#Jamil Kharrazi

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Blind, deaf and dumb since the age of one, Helen Keller has fought her disability with courage and determination by getting involved with others. A journey that commands respect.

During her lifetime, Helen Keller was involved in a wide range of activities: blind people’s rights, women’s rights, contraception rights, civil rights, defence of disabled veterans. In 1920, she co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union, which remains today a major civil liberties association in the United States. Thanks to its action, Braille became the official standard of reading and writing for the blind in 1932. And between 1946 and 1957, she travelled to 35 countries to alert international opinion on blindness and improve the quality of life of blind people. She was also an author and published her autobiography in 1903, which was translated into fifty languages. In total, she has published fourteen books and written more than 500 articles.

Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. At a year and a half, she gets a very serious illness. This one leaves her deaf and blind. Very quickly, the little girl finds herself locked up, isolated. She cannot learn to read, write, speak, communicate with the outside world, understand what surrounds her.

At the age of six, her parents hired a teacher with low vision, Anne Sullivan. The mission of the latter is to teach him how to communicate. To make her understand things, Anne Sullivan draws the letters of the alphabet in the little girl’s hand every day. One day, in the garden, she spells out the word “water” in one hand, and in the other, she makes him touch the liquid. It’s the revelation. Helen Keller makes the association between the two gestures. Thanks to Anne Sullivan, she can finally break out of the isolation she was in. During her teenage years, she learned Braille and then reading. By touching her lips, Anne Sullivan also teaches her student the basics of speaking.

Thanks to this learning, but especially thanks to her determination, Helen Keller can have an education almost like any other. At school, she’s a champion, she succeeds at everything. She became the first deaf and blind person to graduate from a university. At 23, she published her autobiography Deaf, dumb and blind. It will be translated into 50 languages and a real success.

Throughout her career, Helen Keller fought hard. Fighting to be heard, fighting for others. She fights for the rights of the blind, deaf and disabled. It is also politically committed.  She is committed to civil rights and women’s rights. Through her struggle, she also wishes to prove that the deaf and blind can communicate and survive in today’s society. In 1932, Braille became the official standard of reading and writing for the blind thanks to its struggle. Finally, from the 1940s to the end of the 1950s, it travelled the world to alert international opinion on blindness and disability in order to improve the lives and daily lives of all concerned.

There are also other feminist figures in history who could serve as models for us. One of them is Phoolan Devi. Phoolan Devi was a victim of rape. she fought against the culture of rape and male domination and eventually became a member of parliament.

Lady Kharrazi is currently working on a film about the life of Phoolan devi. By doing so, she aims to show that we can fight and change our lives: “Yes, you can change your caste Yes, you can defend yourself against the abuse, against the suffering and injustice of today … [Phoolan] talked about a lot of things that were not even in the minds at the time, “says Lady Kharrazi in an interview with Shusma Datt.

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Now, a year after the start of the #MeToo movement, which has exposed harassment and abuse in industries ranging from Hollywood movies to Silicon Valley technology, Bloomberg has revisited it with an article on the movement’s impact on the Wall Street world.

The #MeToo movement affects all sectors of society. All over the world, men have decided to act more reluctantly towards women, so as not to be the target of allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour. Men control their behaviour at work in the face of what they consider to be an unreasonable attitude.

These revelations do not only concern the world of finance in the United States. This trend was particularly noticeable on Wall Street, where men occupied the front lines. The industry has also long been able to avoid the tumultuous scandals that led to Wolfstein’s fall, by maintaining a culture that keeps harassment complaints away from the courts and public opinion. So far, the sector has also been able to avoid the major scandals that have affected several other industries. Private meetings are now open, men avoid being face-to-face with a woman in a room where no one can see them and many now say they are very aware of the place they leave to women in an elevator.

The impact of the # MeToo movement is just beginning to appear in the field. Although men who dare to discuss this subject openly are rare, private respondents acknowledge that it is difficult to be alone with colleagues, especially those who are young or attractive, for fear of what people will say and rumours.

