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5/15/2013 - Western Retailers Pledge To Increase Safety in Bangladesh Factories
This week, major Western clothing retailers announced their support of new safety regulations in Bangladesh garment factories following the eight story building collapse that kill over 1,100 people.
The Swedish retailer H&M, Spanish Inditex (Zara), British Primark and Tesco, Dutch C&A, and others all announced their commitment to pay for fire safety and building improvements as part of an agreement with the global labor union IndustriALL. The agreement, called "Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh," also requires independent safety inspections with public reports. Companies also agree to terminate business with any factory that does not complete required upgrades.
H&M is the largest clothing retailer that manufactures their products in Bangladesh and is the second largest worldwide. The largest worldwide retailer is Walmart. Walmart, along with other major US retailers, have announced that they will not participate in the accord. Instead Walmart has decided to perform its own review of factory safety standards, arguing that it will produce results more quickly. The Gap has announced that it would be willing to sign the agreement if a change could be made to its arbitration clause. U.S. retailer PVH which makes Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Izod, announced that they will sign the accord.
The decision to improve standards is the result of an eight story building collapse that killed over 1,100 workers at the end of April, and a small factory fire that killed eight last week. On Monday, rescue efforts for the building collapse ended making the official death toll 1,127.
5/13/2013 - Cervical Cancer Vaccines will Be Available for $4.50 in Poor Nations
Pharmaceutical companies Merck and GlaxoSmithKline will provide cervical cancer vaccines for as little $4.50 a dose in poor countries to fight high rates of deaths from cervical cancer.
The drugs Gardasil and Cervarix, made by Merck and GlaxoSmithKline respectively, prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a leading cause of cervical cancer. In developed nations deaths caused by cervical cancer are uncommon, but cervical cancer is the most fatal form of cancer in women in poorer nations. On average 275,000 women die from cervical cancer a year and 85% are from poor nations.
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) will be purchasing and distributing the vaccines. The executive director said in a statement, "By 2020 we hope to reach more than 30 million girls in more than 40 countries." GAVI board member and former Health Minister of Rwanda told reporters, "Developing countries bear an increasing burden of cervical cancer and it is only right that our girls should have the same protection as girls in other countries."
5/10/2013 - Survivor Rescued From Bangladesh Building Wreckage
On Friday rescuers in Dhaka, Bangladesh saved a woman who is still alive after the eight story building collapsed on April 24. The woman was discovered as a rescuer was cutting away iron rods and heard her cries for help.
The woman, identified as Reshma, was in the building's prayer room at the time of the collapse. The debris formed a space around Reshma with enough room for her to stand, and she was able to locate food and water nearby that lasted until two days ago.
Reshma's miraculous rescue comes as the death toll from the collapse surpasses 1,000, making it the world's worst industrial disaster since the 1984 Bhopal disaster in India. 2,500 people were rescued with 1,000 suffering serious injuries. There is no estimate of how many people remain missing. The majority of those dead are female garment workers from the building's five garment factories.
5/9/2013 - Fire in Bangladesh Garment Factory Kills 8 as Collapse Deaths Pass 900
Thursday night, a fire broke out in a garment factory in the Mirpur area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, that killed eight people. No workers were in the building at the time. Officials say that the building owner, four of his staff members, and a senior and low-level police officer died when they were overcome by toxic fumes from the burning clothes as they tried to escape down a stairwell. There is no word about what caused the fire, and fire fighters were able to keep the blaze contained to a single floor. The government closed 18 garment factories out of safety concerns on Wednesday. Six have been cleared to reopen.
The fire comes as rescue officials announce that the death toll from the Savar Building collapse on April 24 has reached 912. More bodies are expected to be uncovered when rescue workers begin to search the basement of the building. Nine people have been arrested in connection with the collapse. An initial investigation found that the top four floors of the eight story building had been constructed illegally without permits. The factories also opened despite a crack discovered in the building. Approximately 80% of the garment factory workforce in Bangladesh are women who are often responsible for providing for their families. Under grueling working conditions, workers in garment factories can make as little as $26 a month.
5/7/2013 - Bangladesh Building Collapse Death Toll Pass 700, Protests Continue
The official death toll from a building collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh has surpassed 700 as more bodies were recovered on Tuesday.
