Stop “honor” Killings Campaign’s Statement for March 8, 2022, International Women’s Day
Women’s Rights are Human Rights
In 1910, one hundred women across seventeen countries, all of whom attended the International Conference of Women in Copenhagen, proposed a holiday called International Women’s Day to globally unite women so that they may achieve their human rights. With the persuasion of women’s rights activists, the UN General Assembly finally recognized March 8th as International Women’s Day in 1977.
Regardless of their differences, on March 8th, women around the world unite through their solidarity and empathy in order to declare their commitment to an equal world and the elimination of all gender-based oppression.
Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, we have witnessed increasing rates of violence against women in Iran and around the world in 2021. The heinous murdering of young girls and women kindled the grief and anger of conscientious people, especially in Iran. Likewise, we are seeing a surge in female resistance and mobilization against all forms of violence. Women’s rights activists bravely persist on this difficult path to equality and continue to achieve much against religious extremism, the patriarchy, and gender inequality of all forms.
The Stop “honor” Killings Campaign succeeded in bringing the slogans “Women are no one’s honor” and “No one is anyone’s honor” into the community. Our campaign also brought awareness of the issue to the UN. On November 25th, The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and 16 Days of Orange, the United Nations focused on honor killings. In addition, the United Nations is placing emphasis on prejudice and partiality for the 2022 International Women’s Day Celebration.
The Stop “honor” killings Campaign, together with the women around the world, are trying to build a world free of prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, just, and inclusive. We strive for a world where differences are valued and celebrated.
We believe that “honor” killings are the result of gender inequality and the disregard for women’s human rights, as well as patriarchal power relations, ethnic-tribal customs, and anti-women laws.
We firmly declare that laws authorizing “honor” killings, such as Articles 630, 301, and 302 should be repealed and that laws based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for criminals should be established instead.
We want security for the lives of the women of our country. We declare that the establishment of laws with the essence of equality and the preservation of human dignity is not only urgent, but necessary for women. We will do our best to change the status quo to prevent further threats and killings.
Stop “honor” killings Campaign
March, 2022