Lady Kharrazi works to empower women through the arts and education. For example, she is currently helping to make a film about Phoolan Devi, the famous Indian criminal who became a political leader. Lady Kharrazi supports efforts to make new opportunities for women across the world.  Her support of programs like the American University of Afghanistan, Harvard University’s initiatives in Lebanon, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, and the National University of Singapore has increased access to education for women.

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Globally, no less than one in two women has been subjected to violence by her partner and one in five women has been sexually assaulted or threatened. More than 80 per cent of victims of human trafficking are women and every year hundreds of thousands of women are victims of sexual mutilation.

Every year, November 25 marks everyone’s commitment to the elimination of violence against women.

Thousands of people demonstrated on Sunday across Spain on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The demonstrators gathered in many cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Bilbao and Pamplona, in a country where the fight against gender-based violence is a national cause.

In Turkey, police used tear gas on Sunday to prevent an unauthorized march in Istanbul on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

After several summons, police officers in riot gear repelled with tear gas and shields about a thousand people, mostly women, who had gathered to march on Istiklal Avenue, one of the busiest streets in Istanbul.

“We will not be silent, we are not afraid, we will not obey”, chanted the demonstrators, holding up signs that read “against violence against women”, “we defend life” or “united, women are strong”.

Today, violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in the world. It also remains one of the least reported due to the impunity, silence, stigmatization and shame surrounding it.

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Women at the heart of philanthropy

In the 21st century, philanthropy has evolved rapidly and continues to do so. Philanthropy is restructuring to adapt to an ever-increasing number of private commitments to finding solutions to public domain problems.

Women are playing an increasingly important role in all aspects of philanthropy. According to a recent research produced by the Institut Mallet they give three times as much money as they did thirty years ago and can also be found in the management and boards of directors of philanthropic organizations. The study makes several interesting observations, particularly about the role of women in philanthropy. Historically, they have been at the heart of efforts to support the poor, families and immigrants and refugees.

However, their role has changed. While they continue to volunteer their time, they are now giving much more money, in addition to bringing their expertise as managers and leaders to many organizations. Three-quarters of the workforce in the charitable and non-profit sector are women.

They also hold the majority of management positions. Yet they earn 24% less than their male colleagues. The sharp increase in women’s participation in the labour market since 1985 and the increase in their financial resources are reflected in an increase in their donations.

Lady Jamileh Kharrazi is a philanthropist and activist based in the United Kingdom. Lady Kharrazi, a Prominent Benefactor of the American University of Afghanistan (“AUAF”) and Senior Executive of the Phoolan Devi fil,  has advocated and campaigned fiercely for the betterment of humanity throughout her entire life. Specifically, she has dedicated herself to preserving Eastern and Western artistic legacies, defending of human rights in the Middle East, and to advancing education and gender equality for children in the developing world.

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They make up half of humanity. Maybe a little more. Equality in fact. Unequal rights. This gap is perpetuated in the various fields that make up our civic life. Among the artists awarded, only 10% are women. This is revealed by the High Council for Equality between Women and Men (HCE)in France in a report published on Friday. The culture and arts milieu is dominated by men. According to the study, women would be "less numerous, less paid, less helped, less programmed, less rewarded, less leading". In 2006, the Ministry of Culture published its first Queen Prat Report, which highlighted the many inequalities between men and women. Three years later, a second report indicated that man historically held artistic talent, considered to belong to men's affairs. Reine Prat added that financial means and support were needed for a quality work, which she felt was lacking in women. After leaving school, women have much more difficulty finding work than their male colleagues. And if they are hired, they are paid much less than men in the fields of comics, publishing, cinema, architecture or photography. For example, a woman is paid 42% less than a man if she is a director, and 43% if she works in comics. In terms of rewards, women artists are more invisible and forgotten. Jane Campion is the only woman to have won a Palme d'or at the Cannes Film Festival. Only 2% of the Caesars for the best achievement were awarded to women. As for music, only 3% of women attend major festivals. For the HCE, the Weinstein case and the resulting women's freedom of speech must have immediate repercussions. Women should therefore receive more grants in their projects. Today, they receive only 20%. HCE makes it a point of honour to raise awareness against violence against female artists, to accompany victims and to promote parity in juries and commissions.