Officials said that the death toll had climbed to 705. It is the country's worst industrial disaster and the worst disaster in the history of the garment industry. Survivors of the eight story building collapse that housed five garment factories and other garment workers blocked a major highway to demand compensation and better working conditions.
Nine people have been arrested in connection with the collapse. An initial investigation found that the top four floors of the eight story building had been constructed illegally without permits. The factories also opened despite a crack discovered in the building. Approximately 80% of the garment factory workforce in Bangladesh are women who are often responsible for providing for their families. Under grueling working conditions, workers in garment factories can make as little as $26 a month.
5/6/2013 - No Decision Yet for 'Beatriz' in El Salvador
The Supreme Court of El Salvador has still not issued a decision about whether or not it will allow a woman in El Salvador to terminate a life-threatening, non-viable fetus.
"Beatriz", who is currently 22 and already a mother of a young infant, was diagnosed with multiple severe illnesses and is 18 weeks pregnant. In addition, the fetus will not survive more than a few days outside the womb (if at all) due to a severe fetal abnormality where part of the brain does not develop. Doctors fear that if she continues with the pregnancy, Beatriz could lose her life. Abortion in any circumstance is illegal in El Salvador and if Beatriz and her doctors proceed with the abortion without approval from the Supreme Court they could face up to 30 years in jail for aggravated homicide. While the Supreme Court has agreed to hear her case, the Court has not released anything related to the case in the month since the hospital sought permission to treat Beatriz.
Over 45,000 people from around the world have signed a petition urging Salvadorian President Mauricio Funes to authorize the procedure. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights have also pressured the government to intervene. The UN experts on the right to health; torture; and violence against women issued a joint statement saying, "We urge the Government of El Salvador to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection and full enjoyment of the right to life, and to the highest attainable standard of health for Beatriz, in accordance with international human rights law."
Since a total ban on abortion was passed in 1998, 628 women have been imprisoned for their abortion, miscarriage, or stillbirth. Of those, 24 were charged with "aggravated murder," which can mean a penalty of up to 30 years in jail.
5/3/2013 - Bangladesh Death Toll Reaches 507
The death toll from the eight story building collapse in Bangladesh last Wednesday has passed 500, making it the worst industrial disaster in the country's history.
Nine people have been arrested in connection with the collapse. An initial investigation found that the top four floors of the eight story building had been constructed illegally without permits. The factories also opened despite a crack discovered in the building.
No survivors have been recovered from the debris in the last four days, yet many families and relatives are still waiting near the wreckage for any news. Bodies that had begun decomposing or were too damaged to identify have already been buried.
Approximately 80% of the garment factory workforce in Bangladesh are women who are often responsible for providing for their families. Under grueling working conditions, workers in garment factories can make as little as $26 a month.
Outrage over the conditions of garment factories in Bangladesh gained international headlines in November of 2012 when 112 workers died during a fire in a factory that was producing clothes for Walmart and other Western retailers. An official investigation ruled that the fire was deliberately started and determined that up to nine officials prevented workers from leaving the building and even padlocked exits.
5/2/2013 - Ireland Unveils New Abortion Legislation
On Wednesday, the Irish parliament unveiled the Protection of Life In Pregnancy Bill which clarifies when a woman can have a life-saving abortion.
Under the new bill, women can terminate a pregnancy when there is a significant threat to her life, including suicide. In the case of an emergency, a single doctor can approve and perform the abortion. In non-emergency cases, a woman would have to get the approval of two doctors that the pregnancy poses a significant threat to her life and abortion is the only option. In cases where a woman is suicidal, she must have the approval of a doctor and two psychiatrists that the threat of suicide is legitimate. The bill will now be debated in committee.
Prime Minister Enda Kenny, was quick to clarify that the bill would not alter Ireland's current laws on abortion. "This bill restates the general prohibition on abortion in Ireland," he said at a press conference. "The law on abortion in Ireland is not being changed." Currently abortion in all cases is prohibited, including rape, incest, or severe, non-viable fetal abnormality. The only except is when a woman's life it at risk as a result of the 1992 Irish Supreme Court decision, known as the X Case.
The barriers to terminating a life-threatening pregnancy in Ireland gained international attention last year when a woman died after being denied an abortion. Savita Halappanavar was 17 weeks pregnant when she arrived at University Hospital Galway complaining of severe back pain in October 2012. Hospital staff determined she was miscarrying, however doctors refused to remove the pregnancy until three days later. After the pregnancy was removed, Savita was transferred to intensive care where she died three days later of what was determined to be septicaemia (similar to blood poisoning).
