Aung San Suu Kyi, alone but unbowed

19 August 2009 in Asia, Human Rights

She sat throughout with a straight back, calmly and intently following the interminable legal arguments. She spoke politely and gravely to the prosecutors and judges. The British Ambassador described her as “composed, upright, crackling with energy”; even the prison police rose to their feet in respect as she entered the courtroom. The Chargé d’Affaires of [...]

Indigenous Mexican woman accused of kidnapping six agents named Amnesty prisoner of conscience

19 August 2009 in Campaign, Human Rights, South America

Amnesty International adopted 46-year-old Jacinta Marcial as a prisoner of conscience for being unfairly sentenced to 21 years in prison and demanded that the Mexican authorities release her immediately and unconditionally. The human rights body said she has been denied a fair trial and that she is in prison solely due to her marginal status [...]

Violence and conservatism threaten Afghan women’s vote

19 August 2009 in Asia, Government, Violence Against Women, War Conflict

Poor security, rampant fraud and not enough female election staff will keep many women away from the ballot box in next week’s presidential election in deeply conservative Afghanistan, diplomats and campaign workers fear. While the female vote has emerged as a potentially powerful bloc in some areas, it is unlikely the majority of women will [...]

UNIFEM Currents – August 2009

19 August 2009 in Equality, Global, Media

August 2009 – In This Issue: Colloquium on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and Peace Negotiations: Implementing SCR 1820 Financial and Economic Crisis Impacts Women and Men Differently Say NO to Violence against Women * Speakers of 16 Parliaments and Chair of Bosnian Council of Ministers Say NO * Thailand: Youth Say NO to Violence against Women [...]

Women in the News – The New IPS Gender Wire – 11th August 2009

19 August 2009 in Equality, Global, Publication

Go Away With Your Spray http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews48032 US: Sotomayor Sworn In Following Senate PR http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews48021 SOUTH AFRICA: Women Want Land to Call Their Own http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews48015 BRAZIL: Bringing Community Mental Health to the Poo http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews48011 AFRICA: Raising the Profile of Gender-Based Violence http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews48010 DEVELOPMENT-AFRICA: Women in Pursuit of Knowledge http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews48009 MIDEAST: Prison Toughens Palestinian Women http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews47998 HEALTH-AFRICA: [...]

New High Court ruling will help domestic violence victims in India

19 August 2009 in Asia, Domestic Violence, Legal Police

In an order that will provide relief to hundreds of domestic violence victims, the Bombay high court ruled that a court hearing such a case need not wait for a report filed by the protection officer before awarding interim compensation. Justice R Y Ganoo said courts that dealt with domestic violence cases could take a [...]

Women at risk of HIV infection from partners UN warns

19 August 2009 in Asia, Family Marriage Partnership, HIV/AIDS

More than 1.5 million women living with HIV in Asia were infected by their partners and 50 million more are at risk of infection, according to a report released on Tuesday. The “HIV Transmission in Intimate Partner Relationships in Asia” report by UNAIDS said the women at risk are either married or in long-term relationships [...]

Trafficked women face high HIV infection risk according to study

19 August 2009 in Asia, Prostitution, Trafficking

Up to a quarter of a million women and girls in Southeast Asia, mostly adolescents, are forced into prostitution each year and face violence and the prospect of contracting HIV/AIDS, researchers said on Wednesday. The researchers, in a report documenting criminal activity in Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia, predicted circumstances would worsen as the financial crisis [...]