Coalition of Women for Peace Update: Global BDS Day of Action and New Activity Center

30 March 2010 in Middle East, Peace Pacifism, Women's Group

1. CWP Opens a New Activity Center in Tel-Aviv-Jaffa After nearly a decade of activity, CWP is finally opening an office and activity center. The new center is located on Yad Harutzim Street, in South-Central Tel-Aviv, and will be open within the next few weeks. We hope that this center will become a home for [...]

JAG turns 25 years – A Women’s Status Report – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (Malaysia)

30 March 2010 in Asia, Publication, Violence Against Women, Women's Group

In 1985 the Joint Action Group against Violence against Women (JAG) organised a historic workshop cum exhibition on VAW calling for law reforms to rape, prostitution, domestic violence and amendments to all laws that discriminate against women. The workshop also highlighted issues on the negative portrayal of women in the media and sexual harassment in [...]

Global Campaign to Stop Killing and Stoning Women (SKSW)vFirst Policy Briefing Series

30 March 2010 in Campaign, Faith, Global, Violence Against Women

The Global Campaign is pleased to announce the publication of our first Policy Briefing Series on culturally-justified violence against women (CVAW). Launched on March 3rd, 2010 at our panel discussion at the 54th UN Commission on the Status of Women, the Series is a valuable resource for those working on issues of CVAW. Policy Briefing [...]

Anti-domestic violence bill introduced in Kashmir assembly

30 March 2010 in Asia, Domestic Violence, Government

A bill to protect women in Jammu and Kashmir from domestic violence was introduced in the legislative Assembly earlier this month. Introducing the bill, Social Welfare Minister Sakina Ittoo said the bill, aimed at giving protection to women against any kind of violence within the family, will be a ‘historical legislation’ in the state. The [...]

UNICEF Regional Director highlights challenges for girls in visit to Afghanistan

30 March 2010 in Asia, Children Parenting, Equality, Violence Against Women, War Conflict

UNICEF Regional Director Dan Toole has highlighted the challenges facing children and families during a six day visit to Afghanistan. Together with Afghan President Hamid Karzai he launched the country’s National Immunization Days 2010 on 14 March – a campaign which aims to immunize nearly eight million children against polio in three days. He emphasized [...]

Fear and cultural factors prevented Palestinian women escaping violence from seeking help from women’s organizations

30 March 2010 in Domestic Violence, Middle East, Research, Women's Group

Rights activists blame the economy, Hamas-Fatah tensions and the conflict with Israel for the rising number of cases of violence against women. Disinterest in domestic abuse by the judicial authorities and the apparent impunity of violators have made matters worse, they say. A March 2010 report by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of [...]

Domestic violence in Japan hits record high in 2009

30 March 2010 in Asia, Domestic Violence, Legal Police, Publication, Research

Domestic violence in Japan increased 11.7 per cent in 2009 to 28,158 reported cases, the highest since surveys began in 2002 according to the National Police Agency (NPA). The number included 2,429 serious cases where courts issued restraining orders against partners, spouses or other family members under the domestic violence prevention law, the NPA said. [...]

Sexual assault to replace ‘rape’ in Indian Penal Code (IPC)

30 March 2010 in Asia, Government, Legal Police, Rape and Sexual Assault

The word ‘rape would soon be removed from the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as the government is working towards replacing it with ‘sexual assault’ in an attempt to provide gender-neutral and to broaden the range of crimes covered under the sections. Official sources said that the home ministry is working on drafting a bill to [...]

Protect migrant maids, nannies and carers from exploitation

30 March 2010 in Campaign, Employment Work, Financial, Global, Trafficking, Violence Against Women

Caritas Internationalis is calling on governments and the international community to protect migrants who work in people’s homes as maids, nannies and carers from exploitation. These workers are mostly women. Domestic workers are frequently trafficked and exploited. They rarely benefit from any form of legal protection. Abuse can be difficult to detect because the workplace [...]

Pledge to cut EU gender pay gap after 15 years without progress

30 March 2010 in Employment Work, Equality, Europe, Government

European commissioner for fundamental rights refuses to rule out legislation to promote wage equality The pay gap between men and women in Europe has barely changed for the better in 15 years, the European commission said today, while pledging to narrow the gap significantly within five years. The situation in Britain was worse than average, [...]

IPS Genderwire to 1st March 2010

30 March 2010 in Equality, Global, Media

RIGHTS: U.N. to Focus on Global Epidemic of Gender Abuse http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50389 EAST AFRICA: Women Want Visibility in Regional Union http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50365 THAILAND: Temple Grounds A Venue for Curbing Domestic Violence http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50430 POLITICS-PHILIPPINES: Rice and Condom on the Election Agenda http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50395 SOUTHERN AFRICA: Women Traders Demand Support http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50394 POLITICS-MAURITIUS: Plea for More Female Candidates http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50388 EAST AFRICA: [...]