Graphics: Mumtaz Hussain
Human beings are curious by nature. They accept challenges and face dangers, compete, travel, and explore new opportunities. Immigration is one such way in search of a better quality of life. An immigrant is a person who leaves his/her homeland for different reasons to settle in another country. People migrate for economic reasons, political reasons, social, religious and environmental reason. They usually migrate for economic opportunity, better education for their children, and a better future for their families.
The United States has long been a welcoming country for immigrants, who become part of the country and contribute to its development both economically and culturally.
Yet, when it comes to gender equality, women from some Asian countries face a number of challenges since they don’t have the same kind of interaction with the American society as men do. A majority of women arrive with their husbands or other male relatives as dependents without much awareness of the American laws that guarantee them rights and protection.
In many cases they are unaware of their basic rights and when they face abuse, violence or restrictions within their families. Consequently, these women have no idea who to reach out to in order to stop injustice or abuse.
Ms. Seema Sethi, president Society of Enrichment of Asian, is an advocate for providing education to women from developing countries, where due to absence of democracy there is little awareness about women’s rights in the society.
“I have launched this project to make a documentary on abused immigrant women from South Asian countries,” Sethi, an appointee to the Virginia Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism, told a gathering, where she made a presentation about her work.
The event also celebrated diversity in Washington metro area
The docudrama – to be named shortly – Ms. Sethi is working on sheds light on the plight of the South Asian immigrants who face discrimination and denial of rights at their homes.
Ms. Sethi, who is also an advisory board member of Virginia’s Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, invited rights activists, artists and leaders from diverse communities.
“We have introduced the concept and hope that people will come forward to support this social cause-oriented project,” she told Views and News.
The documentary will highlight the example of an immigrant women who has to undergo the travails of divorce, face many challenges including emotional abuse when she is not allowed to see her children.
The community leaders expressed their support for the project. The speakers included Dr. Zulfiqar Kazmi, Puneet Ahluwalia, a social activist, Ms. Rani Verma of Bombay Tandoor, Noor Naghmi, a film artist, Kunal Bhandari, an attorney, Ms. Amrit Kalotra president Karuna Charities, inc, Ms. Nelly Samingo and Satish Korpe, adviser to SEA and community leader.
The guests included former Pakistani senator Akbar Khawaja and a former Press Attaché from Pakistan Embassy Nadeem Hotiana.
