Three publications from AWID’s Resisting and Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms

17 July 2009 in Equality, Faith, Publication, Women's Group

The three recent publications (links below) are also available in Spanish and French translations are just being produced. A further two publications are slated for release later this year.
1. Shared Insights: Women’s Rights Activists Define Religious Fundamentalisms
http://www.awid.org/eng/About-AWID/AWID-News/Shared-Insights-Women-s-rights-activists-define-religious-fundamentalisms
2. Religious Fundamentalisms on the Rise: A Case for Action
http://www.awid.org/eng/About-AWID/AWID-News/Religious-Fundamentalisms-on-the-Rise-A-case-for-action
3. Exposed: Ten Myths about Religious Fundamentalisms
http://www.awid.org/eng/About-AWID/AWID-News/Ten-myths-about-religious-fundamentalisms
i. Miradas Compartidas: Las [...]

Rape victims reporting more sex assault attacks in NSW Australia

13 July 2009 in Australasia, Rape and Sexual Assault, Women's Group

Calls to the rape crisis line have more than doubled as courageous victims taking on their attackers and winning have helped remove the stigma attached to sex assault.
But disturbingly, new figures show that up to four women a week are being gang raped.
Brave young women like Tegan Wagner – who gave up her right to [...]

Call For Women Worldwide to Support Women’s Rights in Iran

6 July 2009 in Campaign, Equality, Global, Government, Human Rights, Middle East, North America, Women's Group

Inspired by Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi’s brave promise last week to represent in court the family of Neda Agha-Soltan, murdered by Iranian militia during last weekend’s demonstrations in a rally in Tehran, the peace group CODEPINK has created a letter addressed to Ebadi for women worldwide to sign, a pledge of solidarity to [...]

In India men in uniform may face stiffer rap for rape

6 July 2009 in Asia, Rape and Sexual Assault, Women's Group

In keeping with increasing instances of sexual misconduct by men in uniform and in positions of authority, the National Commission for Women (NCW) is pushing for a radical overhaul of laws on crimes against women, including the anti-rape law, to make punishment more stringent.
The NCW is seeking higher punishment for policemen, public servants and [...]

Women’s groups in Israel protest Ramon post in Kadima

3 July 2009 in Government, Middle East, Rape and Sexual Assault, Women's Group

The heads of women’s organizations across the political spectrum joined forces in a letter to Kadima leader Tzipi Livni, protesting her appointment of outgoing MK Haim Ramon as chairman of the party’s governing council.
Ramon submitted his resignation from the parliament, after 26 years of service, to Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin. His resignation takes effect [...]

Women’s groups in India upset with delay in passing quota Bill

3 July 2009 in Asia, Gender Mainstreaming, Government, Women's Group

Hoping for the early passage of the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill, women’s groups have expressed concern over the delay in submitting recommendations by the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
“It is necessary to overcome all possible impediments that may arise to sabotage the Bill, a joint press statement issued by women’s organisations said here on Thursday while asking [...]

Harper Conservatives not meeting commitments to women’s groups in Canada

3 July 2009 in Funding, Government, North America, Women's Group

Months after the Conservatives announced new money for the Women’s Community Fund, women’s groups across the country still can’t access this funding because of the Harper government’s ongoing inability to keep its promises, Liberal Status of Women Critic Anita Neville said today.
“Nearly a month ago, Status of Women Minister Helena Guergis told the Parliamentary Status [...]

Women’s centres re-open in Darfur with help from AU-UN mission

3 July 2009 in Africa, Government, Refugee, War Conflict, Women's Group

Female internally displaced persons (IDPs) will again be able to learn job skills, take literacy classes and receive awareness programmes on reproductive health after the joint African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) helped reactivate women’s centres at an IDP camp in the Sudanese region.
UNAMID’s Gender Advisory Unit has worked with the North Darfur state [...]

Give the women of Europe the right to free abortion!

22 June 2009 in Abortion Contraception, Campaign, Europe, Government, Women's Group

All around the world, women are denied their right to free, legal and safe abortions. Even in Europe, women are deprived of the control over their own bodies and the number and spacing of children. It is the everyday reality facing women in Ireland, Poland and Malta.
When a state denies a woman the right to [...]

NOW elects Maryland woman its next president

22 June 2009 in Feminism, London, Women's Group

The National Organization for Women has elected a 56-year-old Maryland woman as its next president in a close win over a rival who had been endorsed by the group’s current president.
NOW said Terry O’Neill, who is white, defeated Latifa Lyles, a 33-year-old African-American woman from Washington, D.C., during the organization’s three-day national conference in Indianapolis. [...]

