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Statement from a Pakistani woman living in Britain "I'm
an immigrant and a mother, exhausted trying to care for and raise a child
in an unfamiliar, unhelpful society; to hold down a job and other
responsibilities, but the Strike lifts me up. It gives hope to women by
showing the importance of home and caring work. In my country 65% of the
budget goes to military expenditure, very little is left for women,
children, health, education. Women's health is always at risk, literacy is
very low for women and girls, and access to clean water, housing and other
resources, very difficult. Most resources go to the military, which
is very deeply established so other institutions do not grow. Whichever
party comes to power fails and falls into corruption, because the military
is always in power. There are tensions between Pakistan and Indian
governments, but there is no problem between the people: 40-50 years ago
we were separated but there has never been independence. Instead of
preparing for war, the money should go to development, starting with women
and children. Our country is made for people not for the military. |