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Lady Jamil Kharrazi, a long-time advocate of women’s issues, is one example of the female mentorship the world needs. As a star of the stage, she is a woman who is highly celebrated in the arts. Now, Lady Kharrazi uses philanthropy, film, and popular media to build cross-cultural understanding and empower women everywhere.

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According to a survey organized by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, India is officially the most dangerous country for women, ahead of Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia. The study, based on six criteria, ranging from health to sexual violence, and including cultural traditions, provides a most alarming assessment. The Thomson Reuters Foundation's study paints a grim picture for the country: the situation of women in India is frightening. Whether it is sexual abuse, infanticide of little girls, injustice or cultural traditions of another age such as forced marriage, India stands on the top of a podium that the country would have done without. Yet, according to the same study, in 2011 India was in fourth place. Would the situation deteriorate? In 2012, in New Delhi, the scandal following a gang rape freed some of the women from their silence. The death sentence in the case of rape of a minor under 12 is now possible and, on Monday 9 July, three men were sentenced for the case that made so much noise. New crimes have now been introduced into Indian law, including the acid attack, and the number of women's complaints has increased dramatically.

Four rapes per hour

If the indignation of the legislator seems more or less understandable, it is surprising to observe that the associative and feminist milieu also criticize the study of the Foundation, judging it biased: "In Saudi Arabia, women do not have the right to try on clothes in stores. The mere idea that they can undress in a cabin is apparently inconceivable for men," Vandana, an Indian gender expert, told The World. Nevertheless, according to Indian government data, four cases of rape are recorded per hour and a woman's risk of being reduced to slavery remains high. Indian women themselves denounce patriarchy and male domination far from being specific to their country: "The Thomson Reuters Foundation justifies itself by explaining that Indian women are still considered second-class citizens. But in which country is that not the case? "Vandana continues. Indeed, according to the same poll, the United States is now in 10th position... The status of women therefore remains alarming throughout the world. After the collective rape of a student in Delhi in 2012, a national awareness emerged. But has India, which was fourth in the same survey in 2011, done enough? According to the National Crime Records Bureau, India's justice statistics agency, crimes against women increased by 83 per cent between 2007 and 2016. This spectacular leap can be explained in particular by the fact that more and more victims are now daring to file complaints against their attackers.

in such a situation, some characters can be considered the model of Indian society. one of these characters is Phoolan Devi who was herself a victim of rape. she fought against the culture of rape and male domination and eventually became a member of parliament. Lady Kharrazi is currently working on a film about the life of Phoolan devi. By doing so, she aims to show that we can fight and change our lives: "Yes, you can change your caste Yes, you can defend yourself against the abuse, against the suffering and injustice of today ... [Phoolan] talked about a lot of things that were not even in the minds at the time, "says Lady Kharrazi in an interview with Shusma Datt.

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Women in Politics Face Systematic Challenges

Earlier this week, the New York Times published an article on the gender bias and related financial discrimination U.S. women are facing as they run for political office. In it, Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns shared the story of Ms. Chris Giunchigliani. Ms. Giunchigliani is a candidate for Nevada’s gubernatorial race in 2018. Throughout her life, she has proved her qualifications in business and politics. Regardless, however, she has faced ongoing discrimination and attacks from both her male opponents and political financiers.

Image via NYTImes

These attacks included an allegation that she “protected” sexual criminals– despite the fact that Ms. Giunchigliani herself is a survivor of sexual abuse. According to the United Nations, women only hold around one-fifth of national legislative seats, and 38 countries have less than 10% female representation in their governments. This is a clear under representation of women in politics. After all, if women make up about half of the world’s population, shouldn’t they also make up about half of its leadership? Phoolan Devi was an Indian politician who showed the world that women can rise up from violence and oppression to become great leaders. A survivor of violent sexual assault and child marriage, Phoolan refused to give in to her circumstances. Instead, she fought back, and eventually became one of the most well-loved politicians in India. Her assassination was evidence of the ongoing violence and oppression women in power face. This is true around the world, and something must be done to stop it. We are spreading the story of Phoolan to achieve this goal, so we hope you will support our upcoming film. More: http://www.jamilehkharrazi.co.uk/en/2018/06/16/women-challenges-politics/

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Upcoming Film on Phoolan Devi

“Phoolan Devi, for me, is a symbol,” says Lady Kharrazi. “She wasn’t a woman, she’s a legend.” On one hand, she was an outcast in the eyes of society. She was a murderer and a bandit, and she did lots of things that were wrong.