5/1/2013 - First Female Speaker of Bangladesh Takes Oath
Yesterday, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was sworn in as Bangladesh's first female Speaker of the Parliament. She was unanimously elected by the Parliament earlier Tuesday to fill the vacant seat.
Previously, Chaudhury, a member of the majority Awami League party, was the state minister for women and children affairs. In addition to advancing women's equality through her "Women's Development Policy" legislation, the new Speaker has declared ending violence against women a top priority. She told reporters, "We have enough laws. But there are [still] incidents of violence. It is not only the law that can change the situation. There is a need to change the mindset. Obstacles have always been there. But despite the obstacles, women have been able to come far and will go further."
Her rise to Speaker and policies for advancing the rights of women have drawn opposition from conservative religious leaders. With Chaudhury as speaker, women hold three of the four most powerful political positions in the Bangladesh government (Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh National Party) in addition to many other leadership positions. Chaudhury is also the first woman elected to Speaker who has come from one of 50 seats in Parliament specifically reserved for women.
Chaudhury's oath comes a week after Bangladesh faced the tragedy of a building collapse in Dhaka that killed more than 400 people, mostly young women. The building housed garment factories, a bank, and a shopping center. An initial investigation found that the top four floors of the eight story building had been constructed illegally without permits. The factories also opened despite a crack discovered in the building the day before. Many of the factories in the building have connections to multiple Western retailers such as Walmart, Benetton and Cato Fashions, the Dutch C & A, British Prismark, and Spanish Mango, among others. Protests and strikes have erupted in Dhaka in response to the tragedy.
80% of the garment factory workforce in Bangladesh are women who are often responsible for providing for their families. Under grueling working conditions, workers in garment factories can make as little as $26 a month.
4/30/2013 - Saudi Arabia Launches First Domestic Violence PSA
The King Khalid Foundation (KKF) in Saudi Arabia has launched the first advertising campaign to combat violence against women in Saudi Arabia.
The advertisement features a woman in a niqab with a black eye and a caption that reads "Some things can't be covered - fight women's abuse together." Other versions of the poster feature the slogan "What is hidden, is worse." The foundation also released a report on the extent of violence against women and children in the country. In the report KKF said, "It's a phenomenon that is still shrouded in darkness. Anyone who works in security forces knows about it and those who work in social organizations and charity centers can see a part of it... Also, people who work in hospitals and schools can see a fraction of it, but no one knows the exact amount or how much it has spread or the real reasons or actual impact in total."
Despite advancements, women in Saudi Arabia face limited public involvement. In 2012, the first female members were sworn in to the Shura Council and in 2011, the King granted women the right to vote and run for public office as early as 2015. Despite gaining the right to vote, Saudi women still have to rely on male relatives or paid drivers to travel by car due to a religious edict issued by Muslim clerics. Saudi women are also being tracked by text message.
4/29/2013 - Bangladesh Death Toll 385, Recovery Changes Gears
Six days after the deadly building collapse outside of Dhaka, Bangladesh, rescuers are still working to recover any remaining survivors and locate bodies of the deceased. 385 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the collapse. 2,437 have been rescued alive.
Efforts were delayed on Sunday when a spark from a metal grinder caused a fire that injured six workers as they desperately and unsuccessfully tried to save a woman trapped beneath the rubble. On Monday, rescuers began using heavy machinery and hydraulic cranes to remove concrete slabs weighing anywhere between three and 12 tons. The Special Work Organization (SWO) of the Army Engineering Corps, told reporters it will take at least 15 days to remove the debris.
Building owner and local politician, Mohammed Sohel Rana, was taken into police custody on Sunday as he attempted to flee the country into India. Seven others have been arrested in relation to the collapse: four factory bosses, two engineers, and Rana's father. A fifth factory boss is at large. Rana wore a bullet proof vest and helmet as he brought into the Dhaka courthouse while onlookers chanted "Hang him, hang him."
80% of the garment factory workforce in Bangladesh are women who are often responsible for providing for their families. Under grueling working conditions, workers in garment factories can make as little as $26 a month.
