According to the AP, a Saudi human rights group has published the "Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice" report, accusing the country's notorious religious police of discriminating against women. The report "also urged an end to the marriage of underage girls and demanded a faster pace for judicial reform, including retraining judges."

Saudi women are sidelined, no doubt, but there is a ray of hope. Many bright young women are now standing up and voicing their opinions and concerns, refusing to give in to the country's oppressive environment.

Faisal Abbas, editor of the London-based Arab daily Asharq Al Awsat, recently interviewed one such role model for Saudi women. Muna Abu Sulayman, who has been called  the Oprah of Saudi Arabia, is the first woman from the country to host a show on an Arab satellite channel. She now heads the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, working on disaster relief operations and promoting dialogue between the Islamic world and the West.

A mother of two, Muna wears the veil and believes that being religious does not stop one from accepting modern ideas and ways.

Bhumika Ghimire

"Theatre is a tool for social change. It makes you happy and is therapy for the soul. A lot of people don't realize that theatre can tap into a place where people need to do something for themselves. I provide that outlet."

-Lilly Lips, theatre producer, director, and activist for _gaia

Let me introduce you to Lillian Ribeiro (a.k.a. Lilly Lips), true vagina warrior princess, activist, and my bohemian artist hero. I met Lillian while auditioning for her production of Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues for V-Day 2006 in Union City, New Jersey. It had been over a year since I had auditioned for anything. The last audition I had gone to was for Dracula on Broadway, which had gone disastrous as I nervously piped Frank Wildhorn's No One Knows Who I Am out of tune live, in front of Frank Wildhorn himself.

The first thing Lillian said to me as I walked into the room was "How is your vagina feeling today?" If that didn't break the ice, I don't know what would have. Next, I had to audibly produce the best orgasm I possible could. I felt like Meg Ryan in that famous scene from When Harry Met Sally.

Lastly, Lillian asked me why I wanted to be involved with the Vagina Monologues.  My reason was more real than the fake orgasm I had just produced. I was just coming out of a very dark period in my life, where I had been subject to years of abusive relationships with men. Somehow, theatre has always behaved like my deus ex machina. My theatre god has appeared numerous times and lifted me out of my fiery pit of low self-esteem and dysfunctional chaos. I wanted to help and educate women so they wouldn't have to go through the same thing. Within a few days, the casting director called me and told me I got the part! I was to recite two monologues about the clitoris. But, what was I to do? I still couldn't say vagina without cracking up.

Lillian is a very giving director. Our rehearsals consisted of belly dancing and self-empowerment workshops. Most of the actors themselves were victims of abuse. We could all attest that this production was a very healing experience.

This past Sunday, I met with Lillian and asked her why she does what she does. "Theatre gives people a voice to express themselves, using characters as an outlet. You're walking in someone else's shoes to understand what their life is like. We've lost a bit of that—really understanding humanity. Actors fulfill [things] within themselves." 

Lillian has directed the Vagina Monologues for the past five years for V-Day. At the end of our production, she asked members of the cast and audience to raise their hands if they or someone they knew had been the victim of abuse. She boldly said she would continue to participate in V-Day until the day came when no one raised their hand.

This year, Lillian Ribeiro and _gaia are producing A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant, and a Prayer: Writings to Stop Violence Against Women and Girls (edited by Eve Ensler and Mollie Doyle), presented by Art House Productions on Saturday, April 4 for V-Day 2009 in Jersey City, New Jersey. She will also be hosting Lunafest: Short Films By, For, About Women on April 19 at LITM in Jersey City as part of the V-Day festivities. If you're in the area, stop by. Who knows, you may even experience the healing power of a true vagina warrior princess, just like I did.

Marisol Tirelli Rivera