In the past few weeks, I’ve shared some stories about the cold, cruel and unbalanced world around us and the need to keep the signal going.  But what happens when you do speak out?  Do things change?  The answer is yes – they do.  Some change faster than others but action and speaking out do make a difference.

That’s why today’s “Why We Are Here,” is about the positive side of working to make the world a better and more equal place.  There are two stories I am going to reference today, where Equality Now has helped justice prevail and the winds of change sweep far and wide.

Our first story deals with Zambia and the horrific rape of school girls by their teachers.  Not for the first time, Edson Hakasenke raped one of his students by luring her to his house on the premise of collecting schoolwork.  He threatened her, like so many others, with her expulsion, shame and guilt.  But the girl’s aunt spoke out, forcing the authorities into action.

Nonetheless, justice was not swift.  First Hakasenke fled the country.  Then, upon his return, they arrested him but LET HIM GO, citing there was too much delay in the reporting of the crime.  The aunt found a lawyer willing to take the case pro bono, but they were going against a huge hurdle.

And this is where Equality Now came into play.

Where does the money we raise go?  One place is Equality Now’s Adolescent Girls’ Legal Defense Fund.  With this fund they were able to assist the family’s lawyer with international and legal precedents.  This led to a civil judgement against this sick pedophile and further legal and disciplinary action against him.

But Equality Now didn’t stop there.

The problem of rape and abuse against schoolgirls in Zambia continued unchecked.  One victory is never enough.  So they set up a program to help identify this problem.  Together with Zambian organizations, they put together a plan to stop this heinous crime once and for all.

Then something else happened.  More girls who once had feared to come forward saw the light and sought justice.  Now, because of the support and voice of Equality Now, the laws have been changed and so many girls have hope where once they had none.

Our second uplifting story is about a woman named Kobra Najjar. Because of Equality Now’s fervent campaigns to save this woman, she recently was released from prison just this month – after 11 years of being imprisoned (the last three years waiting to be stoned to death).

Her crime?  Kobra was forced to prostitute herself by her own husband to support his heroin habit.  When one of her clients killed her husband in sympathy, they branded her as a murderess and an adulterer.

Yet Equality Now worked ceaselessly, waging written campaigns against the system, sending out pleas and letters to anyone who would listen until Kobra’s sentence was commuted to 100 lashes – tantamount to a death sentence.

However, they didn’t stop there.  Equality Now continued to cry out against the injustice and urged others to do the same.  Education, illumination and a heart of gold, fueled  EN to seek balance, to seek justice – and now at long last Kobra is free.

This is why we work so hard each year to help Equality Now, because their actions make a difference in the world.  By helping, we too are making a concerted effort to bring about change.

Henry David Thoreau said:  “It takes two to speak truth, one to speak and another to hear.”  So imagine what we can all do together.  Imagine how many of us there are, so that each time one of us speaks up for those who can’t, another is hearing and passing the truth on.  Now think about the support we give strong voices like Equality Now.  Instead of one set of ears, we are now able to reach thousands of ears.  By taking on the system one woman at a time, they are actually paving the way for hundreds and thousands of girls and women to achieve equality. One light in the darkness can shine enough light to see other shapes huddled therein and is enough to light the fires of hope in the hearts of so many.

So feel proud of yourselves, for all you’ve helped and will help, Equality Now do.  Many of us are pulling our hair out wondering if our plans will all come together for these charity screenings.  Stress may be causing doubt to whisper in our ears, and we find ourselves asking if it’s all worth it.  I simply say look around at how many lights of hope you are shining – and I think the only answer you’ll hear echoing in your hearts is . . .  YES!

Keep up the great work!

To read more about our first story, click here: Zambia: Rampant Rape of Schoolgirls by Their Teachers – Equality Now Women’s Action 32.1, February 2009

For more on Kobra Najjar:

• Equality Now Welcomes News of the Commutation Of Kobra Najjar’s Stoning But Condemns The Sentence Of 100 Lashings To Take Its Place – Equality Now News Alert, Iran, January 2009
• WordPress.com Blog Search for Kobra Najaar

With warm regards,

Anne Barringer
Can’t Stop the Serenity
2009 Global Organizer