June 30, 1995 - Episode 336 - Women of Achievement and Herstory

           Continued from June 29, this is point four in WOA's
     presentation of The Platform for Action: 12 Critical Areas of Concern,
     a blueprint for women's advancement in countries around the world,
     which will be the main document to be adopted at the Fourth World
     Conference on Women to be held in Beijing, China, September 4-15.

     4. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
           Violence against women is a global problem. Historically, men
     have dominated women and discriminated against them. Women's lack
     of access to legal information, aid or protection, the lack of laws 
     and inadequate efforts by public authorities to enforce existing laws in
     some cases increase violence against them. The Declaration on the
     Elimination of Violence Against Women condemns gender-based
     violence encountered by women and girls within the family and
     community. This includes domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment
     and intimidation in the workplace and in educational institutions,
     harmful traditional practices and State condoned violence against
     women and girls. All violate fundamental human rights. Cultural
     patterns that perpetuate women's lower status also contribute to
     violence against them.  Violence against women is now recognized as
     a global problem which transcends ethnic groups, religion, age, and
     level of development. It is abetted by women's lack of legal literacy,
     by inadequate laws, and lack of enforcement of existing laws. Media's
     treatment of women is another contributing factor.
           In the US, a woman is physically abused every eight
     seconds and one is raped every six minutes. In India, five women are
     burned in dowry-related disputes each day. In Papua, New Guinea, 67
     percent of the women are victims of domestic violence.
           Actions proposed by PFA include:
           By Governments: Condemn violence against women and not use
     any custom, tradition or religious considerations to avoid their
     obligations to its elimination; Adopt measures to modify the social 
     and cultural patterns of men and women; Provide well-funded shelters
     and relief support for victims of violence; Assist female victims of
     violence due to prostitution and trafficking; Consider ratification 
     and enforcement of international treaties on trafficking and slavery.
           By Governments, employers, NGOs and others: Develop programs
     and procedures to eliminate sexual harassment and other forms  of
     violence in all educational institutions, workplace and elsewhere. 
     Promote research on violence against women, encourage
     the media to examine the gender stereotypes and take measures to
     eliminate them.
     << Continue July 2 with Point Five: Armed and Other Conflicts >>

     B. June 30, 0000 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

           Event June 30, 1870, Ada H. Kepley, the first woman to
     graduate from a US law school (Illinois).

           B. June 30, 1917, Lena Horne, singer. Danced in revues at The
     Cotton Club in Harlem, was one of the first black vocalists with a
     white band (1940), featured in several movies. Blacklisted for a short
     time during the McCarthy era for her friendship with Paul Robeson.
     After a lengthy retirement, toured the country in the 1970s in _The
     Lady and Her Music_ to critical and audience raves.

           B. June 30, 1917(?), Susan Hayward, film actor. A brief modeling
     career in New York took her from the flatbush tenements to a small
     film contract.  Self-studied to rid herself of a Brooklyn accent and
     took acting lessons.  She languished in small parts and then got
     caught up in technicolor extravaganzas until she gained enough
     power to finally get the roles she wanted such as Eloise Winter in
     _My Foolish Heart_ (1950), Jane Forman in _With a Song in My
     Heart_(1952), Lillian Roth in _I'll Cry Tomorrow_ (1956) and Barbara
     Graham _I Want to Live_ (1958), the latter winning the Academy
     Award. The roles she sought were desperate women in desperate
     situations.

           Event June 30, 1927, Phoebe Fairgrave Omlie received the first
     pilot's license issued to a US woman.  

           B. June 30, 1940, Pat Schroeder, U. S. Representative from
     Colorado, feminist. 

           Event June 30, 1980, Vigdis Finnbogadottir, elected president of
     Iceland to become the first democratically elected female head of
     state. 

           Event June 30, 1982, Equal Rights Amendment fails ratification
     when Illinois fails to endorse women's rights. The final margin was
     three states short of the needed two-thirds. Every woman should
     wear a black band or black ribbon today.

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     >>(C) 1995 Irene Stuber, PO Box 6185, Hot Springs National Park, AR
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