Nobel laureate Ebadi opposes nuclear proliferation

New Delhi, Nov 25 (UNI) Nobel laureate human rights activist Shirin Ebadi today expressed herself strongly against nuclear proliferation and urged those countries to redirect half of their military budget towards the removal of gender discrimination and sex trafficking.

"No country needs atomic bomb. Neither India, Pakistan, United States, Iraq nor Iran. In fact, what is most important is world peace," she said, adding "atomic bomb never brought security to any nation." Addressing a press conference at the launch of the book "The place where we live is called a red light area," written and illustrated by the children living in the lanes of Kalighat and Sonagachchi areas in Kolkata, she said every country needs to allocate half of its military budget in removing the crucial social issues like gender discrimination and sex trafficking prevalent in the society, instead of spending it in manufacturing nuclear weapons.

"In fact, the government of every country needs to establish vocational schools so that prostitutes can afford to earn a respectable livelihood instead of depending on it for their survival," the Nobel laureate said. "But in such cases, every government pleads that they have insufficient funds," she added.

"Vocational training schools would act as an important step to eliminate prostitution," she said.

Syeda Hameed, well-known human rights activist, said as a member of the Planning Commission, her prime duty was to see that adequate resources were being made available to fight these social problems.

"The 11th Five Year Plan has recognised violence against women as a central problem and my role as a Member of the Planning Commission is to see that adequate funds are being allocated to fight violence against women," Ms Hameed said.

Asked about Iran's on-going nuclear programme which has created a hue and cry in the world politics, Ms Ebadi said, "fortunately, I am not a part of the government and I don't know what is happening behind the closed doors." Known for her relentless advocacy on human rights, Ms Ebadi, who became Iran's first Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2003 for her autobiography named 'Iran Awakening, The memoir of Revolution and Hope', had escaped two assassination attempts. She has been critical of the US-backed ''war on terrorism'' and its implications on human rights.

Her outspoken campaigns for democracy and greater rights for Iranian women and children have often brought her into conflict with conservative clerics in Iran.

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