Haitian Women Regroup and Rebuild

27 May 2010 in Climate Environment, South America, Women's Group

Haitian women’s rights activists are still living in tents and cars, and mourning the loss of three leaders in the January earthquake. They are also organizing. A loose-knit coalition hopes to rebuild a more women-centered Haiti. A loose-knit coalition of 106 organizations called Femmes Citoyennes Haiti Solidaire, or Women Citizens Haiti United, has emerged from [...]

Decriminalisation of sex industry positive move says New Zealand researcher

27 May 2010 in Australasia, Prostitution, Publication, Research

Decriminalisation of New Zealand’s sex industry has resulted in safer, healthier sex workers, a new book by University of Otago, Christchurch, researcher Gillian Abel shows. Since decriminalisation seven years ago sex workers are more empowered to insist on safe sex, Abel’s book “Taking the crime out of sex work – New Zealand sex workers’ fight [...]

Gita Sahgal Calls on Amnesty International: ‘Stop Covering Up or We Start Cleaning Up’

27 May 2010 in Campaign, Equality, Gender Mainstreaming, Global, Human Rights

28th May [2010] is the 49th anniversary of Peter Benenson’s launch of Amnesty International. But as the organization begins planning celebrations, Gita Sahgal asks whether Amnesty International’s leaders have lost their grip on reality. Do sections of the human rights movement lend their credibility to protecting Islamists rather than protecting their rights? In an article [...]

Imprisoned activist Shiva Nazar Ahari to go on trial for ‘acts against national security’ in Iran

27 May 2010 in Asia, Campaign, Government, Human Rights, Legal Police

In March 2010, Women’s human rights defender and WLUML council member, Shadi Sadr, took the extraordinary step of dedicating her International Women of Courage Award to Shiva Nazar Ahari, a young human rights activist and a member of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR), currently imprisoned in Iran for ‘acts against national security’. Sadr [...]

First Woman Prime Minister Takes the Helm in Trinidad

27 May 2010 in Equality, Gender Mainstreaming, Government, South America

When she is sworn in as prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she will bring the same kind of care and attention to governing Trinidad and Tobago that she has devoted to her own family. “I will lead a government of compassion. As a mother and grandmother, I will not let you down,” she told supporters, [...]

Italy ordains first woman priest

27 May 2010 in Equality, Europe, Faith, Gender Mainstreaming

Mrs Longhitano says Catholicism is crippled without women A married teacher has become the first woman priest to be ordained in Italy. Maria Vittoria Longhitano, 35, who belongs to a breakaway faction of the Catholic Church, received the holy orders at an Anglican church in Rome. She belongs to the Italian Old Catholic Church, a [...]

UNIFEM Currents May 2010

27 May 2010 in Equality, Global, Government, Publication

In This Issue: UNIFEM Welcomes Security Council Support for Indicators on Resolution 1325 Support for UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign across All Regions UNIFEM around the World UNIFEM and the Government of Spain Sign Three-Year Agreement to Promote Gender Equality Worldwide Memorandum of Understanding between UNIFEM and the Inter-Parliamentary Union Seychelles: Action Plan on Ending Gender-Based [...]

Police have arrested two employees of GALZ, the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe

27 May 2010 in Africa, Human Rights, Legal Police, Lesbian Gay

Armed with a search warrant from Chief Superintendent Peter Magwenzi, Detective Inspector Chibvuma, on Friday evening led a team of police officers to search for dangerous drugs and pornographic material at the GALZ offices in Harare’s Milton Park. The police arrested two GALZ employees Ellen Chademana and Ignatius Muhambi, who were detained at Harare Central [...]

Malawi gay couple sentenced to 14 years in prison for wedding

27 May 2010 in Africa, Equality, Legal Police, Lesbian Gay

A Malawi gay couple were sentenced to the maximum 14 years in prison with hard labour for holding the country’s first same-sex wedding, which landed them with a sodomy conviction. Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza were arrested on December 28 after their symbolic wedding and accused of violating “the order of nature”. They have been [...]

Gender inequality endangers women’s health in Indonesia

27 May 2010 in Asia, Childbirth Pregnancy, Equality, Health

In Indonesia a woman’s lack of power over her own healthcare decisions is contributing to the high maternal mortality rate. “Inequality in decision-making, limited access to health services in rural areas and lack of information on healthy pregnancy are among the factors that contribute to maternal deaths,” said Masruchah, secretary-general of the National Commission on [...]