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3/14/2013 - Archbishop of Buenos Aires Elected as Pope
Yesterday Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected to replace Pope Benedict XVI.
After two days of discussion, the conclave announced that they had selected Cardinal Bergoglio to lead the Catholic Church and assume the name Pope Francis. He is the first Latin American pope, as well as the first Pope selected from outside Europe in more than a millennium.
Despite being lauded as a champion for social justice and the poor, Pope Francis shares the very conservative social views of his predecessor. Vocal in his opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, and the ordination of women, Pope Francis frequently came into conflict with the Argentine government. During the debate to legalize same-sex marriage in Argentina, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner criticized the then-Cardinal, "It's worrisome to hear phrases such as 'war of God' and 'projects of the devil,' which are things that send us back to medieval times and the Inquisition."
Pope Francis takes the helm of the church amid scandal of the previous Pope's involvement in cases of priest pedophilia and corruption within the Vatican. During his papacy, Pope Benedict XVI came under scrutiny for the Vatican's handling of sexual abuse by priests in the United States and throughout Europe. In 2011, the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Survivor Network of Those Abused By Priests (SNAP) filed a case against the pontiff in the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity in a cover up by Vatican leadership in cases of sexual abuse of children by priests. In addition, the Vatican came under financial scrutiny in 2012 when the Pope's personal butler released private documents of the pontiff in an attempt to expose the corruption of the church.
3/7/2013 - UN Affirms Commitment to Ending Violence Against Women
On Monday, the 57th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women began in New York. The two-week long convention discusses the current problems facing women and girls around the world and what the international community can do in response. The primary goal of the commission is to eliminate violence against women and girls.
Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson addressed the commission by saying "Ending violence against women is a matter of life and death. The problem pervades all countries, even in the most stable and developed regions. ... Violence against women pervades war zones as well as stable communities, capitals as well as the countryside, public space as well as the private sphere," Mr. Eliasson said. "Since it is an unacceptable feature of daily life, we have to respond everywhere and on every level."
In her opening statement, Michelle Bachelet, the UN Women Executive Director, addressed the commission: "Recent events and protests point to growing awareness and momentum. Over the past few months, women, men, and young people took to the streets with signs that ask 'Where is the justice?' with rallying cries that say 'Wake up!' ... It is an understatement to say that the priority theme of this 57th session, the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls, is timely."
On Tuesday, various heads of UN agencies met as part of the commission to discuss how agencies can cooperate to end gender-based violence. In the meeting, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon informed the leaders "Too many women and girls face intimidation and physical and sexual abuse often from those who should care for and respect them most - fathers, husbands, brothers, teachers, colleagues, and supervisors" and that internationally 70 percent of women report having experience physical and/or sexual violence.
3/5/2013 - Somali Appeals Courts Clear Alleged Rape Survivor
On Sunday, a Somali appeals court overturned the conviction of an alleged rape survivor who accused security forces of raping her in August 2012. A journalist who had interviewed the woman but never published a story about the allegations had his sentenced reduced, but was not cleared of the charges against him. Both the woman and journalist had been originally sentenced to one year in prison each for offending the honor of a State institution. The journalist was also convicted of filing a false report even though he never published a story on the case.
Zainab Hawa Bangura, U.N. Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, said in a statement "The overturned verdict and release of the woman who had the courage to come forward reflects the fact that victims of sexual violence should not be criminalized for reporting this crime... I ask survivors of rape not to be deterred, and to always seek justice."
The U.S. Department of State also released a statement on the overturned conviction. Patrick Ventrell, Acting Deputy Spokesperson for the State Department, said in the statement, "The United States welcomes the Mogadishu appeals court's March 3 decision to overturn the conviction of a 27-year-old alleged rape survivor but is profoundly disappointed by the same court's decision to uphold the conviction of journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim who interviewed her... Sexual violence and restrictions on freedom of expression are grave problems in Somalia...Somali institutions must demonstrate the will to protect human rights, including women's rights and freedom of expression as part of their efforts to promote peace and democracy."
