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We've compiled a series of articles related to women and health/medicine, development, law, culture and human rights. Click the headlines to view the original articles.
You are welcome to share this news brief with friends. We would love to hear your feedback on the articles in the Piazza discussion forum. Equality UN Report Says Progress for Women is Unequal The New York Times (Somini Sengupta) -- February 12th, 2014 A recent UN report states that although there has been progress over the past twenty years worldwide in women’s health and rights, these advancements have been “unequal and fragmented” and occur dramatically more often in wealthy countries. Women in poor countries and poor women in wealthy countries have not had such progress , and this is exacerbated by societal ignoring of gender inequality. For more information on the report, visit UN's press release. Demanding Public Transportation in Saudi Arabia, Women Drive Home A Point Association for Women’s Rights in Development (Arab News) – February 11th, 2014 Saudi Arabian women who work far away from their homes and currently pay very high transportation costs (from hiring private drivers or using taxis) demand a public transportation system so that they can travel between home and work in an affordable way Economic Development & the Workplace Hong Kong Court Denies Refugees Right to Work Wall Street Journal (Te-Pink Chen) – February 18th, 2014 This article describes Hong Kong's recent decision to deny refugees living there the right to work. Many of the refugees already live in poverty, and this law could worsen their conditions. Furthermore, it has sparked debate over whether the "right to work" is a fundamental human right. After Farmers Commit Suicide, Debts Fall on Families in India The New York Times (Ellen Barry) – February 22nd, 2014 This article describes the cycle of debt and poverty for rural farmers in India. As suicides among male farmers rise, more and more wives are left with the burden of the family's debt. Reproductive Health Forced Sterilization and Impunity in Peru Association for Women’s Rights in Development (Open Democracy) – February 14th, 2014 This article describes the history of forced sterilization in Peru. Between 1995-2000 300,000 women were forcibly sterilized by the government; most of these women were poor and lived in rural communities and did not speak Spanish or understand the implications of what was happening to them. Recently, the case against the government in power at the time was dismissed for a second time. And Surrogacy Makes 3: In New York, a Push for Compensated Surrogacy New York Times (Anemona Hartocollis) – February 19th, 2014 This article describes a gay couple's experience using a surrogate to have a child. One of the men is a New York senator, who is making strides to overturn a law in New York that makes compensated surrogacy illegal in the state. Those in favor of legalizing compensated surrogacy argue that doing so would make surrogacy more widely available and reduce the costs (currently roughly 100,000 dollars per baby). Violence against Women Somalia: Women Shouldn’t Live In Fear of Rape Association for Women’s Rights in Development (Human Rights Watch) – February 19th, 2014 Human Rights Watch released a report called "Here, Rape is Normal: A Five-Point Plan to Curtail Sexual Violence in Somalia" which describes how the Somali government and international agencies can reduce rape in Somalia. The report includes 27 interviews of women who have been raped since August 2012. Beyond Investing In Women And Girls: An In-depth Look At The Funding Landscape For Women’s Rights And The Powerful Impact Of Resources In The Hands Of Women’s Organizations Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) – February 21st, 2014 AWID just completed part three of a new research project that "provides an in-depth analysis of the current funding trends and factors impacting women’s rights organizing, the financial status of women’s organizations around the world, and the collective impact of women’s rights organizations.” The study looks at ways the international community can support women’s organizations in strategic ways to empower women to advance women’s rights. This bulletin is a publication of International Women's Health & Human Rights (IWHHR). It was prepared by Ashley Jowell, Lara Mitra and Kevin Hsu. For more information, please visit www.internationalwomenshealth.org
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International Women’s Health & Human Rights
We've compiled a series of articles related to women and health/medicine, development, law, culture and human rights. Click the headlines to view the original articles. You are welcome to share this news brief with friends. We would love to hear your feedback on the articles in the Piazza discussion forum. New Afghanistan Law to Silence Victims of Violence Against Women The Guardian (Emma Graham-Harrison) – February 4th 2014 A new law in Afghanistan prevents family members from testifying against each other on issues regarding domestic violence. Because most violence against women takes place in the home, this new law, which has been passed by parliament but not yet signed by President Karzai, makes it nearly impossible for perpetrators of violence to be punished for their crime. Mobile Phone Usage Explodes in Africa, Spurring Innovation PBS News (Martin Seemungal) – February 15th, 2014 This fascinating news update describes the incredible impact and capability of the mobile phone in Kenya. The mobile phone’s ability to impact women, particularly on the use of SMS texts between a midwife and pregnant mothers as well as reducing the reliance of women upon middlemen, is incredibly inspiring and highlights the positive impact technology can have. Vast Study Casts Doubts