The head of Amnesty International U.S.A.'s women's human rights program visited Elon March 29. Details...
Dr. Sheila Dauer told Elon students that women are still victims of discrimination, torture and abuse throughout the world.
“In many places, women do not have a right to live,” says Dauer, who spoke to two separate classes before an evening lecture. Dauer told the students that laws of evidence in many countries make it impossible for women to have a realistic chance of gaining justice in the courts. “In Pakistan, a woman who claims rape must have four adult male Muslim witnesses to prove the crime. Obviously, that’s not going to happen,” Dauer says.
A charter member of Amnesty’s Taskforce on Women’s Human Rights, Dauer says changing cultures and traditions is the way to bring an end to crimes such as honor killing, bride burning and acid dousing. “Change is coming, as we are seeing customs and rites of passage being altered to honor the value of women, rather than degrading them. People are starting to ask, ‘Why should you be able to throw acid on a woman because she won’t marry you?’”