Tiana Shashi De Silva 304

Write a speech highlighting what you think is the most challenging issue facing the world today, and how Commonwealth values can be used to solve it. 

Sadly, in the next hour after I give my speech, five women around the world will become victims of femicide. That is 137 women and girls per day and 50,000 per year. Good morning, everyone. I am Tiana Shashi De Silva. Today, I will be discussing the violation of women’s rights, which I believe is the most challenging issue facing the world today. Despite numerous women’s rights movements throughout history, it remains a prevalent problem in the 21st century. Isn't it unbelievable that in this day and age, many reprehensible acts against women can still occur with little consequence? One would think that society has progressed beyond this point. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Some examples of women's rights violations that I will elaborate upon include gender-based violence, reproductive rights, and education restrictions. To address this issue, we can work together to utilize Commonwealth values such as the rule of law, human rights, and access to education. Without further ado, let me begin discussing how this can be achieved.

The rule of law is a Commonwealth value that can be utilized to address gender-based violence, one of the many women's rights violations prevalent in today's world. Gender-based violence against women includes crimes such as sexual harassment and physical assault, negatively impacting women's safety and mental health. Victims may struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, living the rest of their lives in anxiety after distressing circumstances. Recently, there was a mass stabbing incident in Sydney resulting in the deaths of 5 women among others who were injured or murdered. According to an article by CNN, the offender had "focused on women and ignored the men". Intentionally causing harm to women with the intent to kill—and succeeding—is essentially considered femicide. Women deserve to feel safe in public instead of constantly living in fear for their safety. The Commonwealth value of the rule of law can be instrumental in preventing such occurrences from happening again. Legal systems around the world could consider Commonwealth values of human rights, respecting the protection of women and opposing gender discrimination. They could also reflect on the Commonwealth value of the rule of law, enforcing the implementation of harsher sentences for those who commit felonies like murder or aggravated assault. This would ensure that offenders face severe consequences for their actions, potentially deterring others from breaking the law. This is just one example of how Commonwealth values can be useful in addressing challenging issues facing the world. This brings me to my next point.

The Commonwealth value of human rights and access to healthcare can be employed to address violations against women's rights, such as restrictions on reproductive rights. Shockingly, it is estimated that over 32,000 pregnancies result from rape each year in just America alone. This is an alarming statistic, worsened by the fact that many women across the world lack access to safe, timely, and affordable abortion care. This is a critical human rights issue, as unsafe abortions are a leading cause of maternal deaths. Approximately 45% of abortions are unsafe. However, Commonwealth values of human rights and access to healthcare can help solve this issue by encouraging countries that criminalize abortion or lack proper, affordable abortion facilities to allow and promote safe abortion. Every woman has the right to make decisions about her body, especially if she has been taken advantage of and lacks the financial capability to raise a child. In cases of complicated pregnancies, abortion is the best option that increases the mother's survival rate. Urging these countries to change their policies and upgrade their healthcare facilities helps more women have access to the reproductive care they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives. Let's work together to promote Commonwealth values that help solve the issue of women's rights violations.

Women around the world are unfairly restricted when it comes to their education. 130 million girls worldwide are denied the basic human right to education. Lack of education hinders women from developing their creativity and broadening their prospects. Millions of women are deprived of the chance to further their education, and it is even punishable by law to do so in some states. Doesn't that sound medieval? Commonwealth values that can aid in solving this issue include gender equality and access to education. The Commonwealth recognizes that the education of girls is crucial for effective and sustainable development. Inspired by Commonwealth values, citizens of countries where education for women is prohibited can call upon their government to listen to their people's opinions and amend their policies to align with these Commonwealth values. Using Commonwealth values, this aspect of women's rights violations can also be addressed.

The issue of women's rights violations is a complex and multifaceted challenge that affects millions of women worldwide. Despite significant progress in recent years, women continue to face a wide range of obstacles to their basic rights and freedoms, including gender-based violence, reproductive rights violations, and education restrictions. Although it may require considerable time and effort, the implementation of Commonwealth values can pave the way for a brighter future for women worldwide. As I conclude my speech, I remain hopeful that we will soon witness a world where women are not subject to outrageous violations of their rights. Here's to a brighter tomorrow for women all around the world! Thank you very much for your kind attention throughout my speech today.