Outrage over the conditions of garment factories in Bangladesh gained international headlines in November of 2012 when 112 workers died during a fire in a factory that was producing clothes for Walmart and other Western retailers. An official investigation ruled that the fire was deliberately started and determined that up to nine officials prevented workers from leaving the building and even padlocked exits.
4/26/2013 - UPDATE: As Death Toll Rises, So Do Protests in Bangladesh
The death toll from a building collapse in Bangladesh on Wednesday has now climbed over 300 as many others are still trapped beneath the wreckage of what used to be garment factories and a shopping center.
Shahinur Islam, a Bangladesh Army spokesperson on the collapse, told reporters that the number of people confirmed dead has reached 304. H.T. Imam, an advisor to the Prime Minister, warned the death toll could exceed 350. Of the estimated 3,122 people in the building at the time of the collapse, 2,350 have been rescued. At least half of those rescued have injuries.
Protests and strikes have erupted in Dhaka in response to the tragedy. Tens of thousands of people marched in the streets of the capital and garment workers went on strike to protest safety conditions in garment factories and call on the government to punish those responsible for collapse. Protests escalated as protesters vandalized cars or other garment factories and police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
80% of the garment factory workforce in Bangladesh are women who are often responsible for providing for their families. Despite grueling working conditions, workers in garment factories can make as little as $26 a month.
Many of the factories in the building have connections to multiple Western retailers such as Walmart, Benetton and Cato Fashions, the Dutch C & A, British Prismark, and Spanish Mango, among others.
Outrage over the conditions of garment factories in Bangladesh gained international headlines in November of 2012 when 112 workers died during a fire in a factory that was producing clothes for Walmart and other Western retailers. An official investigation ruled that the fire was deliberately started and determined that up to nine officials prevented workers from leaving the building and even padlocked exits.
4/25/2013 - Woman Could Go To Jail For Life-Saving Abortion In El Salvador
A woman who faces a life-threatening, non-viable pregnancy may have to choose between saving her life or going to jail in El Salvador.
"Beatriz", who is currently 22 and already a mother of a young infant, was diagnosed with multiple severe illness and is 18 weeks pregnant. In addition, the fetus will not survive more than a few days outside the womb (if at all) due to a severe fetal abnormality where part of the brain does not develop. Doctors fear that if she continues with the pregnancy, Beatriz could lose her life. But abortion in any circumstance is illegal in El Salvador, and if Beatriz and her doctors proceed with the abortion without approval from the Supreme Court they could face up to 30 years in jail for aggravated homicide.
Beatriz and her hospital have petitioned the Supreme Court in El Salvador to permit an abortion. While the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, the Court has not released anything related to the case in the month since the hospital sought permission to treat Beatriz. Since the request was submitted, her condition has worsened.
The case has gathered support from the Salvadoran Minister of Health, Dr. Maria Isabel Rodriquez, as well as the feminist group Agrupación Ciudadana por la Despenalización del Aborto Terapéutico, Ético y Eugénesico (Citizen Group for the Decriminalization of Therapeutic, Ethical and Eugenic Abortion). Earlier this month, Agrupacion petitioned the Supreme Court to allow Beatriz to have the life-saving procedure. In a press conference on the issue the group told reporters, "While we are talking, while the Court is thinking and the government is delaying, Beatriz is suffering... The Salvadoran government has clear obligations, international as well as domestic, to protect Beatriz's life, and to assure that Beatriz can access vital treatment as soon as possible" [translated at RH Reality Check].
Beatriz's case has also gained international attention from the United Nations and Amnesty International. Amnesty International's researcher on Central America, Esther Major, said in a statement, "Beatriz's situation is desperate and must not wait any longer. Her very chances of survival depend on a decision from the authorities... We hope that the Supreme Court treats this case with the urgency it merits, given that Beatriz's life and health are at risk. She is suffering cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in being denied the medical intervention she so urgently needs." Roberto Valent, the Resident Coordinator the UN in El Salvador, has urged authorities [SPANISH] to resolve the case quickly.
Many activists are wondering if the conservative climate of El Salvador will result in a case similar to Savita Halappanavar's death in Ireland. In November 2012, Halappanavar was 17 weeks pregnant when she arrived at University Hospital Galway complaining of severe back pain. Hospital staff determined she was miscarrying, however doctors refused to remove the pregnancy until three days later because the fetus still had a heartbeat. After the pregnancy was removed, Savita was transferred to intensive care where she died three days later of what was determined to be septicaemia (similar to blood poisoning).