2/28/2013 - Teenager Accused in New Delhi Gang-Rape Pleads Not-Guilty
A teenager accused of murder in the violent gang-rape of a New Delhi medical student in December 2012 plead not guilty. According to Reuters, an anonymous official told the media outlet, "The court has framed charges against the boy under relevant sections. He has pleaded not guilty and claimed trial in the case."
In a ruling earlier this year, the Juvenile Justice Board determined that the accused was a minor at the time of the incident. As a result he will be tried in juvenile court separately from the other five alleged attackers, all of whom are over 18. If convicted of the charges of murder, rape, and kidnapping, the minor would face a maximum of three years in a juvenile facility. The five adults who also face charges of murder, rape, and kidnapping, could be executed if found guilty.
On December 16th, 2012, the 23-year-old medical student and her male partner were attacked while riding a bus in New Delhi. The woman was raped repeatedly for nearly an hour before a metal rod was pushed inside her, critically damaging her internal organs. She was transferred to a hospital in Singapore and required multiple surgeries for head and intestinal injuries. She died as a result of her injuries two weeks later.
2/26/2013 - Microsoft Launches "DigiGirlz" In India
Microsoft launched a new program in India to encourage more girls to take up careers in technology, the Times of India reports. "India DigiGirlz" aims to drive high school girls towards science and engineering fields by giving them the opportunity to participate in workshops and connect with Microsoft's employees. Microsoft's DigiGirlz program was founded in 2000 to address the issue of girls and science in the United States.
"The students are aware of technology more than ever before. Almost 100% of them have Facebook accounts, but the idea is to make them think of technology as a career," Jacky Wright, Vice President of Microsoft IT, said. She added that the company is focusing on increasing awareness about the lack of girls in the technology field.
Girls make up less than 20% of students at the Indian Institute of Technology, and about 30% of employees in the IT Business Processing Outsourcing Sectors. Microsoft plans to expand the programs across India and Brazil, the company's two focus countries.
"These economies are growing and we need the program in these countries," said Wright. "Girls need to see role models. If they see it can be done, they will do it."
2/25/2013 - First Woman President of South Korea Sworn In
South Korea's first female president, Park Geun-hye, was sworn in Monday. Her election was an historic event for a country where women earn forty percent less than men, and women's groups hope that Park's presidency will include many advances in gender equity. She has nominated two women for Cabinet posts so far.
The current priority for the president is dealing with North Korea's atomic February 12th detonation test. Park recently denounced the test as "a challenge to the survival and future of the Korean people" and urged Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, to shift its efforts from violence to peace. In a speech she stated that North Korea poses an immense threat to itself first and foremost with its testing of atomic and nuclear technology. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea [North Korea]stated that the February 12th test was meant to make South Korea and its American allies think twice before attempting to control the DPRK. Park has promised firm reform in relations with North Korea. World powers are waiting to see if Park will pursue a more aggressive policy with North Korea than her predecessor, Lee Myung-bak.
2/21/2013 - First Female Members Sworn In to Shura Council
The first female members of Saudi Arabia's Shura Council were sworn in by King Abdullah on Tuesday.
The Shura Council, composed of 150 members, councils the government in decisions regarding legislation. However, the Council does not have legislative powers itself and all members are appointed by the king. 30 women now hold seats on the Council, which is the first time women have held public office in the country.
Thuraya al-Arrayed, one of the 30 new female Council members told the BBC "I must say it's an historic occasion. I'm honoured to be part of it. If it works, if it is positive then it will change the attitudes that are still worrying about the participation of women. I'm not just talking about the Shura Council, I'm talking about the empowerment of women and their participation in the general affairs of the country."
Despite this advancement, women in Saudi Arabia face limited public involvement. 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 get around by car due to a religious edict issued by Muslim clerics. Women are also being tracked by text message.
