Lets Help!

I was skimming through the October issue of Marie Claire the other day and came across an article that reminded me of how truly blessed I am...

The article, "F.Y.I. The Worst Places on Earth for Women," by Jihan Thompson states that although some of the world's 3.3 billion females are running governments and Fortune 500 companies, there are still places where women are systematically repressed and tortured. Thompson asked that we visit here and bring it to our congressional representatives' attention. Please read below and then copy and paste the facts in an email to your local congressperson. It will take five minutes of our time and it is the least we can do to help these women.

HAITI: Nearly 50% of women in the Cite Soleil, the capital, have been sexually assaulted--rape was criminalized only 3 years ago.
GUATEMALA: Since 2002, 2,900 women and girls have been murdered, 590 last year alone. The cases are rarely solved thanks to a corrupt and negligent legal system.
NIGER: Only 4% of women have access to contraceptives and 67% of births happen without a health professional on hand.
SIERRA LEONE: According to the article and the Human Development Report, this is the worst place to be a woman. Only 24% of women are literate, and one in eight die during pregnancy or childbirth. The life expectancy of a woman in Sierra Leone is 43.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: In the country's decade-long civil war, gang rape, often involving the creative use of guns and machetes, is a common weapon.
AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world--every half hour a woman dies during childbirth. On top of that, domestic violence is endemic--87% of women have been assaulted by a family member.
NEPAL: The female literacy rate is at 35%. If girls aren't married off in their teens, there's a good chance they'll be sold by their families to sex traffickers.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Girls get just 5 years of formal education before going to work. They are also 4 times more likely than men to contract HIV.

Lets try to help! Take a minute and send an email...