Most recent print edition: Jul 28
– Last updated: Today
Arts & Entertainment
Apr 4'Single greatest struggle is that of gender inequality:' Stephen Lewis
Rebekah Hammond - Science & Tech Editor
Humanitarian and former UN ambassador for Canada Stephen Lewis provoked both tears and laughter when he spoke to a full Grand Hall last Thursday evening.
"It certainly did move a number of the audience members to tears," said Shawn Day a TRU biology graduate. "It definitely hit home for me, it made me want to be better global citizen."
The theme of the night revolved around highlighting the UN's Millennium Development Goals set in 2000. Amongst others the eight goals included, eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, implementing universal primary education, promoting gender inequality, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and halting the spread of HIV/AIDS.
It was overly ambitious and won't be achieved by the target year, 2015, according to Lewis.
One of the goals was to halve the number of people living on less than $1 a day.
We are far from that goal, said Lewis pointing out that, according to the World Bank, 1.4 billion people live below the poverty line - $1.25 or less a day. Another quarter of the people on the planet live below 25 cents a day.
"Its the most excruciating assault on humanity," Lewis said. "It's so depressing that this state continues."
Talking with some women in Malawi, Lewis asked what he could do for them. He thought they'd ask him to bring drugs to combat HIV/AIDS, but he got an answer he didn't expect.
"They said food," he said. "And they kept pointing at their stomachs as if to emphasize it."
The women were getting one small bowl of soup a day.
There's no possible reason for it, Lewis said. Despite economic conditions, there's still plenty of money to go around, according to Lewis, mentioning the American government's recent healthcare bill and money put into stimulus plans and company bailouts.
The Canadian government has decided to freeze the budget for foreign aid from 2010 to 2014, according to Lewis.
"It's humiliating to going back a few years ago when Canada's aid was merited," he said.
The issue that Lewis feels most strongly about, however, is gender equality.
"My wife is a feminist and I was raised in a strong feminist family," he joked, but the issue is far from a laughing matter. It was hard to listen to Lewis describing the sexual abuse women around the world endure.
"Whether it's the international sex trafficking, genital mutilation, absence of inheritance rights, absence of laws against rape...it's just so appallingly misogynistic," he said.
Marital rape and abuse is common practice in Africa though the male population denies it.
"The use of rape is no longer a weapon of war [in Africa], but it's become a strategy of war," said Lewis. "The women are never protected."
Tribes that want a particular area where a village already exists will go in and rape every women in sight. Humiliated, all the villagers leave, according to Lewis.
The Panzi hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo specializes in maternity and treatment, reconstruction and rehabilitation for victims of sexual violence.
"They've coined a medical term I'd never before heard, vaginal destruction," said Lewis.
"You have to ask yourself, 'how in heaven's name does the world tolerate this?'" he said. "Virtually nothing happens. There's got to be some way that the world can stop it ... or at least assist the women after the attacks and put pressure on the heads of states."
Lewis feels strongly about doing what he can and being a voice for those who can't personally bring their stories and situations forward.
"I've never thought a group or individuals are impotent." Lewis said. "There are so many organizations, and an endless array of NGOs that you can become affiliated with and make a contribution."
Receiving two standing ovations throughout his talk, Lewis remained humble, always thanking the crowd, but tactfully deflecting the situation back to the issues.
"Stephen Lewis has been one of my greatest heroes for so many years," said Marie Deering, a community member. "I'm getting goosebumps right now. The information is so valuable to us all and I am so impressed with what he's done."
"I think that it shows that even as students, we have the ability to go out and and make a difference even if it is just small," said Justin Cartwright, TRUSU's vice principal internal. "Everybody can do their part and education is a big contributor to what we can do in the future."
Comments
Post a Comment