on Value of Mammograms New York Times (Gina Kolata) – February 12th, 2014 A recent study of 90,000 women in Canada (which took over 25 years to complete) found that mortality rates of women who had breast exams and no mammogram and women who had breast exams and mammograms were the same. Thus, the study calls into question the effectiveness of mammograms. In fact, 1 in 5 of the women who received mammograms and were found to have cancer underwent treatment and/or medical procedures that were unnecessary, suggesting that sometimes mammograms can do more harm than good. U. N. Report Says Progress for Women is Unequal New York Times (Somini Sengupta) – February 12th, 2014 In the last two decades, women worldwide have fewer children, higher literacy, and are less likely to die while delivering babies. However, the improvements have disproportionately benefitted wealthy countries. In poor countries, childbirth is still the leading cause of death in women between 15-19, for example, and little overall progress has been made in women's health. Is Some Talk Too Gay for Singapore? Wall Street Journal (Chun Han Wong) – February 6th, 2014 Singapore's Health Promotion Board recently published an online brochure on sexuality, which sparked debate about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights in Singapore. Petitions have emerged, some calling upon the government to remove the brochure because it promotes homosexuality, and others applauding the brochure. In Pakistan, Valentines are Exchanged in Secret Washington Post (Naila Inayat) – February 13th, 2014 This article describes Valentine's Day in Pakistan, a country where the punishment for adultery is death and public displays of love are banned. Couples celebrate the holiday secretly and use the day as a "form of rebellion." Clinton launches data drive on women’s empowerment Washington Post (Associated Press) - February 13th, 2014 The Clinton Foundation, Gates Foundation and New York University are evaluating the progress of women's rights since the 1995 Beijing conference. The effort is spearheaded by Hillary Clinton, who wishes to obtain data that guides what needs to be done to increase female presence in education, politics, and the economy across the world. The president should clarify ‘Helms’ law to allow abortions for wars’ rape victims Washington Post (Brian Atwood and Peter Fenn) – Febrary 13th, 2014 The Helms Amendment of 1973 restricts the use of U.S. foreign aid for abortions "as a method of family planning." This opinion piece argues that because pregnancies that result from rape have nothing to do with family planning, the law should be clarified to allow foreign aid to help victims of rape, incest, and life-endangerment find resources for abortions. Women Who Are Refused Abortions More Likely to Face Poverty The Wire (Lucy Wescott) – February 14th, 2014 This article comments on the declining rate of abortions in the United States. Abortion rates have reached their lowest level since 1973. Some 50% of pregnancies in American women are unintended, but only 21% end in abortion. Women who have had a baby, but did not intend to, are three times more likely to be living in poverty compared to women who have undergone an abortion instead. Hong Kong’s Indentured Servants New York Times (Gratiane de Moustier) – February 13th, 2014 This opinion piece discusses women in Asia who travel outside of their homeland to work as domestic laborers abroad. Lack of regulation and laws regarding the rights of these women often leave them vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment. Kenya’s Battle To End Sex for Fish Trade BBC News (Mark Lowen) – February 17th, 2014 Women in Kenya have been negotiating with fishermen for generations. When buying the fish sold at markets, they pay half with currency and half with their bodies. This practice is gradually being eradicated as women are empowered through micro-enterprise business practices to own their own fishing boats. Spanish women protest against new laws limiting the availability of abortions The Independent (Alasdair Fotheringham) – February 16th, 2014 Women across Spain are protesting prospective new laws that would limit abortions to only rape victims or those under serious health risks. To protest this prospective law, women's rights activists are symbolically "registering their bodies as property" at offices across the country to demonstrate how this new law treats them as property and strips them of fundamental human rights. Activists claim that this law is emblematic of women's treatment for years in Spain, stemming from the authoritarian Francoist period, and although thousands of protests have occurred and regional parliaments have voted against the reforms, the ruling Partido Popular party remains committed to passing these restrictions. Embracing Shame: turning honour on its head Open Democracy (Heidi Basch-Harod) – February 14th, 2014 This article, authored by a participant in the International Women's Health and Human Rights open online course (MOOC), discusses the concept of “honour” in many societies, and how upholding “honour” leads to violations of women’s rights. Basch-Harod explores the growing number of both women and men in these communities who question pre-conceived notions of “honour” (particularly in the context of FGMs and forced marriages) and instead “embrace shame” and act in a truly moral fashion. This bulletin is a publication of International Women's Health & Human Rights (IWHHR). It was prepared by Ashley Jowell, Lara Mitra and Kevin Hsu. For more information, please visit www.internationalwomenshealth.org |
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A roundup of stories related to women's health, development, law, culture and human rights from around the world. Archives
December 2015
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