that the just war theory was at best an attempt to justify what Realpolitik had already decided was necessary. For many a decade, Gordon followed the lonely road of preaching pacifism in the company of others on the edges of mainstream Christianity. But this was a determined lot, and Gordon, who despised meetings to the depth of his being, continued to show up whenever asked, attended meeting after meeting and was eventually successful in efforts with others to resurrect Pax Christi USA, establishing it as a premier American peace organization.
Gordon’s witness to peace was accomplished in the classroom, on the lecture circuit, writing at his desk or attending endless meetings for the cause; but developments gave special luster to his contributions. First, during discussions at the Second Vatican Council on the draft of Gaudium et Spes, then known as Schema XIII, about war and the just war theory, he met Archbishop Thomas Roberts, S.J., of Bombay and members of the British hierarchy in England and began a correspondence with Archbishop Roberts. Gordon gave a major briefing to members of the British hierarchy in Rome and was instrumental in persuading them to support the insertion of a positive statement on conscientious objection. The council thus reversed Pius XII’s teaching that if one was a Catholic and one’s nation legitimately declared war, a Catholic citizen could not be a conscientious objector.
Second, and perhaps more important, Gordon discovered the story of Franz Jägerstätter, the Austrian peasant who refused to serve in Hitler’s army in any capacity because he was convinced of the immorality of the war. Franz, married and the father of three daughters, was beheaded for his convictions. Gordon came upon this story while doing research on the role of Catholics in Hitler’s Germany, and then sought out Franz’s widow and interviewed many of the townspeople and some clergy. The resulting book, In Solitary Witness, celebrated Franz’s life and became a major contribution to the Catholic peace movement. One of Gordon’s proudest moments came when he was at yet another antiwar rally and heard someone say that he was burning his draft card in memory of Franz Jägerstätter. One flame had led to another.
But surely the proudest moment would have been the beatification ceremony of Franz last month in Austria. Unfortunately, Gordon suffered from Alzheimer’s disease during the past several years and was unable to attend. One of Gordon’s relatives reported that she read the letter of invitation to him and, though he had been unresponsive, he opened his eyes, sat up and took a deep breath. Perhaps he was aware of the ultimate fruit that his story bore.
Gordon was not a flashy person and was rather modest in his personal way of living, but day in and day out he bore constant and often solitary witness to the cause of peace to which he dedicated his life. He can now skip further meetings and rest in peace.
Thomas A. Shannon is professor emeritus of religion and social ethics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
America, January 7, 2008
When Gordon Zahn (1918-2007) began his own journey to pacifism, he was convinced of two things: first, that had he been educated in the traditional Catholic schools of his time, he would never have heard of pacifism; second—and he was given rather strong encouragement to think this way—that he was on the lunatic fringe of the church. But he was also convinced that the path of the early church was the correct one and that pacifism was the normative Christian position and that the just war theory was at best an attempt to justify what Realpolitik had already decided was necessary. For many a decade, Gordon followed the lonely road of preaching pacifism in the company of others on the edges of mainstream Christianity. But this was a determined lot, and Gordon, who despised meetings to the depth of his being, continued to show up whenever asked, attended meeting after meeting and was eventually successful in efforts with others to resurrect Pax Christi USA, establishing it as a premier American peace organization.
Gordon’s witness to peace was accomplished in the classroom, on the lecture circuit, writing at his desk or attending endless meetings for the cause; but developments gave special luster to his contributions. First, during discussions at the Second Vatican Council on the draft of Gaudium et Spes, then known as Schema XIII, about war and the just war theory, he met Archbishop Thomas Roberts, S.J., of Bombay and members of the British hierarchy in England and began a correspondence with Archbishop Roberts. Gordon gave a major briefing to members of the British hierarchy in Rome and was instrumental in persuading them to support the insertion of a positive statement on conscientious objection. The council thus reversed Pius XII’s teaching that if one was a Catholic and one’s nation legitimately declared war, a Catholic citizen could not be a conscientious objector.
Second, and perhaps more important, Gordon discovered the story of Franz Jägerstätter, the Austrian peasant who refused to serve in Hitler’s army in any capacity because he was convinced of the immorality of the war. Franz, married and the father of three daughters, was beheaded for his convictions. Gordon came upon this story while doing research on the role of Catholics in Hitler’s Germany, and then sought out Franz’s widow and interviewed many of the townspeople and some clergy. The resulting book, In Solitary Witness, celebrated Franz’s life and became a major contribution to the Catholic peace movement. One of Gordon’s proudest moments came when he was at yet another antiwar rally and heard someone say that he was burning his draft card in memory of Franz Jägerstätter. One flame had led to another.
But surely the proudest moment would have been the beatification ceremony of Franz last month in Austria. Unfortunately, Gordon suffered from Alzheimer’s disease during the past several years and was unable to attend. One of Gordon’s relatives reported that she read the letter of invitation to him and, though he had been unresponsive, he opened his eyes, sat up and took a deep breath. Perhaps he was aware of the ultimate fruit that his story bore.
Gordon was not a flashy person and was rather modest in his personal way of living, but day in and day out he bore constant and often solitary witness to the cause of peace to which he dedicated his life. He can now skip further meetings and rest in peace.
Thomas A. Shannon is professor emeritus of religion and social ethics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
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