2/14/2013 - Royal Canadian Mounted Police Under Scrutiny For Abuse of Aboriginal Women
In a report released on Wednesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) found that many aboriginal women in British Columbia have been the victims of discrimination, aggressive use of police force, and even sexual assault by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The report, titled "Those Who Take Us Away," features in depth interviews with 50 aboriginal women along the "Highway of Tears" in British Columbia where numerous aboriginal women have gone missing or have been murdered. Researchers also interviewed 37 family members of missing or murdered women and girls. The women interviewed describe scenes of excessive use of force on girls under the age of 18, abuse of strip searches, and even accusation of rape and beatings.
Meghan Rhoad, who helped write the HRW report, said in a press release, "The threat of domestic and random violence on one side, and mistreatment by RCMP officers on the other, leaves indigenous women in a constant state of insecurity. ... Where can they turn for help when the police are known to be unresponsive and, in some cases, abusive." She told the BBC, "There's frustration, there's distrust of authority... There's not only a feeling that the police don't take their reports seriously, but that they will themselves be responsible for mistreatment."
In a statement released by the RCMP in response to the report, the force wrote "In a written response to a series of questions posed by Human Rights Watch in fall 2012, the RCMP emphasized the seriousness of allegations of police misconduct and that these allegations must be brought forward for proper investigation. We also explained that complaints could be made to the RCMP directly, to the Commission of Public Complaints against the RCMP or to other independent investigative bodies without fear of retaliation. Unfortunately, five months later and none of these allegations have been brought forward for investigation." The statement concluded with the RCMP stating that it would need time to thoroughly review the report.
At the end of the report, the HRW calls on the Canadian government to issue an inquiry into the allegations as well as work with indigenous communities and the RCMP to reform investigative policies relating to women and girls.
2/12/2013 - Pope Benedict XVI Resigns
Yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he will abdicate his position on February 28.
During his papacy, Pope Benedict came under scrutiny for the Vatican's handling of sexual abuse by priests in the United States and throughout Europe. In 2011, the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Survivor Network of Those Abused By Priests (SNAP) filed a case against the pontiff in the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity in cover up by Vatican leadership in cases of sexual abuses of children by priests. David Clohessy, executive director of SNAP, told the Guardian "[Pope Benedict] has read thousands of pages of reports of the abuse cases from across the world. He knows more about clergy sex crimes and cover-ups than anyone else in the church yet he has done precious little to protect children."
The pontiff also promoted an explicitly anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-reproductive health agenda during his eight years as Pope. For example, he expressed conflicting views on the use of condoms in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. In 2010, Pope Benedict suggested that the use of condoms might be acceptable in certain circumstances, such as in disease prevention. However, in 2009, the pontiff argued that condoms "increase the problem" of HIV/AIDS. Reportedly, he said, "you can't overcome this problem of AIDS with just money. It helps, but if there is no soul, the money cannot help. You cannot overcome it just by distributing condoms. You will increase it."
In addition to ideological controversy, the Vatican came under financial scrutiny in 2012 when the Pope's personal butler released private documents of the pontiff in an attempt to expose the corruption of the church.
The Pope cited his advanced age as his reason for leaving the Vatican. He was elected to the position in 2005 follow the death of Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict will be the first Pope to resign since 1415 and the first to leave voluntarily since 1294.
2/11/2013 - Outrage over Gang Rape Spreads in South Africa
Earlier this month, a seventeen year-old woman was brutally gang-raped in Bredasdorp, South Africa. The victim, Anene Booysen, had been raped by multiple men and then mutilated and abandoned. Despite medical efforts, she died of her extensive injuries this past weekend. Booysen's aunt said that she lived long enough to identify a family friend as one of the attackers. The attack has gained local and national attention, with many taking to the streets in protest of South Africa's high rate of violence against women.
