08/03/2021 Regno Unito, Scozia
“If you ever come across anything suspicious like this item, please do not pick it up, contact your local law enforcement agency for assistance”
An Edinburgh woman who has one of the world’s most dangerous jobs has spoken about dealing with sexism and out-dated attitudes. Mairi Cunningham, from Leith, leads Scottish demining charity The HALO Trust’s team working to rid Syria of deadly, explosive land-mines. The humanitarian hero has also worked in Cambodia, Somaliland and the Caucasus region of Abkhazia. Ahead of International Women’s Day on Monday she spoke about the “chauvinist and sexist” behaviour she has experienced in her line of work. The 32-year-old said: “I don’t want to paint to negative a picture of the sector, but it’s not been the easiest or smoothest of rides. Unfortunately, I’ve encountered chauvinist and sexist behaviour – quite a lot of it. “It often surprises men in certain contexts, the questions I ask, and the issues I raise. You can see them think ‘How does she know that?’ It’s because I’m trained, I’ve been in a minefield, I’ve done disposal, and I know what I’m talking about. “It can be a challenge being a woman in management when you are dealing with local governments or military. I’ve never had anyone refuse to deal with me outright, but you do sometimes sense a rolling of the eyes. “Working in the Caucasus was quite tough and an eye-opener in terms of old-fashioned attitudes. You just have to stick your elbows out a bit and persevere.”
Foto-Fonte: edinburghlive.co.uk
If you find anything that appears to be an explosive device, do not touch it, leave it where it is and call the police. We will contact the appropriate agencies to properly dispose of the item.
