ActionAid’s Get Lippy campaign focusses on the stories of a number of women in developing countries around the world, and is asking you to send your messages of support to them in time for International Women’s Day.
As part of the campaign a number of bloggers are involved telling the story of various of the women. I agreed to join in, and have watched the video of Nazziwa’s story.
It made me cry. You have been warned.
In case you didn’t watch the video (and tbh, I can understand why you might not – it can be difficult to really look at this stuff) the edited highlights are as follows – Nazziwa was beaten and abused by her husband. Despite her and her family asking for support from their local police, nothing was done to stop him as the family couldn’t afford to pay the police to arrest him, and he eventually attacked her, cutting off both her hands. He was eventually caught, tried and convicted, and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
10 years, for cutting off someone’s hands. Both hands. She can’t properly hold their daughter any more. She will be dependent on her family. Despite this, she wants to train to be a doctor, and I think it’s that hope and dream, simply expressed in the video, that hit home the most for me. Such amazing courage. I’m sending her a message of support through the ActionAid website, as well as here, via my blog. Please take a moment to join me, or to watch the videos of other women, other stories, other needs.
Thank you.
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