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International Day for Persons with Disabilities: 4 tips to achieve inclusive participation
Since 1992, every year on December 3rd, we celebrate the International Day for Persons with Disabilities to promote and raise awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities. I have heard some people say that this is a work that should be done daily and that, as such, having one specific day to mark it becomes counterproductive. Although I understand where those comments are coming from -in the sense that the struggle for inclusion is never-ending-, I believe the observance of this day helps us draw international attention to our situation and brings a new opportunity to advance our...
Social Media Activists, Let's Not Forget About Activism in the Real World
Gen Z— comprised of those ages seven to 22 in 2019— has been characterized as an emerging generation of changemakers, one that is more accepting of diversity and more active in the face of inequity. We are also the generation that grew up with the internet at our fingertips and the ones who now use social media as a platform to promote justice. One movement that spread like wildfire on the Internet in 2014 was the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls calling for the rescue of 276 Nigerian girls kidnapped by the terrorist organization Boko Haram. Millions of people and even high profile figures like...
Build a bridge, not a wall
Look away
“Look away” By Lith V This world where men and women are born without clothes, Taken into the hands of nurses, parents and even uncles and aunts. That naked body without a sliver of clothing, All anyone looks at is the innocent face of the youngling. Well, then they grow up, Have to go through the phases of pre-school and school, The youngling first a toddler growing up with his or her childish mischievousness, Maybe clothed or naked, But all anyone pays attention to is their safety and childhood innocence. Then, like I said before, They go to school - Some bearing both genders, But most...
"The beauty definition"
Comparison, cruel judgement, Overpowering the world. They want to make a statement, Give a single definition- Regarding what counts as beauty in a girl. Fair skin, bright eyes, Hair that’s nice, Lovely curves that’s just right. Their mind naturally spies, Like that’s the only beauty in sight. What’s wrong with being dark? Do they not stand out in a park? Or does it make them less a woman, Being couple of shades different, Than the typical white woman? I mean no disrespect, To any white man or woman who accepts- That being tan or dark, Do not refrain you from having that spark, In your body and...
Championing Change Through Advocacy
Conquering the Nature of Stereotypes
It is in the nature of stereotypes, as part of prejudice, that they should be applied not to ourselves but to others. While the saying goes “First impressions go a long way,” it is not the first impression of the person who is presenting themselves that sticks, it is our judgment about them that remains. It is in the nature of stereotypes that we overlook the qualities of our own people but are quick to condemn the others. We accept ourselves and the members of our in-group as individuals, yet we are apt to generalize the members of the out-group, labeling them in sweeping terms. Social...
Humanity; to unite or to divide
This is Omran, a 5 years old Syrian child exposed to war. A war we all knew but never thought of at all. Being exposed to all the bloodshed, destruction and violence, Omran sat in silence. A silence that reflected the ignorance of humans. Humans who have turned to be far more oppressive, far more destructive and far more brutal than any bomb, gun or weapon. Omran is just one of the suffering victims of the savagery of the Syrian war but, this is not the story of Omran alone. This is the story of every child exposed to war. Be it from Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, or Afghanistan. This is the story...
Hers For the Taking: A Poem about Female Empowerment
A newborn baby smiles Gazing at her mother With playful eyes So innocent So young The world is hers for the taking A little girl laughs Alone in a silent playground Her eyes closed Pigtails whipping through the wind Without a care The world is hers for the taking A young lady cries Tiptoeing to the edge of the cliff She has a choice Irreversible But she won't because The world is hers for the taking A middle-aged woman reads To a classroom of eager faces Staring expectantly at her She prepares to share with Each and every one The ultimate power Knowledge The world is hers for the taking A...
Generation Unlimited: telling untold stories, changing lives
COVID-19 and the voices of migrants and refugees
COVID-19 consequences: Increased domestic violence during lockdown
In Kyrgyzstan, the number of cases of domestic violence has increased by 65% since the beginning of the year. According to the data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, 8 murders were recorded on the basis of domestic violence during this period. With the lockdown, domestic violence has risen not only in Kyrgyzstan, but also worldwide. Victims are locked up with their offender, which puts them in a more vulnerable position. Different states consider this issue during parliamentary sessions, however, the effective solutions for prevention and protection of victims of...
Stop Sexual Harassment
Hello there, I'm Raina. First off, as we all know, there's a pandemic that we are facing now. It is so difficult. I want you all to always be safe. Self quarantining and self distancing are the things that we should do at the moment. Don't go out too often. Always keep your body fit and health by consuming a healthy food. Also, please remember to always wash your hands. It's so important. Alright so, in this entry blog I want to talk about the issues that really matter to me. I want to raise my voice up. And, one of the issues is "Stop Sexual Harassment". I am really concerned with this one...
Activism starts with a story
It all started when… I left my home, in Romania, almost four years ago. It was due to various reasons, but the main one was the wish to escape the broken system that kept getting in the way of my dreams. I did not leave for economic reasons or for a western version of the American dream, but for the lack of perspective and the feeling of being powerless every time I wanted to fight for something I believed in. I can assure you no one leaves their home if everything is alright. I would not have left either if things were different. But sadly, they were far away from that. I was desperately...
How Human Trafficking and Poor Mental Health Are Results of Poverty
Poverty is a global issue that has yet to be resolved, so how do we correct this problem? A part of fixing any issue is understanding the source of it. Poverty is defined in the dictionary as “the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor” in other words, not able to live comfortably. It goes without saying that homelessness is a result of poverty. However, poverty causes many problems, such as human trafficking and poor mental health. According to the Polaris Project website, risk factors for human trafficking is 569 for runaway and...
Covid-19 and Racism: United we Stand, Divided we Fall
A viral pathogen can spread as fast as light in this globalized world, but the phenomena of exclusion and discrimination can spread even faster. The panic of the Coronavirus has resulted in a toll that does not accompany the common flu or pneumonia – racism and xenophobia. The fatal 2019 novel Coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19, has been characterized by fever, coughing, and breathing difficulties. It has shown evidence of human-to-human transmission and several countries across the world are reporting cases, whilst the United States now appears to be the epicenter of the deadly sickness...
The Real Victims Of Gender Stereotypes
The 21st century has been marked by almost meteoric advancements in science, technology, entrepreneurship and a rise in social consciousness. One of the most highlighted and contentious social issues is that of gender inequality. It is a multifaceted issue that can be defined and discussed from multiple perspectives. Broadly and briefly, it is a form of discrimination based on gender. It allows the unfair and disproportional distribution of opportunity, access, exposure, power and representation to one gender. In societies where gender systems are dichotomous, gender inequality may allow...
Opening Young Eyes, Raising Young Voices
Think globally, act locally. When I first heard that phrase, I didn’t think too much about it. It wasn’t until I was invited to speak at a conference on the topic of children's health and aid did I truly grasp the concept of international engagement. At the beginning of the year, I was invited to be a guest speaker at an Asia-Pacific conference. I woke up on the day and dressed to impress. On my way there, I was relaxed – quite unusual for an event of this magnitude. It wasn’t until I parked and made my way down to the building did it sink in about what I was about to do. As I observed the...
The Diary Of A Generation
The Diary Of A Generation! The generation I'm talking from will no longer whisper the prayers from Gods and their angels. We think there's more need to pray from our older generations, on which our prospects, probabilities and lives depend! We may be at different homes, We may belong to varied communities,different generations and breed, And we may be thinking of two distinct worlds. We're experiencing right now that epidemics don't come with only diseases but also with hatred and discrimination. Don't we know that everything which happens now, is not for it's ultimate goal of unfairness...