However, that humanity made her endearing. People loved her because of it, and many nearly worshiped her as a religious figure. As a result, Lady Kharrazi is helping to produce an up-and-coming film about the life of Phoolan Devi.

Full article on my weblog:     www.jamilehkharrazi.co.uk/en

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Arts and Culture Create a Platform for Sharing Ideas

Lady Kharrazi believes in humanity and family values. She understands that love is universal, and that what brings us together is far more powerful than what makes us different. This is why she works hard to bridge cultural divides through her charitable organization, the Toos Foundation.

Preserving Art to Preserve Culture and History

Originally from Iran, she has seen artifacts of critical cultural and historical value destroyed in the name of revolution. As widely reported, the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran saw priceless and timeless artifacts destroyed.

This destruction, however, is irreversible. It takes knowledge away from the people that can’t be returned. By destroying art and cultural artifacts, political minds try to rewrite history in their favor. As a result, we all must fight to keep arts and culture alive and well.

Shusma Datt of Women in Focus just recently gushed about Lady Kharrazi, referring to her as “an amazing person who is so close to art and culture.” Indeed, she has taken on the important mission of rebuilding destroyed culture.

Through the Toos Foundation, she is working hard to refill the cultural archives lost to nations in conflict. This includes traditional music and dance, architecture, sculpture, painting, and every other form of artistic expression.

Without these artifacts, it’s difficult for young people to get a sense of their roots.

Children grow up not knowing about how their ancestors lived, and therefore not really understanding themselves.

Much of Lady Kharrazi’s passion for protecting and promoting the arts comes from her own artistic career. As a ballerina and opera singer, Lady Kharrazi Artist has been a star of the stage for decades. Now, even as she graces the stage less often, she is always involved in performances.

She supports the performing arts as a personal passion and an important part of our shared history and culture. “I honestly believe that art is the international language,” Lady Kharrazi says. “Through art – dance, music, body movement, – we can pass on our messages.”

More on my weblog www.jamilehkharrazi.co.uk

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UN Makes Progress Towards Ending Gender- Based Violence and Boosting Equality

The United Nations has been working hard to increase peace and equality worldwide. Much of this work begins by creating programs aimed at assisting women and girls. In fact, the United Nations has deemed gender equality a fundamental human right. The agency is working with other organizations and individuals to one day make gender-based violence a thing of the past. And, happily, they have made marked progress in this regard.

Gender-Based Violence is a Worldwide Problem

Highly-regarded advocacy groups like the World Health Organization have identified gender-based violence as a major problem. This type of abuse raises substantial humanitarian, public safety, and health concerns. And unfortunately, it’s a problem that exists everywhere.

In some parts of the world, girls face threats of violence their entire lives. As a result, they often face unimaginable challenges. Young girls are married off to adult men in forced marriages.

In some instances of the most severe gender-based violence, women and young girls are subject to genital mutilation. As horrifying as it seems, the UN estimates that 133 million girls and women experience this type of violence.

Although gender-based violence is most dire in Africa, Oceania, and Western Asia, it is a problem everywhere in the world.

The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 3 women worldwide suffer violence from their intimate partner. In fact, as many as 38% of all female murder victims worldwide are killed by their husbands or boyfriends.

Often, women lack the support that they need to get out of violent situations. This is where organizations and benefactors must step in an fill the gap.

Women can help end gender-based violence by offering support and mentorship.

Many successful women around the world, including Lady Jamileh Kharrazi, are doing just that.

Lady Kharrazi has worked particularly hard to reach out to particularly vulnerable communities. This is why she focuses much of her benevolent work on refugees, as well as other women and children affected by violence.

Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response

Fortunately, issues faced by women are receiving more attention and respect than ever before. The protection of gender equality as a fundamental right requires a great deal of progress.

Although we have a long way to go to end gender-based violence altogether, policymakers are relying on progressive strategies to address the problem.