Burmese women’s groups pressured to cancel protest in support of Aung San Suu Kyi

22 June 2009 in Asia, Campaign, Demonstration March, Human Rights, Women's Group

Two Burmese women’s organizations in the Indo-Burmese border town of Moreh were forced to cancel a planned protest rally to be held on Friday after authorities pressured the officer who had issued permission for the rally to cancel the authorization.
The Kuki Women’s Human Rights Organisation (KWHRO) and the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) sought permission [...]

Sisters in Islam faces ban in Malaysia – please sign the petition to support them

22 June 2009 in Asia, Campaign, Faith, Government, Human Rights, Women's Group

Joint Statement By Malaysian Civil Society On PAS Resolution To Ban Sisters In Islam
We the undersigned are deeply disturbed by the call on the part of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) to have Sisters in Islam (SIS) banned and its members rehabilitated should its activities be determined to be contrary to the Islamic shariah. [...]

Future of feminism an issue in NOW leadership vote (USA)

16 June 2009 in Feminism, North America, Women's Group

After years on the defensive during the Bush administration, the National Organization for Women is elated to have a president sharing many of its goals. Yet NOW heads into its own leadership contest — a sharp contrast of age and race — mindful of the need to energize its ranks.
Kim Gandy, a savvy former prosecutor, [...]

‘Sexy’ billboard guidelines tossed to women’s groups in the Philippines

7 June 2009 in Asia, Government, Pornography, Women's Group

Careful to avoid being branded as a censor, the Department of Public Works and Highways is seeking allies, particularly women’s groups, to bolster its fight against suggestive commercial displays.
Earlier vowing to tear down billboards that showed models in skimpy attires, Undersecretary Rafael Yabut said the condemned structures had violated the national building code as well.
He [...]

The Women’s Information Network-Fiji (WINET-Fiji) believes in informing and mobilising the women population of Fiji

7 June 2009 in Australasia, Women's Group

Its president Dr Rajni Chand believes that not enough information is being provided to women in our communities.
Dr Chand says that not many academic women were actively involved in non government organisations and there was a need for it to happen.
WINET-Fiji liaises with other organisations and women’s groups to fill in the vacuum by networking [...]

IANSA Making gun control accessible to women

7 June 2009 in Global, War Conflict, Women's Group

Women may be involved in development or other matters, but not necessarily aware of the impact of guns and small arms on their lives. They may be aware of the cost of gun violence on their communities and their personal lives, but may think it is not in their place to interfere. Lastly they may [...]

Thanks to Facebook Young Women Take to Political Activism in Egypt

7 June 2009 in Demonstration March, Equality, Media, Middle East, Women's Group

In recent years, Egypt has witnessed increasing participation by women in grassroots political activism. Local civil rights advocates attribute the phenomenon to novel means of communication and organisation, especially the social networking website Facebook.
“Technological advances have provided a greater scope for political participation by a new generation of young women, traditionally inclined to staying in [...]

Japan Under Pressure to Clamp Down on Child Pornography

27 May 2009 in Asia, Campaign, Children Parenting, North America, Pornography, Women's Group

Calls for government to ban RapeLay, a computer game where players can earn points for raping schoolgirls Japan has come under renewed pressure to clamp down on its huge market in child pornography following the launch of a campaign to ban a video game in which players earn points by raping schoolgirls and forcing them [...]

No Modern European Democracy Without Gender Equality

26 May 2009 in Campaign, Equality, Europe, Government, Women's Group

Do you think that women and men should be equally represented in all European Union institutions?
Join the 50/50 Campaign!
SIGN THE PETITION http://www.womenlobby.org/site/form_3.asp
and
TAKE ACTION! http://www.5050democracy.eu/
In 2009, Europeans will elect a new European Parliament. We will see a new European Commission led by its President, and a new president for the European Parliament. [...]

Women Call for Truth, Justice and Reconciliation in Zimbabwe

26 May 2009 in Africa, Government, Human Rights, Publication, Violence Against Women, Women's Group

Women’s rights groups have urged the establishment of a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission in Zimbabwe as part of bringing to justice people who committed human rights violations – including sexual abuse against women – during the run-up to a second-round presidential vote in June 2008.
Zimbabwe witnessed some of its worst-ever political violence after then-opposition [...]