Surprising as it may sound but the girls have outnumbered boys in Pakistan. Despite the socio-cultural taboos associated with girl child like dowry, sexual abuse, weaker sex etc, the girl child were not aborted in certain areas of Pakistan like Southern Punjab and Khyber Pakhtonkhawa.
Depression chips away at the ability to perceive the others’ thoughts and feelings. It impairs what psychologists call “empathic accuracy” —and that can exacerbate alienation, depression, and the cycle by which they feed each other.
India's tortuously slow and corrupt legal and police investigation structure was insurance against them being caught, although since the mid 1990s a handful of convictions had occurred but under pressure from overseas authorities.
The findings of a recent International Men and Gender Equality Survey reflects a new low for Indian men. Only 2% of Brazilian males and less than 9% of men in Chile, Croatia, Mexico and Rwanda were found to have indulged in sexual violence. The survey was conducted in six developing countries across four continents to map attitudes and practices related to gender equality.
Today, as part of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, I work to ensure that all Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women are able to access the full breadth of rights and protections to which they are entitled.
"The launch this year of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women – UN Women – demonstrates our intent to deepen our pursuit of this agenda. Only through women’s full and equal participation in all areas of public and private life can we hope to achieve the sustainable, peaceful and just society promised in the United Nations Charter." - Ban Ki-moon
Now, a grassroots movement is fighting back. Invoking a little-known law from 1994 that allows local councils to impose prohibition in the areas they control if two-thirds of voters support them, dozens of Punjab villages are trying to shut down such shops.
From grassroots organisations in far-flung corners of the world, to top-level diplomats, and everyone in-between, U.N. Women was saluted as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put an end to gender discrimination, and all its odious expressions and manifestations, throughout the world.
But so long as the choice is between abuse and honor; ridicule and prestige; vulnerability and security; people will choose honor, prestige, and security - Punjabis will choose sons over daughters through one form of violence or another. Women and men must fight against deeply ingrained prejudices.
Consider the power and grace of these women, when Bibi Amro had the good fortune through her melodious singing which resulted in the simple 'churning of curd' to the "churning of a mortal into the Immortal - Ram Das into Guru Ram Das Sahib...
A delegation of Sikh representatives met with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday and presented him with a list of their demands. The prime minister reiterated his government’s commitment to protecting the rights of minorities and women....
Coach Bobby Singh said "What she has done is inspirational and I cannot yet convey in words how proud our family is of Ashpal. To get to this point we started the journey 10 years ago and through sheer hard work, dedication, focus and commitment we are here today. Was it worth it? You bet!"
Though considered apolitical, the SGPC elections are always fought on political lines. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the ruling party in Punjab, had backed Avtar Singh Makkar for the coveted post. SGPC president and SAD spokesperson cited "political compulsions" for their failure to reserve seats for women this time.
In the fall of 2010, the United Nations Foundation launched Girl Up -- a "for girls, by girls" campaign aimed at igniting a movement to transform the lives of adolescent girls in developing countries.
The award ceremony was organised by the Sikh Directory and was attended by over 600 people at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. The awards recognize the top Sikhs in Britain across the areas of Art, Sports, Entertainment, Education and Business.
The trio that made it a memorable Monday are Krishna Pooniya, Harwant Kaur and Seema Antil and a near-full stadium gave them a standing ovation as they received the medals.
With all Sikhs working together to create a better tomorrow, filled with equality of all, we cannot fail. Taking inspiration from the great women of yesteryear, we will inspire the women of today to create a brighter future for tomorrow.
Election campaign posters plaster Kabul’s traffic circles these days but one face stands out. Of a Sikh. But he is not the only Sikh candidate in the fray — there is another, a woman. Pritpal Singh Pal and Anarkali Kaur Honaryar are running for positions
Does a girl become a princess by perfectly styled hair, jewelry; make up, a gorgeous dress and an attitude to match? Or does a girl become a princess by her very presence and her words and actions?
Grandmothers around the world are famous for spoiling their grandchildren. But being a good Grandmother is about much more than spoiling the children...
The balance of power is very important in every Sikh household with a joint family. Without balance, one can’t be a good mother-in-law. In a joint household there well almost always be two women sharing the power...
Whether you agree with women wearing full burqas is not the point. The point is that the government of France is targeting Muslim women and criminalizing them for the way they practice their faith, all in the name of gender equality.
"I'd said that I wouldn't mind doing lingerie and swimwear but naturally they would be aware that I'd be uncomfortable with it because of the background that I come from and the backlash there might be against me from the community."
We need to stop fearing that our child is not responsible enough to take Amrit or ready to live up to the Khalsa name. Teach them and trust them to do the right thing. It is wrong to force a child to take Amrit and it is also a crime to stop them from taking Amrit.
When Livleen started playschool recently, one of the first questions she was asked was why she wears a turban. “I’ve told her that she’s a princess and wears a crown on her head. That’s what she should tell everyone.”
Mata Sulakhni Ji was one of the first role models for all the Sikh women to come on how to be good wife. Mata Ji taught us to keep our families united, to trust our husbands and be independent all at the same time.
After another round in London, which involved strutting their stuff on the catwalk and in front of the camera, the contestants took part in a lengthy interview before the final 25 were selected earlier this year.
“Oprah is one of America’s most popular women and it would be a great opportunity and honor for a woman from the South-Asian community to be able to host a show on her network. This is a huge platform which I don’t want to miss,” gushes Sodhi,
Mata Bhag Kaur Ji was the best sister any brother could ask for because she not only came closer to Waheguru but she helped her brothers too. A sister is one that doesn’t fight for her rights but in subtle ways earns it.
