The civilized world must do its utmost to support the heroic struggle of Iranian women for their rights. This is what Yelena Likhach wrote in the blog “Darkest Gender Violence Must Be Defeated in the 21st Century” on the Medium website.
“Someone doesn’t like the length of your skirt, the colour of your hair, your gait, your voice, or something else. You could safely not care about that. But, unfortunately, on our sometimes civilized planet there are still countries and regimes where women are deprived of life for their appearance or, at best, put in jail for a long time,” said Yelena Likhach.
According to the UN, one in three women in the world suffers from gender-related violence. Over the past 10 years, the situation has remained unchanged, only exacerbated by wars, pandemics and natural disasters. That is why UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has once again called on governments all over the world to increase funding for organizations and movements for protection of women’s rights. Now the goal is plus 50% to the current level of funding in 2026.
“I am well aware that poverty is one of the catalysts for the plight of women around the world. From 2013 to 2020, I donated €385,000 and £100,000 to the Global Gift Foundation, which supports children, women and poor families. Yet, poverty is not the only or major cause of abuse of women. Oppressors’ snobbish stupidity, ignorance and prejudice are the three whales on which the modern system of women’s disempowerment is based. And it is necessary to fight with them first of all,” said Yelena Likhach.
The blogger cites statistics indicating that African women are most at risk of being killed by their own family members. The largest number of gender-related killings outside the family was recorded in Asia.
“It seems that family despots have gone too far with their ostentatious chastity, bordering on marasmus. After all, since September, the largest battle for women’s rights has been taking place in Iran, which has been rocked by mass protests against savagery and the Middle Ages. The last drop of the popular anger outburst was the murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained the previous day and severely beaten by the local vice police for, in their opinion, wearing the hijab incorrectly,” said Yelena Likhach.
According to the blogger, the very existence in the 21st century of such an institution as the vice police, which controls how women dress, could be considered ‘fairy idiocy’ if it were not for the tragic consequences of its violent activities. The author reminds that the struggle of Iranian women for their freedom has been going on for a long time, but it is only now that the history of more than 40 years of humiliation has a chance to end.
“Young Iranian girls say they don’t want anything special, they just want a normal life. Like going to university wearing modern clothes, not ancient robes. Laughing and having fun. Hanging out with friends. Instead, they are in constant fear that some mentally retarded representative of the vice police would not like the way they look!” stresses Yelena Likhach.
The blogger admires the heroism of Iranians. The main driving force of the protests is young people aged 15-22. Yung Iranian people are well aware that for disobedience, they can be imprisoned, maimed or even killed, but they are still fearlessly defending their rights.
“I urge you to sign the @vitalvoices petition Women, Life, Freedom, supported by prominent people such as Malala Yusufzai and Oprah Winfrey. Also, support the initiative to strengthen the voice of Iranian women through social media. There are no problems with Internet access in the West, but there are such problems in Iran. Let us ensure that messages of Iranian activists are disseminated as widely as possible throughout the world. Finally, the governments must be pressured as well. Your national ministries of foreign affairs should not give a moment’s rest to official Iran on any accessible platform,” said Yelena Likhach.
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