According to USAID and others, gender-based violence is a human rights violation.

It presents a barrier to meaningful economic and social participation for women, and it undermines safety and dignity. As a result, these organizations have developed policies that can be used to reduce this indignity.

Specifically, they focus on prevention and support for survivors. This requires increasing awareness of just how widespread the problem of gender-based violence is and boosting violence prevention programs. Fortunately, many women are standing up to become advocates against gender-based violence.

Activists recently presented at the UN, explaining why they are fighting against gender-based violence. They shared horrific examples of gender-based brutality in their own home countries, including Fiji, Guatemala, Kenya, and Peru. Even though some of these advocates receive little support from the governments of their home nations, the international community makes sure their work continues.

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Solving the Refugee Crisis by Empowering Women

Today, more and more are being forced out of their homes by violence. Now, there are now more refugees than there have been at any time since World War II. Conflict around the world has displaced families, especially impacting women and children. Africa and the Middle East have been hit particularly hard.

Women in The Refugee Crisis

Millions of people around the world have been forced from their homes – over 40 million in 2016 alone. More than 12 million Syrians – more than half of the country’s population, have been forcibly displaced. According to NPR, about 5 million of these individuals have fled to neighboring countries.

More than half of the world’s refugees are children, often fleeing alone. Many refugees are women who have lost their entire families and communities. Unfortunately, however, what they face when they arrive in their new land is often horrific.

Even after fleeing conflict in their homeland, women and children refugees face high risks of violence. Many fear everyday activities, like showering and going to the latrine, due to the risk of being attacked.

The UN has launched projects aimed at ending violence against female refugees. However, despite these efforts, conditions for refugee women remain harsh. In fact, more than one in five refugee women face gender-based violence.

The UN Refugee Agency has expressed concerned about abuse of refugees in their new homelands.

Particularly, women and children face heightened risk. Just in the past year, there have been hundreds of incidences of gender-based violence inflicted on female refugees. Many of these complaints arose from women arriving in the Greek Islands. Specifically, women reported that they were exposed to sexual harassment and attempted sexual attacks.

Even after they flee conflict, poverty and abuse in their homelands, women refugees often face ongoing violence and discrimination. This creates ongoing negative impacts in the refugee community, which only makes the crisis worse.

As a result, empowering women who live as refugees is critical to solving the ongoing crisis.

Female Refugee Entrepreneurs Create Economic Opportunity

Female refugees face extreme challenges. Like most others in their situation, women who are displaced by violence often suffer physical and mental injury. However, even among women refugees who find safety in their new homes, challenges remain.

For example, many women who arrive to Europe and North America as refugees are unprepared to provide for their families economically. However, with just a little bit of training and support, female refugees can create economic opportunity.

Women entrepreneurs create jobs and contribute to their local economies.

According to Forbes, women entrepreneurs also do more for their communities than many of their male counterparts. In fact, women more commonly reinvest in social programs with the profits from their businesses.

When considering the refugee community, these social benefits are even more precious. As a result, promoting female entrepreneurship in has real economic and social benefits in the refugee community.

Progress is Only Possible Through Support

When considering the refugee crisis, many people think of it as a far-away problem. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Refugees, just like all of us, are merely looking for a safe and healthy place to live. For individuals displaced by violence, this is not possible without support.

Supporting refugee women, particularly by providing education and training, is a critical step towards solving the refugee crisis. Lady Jamileh Kharrazi supports several initiatives aimed at empowering women.

From increasing educational opportunities to building economic empowerment, Lady Jamileh ( جمیله خرازی )understands that solving the world’s problems starts by solving the issues predominantly affecting women.

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Ending #Violence Against #Women In #India

Women everywhere are affected by gender-based violence. However, instead of hiding in the shadows, women are starting to fight back. Like Phoolan, they used their experiences to become advocates and leaders.  Lady Kharrazi is currently working on a film about Phoolan Devi, giving the world more insight into this important female folk hero. Hopefully, the film will inspire more young women to stand up against violence and oppression.