South African president Jacob Zuma made a statement on the crime: "The whole nation is outraged at this extreme violation and destruction of a young human life...[t]his act is shocking, cruel and most inhumane. It has no place in our country. We must never allow ourselves to get used to these acts of base criminality to our women and children." The Associated Press notes that Zuma himself was embroiled (but acquitted) in the rape of a friend's daughter in 2005.
Concerned citizens marched through Bredasdorp this weekend chanting "no more violence!" Lindiwe Mazibuko, a member of Parliament, said she will throw into motion public hearings and debates on the issue of deeply ingrained patriarchy and its relation to sexual violence.
Talk Radio 702, a popular radio station in South Africa, now plays a chime sound every four minutes to represent how often a woman or child is raped in the nation. South Africa is home to one of the highest rates of rape in the world. From 2010-2011, over 56,000 rapes were reported in South Africa, averaging about 154 a day. Around 71% of women report being sexually assaulted according to CNN.
South Africa is not the only country that has seen extreme cases of violence against women gain international attention recently. In December, the violent gang-rape of a medical student in India that resulted in her death led to international outcry. As a result, the Indian government recently approved stricter punishments for sexual assault. The trial of her attackers is currently underway.
2/8/2013 - UN Condemns "Normalization" Surgeries of Intersex Children
Last week the United Nations released a report condemning the practice of performing "normalization" surgeries on intersex children.
The Special Rapporteur on Torture (SRT) to the United Nation's Human Rights Council submitted a report to the General Assembly that addressed the practice of surgically altering children born with ambiguous genitalia. According to the report [PDF], "Children who are born with atypical sex characteristics are often subject to irreversible sex assignment, involuntary sterilization, involuntary genital normalizing surgery, performed without their informed consent, or that of their parents, 'in an attempt to fix their sex', leaving them with permanent, irreversible infertility and causing severe mental suffering."
The report concludes [PDF] "The Special Rapporteur calls upon all States to repeal any law allowing intrusive and irreversible treatments, including forced genital-normalizing surgery, involuntary sterilization, unethical experimentation, medical display, 'reparative therapies' or 'conversion therapies', when enforced or administered without the free and informed consent of the person concerned. He also calls upon them to outlaw forced or coerced sterilization in all circumstances and provide special protection to individuals belonging to marginalized groups."
According to the Intersex Society of North America (ISNA), intersex is "a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male." Intersexuality can present in a wide variety of ways - such as ambiguous external genitalia, ambiguous internal sexual organs, and/or sex chromosomes that deviate from normative medical definitions. According to ISNA, approximately one or two children per 1,000 births will have some sort of sex "normalization" surgery.
For more information on intersexuality, visit the Intersex Society of North America's website.
2/7/2013 - Somalia Jails Alleged Rape Victim
A Somali woman who accused government security forces of rape was sentenced to one year in prison on Tuesday after the court ruled that her accusation was false. A journalist who had interviewed the woman but never published a story was also sentenced to one year in prison.
The Somali court ruled that the woman had not been raped based on the testimony of a midwife who performed a "finger test." According to the Human Rights Watch, the so-called "finger test" is "an unscientific and degrading practice that has long been discredited because it is not a credible test of whether a woman has been raped." Mohamed Mohamud Afrah, the lawyer representing the journalist, told the BBC that he was not allowed to call witnesses or submit witness statements that provided credibility to the woman's claims. Both were convicted of "offending state institutions." The woman's sentence was delayed for a year because she is currently breastfeeding.
The United Nations and the White House have issued statements condemning the decision. In a statement, a spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the Secretary-General "urges the Government of Somalia to ensure that all allegations of sexual violence are investigated fully and perpetrators are brought to justice. Above all, it is essential that the rights of the alleged victim and the journalist to a fair and transparent judicial process, including the right of appeal, are fully respected." Victoria Nuland, Department Spokesperson for the White House said in an official statement "Women should be able to seek justice for rape and other gender-based violence without fear of retribution, and journalists in Somalia must be free to work without being subjected to violence and harassment... We have raised our concerns directly with the Somali Government and have urged it to uphold its constitution, including with respect to media freedom, women's rights, and due process of law."
