Officially A Member of Global Hope 365 - California Coalition to End Child Marriage
Greetings, and Happy International Women's Day!
Today is our day, we are stronger together, and more powerful when we work together rather than alone. I have a lot to be thankful for. I'm thankful for my freedom from my forced marriage, for my three kids, and for how incredibly lucky I am having them in my life. My oldest daughter graduated last year with a degree in Psychology, and she's about to start Nursing School, and will work on her Master's Degree in Nursing! How amazing is that! I am so proud. I was not given that opportunity, and my three children know that I always say "education 1st, then marriage". I've told them of my struggles, and how it is much harder to work on getting a degree when you are older than when you are fresh out of High School. Now, my son is in college too, and I'm just so thankful that they are continuing with their education. I have broken the cycle of abuse in my family - that abuse is forced marriage. We all have a right to pursue education, and not be pushed into marriage first.
I am excited to announce that I will be sharing my story at two more upcoming events at MiraCosta College, one on March 26th at 4:30 pm at the San Elijo Campus, and one on Saturday, April 11th at 11 am or 12 noon at the Oceanside Campus. I will confirm this time as we get closer to that event.
I am also excited to announce that I am making alliances and have become a member of Global Hope 365 and their California Coalition to End Child Marriage. You can see my name listed on their website here at https://cacoalitiontoendchildmarriage.org/coalition-members/ This is very exciting for me. I am now working with both Global Hope 365 and Unchained At Last, and we will not stop until all girls are unchained from this human rights abuse inflicted on us where our freedom and rights are taken away from us. International Womens Day is an important day for me. It reminds me of how far women and girls have come, but also it's a constant reminder of how far we still have to go until all girls are free, and not victimized any more.
Until we raise awareness, and stop these harmful practices we will have more honor abuse victims who say "no" to child marriage and/or forced marriage and pay the ultimate price for speaking up with their own lives. Yes, they are murdered by their own families - and it's called "honor killing", because the families honor is of such importance that if a girl defies them, that girl must pay the ultimate price. This has happened to countless girls. Let me name just a few: Shafilea Ahmed of the UK, Banaz Mahmod of the UK, Jassi Sidhu of Canada, Sarah and Amina Said of the USA (Texas), Noor Faleh Almaleki of the USA (Peoria, AZ). I really could give you so many more names. In order to stop the cold blooded murders happening just because girls don't want arranged marriages - we have to spread awareness of the horrors that happen when girls don't comply. These are not just murders by someone in the community, but a family member! How will anyone know that if we don't raise awareness of what is going on and the cultural expectations? Girls are victimized with acid attacks just for saying "no" to an arranged marriage. This has all got to stop. If we raise the marriage age to 18, and if we criminalize forced marriage, these are two steps in the right direction.
It will take some time to work on the legislation that needs to be passed, but we are working towards that goal. Please continue sharing the petition, and sharing the horrors you may have just learned about. It's important, because you could save someone's life with just the knowledge, and being able to spot the signs and know the potential dangers. We all have to care, and protect lives from this abuse.
Thanks so much for your support, and wishing you a beautiful month ahead.
Davinder
PS: The picture I am sharing today was taken at my public speaking event for So Say We All where I shared my story on January 30th, earlier this year. The picture is courtesy of photographer Killian Whitelock.