Nora Rasenti -November 2014.
A
few weeks ago I came across some pamphlets protesting the practice of
impregnating women against their will for the purpose of taking their
children. I thought: 'this indeed is
worst than rape!'
Much
has been said on the topic of reproductive rights: the issue is generally
linked to that of 'human rights' - it affects even those in jail (with a
smaller set), and has been extensively covered in actuality programs and gender
publications. Traditionally the angle
tends to be the issue of abortion - is the giving or taking of a life a choice
to be made? The matter of quality comes
to the surface, and poverty is often a determining factor when a family makes
the decision of denying life to one of its members. It does not matter how much some try to
trivialize this issue, there is a saddness to it.
But
the issue of reproductive rights should not be restricted to abortion lobbies,
pro's or con's. Reproductive rights also
include the many women that never get to meet their children because they are
kidnapped at birth, or even as early as they become viable embryos; sometimes
by the in-laws, sometimes by employers, or even un-ethical medical personnel
gathering subjects for medical experiments.
It
does not really matter how it gets to happen, the outcome is the same. A woman, a mother, that knows her children
are out there, but never gets to meet them.
Someone that wonders every day whether it is a birthday, or the start of
a special school term, and can not be there to see the child off. Celebrating one more Christmas surrounded by
mobs of parents trying to beat each other off the last 'Barbie' doll, or the
latest model of robot; while wondering what her child would like - and whether
they will find it in the Christmas tree.
A mother wondering if her children are being treated well, or abused;
when common sense indicates denying a child access to his or her own mother, is
itself abusive.
I
remember my joy when reading the International Rights of Children, in finding
access to their parents clearly listed!
And wishing that each of the rights itemized could be a reality for each
and every child... After all, these rights
are just a reflection of the wishes of the communities that were involved in
their compilation.
And
most enlightened nations in the world acknowledge and recognize the rights of
women regarding their children; why is it then, than in practice, so many
mothers end-up empty handed? I have come
across so many women in this situation, some of them robbed of the precious
gift of their own children against their will.
Some young women unwilling volunteers towards some real or immaginary
benefit to the larger community, and realize there is a need of
re-conceptualizing the strategies we use dealing with this problem - those
committed to assist are focusing efforts and resources in the symptoms rather
than the root causes.