2/4/2013 - Member of Pussy Riot Hospitalized
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova of the Russian punk feminist band Pussy Riot was transferred to a hospital at the end of January for severe headaches.
Tolokonnikova told her lawyer that she has been suffering headaches and fatigue since her prison sentence began in October 2012. Her lawyer, Irina Khrunova, issued an appeal to the prison's director requesting a full medical check-up. Khrunova is concerned that the headaches may signify a health problem. On January 24, Tolokinnikova was transferred to a hospital.
Tolokonnikova is one of three women who were arrested after making an anti-Putin demonstration at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in August 2012. The members of Pussy Riot entered the church wearing bright colors and balaclavas, singing "Mother of God, Blessed Virgin, drive out Putin!" They noted later that their intent was to challenge the Church's political support for Putin and to show their dissatisfaction with Putin's 12-year political dominance. In October, a Moscow City Court freed Pussy Riot punk band member Yekaterina Samutsevich on appeal. The two remaining imprisoned band members, Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, are still required to serve their two-year sentences for "hooliganism."
2/4/2013 - India Enacts Harsher Punishments for Sexual Assault
Over the weekend, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and the Union Cabinet approved new provisions to the Indian Penal Code that create harsher punishments for sexual assault and rape. The laws went into immediate effect when President Mukherjee's signed them on Sunday, but must be ratified by Parliament.
With the new provisions, the death penalty could be sought in rape cases where a woman is left in a vegetative state, whereas before the death penalty could only be applied when a woman died from her injuries. In addition, the new provisions tackle other forms of sexual assault, such as voyeurism, stalking, and groping, and provides tougher punishments for offenses that had previously carried little to no weight. Human trafficking is also criminalized under the new laws, which could impact widespread child labor practices in India.
While many are applauding the new ordinances, some women's right activists believe that the new laws don't go far enough. For example, under the new laws it is still legal for a husband to rape his wife and service members are protected under a special law that gives them impunity.
Public outrage over a gang-rape that left a woman dead and garnered international attention spurred the President and Cabinet to approve the laws even though Parliament was in recess. On December 16th, the 23-year-old medical student and her male partner were attacked while riding a bus in New Delhi. Both were severely beaten. The woman was raped repeatedly for nearly an hour before a metal rod was pushed inside her, critically damaging her internal organs. She was transferred to a hospital in Singapore and required multiple surgeries for head and intestinal injuries. She died as a result of her injuries two weeks later. Five men who allegedly attacked her are currently being tried in a special fast-track court. A sixth was determined to be a minor and will be tried separately in juvenile court.
1/29/2013 - Ethiopian Immigrants Given Birth Control Without Consent in Israel
A report released over the weekend reveals that Ethiopian women who migrated to Israel were given contraceptive injections without their consent.
Haaretz, a leading Israeli newspaper, reported that the director general of the Health Ministry of Israel has indirectly acknowledged that Ethiopian immigrants were given Depo-Provera, a contraceptive injection that lasts three months, while in transit camps. In a letter to Israel's four health maintenance organizations, the director general instructed gynecologists "not to renew prescriptions for Depo-Provera for women of Ethiopian origin if for any reason there is concern that they might not understand the ramifications of the treatment." According to a 2010 report, Ethiopian women account for 57% of the country's Depo-Provera users.
The memo comes a month after the controversy over forced temporary sterilization in Israel was sparked following the airing of a documentary show called "Vacuum." One woman interviewed in "Vacuum" described her experience while immigrating, "We said we won't have the shot...They told us, if you don't you won't go to Israel. And also you won't be allowed into the Joint (American Joint Distribution Committee) office, you won't get aid or medical care. We were afraid ... We didn't have a choice. Without them and their aid we couldn't leave there. So we accepted the injection. It was only with their permission that we were allowed to leave."
