Advocates hold vigil for women

By JOYCE DURIGA
Collegian Staff Writer

Candles flickering and a banner that read "Women's Rights Are Human Rights" and "Rape Is a Form Of Torture" greeted cars and passers-by on the corner of College Avenue and Allen Street last night.

International rape victims were remembered during a candlelight vigil held at 8:30 p.m. at the campus gates. The vigil was sponsored by Amnesty International.

Molly Monahan, president of Penn State's Amnesty International began the vigil saying "We speak tonight on behalf of women who cannot speak for themselves."

After Monahan addressed the crowd, cases of international rape victims were read by various members of the group. Students read cases about women who were gang-raped by soldiers in countries in conflict such as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Burma.

Cases were also read about women in peaceful countries such as Australia and the United States. Moments of silence were taken in between readings in memory of these victims.

Alvin Wang (sophomore-civil and environmental engineering) attended the vigil out of concern for Amnesty International's Burma campaign. This campaign has recently resulted in a boycott of Pepsi products.

"I think rape is an extremely important issue that is a problem worldwide. It's important to raise awareness everywhere," Wang said.

Wendi Wike (junior-elementary education) attended the candlelight vigil because of a women's studies class, but she said she brought all of her friends with her because she thought it was an important cause.

This vigil marks the begining of a semester-long campaign by Amnesty International to increase awareness of international violence against women, Monahan said. Amnesty International is a human rights organization that works to release men and women incarcerated for such things as their beliefs, sex and race.

The organization works for the release of these "prisoners of conscience" by writing letters to various governments urging the release of these people.

Members of Amnesty International hoped to reach people through the vigil and make them more aware of what is going on in the world around them.

"Even if someone just comes and thinks about an issue they have never thought of before . . . it is all worth it," Monahan said.