4/25/2013 - HRW Report Finds Afghan Women Police Officers Face Harassment, Violence
Female police officers in Afghanistan are fighting harassment in co-ed changing facilities and restrooms at the hands of male colleagues, according to a recent report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW).
In the story, released today, HRW found that women in the Afghan police force face sexual harassment, assault, and even rape from male colleagues. Many of these attacks occur in changing rooms and bathrooms, which have peepholes or no locks. Women are forced to stand guard for each other while they change or use the restroom. On April 10th, the police chief ordered that all stations have separate facilities for women, however such orders have been ignored before. Despite a goal of increasing the number of women in the Afghan police force to 5,000 by 2014, women currently only make up 1% of the country's police and the conditions faced by women present a recruitment challenge. A senior official, who asked to remain anonymous, told reporters, "Men whose rank is junior to me won't salute me. They don't value women as they should... I am supposed to recruit women, but people say they can't send their daughters because it is not safe."
The attitude toward women in the police force combined with the small numbers of women police officers have broader implications for the women of Afghanistan, according to HRW. The organization is concerned that without women police officers to assist victims of sexual and gender violence, including fellow police officers, cases will not be reported out of fear of cultural retaliation. Brad Adams, the Asia Director for the HRW, said "The Afghan government's failure to provide female police officers with safe, secure facilities makes them more vulnerable to abuse. This is not just about toilets. It's about the government's recognition that women have a crucial role to play in law enforcement in Afghanistan... Without the consistent presence of female police officers across the country, legal protections for women will remain an unfulfilled promise."
4/25/2013 - Death Toll From Bangladesh Building Collapse Reaches Over 200
At least 228 people have been confirmed dead in the aftermath of a building collapse in Bangladesh. The collapse happened yesterday morning in the suburb of Savar, outside the capital of Dhaka.
The building housed five garment factories as well as a shopping center. Officials say that while 228 are confirmed dead, they fear the toll will actually be higher. Only 1,400 of the over 3,100 factory workers have been accounted for. Many of the mostly female workers are still trapped in the rubble.
An initial investigation found that the top four floors of the eight story building had been constructed illegally without permits. The factories also opened despite a crack discovered in the building the day before. The building owner and local politician, Mohammed Sohel Rana, had told factory owners that the crack was not dangerous and they proceeded to open the factories. Rana is currently on the run from police.
Many of the factories in the building have found connections to multiple Western retailers such as Walmart, Benetton and Cato Fashions, the Dutch C & A, British Prismark, and Spanish Mango, among others. Labor activists searching the rubble found labels for Prismark and Mango, and information from customs records, company websites, and documents found in the building show connections to the other retailers. A spokesperson for Benetton Group has denied that any of the factories in the building currently had orders from Benetton. A spokesperson from Walmart told reporters that the company is currently investigating whether any of the factories had current orders from Walmart.
Outrage over the conditions of garment factories in Bangladesh gained international headlines in November of 2012 when 112 workers died during a fire in a factory that was producing clothes for Walmart and other Western retailers. An official investigation ruled that the fire was deliberately started and determined that up to nine officials prevented workers from leaving the building and even padlocked exits.
4/23/2013 - Cuba's Ladies in White To Receive International Award
A group of women opposition activists from Cuba called the Ladies in White will be in Brussels to collect the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought today.
The women were awarded the prize in 2005 for their efforts to raise awareness of the treatment of dissenters in Cuba, but were not permitted to leave the country. With the end of an embargo on exit permits in January, the Ladies in White will finally be able to collect their prize.
The Ladies in White began in 2003 when 75 activists were jailed in an attempt to curb opposition to the regime. The women close to the activists decided to dress in white and march silently on the Cuban capital every Sunday for the release of the 75 jailed activists. The Ladies in White often face detention and arrest themselves due to a ban on street demonstrations. Though all 75 activists have been released, the Ladies in White still march to have their sentences overturned as well as to draw attention to other opposition activists still in jail.
4/23/2013 - Breaking News: France Legalizes Same Sex Marriage
Today French lawmakers voted to legalize same sex marriage and adoption in the country.