1/28/2013 - Sixth Accused Rapist in New Delhi Case Determined to Be A Minor
A Juvenile Justice Board in New Delhi has ruled that a sixth attacker in the fatal rape of a medical student on a bus in December was 17 at the time of the attack. As a result he will be tried in juvenile court separately from the other five alleged attackers, all of whom are over 18.
The court based their decision on elementary school certificates. Unlike in the U.S., schools place students in classes based on what the parents say the child's age is, not on birth certificates. As a result, the school certificates are an approximation. The headmaster of the school told the BBC, "We admit a child based on what the parents tell us. We can't really be sure of his age, but as per the school admission records, he is 17 years and six months old. He could be older than this, but I'm sure he is not younger."
If convicted, the minor would face a maximum of three years in a juvenile facility whereas the five other accused attackers could face execution. The five adults face charges of murder, rape, and kidnapping.
On December 16th, the 23-year-old medical student and her male partner were attacked while riding a bus in New Delhi. Both were severely beaten. The woman was raped repeatedly for nearly an hour before a metal rod was pushed inside her, critically damaging her internal organs. She was transferred to a hospital in Singapore and required multiple surgeries for head and intestinal injuries. She died as a result of her injuries two weeks later.
1/25/2013 - Ban on 'Gay Propaganda' Passes First Reading in Russian Parliament
A new bill that would ban "gay propaganda" from being directed towards minors passed its first reading in the Russian Lower House today.
The bill states that children need to be protected from "homosexual propaganda" and that "this propaganda goes through the mass media and public events that propagate homosexuality as normal behavior." This could potentially ban events campaigning for LGBT rights and mean hefty fines for organizers for creating "false perceptions of the social equality of traditional and nontraditional sexual relations."
Yelena Kostyuchenko, a Russian journalist and LGBT rights supporter, told reporters that "The law absolutely does not define what gay propaganda is and the reasons are understandable because gay propaganda does not exist. ...In that respect, any information on, as the law puts it, 'equal values of traditional and unorthodox marital relations' is considered 'gay propaganda'."
Homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia in 1993, however many LGBT individuals still face discrimination. About two-thirds of Russians consider homosexuality to be a "disease" or a "bad habit," according to Bloomberg. Gay pride events are banned in the capital city, and many cities currently have similar laws banning "gay propaganda" already in place.
The bill must pass two more readings in the Lower House, and then be approved by the Upper House and President Vladimir Putin before being enacted into law.
1/24/2013 - Trial in Brutal India Gang-Rape Begins Today
The trial of five men accused of brutally gang raping a 23 year old medical student, who later died of her injuries, on a bus in New Delhi, India, began today. Those accused face charges of murder, rape and kidnapping and could receive the death penalty if convicted.
The judge hearing the cases has barred lawyers from speaking to the media about the details of the case. If they violate the judge's order they could face contempt-of-court charges.
On December 16th, the 23-year-old medical student and her male partner were attacked while riding a bus in New Delhi. Both were severely beaten. The woman was raped repeatedly for nearly an hour before a metal rod was pushed inside her, critically damaging her internal organs. She was transferred to a hospital in Singapore and required multiple surgeries for head and intestinal injuries. She died as a result of her injuries two weeks later.
1/23/2013 - Morocco To Change Rape Law that Forces Marriage
The Moroccan government earlier this week, announced plans to change a law that allows rapists to avoid prosecution by marrying their victim if she is underage. On Monday, Justice Minister Mustapha Ramid announced that the ministry of justice supported a proposal to change the outdated law and to consider tougher sentences for rapists.
The current law, Article 475, makes it a criminal offense to "abduct or deceive" anyone under the age of 18 into sexual acts against their will and makes these offenses punishable by up to 5 years in prison, so long as the offenses are committed without violence. Article 475 also currently provides that a rapist cannot be prosecuted if they marry their victim. In some cases, a rape victims are forced to marry their attackers by their families in order to protect the family's honor.
