Fighting for Women's Rights in Iran

by Charles Lenchner · 2008-12-06 08:00:00 UTC
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The One Million Signatures Campaign in Iran is building support for women's rights in a politically oppressive society on person at a time. Using nothing but a simple petition and more than a thousand committed volunteers, they are demanding:

...equal rights for women in marriage, equal rights to divorce for women, an end to polygamy and temporary marriage, an increase of the age of criminal responsibility to 18 for both girls and boys, the right for women to pass on nationality to their children, equal compensation for bodily injury or death, equal inheritance rights, reform of laws that reduce punishment for offenders in cases of honor killings, and equal testimony rights for men and women in court.

The response? Imprisonment, censorship and other official harrasment. What I love about this campaign is the grassroots focus, which means there is no one charismatic leader than can be singled out. It's also a great example of a campaign for women's rights that takes it for granted that men would take part.

The campaign is a finalist in the One World People of 2008 competition, highlighting some of the amazing word being done around the world by social change activisits. Learn more here.

Check it out and vote for this group - or one of the others making a difference around the world.

Charles Lenchner
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