A Life Free Of Violence

Violence against women collectively refers to violent acts that are primarily or exclusively committed against women. It cuts across cultural and religious barriers, impeding the right of women to participate fully in society. Similar to a hate crime, this type of violence targets a specific group with the victim's gender as a primary motive. The United Nations General Assembly defines "violence against women" as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."

The Cayman Islands issued this stamp image in A “LIFE WITHOUT VIOLENCE: ITS OUR RIGHT" campaign launched by UNIFEM in 1997. UNIFEM is the women’s fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programs and strategies to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality. In coordination with other UNITED NATIONS agencies the campaign’s objective is to firmly place gender violence on the public agenda as a health and human rights issue, placing a spotlight on violence against women, probably the most pervasive human rights violation that affects as many as one in three women. We used this stamp image as inspiration for one of our ladies shirts. We thought it was so important an issue that we printed the design on our contoured short sleeve t-shirt as well as a thermal hoody to enable our customers to bring attention to this immensely important issue no matter what the season.

In 1993 the United Nations acknowledged the global dimensions of female targeted violence when the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. This declaration noted that this violence could be perpetrated by assailants of gender, family members and even the "State" itself. Worldwide governments and organizations actively work to combat violence against women through a variety of programs. The Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 1994/45 of 4 March 1994, in which it decided to appoint the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, including its causes and consequences. A UN resolution designated November 25th as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Violence against women continues to be a major human rights violation and progress is tied to the political will and commitment to allocate the necessary financial and human resources to address this tragedy.

For More Information;

UNIFEM
http://unifem.org/
Womenshealth.gov
http://www.4woman.gov/violence/
United Nations Human Rights Commission Women and Violence
http://www.un.org/rights/dpi1772e.htm
Human Rights Council Discusses Violence Against Women 6/5/08
http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/NewsRoom?OpenFrameSet

Rwanda As Inspiration For A Fashion T-Shirt

Now that I have posted the evolution of and inspiration for Ethnicitee, I wanted to talk about the images I used for the T-shirts and update the current situation and/or the lessons learned from the events which took place in each country. The first one is our Rwanda shirt:

RWANDA

The General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1965 as International Co-operation Year. Since 1959 the UN has designated International years in order to draw attention to major issues and to encourage international action to address concerns which have global importance and ramifications. This stamp image and ICY logo we used to inspire the T-shirt design, while recalling the genocide, portrays the farming roots and geographical beauty of this strife-torn nation. Fourteen years ago, the failure of the international community to respond in a meaningful way to end the genocide in Rwanda, vividly illustrated the need for the development of guidelines to govern how and when nations are to intervene to prevent a humanitarian crisis in another country. In the following years, the consensus of opinion supports the rights of civilians to be protected from both their own government and their fellow citizens. Effective mechanisms and the political will to prevent genocide are still lacking as is evidenced by the current tragedy in the Sudan today.

Updated Mission Statement

Mission Statement

It is the mission of ETHNICITEE to provide a vehicle for a unique and contemporary method of celebrating and respecting our cultural similarities as well as our differences. By proudly displaying evocative works of art on a textile pallet, we shall provide a catalyst for embracing ethnicity through a deepening of our understanding, admiration, and tolerance for one another.

Value Proposition

• We propose to bring value to our customers by connecting one another through celebration and mutual respect.
• Display our artwork on the highest quality apparel and accessories through the most sophisticated of printing and embroidering techniques.

Vision

• Creation of a community, of connected, impassioned people, who through the development of a deeper respect and appreciation for the heritage of others create opportunities for, and enriches the lives of children affected by ethnic conflict.
• Ten percent of our profits will be placed in our foundation which will initiate the process.

Inspiration

Of the 39 major armed conflicts in the world, 37 could plausibly be described as ethnic conflicts. The negativity and intolerance that emanates from these conflicts have global implications. Ethnicitee has developed a unique and contemporary method of celebrating and respecting our cultural similarities as well as our differences. The essence of what is alluring and consequential in our cultures, a reflection of our ethnicity, has been portrayed in mini masterpieces of artwork; stamps. Exercising our artistic license, Ethnicitee provides each individual with an opportunity to celebrate and respect ethnicity, enriching the lives of those who are the most innocent victims of intolerance; children.