Khadija Ryadi, president of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, told reporters "Changing this article is a good thing but it doesn't meet all of our demands. ...The penal code has to be totally reformed because it contains many provisions that discriminate against women and doesn't protect women against violence."
Morocco's Article 475 came under international scrutiny in 2012, when a 16 year old girl committed suicide after being forced to marry her rapist, who was almost a decade older than her.
1/17/2013 - Delhi Rape and Murder Case Moved to Fast-Track Court
The case of five men accused of the brutal rape and murder of a 23 year old medical student in New Delhi has been moved to a special "fast-track" court, an Indian magistrate declared on Thursday. The first hearing will be held on Monday, January 21st.
On Thursday Magistrate Namrita Aggarwal dealt with various procedural issues relating to the cases of those accused and announced on Thursday afternoon that five cases will be transferred to a fast-track court. A sixth suspect will undergo a separate trial as the court determines whether or not he is considered a minor and should be tried in youth court. If the men are convicted, they could face the death penalty, according to the BBC.
On December 16th, a 23 year old medical student and her male partner were attacked while riding a bus in South Delhi. Both were beaten and the woman was raped repeatedly. She was transferred to a hospital in Singapore and required multiple surgeries for head and intestinal injuries. She died as a result of her injuries two weeks later.
1/16/2013 - Indonesia Supreme Court Candidate Jokes Rape Victims "Might Enjoy It"
On Monday, a candidate for the Indonesian Supreme Court joked before the parliamentary selection panel that women who were raped may have enjoyed it.
Muhammad Daming Sanusi made the comment when he asked whether he considered the death penalty to be a reasonable punishment for rape. He responded "Consideration needs to be taken thoroughly for the imposition of death penalty for a rapist because in a rape case both the rapist and the victim enjoy it." This comment reportedly elicited laughs from members on the panel.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Daming explained that his comments were a joke to "ease the tension" of the interview process. "I have three adolescent daughters and one of them told me that she is very embarrassed and that she felt as if she did not know me at all," he said. "[I have] said something that no man should ever say, especially a Supreme Court candidate."
His comments quickly sparked public outrage in addition to criticism from various Indonesian political parties and organizations. Both the Democratic Party and the opposition Democratic Indonesian Party have announced that they would reject Daming's application. Chairman of the Indonesian Commission for Child Protection said "It is disturbing that a judge, whose role is to protect the legal rights of women and children, could say something so audacious and consider it as a joke" and called for Daming to be fired from his current position.
1/14/2013 - New Bus Gang Rape Case Reported in India
A new gang rape case involving a private bus has been reported in India, where the brutal gang rape and death of a 23-year-old female medical student has prompted global outrage and demands for reform. A woman is estimated to be raped every twenty minutes in India.
Some aspects of the new case are eerily similar to the first. A 29-year-old woman was gang raped by seven men on Friday in Punjab after the driver and conductor of a private bus refused to let the woman off the bus. Instead, they took her to a building where she was raped repeatedly by seven men. The victim was dropped off near her village on Saturday morning, when she reported the attacks to the police. Six of seven suspects in this case have been arrested.
Chandigarh's senior police spokesman Hardeep Dhillon told the Washington Post, “The increased media reporting and the protests have created an awakening among women, and they are now coming forward like never before to report rape and want to fight for justice...This has also made our police force more sensitive to these cases. Now they file the complaint immediately and believe the victim’s statement without questioning." He continued, “Earlier, the police would merely make a note of the details of a rape case when a woman came to the police station. They would hold a preliminary inquiry, ascertain the facts and only then register a formal complaint.” Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab.