Phoolan’s Murder and the Cycle of Violence

In 2001, when she was only 37 years old, Phoolan was gunned down outside of her home. The attack was revenge for Phoolan’s aggression against high-caste men, the very activities that earned her love and respect from the people. Justice for Phoolan came slow, since it took over 10 years her murderer, Sher Singh Rana, to be brought to justice. Rana was convicted of Phoolan’s murder in 2014.

Rana’s motive for assassinating Phoolan is a reflection of the type of class warfare that creates cycles of violence. Rana told police that he killed Phoolan as revenge for her violence against high-caste men.

However, the violence that Rana complained of was also carried out in revenge. Phoolan had murdered several men who had raped her, and this is the crime that Rana claimed to be avenging. Clearly, in these instances, violence simply creates more violence and the legal system must intervene to stop it.

Although he was sentenced to life in prison in 2014, Rana was only held in prison for 12 years before he was released on bail. However, it appears that he may still be up to his old violent ways. Now, Rana has been arrested for the murder of yet another social influencer. Rana has been implicated in the assassination of the brother of a political activist, placing him back behind bars.

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Education Creates Greater Economic and Social Opportunities

Lady Jamileh Kharrazi understands that education is critical to ending human rights abuses. Greater educational opportunities in war-torn Afghanistan, particularly for women and historically disadvantaged individuals will lead to a more peaceful and prosperous future.

According to The Human Rights Watch, increasing education is a critical part of Afghanistan’s long-term development.  Unfortunately, in a war-torn country, this is easier said than done.

With the help of donors and supporters, Afghanistan has increased access to childhood education.   Now, nearly three-fourths of all Afghani children are enrolled in elementary school.

Despite this progress, there is more work to be done. Only a small portion of Afghani adults have completed formal education. So, AUAF’s adult-oriented programs are filling a critical gap in the country’s development.

As more opportunities for education arise, Afghanistan’s society will build stronger and stronger. However, the benefits of higher education in Afghanistan do not end at politics and economics. Indeed, a more education population brings many important benefits, particularly for women.

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Refugee Women Experience New Opportunities in European Cities

Over the past few years, Europe has seen an influx of refugees. BBC recently reported on the migrant crisis the continent has experienced. Over a million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe in 2015 alone. Migration has slowed from its peak, but it shows no signs of stopping.

They estimate over 362,000 refugees crossed the Mediterranean Sea in 2016. Hundreds of thousands have followed since. The UN Refugee Agency continues to track this migration. Over 2,000 refugees have made the passage in the first few weeks of 2018 alone,

Crossing the Mediterranean is a dangerous journey, and many refugees get lost at sea. Once they arrive in Europe, often their journey continues. Sometimes, refugees face oppression and prejudice in their new homes.

Full Article on the blog jamilehkharrazi.co.uk

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Happy International Women’s Day!

Every day, we are reminded of all that women contribute to society. Each day is an opportunity to thank our mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters for all that they do. But March 8 is a particularly auspicious day for women – it’s International Women’s Day!

International Women’s Day is a celebration of the many achievements of women around the world. It’s a day to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women everywhere. More likely than not, you have a woman in your life who has helped and supported you. International Women’s Day is an opportunity show her some of that support in return.

to be continued on my weblog jamilehkharrazi.co.uk

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Women in Tunisia

Tunisia continues to make important reforms for women. For example, Tunisia once banned Muslim women from marrying outside their faith. Now, women have freedom to marry who they choose. Similarly, the government created a new law that gave Tunisian women unprecedented legal support.

In mid-2017, Tunisia passed a new law protecting women from violence. International organizations, including U.N. Women, are applauding the new policy. Now, Tunisian girls and women have more legal protection against several forms of abuse. The law prohibits harassment and economic discrimination as well as domestic and sexual violence.

According to Human Rights Watch, this is the first Tunisian law specifically addressing violence against women. Victims of abuse have more protections, and perpetrators have greater consequences. In a historically conservative nation, these are progressive reforms.

Like the civil reform of years past, change for women did not come without a fight. Nearly half of all Tunisian women have experience violence. As a result, legal reform was desperately needed. The new law is a critical step in the right direction. However, more education and social activism is needed to make sure change takes hold.

To be continued on jamilehkharrazi.co.uk