In a vote of 331 to 225, the National Assembly approved the "Marriage for All" law after reviewing amendments made by the upper-house Senate. President Francois Hollande, who included same-sex marriage and adoption rights in his platform during the French presidential election, is expected to sign the bill into law once it is reviewed by a constitutional council.
Despite a majority of the French public supporting same-sex marriage, numerous protests against the bill have been rampant throughout France. Gay rights organizations believe they have documented a rise in attacks on LGBT individuals, and protesters against the bill have come into violent confrontations with law enforcement. Lawmakers have even faced threats - the National Assembly president Claude Bartolone received a letter filled with gunpowder warning him to delay the vote, and debate in parliament results in physical blows.
According to Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, same-sex couples could get married as early as June if the bill goes smoothly through the constitutional council.
4/22/2013 - Arrests made in Delhi Child Rape Case
Two men thought to have played a part in the abduction and rape of a five year old girl in New Delhi are now in custody. One suspect was taken in by police on Saturday, when he alleged the involvement of a second man. That second man was taken into custody today.
As for the victim, she is reportedly healing. "We are trying to control the infection and she is responding well," said DK Sharma, chief of the hospital where the girl is being treated, "it will take at least two weeks to discharge her." She can now eat semi-solid foods and drink liquids.
The girl was allegedly kidnapped on April 15th by a neighbor. She was discovered after another neighbor heard crying and called the authorities. She was admitted with injuries to her face and chest wall, and bruises on her neck that could indicate strangulation.
Protests that erupted outside the hospital in response to the assault continue today. Since the brutal gang rape and death of a 23-year-old medical student in India, protests have sparked across India, the world's largest democracy, where a woman is estimated to be raped every twenty minutes, with Delhi being labeled the "rape capital" of the country, according to the Associated Press. Huge protests and demonstrations have voiced anger regarding the treatment of women in India and calling for tougher laws on violence against women.
4/18/2013 - New Zealand Parliament Approves Same-Sex Marriage
Yesterday, New Zealand became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill passed in a vote of 77 to 44 during its third and final reading, despite mounting opposing from Christian lobby groups, and is expected to go into effect in four months.
Lousia Wells, the bill's sponsor, released a statement saying she was "very proud to be a member of a Parliament that has voted overwhelmingly to give New Zealanders, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or gender, the right to marry." A member of the rival party, Prime Minister John Key, also vocalized support for the bill. Key told reporters "In my view, marriage is a very personal thing between two individuals... And, in the end, this is part of equality in modern-day New Zealand."
Hundreds of couples celebrated outside of parliament after the bill was passed. One of the people celebrating told reporters, "For us, we can now feel equal to everyone else... This means we can feel safe and fair and right in calling each other wife and wife." Opinion polls show that roughly two thirds of New Zealand citizens support same-sex marriage, although other polls had this number closer to 50%.
New Zealand is now the 13th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. Last week, Uruguay passed a bill legalizing same sex marriage, which is expected to be signed into law by President Jose Mujica.
4/16/2013 - Saudi Prince Supports Women Driving
Prince AlWaleed bin Talal announced his support for allowing women in Saudi Arabia to drive on Sunday via Twitter.
Bin Talal, nephew of King Abdullah, argued that allowing women drivers would benefit the Saudi economy and reduce the country's dependence on foreign labor. He tweeted "(The question of) women driving will result in dispensing with at least 500,000 foreign drivers, and that has an economic and social impact for the country." Currently, Saudi Arabia has approximately nine million foreign workers, which has prompted a nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration.
While it is not explicitly illegal for women to drive in Saudi Arabia, many religious edicts are interpreted to prohibit women from gaining the local licenses required to drive. In June 2011, women in Saudi Arabia took to the streets to demand the right to drive as part of the "Women 2 Drive" campaign, posting videos and pictures of themselves behind the wheel.
4/11/2013 - Russian Orthodox Leader Warns of the Danger of Feminism
Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, warned members of Union of Orthodox Ukrainian Women that feminism is "very dangerous" and could threaten the stability of Russia.
According to new agencies, Patriarch Kirill told the meeting, "I consider this phenomenon called feminism very dangerous, because feminist organizations proclaim the pseudo-freedom of women, which, in the first place, must appear outside of marriage and outside of the family."
