If you are not concerned about Women's Rights, then you are not paying attention.
Across the country, we're seeing attacks on birth control coverage, invasive mandatory ultrasound laws, and even legislation that permits a doctor opposed to abortion to lie about the results of your blood tests, your ultrasound, your cvs or your amnio. It is simply appalling that we are fighting these battles in the 21st century.
The recent well-publicized misogynistic comments of a conservative talk radio host also underscores the hostility women face daily. An alarming number of women in the United States experience grievous violence, and our government has failed to respond effectively. The statistics speak for themselves: domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to U.S. women between the ages of 15 and 44; an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year; and 1 in 4 American women are abused by their partners.
So it is quite timely that the University of Maine School of Law will be hosting international women's rights advocate Judge Unity Dow to share her story of leadership and success in overcoming immense barriers – social, cultural, political, and economic – to achieve greater rights and dignity for women in her home country of Botswana, and other African nations.
Dow served for a decade as the first female Judge of Botswana’s High Court and returned recently to the practice of law, addressing challenges of HIV/AIDS, child protection, violence against women, and human rights.
She has published five books addressing gender issues, her nation’s poverty, and the struggle between Western and traditional values and has taught and lectured around the world. She co-founded the AIDS Action Trust, is a member of International Women’s Rights Watch, and serves as Executive Committee Chair of the International Commission of Jurists. Judge Dow grew up in rural Botswana, and studied law at the University of Botswana and Swaziland and at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Dow will deliver the inaugural Justice for Women Lecture on March 27, 2012 at 7pm at the Abromson Community Education Center, 88 Bedford Street.
Across the country, we're seeing attacks on birth control coverage, invasive mandatory ultrasound laws, and even legislation that permits a doctor opposed to abortion to lie about the results of your blood tests, your ultrasound, your cvs or your amnio. It is simply appalling that we are fighting these battles in the 21st century.
The recent well-publicized misogynistic comments of a conservative talk radio host also underscores the hostility women face daily. An alarming number of women in the United States experience grievous violence, and our government has failed to respond effectively. The statistics speak for themselves: domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to U.S. women between the ages of 15 and 44; an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year; and 1 in 4 American women are abused by their partners.
So it is quite timely that the University of Maine School of Law will be hosting international women's rights advocate Judge Unity Dow to share her story of leadership and success in overcoming immense barriers – social, cultural, political, and economic – to achieve greater rights and dignity for women in her home country of Botswana, and other African nations.
Dow served for a decade as the first female Judge of Botswana’s High Court and returned recently to the practice of law, addressing challenges of HIV/AIDS, child protection, violence against women, and human rights.
She has published five books addressing gender issues, her nation’s poverty, and the struggle between Western and traditional values and has taught and lectured around the world. She co-founded the AIDS Action Trust, is a member of International Women’s Rights Watch, and serves as Executive Committee Chair of the International Commission of Jurists. Judge Dow grew up in rural Botswana, and studied law at the University of Botswana and Swaziland and at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Dow will deliver the inaugural Justice for Women Lecture on March 27, 2012 at 7pm at the Abromson Community Education Center, 88 Bedford Street.
