Monisola Ogunsuyi also known as Moni was born on March 24th, 1994 in downtown Toronto. She is of Nigerian decent and proud of her Nigerian-Canadian culture. Growing up was very hard for Moni and at times she almost thought it was impossible. She grew up in a very violent and toxic home and suffered from depression and anxiety because of it. At the ages of 16 and 17 she was also sexually assaulted and has been a survivor of domestic violence as well. She has been on her own since she was 16 … [Read more...]
Forced to marry her rapist — days until the big vote
January 10, 2014 by
16 year-old Amina Filali, raped, beaten and forced to wed her rapist, killed herself — the only way she saw to escape the trap set for her by her rapist and Moroccan law. We’ve joined Moroccan activists, campaigning for years to repeal this provision, and now victory is within reach. This week, one last vote could make it happen. Article 475 in Morocco’s penal code allows a rapist to avoid prosecution and a long prison sentence by marrying his victim if she is a minor. It’s any rape … [Read more...]
Somalia: Don’t Jail Women for Getting Raped
December 18, 2013 by
Somalia's treatment of rape is unacceptable and must be changed. Sign the petition and urge the Somali government to pursue true justice-no matter who the accusers or the accused are. Target: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Goal: Stop the imprisonment of rape survivors and the journalists who report their stories in Somalia Rape is a touchy subject all over the world, and rape victims are unfortunately often subject to suspicion, skepticism, and blame. Somalia, however, has … [Read more...]
UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Recounts 5-year-Old Girl’s Ordeal
June 25, 2013 by
SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS TEXT URGING TARGETED SANCTIONS AGAINST PERPETRATORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE DURING ARMED CONFLICT Rape Largely ‘Cost-free’, Says Special Representative As UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Recounts 5-year-Old Girl’s Ordeal The Security Council today urged the United Nations sanctions committees to apply targeted sanctions against parties committing sexual violence during armed conflict. Ahead of a debate on the subject that attracted more than 60 speakers, the … [Read more...]
UN peacekeeping, Women on the front lines to End Violence Against Women
May 27, 2013 by
March 2013 – “I know what it means to lose your house, to be looted. To look a child in the eye and say, 'If they come for me, you need to run'," said the newly appointed United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. "I know what it means to give testimony and to investigate the documents.” These words came from Zainab Hawa Bangura, former health minister of Sierra Leone and a survivor of that country’s civil war, who has just completed six months in office and is … [Read more...]
Stopping violence against women | Marta Vieira da Silva
April 29, 2013 by
Life isn’t easy for women – anywhere in the world. I grew up in Dois Riachos – a poor, remote town in the north-east of Brazil. Our family didn’t have much money; my mother worked hard to raise me and my two brothers and sister by herself. We couldn’t even afford a football – if we had bought one, we would have gone without food. At the age of 7, I knew I wanted to play football for the rest of my life. But being a girl, the path wasn’t straightforward. Everyone from my brothers to the … [Read more...]