"Man has his gaze turned outward - he must work, make money - and woman must be focused inwards, where her children are, where her home is," he continued. "If this incredibly important function of women is destroyed then everything will be destroyed - the family and, if you wish, the motherland." He continued, "It's not for nothing that we call Russia the motherland."
Patriarch Kirill has become a close ally of Vladimir Putin. The connection between Putin and the Church was challenged by the feminist punk band Pussy Riot in their iconic performance that garnered international attention. Three members of Pussy Riot were arrested and found guilty of "hooliganism" for the performance. Though one member was freed on appeal, the remaining two must serve a two year sentence in prison. Earlier this year, one member was sent to the hospital because of what her lawyer is concerned may be a new health problem that has developed since beginning her sentence.
4/4/2013 - French Senate to Consider Bill to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
Debate is scheduled to begin today in the French Senate on a bill that would grant same-sex couples the right to marry and adopt children. The bill has already been passed in the National Assembly, the lower chamber of French parliament.
The Roman Catholic Church has been very vocal in France against the measure, alongside other religious groups and social conservatives. Last month, police used tear gas on protesters against same-sex marriage and made multiple arrests. More protests in front of the Senate are scheduled for during the debate, which could last until April 12 or 13.
French President Francois Hollande included same-sex marriage and adoption rights in his platform during the French presidential election. He continues to support same-sex marriage equality.
3/27/2013 - Female Teacher Murdered in Pakistan
Earlier today, female teacher Shahnaz Nazli was shot by two men of unknown affiliation on her way to work at a girls school in the village of Shahkas. She died of her injuries in the hospital. The Khyber tribal district in northwest Pakistan is asking the government to implement greater security measures for women and girls in the wake of this shooting. Concerned citizens in the region have begun a petition, pressing the Pakistani government to provide greater protection for women and girls in the education system. Government officials have acted quickly, rounding up eighteen suspects.
Nazli's murder happens against the backdrop of another shooting, that of Malala Yousafzai. In early 2009, under a pen name, Yousafzai published a diary for the BBC that highlighted the Taliban ban against girl's education in the northwest Swat district of Pakistan. On her way home from school one day, Yousafzai was shot in the head by two men demanding her by name. The fourteen year-old activist is rapidly recovering from her injury and has released videos and commentary stating that violence will not deter her.
Women and girls in many parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan endure threats, violence, and even potential poisoning for seeking or providing an education.
3/26/2013 - Brazil Doctors Urge Abortion Legalization
On Thursday, the Federal Council of Medicine in Brazil announced their support for legislative reform of the country's current abortion laws. The proposed legislation being debated in the Brazilian Senate would legalize abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. It would also expand a current exception that allows abortion in only in the case of brain defects to include other fetal anomalies and would allow abortion in cases of insemination or in-vitro fertilization without consent.
The Council's president, Roberto Luis d'Avila, told reporters, "The reality of the facts shows that women are getting abortions with great inequality... Rich women are getting them in safe conditions and the poor, completely unsafe... with complications, losing their uteruses, losing parts of their intestines, dying. It's not possible. This inequality is unacceptable from the medical point of view." In a statement released by the Council, d'Avila said "The council is not in favor of abortion, but rather the empowerment of women and physicians. In this sense, medical organizations agree with the proposal still under consideration in the Congress."
The Brazilian National Conference of Bishops has already spoken out against the Federal Council of Medicine for its position. Despite being predominantly Catholic, approximately 1 million abortions are performed illegally in Brazil a year. About 200,000 women die each year in Brazil from unsafe abortion, which is the fifth leading cause of death for women in the country.
3/19/2013 - Philippine Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Birth Control Law
The Philippine Supreme Court on Tuesday temporarily blocked the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood Bill to allow for the opposition to present arguments against the law. The bill would provide access to state-funded contraception and would provide it free of charge to those who cannot afford to pay. Requirements for comprehensive sex and family planning education in schools are also included in the bill. According to a spokesperson for the Supreme Court, the law is blocked until June 18, at which time the court will hear arguments on the bill.
The Responsible Parenthood Bill was signed into law late last year. The measure was heavily contested by pro-life advocates, especially the Catholic Church, which argued that the bill promotes abortion (abortion is illegal in the Philippines.) However, a spokesperson for President Benigno Aquino told the press "We will observe the resolution issued by the Supreme Court and we are confident that the government will be able to defend the merits of the law."