In the first case, a physiotherapy student was tortured and raped by a group of six men who were armed with a metal bar on a private bus in New Delhi on December 16th. The woman was raped for nearly an hour before a metal rod was pushed inside her, critically damaging her internal organs. The victim was flown to Singapore for medical treatment where she died of her injuries two weeks later.
According to the Times of India, the victim's friend who witnessed the attack and was also brutally beaten by the attackers, has refused police security protection. Five of the accused in this case have been arrested and are jailed in New Delhi. The sixth accused man is a minor who is being held in an observation home.
1/10/2013 - Sri Lankan Domestic Worker Executed in Saudi Arabia
A Sri Lankan domestic worker who was convicted of killing an infant in her care was executed by the Saudi Arabian government on Wednesday.
Rizana Nafeek was sentenced to death in 2007 for allegedly murdering a 4 month old infant in 2005 that had been in her care for two weeks. Nafeek initially confessed to the crime, but later recanted her statement saying that she was under duress at the time and did not have adequate translation assistance to understand what was happening.
The Sri Lankan government and multiple human rights organizations have condemned the execution as a violation of international law. When Rizana entered Saudi Arabia in 2005, she was provided a falsified passport by a recruitment agency that said she was 23 years old when in fact she was only 17 at the time, making her too young to be executed according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by Saudi Arabia).
Amnesty International's Philip Luther, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme, said "Despite a chorus of pleas for Saudi Arabian authorities to step in and reconsider Rizana Nafeek's death sentence, they went ahead and executed her anyway, proving once more how woefully out of step they are with their international obligations regarding the use of the death penalty."
Nafeek's death is also sparking international discussion on the rights of domestic workers. According to the International Business Times, only 10% of the over 52 million domestic workers globally have protection under labor laws that protect other workers.
1/8/2013 - Protests Spread As Alleged Attackers Plead Not Guilty to Violent Rape
Three of the five accused attackers in a violent gang rape of a medical student in India will enter pleas of not guilty, according to the BBC.
Manohar Lal Sharma, who is representing three of the five men accused of told the BBC that he would be filing representation letters for the three accused men challenging the way the police handled evidence in the case. "I believe the accused should get a fair trial and I have come forward to represent them," he stated.
This news comes a day after the court ruled that the preliminary hearings for the case will be heard privately. Magistrate Namrita Aggarwal declared "It has become completely impossible to proceed" after a hearing on the case was delayed for two hours when police were unable to restore order in a court room filled with over 100 lawyers and reporters. As a result she determined that neither the media, public, nor lawyers who are not directly related to the case will be allowed in the court room.
Meanwhile, international outrage over the incident as well as several domestic rape cases has sparked protests in the neighboring country of Nepal. "The media attention to protests in Delhi has raised awareness on issues of violence against women in Nepal," said Manju Gurung, a member of an organization that advocates for female migrant workers, Pourakhi. Demonstrators as part of the Occupy Baluwatar movement have been protesting outside the prime minister's residence and other official buildings. Occupy Baluwatar has been raising awareness for a rape case that gathered national attention in Nepal at the same time as the case in New Delhi became public.
1/4/2013 - Malala Yousafzai Released from Hospital
Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani teenager who was shot in the head by Taliban forces for her outspoken support of girls' education, was released yesterday from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK. She is currently staying with her family at a temporary home in the United Kingdom before going back to the hospital for reconstructive surgery within the next month.
Dr. Dave Rosser, the hospital's medical director, told reporters, "Malala is a strong young woman and has worked hard with the people caring for her to make excellent progress in her recovery. ... Following discussions with Malala and her medical team, we decided that she would benefit from being at home with her parents and two brothers."
Yousafzai was targeted by the Taliban early in 2012 after she published a diary under a pen name, published by the BBC, criticizing the Taliban and the opposition faced by girls trying to get an education in Pakistan. In October, she was shot in the head after two men approached her school van on her way home from school. She was immediately rushed to a Pakistani hospital where doctors removed the bullets lodged in her head. She was then transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for specialized treatment.
