Inna Derusova with her Defender of the Motherland Medal
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Esprit de Corps Magazine February 2023 // Volume 30 Issue 1
Let's Talk About Women in the Military – Column 47
by Military Woman
Question:
What countries’ women are at increased risk right now?
Answer:
Unfortunately, 2023 has started off with no shortage of nations whose people, especially women, are struggling. Without implying a hierarchy for which women’s pain and suffering is more important or having a greater impact in the world today, let us briefly look more deeply at two countries – Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Since the last Military Woman column on Afghanistan (Vol 29, Issue 6), the Taliban have imposed even more draconian limitations on women’s basic human rights including their access to education and work.
On December 20, 2022, the Taliban banned all women from attending university, whether as students or professors. Some Taliban leaders have been reported to have used this opportunity to completely block women and girls in their regions from all forms of education, including primary school.
As if this alone was not enough, the Taliban then went on to ban Afghan women from assisting humanitarian aid groups. Given that most of these groups relied heavily on the help and support of local women, many of their programs have been forced to stop temporarily, if not permanently.
With over 95% of the Afghan population already living in poverty and over 20 million people thought to be in acute hunger distress, the international community, including the UN and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, has called on the Taliban to reverse these new decisions.
Some women, like former Afghan Member of Parliament for Kabul Province, Mursal Nabizada, have been showing great courage domestically through continued acts of defiance against the Taliban. The act of a peaceful street protest is largely expected to be met with water weapons, beatings, or detentions. The Taliban have now escalated from this, reinstating both public floggings and executions – something the old regime was notorious for worldwide.
A growing number of men are also joining in acts of defiance against the Taliban. This growing domestic movement against the Taliban is worthy not just of international admiration, but of tangible international support.
Given these escalations, international human rights groups are calling for more generous efforts to take in Afghan refugees. It remains very disappointing that the government of Canada, a self-proclaimed feminist government with a significant past military involvement in Afghanistan, has seen less than 28,000 of the promised 40,000 at-risk Afghans arrive here since August 2021. Yet over 140,000 Ukrainians have arrived since January 2022.
The war in Ukraine has unfortunately continued on since our previous Military Woman Column on that topic (Vol 29, Issue 3). The line between civilian and military spheres continues to be blurred. A recent survey of women in Ukraine found approximately 60% prepared to “personally participate in the armed resistance” when required, with 30% willing to volunteer for front-line activities. Ukrainian women having proven themselves in combat for several years now, especially in the roles of artillery officers, snipers, and medics.
One, now famous, front line combat medic, Inna Derusova, received the “Defender of the Motherland Medal” for her impressive war-time efforts. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter she had the dubious honour of becoming the first woman to receive the title of “Hero of Ukraine” – posthumously.
Meanwhile, reports continue to pile up of Ukrainian women (and men), civilian and military, young and old, suffering sexual violence at the hands of Russian forces. This is rightly being treated as a war crime.
Afghanistan and Ukraine are but two nations whose women have stood up to fight for human rights and to help secure stability and peace in their respective nations.
Canadians can show their solidarity with these women (and men) in many ways, including:
staying informed about these various at-risk situations;
donating money to verified international charities;
lobbying the Canadian government to keep its promises;
volunteering time, furniture, or a room in your own home for a private refugee sponsorship and/or a refugee resettlement program; and
supporting Women, Peace and Security related programs.
Together – we can make a difference.
Update:
