Why I Am A Feminist? A conversation with a student!

One of my friend named, Reem, a high school student, who takes Women & Gender studies class asked me following questions as part of her project. I met Reem at the United Nations headquarters in New York. I told her about my activities and passion.  I gave her following answers and thought to publish them as well. The idea of this post is to encourage the people to join our movement, He For She as well as to raise awareness.

Credits: Huffington Post

• What inspired you to become a Feminist?

Ans: When I saw the cruelties and violence against women around the globe, I stood up against them and challenged dogmatic beliefs that were encouraging violence against women. I’m a feminist because of my and every mother, sister, and daughter around the globe. I’m a feminist because this world cannot advance alone. Both men and women can achieve a peaceful future together. It’s not just for our generations but for the generations to come.

No more Nagasakis. No more Hiroshimas: Youth demands a Nuclear Free World!

Hiroshima / New York, August/Sep 2015

Throughout the years, I have been working with young people around the globe in building their capacity by empowering communities and advocating for peace, security and the  rights of all people. When it comes to youth, my aspirations are always multiplied with hope and strength because we are the “generation of change”. If we can’t change the whole world, don’t get disappointed because we can create change at any level of society and, at the end of the day, impact the globe. We are 1.8 billion in numbers and rising. We are the Youth of the world and a generation of change.

Thanks #Japan for warm hospitality. Happy to be among fellow activists who worked hard. #Youth4Peace #HiroshimaYS2015 pic.twitter.com/KNzPyIVn7v

— Syed Mahmood Kazmi (@SMahmoodKazmi) August 31, 2015

I was flown into Hiroshima from New York City to join youth Activists, the hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) and experts at the International Youth Summit for Nuclear Abolition to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the tragic Hiroshima and Nagaski bombings.

United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum

The United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum 2015 was held from 2-3 February 2015 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Even the snowy weather couldn’t stop this wonderful event to be happened. This year’s theme was “Youth Engagement in the Transition from MDGs to SDGs: What will it take?”. The two-day event brought almost 700 young people and representatives from worldwide on a single platform. The forum has been happening since 2012. The objectives of the event were to provide young people a platform to engage in dialogue with the member states from MDGs to SDGs, to mark the 20th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY), to focus attention on the importance of gender equality and identify recommendations for the ECOSOC ministerial meeting in July.

On the first day, the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Ambassador Martin Sajdik warmly welcomed the participants. During his remarks, he emphasized the power of young people with the great examples of Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and Malala Yousafzai. ” With 1.8 billion people, youth and adolescents represent one quarter of the world’s population. Youth constitute the force of change for our societies.”

Gender Equality: End Violence against Women!

                                         The first thing which comes in my mind when I hear “Violence against Women” is injustice, cruelty and an act which will destroy generations. It hurts me badly. To me it is brutality, butchery and barberry against one of the greatest creation of the God. A woman is mother, sister, wife, daughter or a girlfriend. How can we go to that extreme level to disrespect all the relations a woman might have and torture her mentally or physically? My souls trembles when I hear and as I am writing this, tears flows down my eyes while thinking about millions of the women being victimized because of this violence every day. No one even comes to know about that, as it is most of time not reported. Violence against women is not only a crime but it’s a serious disrespect towards humanity and the core values of civilization. It is humiliation, disgrace, dishonor, degradation and embarrassment against the name of passion, love, care, enmity, adoration and affection. To me, it is a barrier against the advancement and success of a woman. To me, it discourages the greatness and motivation of a woman who can achieve a good rank in society. It is a bad example and an act against nature because I believe God made man and woman for Love, care and affection not for torture or violence. Violence against women is a worst thing one can do to terrorize, victimize, isolate, coerce or threaten humanity. One of the greatest barriers to women’s economic progression is violence that women have to face routinely.

Stop Killing Shia Hazara before its too late!

 

Islam says, “Killing of a human being is like killing whole humanity”. Some terrorists organizations on the name of Islam kill Muslims. Who are they to decide who is right or wrong Muslim. Every human being has right on fellow human being. The right of living is fundamental right of all the people around the planet. But Terrorists organizations like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Sipah-e-Sahaba (Ahl-e-Sunnat Waljamaat) are always killing the innocent people across Pakistan. They are banned by Government but they are always operating with different names, faces and activities. They have just one mission: To kill other human beings.

86 people were killed in deadly bomb blasts in Alamdar Road Quetta and many dozens were injured. The terrorist organization I mentioned above claimed responsibility of these deadly attacks. Yet, no murderer is convicted. When 86 Hazara youth were brutally massacred on Jan 10, 2013, the Chief Minister of Balochistan province was partying abroad; the President and Prime Minster refused to comment for several hours while the Hazaras with their dead bodies carried a sit in protest for four days. The massacre of 86 Hazara right at the start of the new year foreshadows an ominous, deadly year for this subjugated community and for those belonging to the Shiite sect.