News and Views
Secular Indonesia Outraged Over Aceh Mob Justice
A government prosecutor hands over a whip to the executioner during a public caning in Aceh Besar in January this year. There is growing outrage after a man and woman caught committing adultery on were beaten and possibly caned under Islamic law by a mob on Wednesday.
Pakistan: ‘Karo Kari’ victim’s family in Islamabad to seek justice
With his clothes ragged, face tired and body trembling, Dhatti Bakhsh Baloch entered ‘The News’ office here and narrated the story of her teenage daughter, who was allegedly killed in September last year by her husband Wahid Bakhsh with the help of his brothers in the wake of the centuries-old tradition of ‘Karo Kari’.
Canada: Polygamy Law
Polyamorists, civil libertarians, supporters of Holocaust deniers square off against B.C. teachers, a Catholic family coalition, REAL Women
Yemen: Child forced into marriage dies
Mohammed al Qadhi, Foreign Correspondent
SANA’A // Elham Mahdi al Assi, a 13-year-old girl, died from severe haemorrhaging and the rupturing of internal organs as a result of sexual intercourse, just five days after she was married.
ASEAN gets commission for children and women
ASEAN officials inaugurated Wednesday the Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), to augment the human rights body established last year.
London: Equality Bill passes through parliament
The Equality Bill has passed through its final stages in parliament and will now become law after receiving royal assent.
Rape Must Never Be Minimized as Part of Cultural Traditions - UN Envoy on Sexual Violence in Conflict
Rape must never be minimized as part of cultural traditions, UN envoy says
Sexual violence during conflicts is all too often downplayed and treated as part of local cultural traditions instead of being viewed as a war crime, a senior United Nations official has warned as she called for much greater international action to defeat the scourge.
Indonesia: Constitutional court upholds anti-pornography bill
By Karishma Vaswani
BBC News, Jakarta
Indonesia's constitutional court has upheld a controversial anti-pornography law, disappointing activists and cultural groups who had challenged it.
El Salvador: Violence Against Women & Girls: Significant Challenges - UN Special Rapporteur on VAW
GENEVA (22 March 2010) – The UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Rashida Manjoo, warned Saturday that the recommendations made by her predecessor six years ago* to the Salvadorian authorities “are still applicable and relevant.” Ms. Manjoo shared her views and recommendations in a public statement prepared at the end of a three day follow-up visit to El Salvador.
Yemen: Islamic Clerics Oppose Child Bride Ban - Government to Decide
Yemeni women hold up the Quran and Arabic placard reading "yes to the legal rights of the Muslim woman" as they take part in a protest outside the parliament in San'a, Sunday, March 21, 2010.
USA - Many Women Are Target of Sexual Advances by Faith Leaders - Survey
One in every 33 women who attend worship services regularly has been the target of sexual advances by a religious leader, a survey released Wednesday says.
Malaysia: Religion Minister Rejects Child Marriage Reform
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - – Malaysia's religion minister on Tuesday defended Islamic laws that allow girls under 16 to marry, amid a controversy over two youngsters who were married off to middle-aged men.
The Vatican responds to the child sex abuse sweeping the Roman Catholic Church in Germany
(ANSA) - Vatican City, March 12 - Pope Benedict XVI has approved measures to tackle the child sex abuse scandal sweeping the Roman Catholic Church in Germany, the leader of the country's bishops said after an audience with the pope Friday.
UN Independent Experts Articulate a Vision for Women's Rights: Post Beijing + 15
GENEVA – The Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, together with the other UN independent experts mentioned herewith, called today for a new vision of women’s rights informed by the lessons learnt from the 15 year review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.
Iran: Sadr dedicates Woman of Courage Award to imprisoned Activist Shiva Nazar Ahari
Shadi Sadr, a renowned Iranian human rights lawyer, women’s rights activist and member of Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) – International Solidarity Network Council, has been awarded the International Women of Courage Award 2010. Ms. Sadr was also the recipient of the Lech Walesa and the Dutch "Human Rights Tulip" awards in 2009.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Statement against domestic violence & "honour killing" - International Women's Day
The following is the statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which is commemorated on 8 March 2010:
Southern Sudan - Forced Marriage - Journalist's Personal Story
Christine Akuol, who is being trained by Internews to be a community radio journalist, is interested in reporting on women's issues and encouraging girls to stay in school.
Press Release: An Influential Saudi Cleric Calls for Beheading of Apostates
Washington, DC (February 24, 2010). The Washington-based Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia unequivocally denounces Shaikh Abdulrahman Al-Barrak call for the beheading of those who initiate or accept gender mingling in schools or in the work place. “They should be given one chance to repent, but if they do not, they should be considered apostate and beheaded,” Al-Barrak said.
UK - Outrage as Church Vicar Urges Women to Submit to Husbands
A vicar has caused outrage among his congregation after urging women to "be silent" and "submit" to their husbands.
Saudi Arabia - New law will end male dominance in Saudi courts
Arab News - 21 February, 2010
Saudi Arabia's justice minister says his department is drafting a law that would allow female lawyers to argue legal cases in court for the first time.