WLUM Update: Revolutionary Court agrees to integrate 2 cases brought against Nazar Ahari in Iran

29 June 2010 in Asia, Human Rights

Update, 21/06/2010: According to the Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR), Shiva has been transferred from solitary confinement to the women’s section of Evin prison, which is a public prison. In an interview with the news agency, Reporters and Human Rights Activists of Iran on 12 June 2010, Shiva Nazar Ahari’s lawyer, Mohammad Sharif, said: [...]

Abortion hotline not welcome in Pakistan

29 June 2010 in Abortion Contraception, Asia

An abortion hotline set up in Pakistan on Saturday has been condemned by Islamic groups and political parties as “anti-Islamic” and “colonial”, even though it will save the lives of thousands of women who die each year in back street abortion clinics, reports The Independent. The hotline, set up by women’s groups in Pakistan and [...]

G8 women’s health initiative fails to inspire

29 June 2010 in Children Parenting, Equality, Funding, Global, Government, Health, North America

The Muskoka Initiative, formally announced Friday, has largely failed to inspire both at home and abroad. Despite the $2.85-billion, five-year commitment of Canadian taxpayer money, the initiative is high on rhetoric but short on detail. Buzzwords — like voluntary family planning, country ownership, health workers, information systems, continuum of care, accountability and effectiveness — are [...]

Over 115 million widows live in poverty

29 June 2010 in Equality, Family Marriage Partnership, Global, Poverty, Research, Violence Against Women

At least 245 million women around the world have been widowed and more than 115 million of them live in devastating poverty, according to a new study launched Tuesday night by Cherie Blair, wife of the former British prime minister. The most dire consequences are faced by 2 million Afghan widows and at least 740,000 [...]

Women Adamant for Change as the Maldives Struggles to Reform

29 June 2010 in Asia, Equality, Gender Mainstreaming, Government

Authorities in the Maldives view women’s issues as a core human rights problem and are keen to tackle them head on, but cultural and religious issues often stand in the way. “No doubt the government of President Mohamed Nasheed recognises many problems and is willing to tackle them, but there’s limited ability to do so [...]

Aung San Suu Kyi celebrated her 65th birthday confined in the house in which she has spent most of the past two decades

29 June 2010 in Asia, Government, Human Rights, Violence Against Women

A confidante of the Burmese opposition leader has made a simple but passionate appeal to those in the West to use their freedom to help his country achieve the same. In a hand-written letter smuggled out of Burma and passed to The Independent, U Win Tin writes: “I want to repeat and echo her own [...]

Gillard’s triumph is a profound moment for women and feminism, but are there dangers ahead?

29 June 2010 in Australasia, Equality, Gender Mainstreaming, Government

Even if Julia Gillard never gets to move into The Lodge, Australia’s first female prime minister will have a profound effect on the standing, expectations and limitations that have long held and often shackled women. Gillard announced on Thursday, after taking over the Labor leadership, that she would not move into the PM’s official residence [...]

A Chance for Women’s Voices to be Heard in Zimbabwe?

29 June 2010 in Africa, Consultations, Equality, Gender Mainstreaming, Government

As Zimbabwe embarks on writing a new constitution with the countrywide collection of public submissions starting on Jun. 23, not all women are upbeat about the process. While some gender activists see this public comment phase as an opportunity for their voices to be heard, ordinary women remain in the dark about the proposed new [...]