The Pixel Project VAW e-News Digest: Edition 30

Welcome to the 30th edition of The Pixel Project’s VAW e-News Digest! As usual, we bring you the latest and most relevant news related to violence against women and efforts at eradicating it from around the world.

On March 8, 2011, The Pixel Project, a global volunteer-led virtual nonprofit organisation working to end Violence Against Women (VAW), proudly launched its first ever Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign on the 100^th anniversary of International Women’s Day. This campaign is The Pixel’s Project’s flagship fundraiser to raise US$1 million for VAW nonprofits while inspiring men and women worldwide to work together to prevent, stop and end VAW. This year’s beneficiaries are Malaysia’s Women’s Aid Organisation and the U.S.A.’s National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

The world celebrated the 100th International Women’s Day on March 8, 2011 with many special events and street rallies. In 1910, a German woman named Clara Zetkin proposed in Copenhagen the idea for an International Women’s Day at an International Conference of Working Women. As a result, the first International Women’s Day was observed on March 19, 1911 by Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The occasion is now marked on March 89 by countries around the globe.

In South Africa, lesbian women have been subjected to what has been termed “corrective rape.” Men who commit the rape assert that this will make these women heterosexual. Many local activists along with millions worldwide are campaigning to make it a “hate crime” in South Africa.

In Colombia, the 25,000 members of the Embera-Chami community have agreed to abandon circumcising their newborn girls. It is believed that female genital mutilation came with the African slaves brought by the Spanish colonizers. This decision was made in cooperation with United Nations representatives when Risaralda authorities found a young Embera-Chami girl’s death resulting from complications.

Every contribution matters. If you have any news you’d like to share concerning violence against women, reach Karina at karina.tayag@gmail.com. If you prefer to receive up-to-the-minute news concerning violence against women, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/thepixelproject.

It’s time to stop violence against women. Together.

Regards,

The Pixel Project Team

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General Violence Against Women News
Regina Yau: Life in Malaysia on International Women’s Day
The Fight Continues for Women’s Rights
Pakistani Government Committed to Empower Women and Girls
Females Still Discriminated Against in Philippine Schools
Egyptian Authorities Must Act to Contain Violence Against Christians, Women
Ghana: Minister Says “We’ll Fight Discrimination Against Women”
Malta: Introduction of No-Fault Divorce
Manning-Up Against Anti-Women Violence in Turkey