Elisabeth Bond (Washington, corriente continua)

Breast cancer day in Libya 2012.

For the first time since their 2011 revolución, Libyans took to the streets to celebrate something other than their newly-found political liberty.

On Monday, Octubre 1, hundreds of Libyans marked the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by marching three kilometers through Benghazi in a sea of pink. Holding signs and singing songs, women and activists spread awareness for the widely misunderstood disease.

Dr. Rehab Shembesh, a clinical oncologist and co-founder of The Cure Foundation Libya, explained that many cancer patients feel embarrassment and fail to seek treatment for their ailments due to poor societal acceptance of the disease.

To motivate onlookers and participants into action, the Breast Cancer Awareness March concluded with a spectacularly pink fireworks display. Monday’s event was the first large-scale public awareness campaign for cancer in Libya, and it marked the beginning of a month-long campaign of television and radio public service announcements, pink storefronts in Benghazi’s business district, and educational visits to universities, women’s health clubs, and mosques.

The Breast Cancer Awareness March was hosted by six local civil society organizations, including two organizations funded by Creative’s Libya Community Driven Grants Program (CDGP) – The Cure Foundation Libya and Ayadina Association for Societal Solidarity. Libya CDGP is funded by the US Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).

Elisabeth Bond, Creative CDGP Technical Manager, División de Comunidades en Transición

Alexandra Barnett (Washington, corriente continua)

The attack earlier this week on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libia, and the violence that has since surged, primarily targeting embassies throughout the Muslim world, is sobering.

Ambassador Stevens was a friend to the Libyan people who was steadfast in his support of Libya’s transition to democracy. The deaths of Ambassador Stevens and three of his staff have sparked an outcry among those working to support peace throughout the world.

Creative and our partners will continue to work towards building a new and better Libya, one that meets the dreams and aspirations of the majority of Libyans. Such a vision seems more challenging now, making our work now more important than ever.

The press release below, written by Maan Nabneeha Movement, a Libyan civil society organization focused on elections and women’s participation in government, captures their sentiment as the Libyan people face yet another obstacle on the path to freedom and tolerance.

PRESS RELEASE
Maan Nabneeha Movement
Tripoli, Libia

“I consider myself lucky to participate in this amazing period of change and hope in Libya.”
– Ambassador Chris Stevens

Those were the last words of a great friend for Libyans, Ambassador Chris Stevens; he was a friend more than just an Ambassador. We felt grief on the tragedy of Mr. Ambassador Chris Stevens’ death; we condemn this barbaric action which does not represent us Libyans and Muslims. We send our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

The news of Mr. Ambassador Chris Stevens’ death awakened us Libyans, to danger of those irresponsible and fanatic elements who are threatening our freedom, democracy and stability of our country. Our grief has turned to anger and anger to courage; now we are more determined to rebuild new civilized democratic Libya; we promise, we will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.

We will not forget you Mr. Embajador, Chris Stevens, and you will always be there in our hearts and minds.

The Maan Nabneeha Movement is a Libyan civil society organization working to support women candidates in the National Assembly elections, and support and encourage women voters.