Women's rights activists on Saturday reaffirmed their goal to “remove all gender discrimination from the Constitution” during a conference held by the "My nationality is my family's right” coalition.
News & Analysis
Women's Rights in the News
Islamic states frown on Islam-opposing paragraphs of UNHCR violence against women resolution
17 June 2013
Islamic member states of the United Nations Council for Human Rights (UNHCR) rejected on Friday paragraphs violating the Islamic law in the council's resolution on the elimination of all forms of violence against women, noting that the member states must make sure that their laws and national policies are consistent with the rejected demands.
Supreme Court Rules Human Genes May Not Be Patented
13 June 2013
Isolated human genes may not be patented, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday. The case concerned patents held by Myriad Genetics, a Utah company, on genes that correlate with increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
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Issues & Analysis
#FBrape campaign and the necessary debate
18 June 2013
The Take action to end gender-based violence on Facebook, or #FBrape campaign, co-signed by the APC Women´s Rights Programme, triggered interesting, timely and necessary debates around freedom of expression, censorship, privacy and intermediary liability. Read the collection of GenderIT.org Feminist Talk posts that reflect some of the discussion around these hot topics.
Putting women on the disaster risk reduction agenda
17 June 2013
Every year, approximately 200 million people around the world are affected by disasters. Of these, 100 million are women or girls, according to the UN’s Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
Gender equality funds must go to women's groups in poor countries
17 June 2013
A report urging the UK to increase funding to women's rights groups is welcome, but the money must reach the right people.
AWID's Friday Files
Violating Women’s Rights: Forced Sterilization, Population Control and HIV/AIDS
07 June 2013
FRIDAY FILE – Last July, a high court sentenced the Namibian state for the forced sterilization of three HIV-positive women. In Uzbekistan, authorities continue to deny reported cases. AWID looks into forced sterilizations in both countries and what it means for women’s reproductive rights.
A Women’s Perspective on the Violent and Oppressive Bahraini Regime
31 May 2013
FRIDAY FILE - AWID interviewed pro-democracy activist and lecturer Dr Ala’a Shehabi* about the current violence and persecution against Bahraini citizens and how women are contributing to the fight for democracy and rights.
Illegal Detention of Women Human Rights Defenders in the Midst of the Border Conflict of Sudan
24 May 2013
FRIDAY FILE - Sudanese people inspired by the Arab spring, and led by women and youth, took the streets of Sudan demanding regime change in 2011. Authorities violently cracked down on these demonstrations, detaining more than 150 women, who were sexually abused or tortured, injured and beaten in the protests.
The First Arms Trade Treaty Recognises Gender-Based Violence
16 May 2013
FRIDAY FILE - On April 2, 2013, a decades long campaign culminated in the signing of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) at the UN General Assembly. The ATT prohibits arms sales when there is a risk that weapons could be used to violate international humanitarian or human rights law.
Some Advances in Legal Rights for Domestic Workers in Latin America
10 May 2013
FRIDAY FILE - Long working hours, lack of rest time and poor treatment and compensation, in the absence of national legislation, often turns domestic work into a form of slavery in many countries. We reflect on some of the changes taking place in Latin America regarding decent work for domestic workers.
New Resources
DB Click: HIV/AIDS, Young People, Research
12 June 2013
The HIV/AIDS, Young People, Research theme site, done in partnership with the Inter-Agency Task Team on HIV Prevention and Young People (IATT-YP), is part of the IATT website on young people and HIV which serves as a platform to provide access to a range of resources on HIV and AIDS focused on adolescents and youth.
RHM journal on Young people, sex and relationships
11 June 2013
The 26 papers from across the globe address a wide range of issues affecting young people including HIV fears and misconceptions, menstruation, sexual harassment, transgender-related health care, sex education, contraceptive implants, teenage pregnancy, sexual exploitation, safe abortion, social media for health promotion, and more.
Feminist Reflections on the United Nation's High Level Panel' s Report
11 June 2013
This review reflects the combined efforts of the drafting team who think it is critical that feminist voices on the range of issues related to sustainable development and the realization of women's rights and gender equality be articulated and hope that these critical reflections will be useful to you as you advocate for the realization of women's rights, gender equality and social justice.
Special Focus
CSW Special Focus
AWID is pleased to launch a special focus section on CSW 57. Follow the proceedings and keep up to date on events, news, analysis, and official and CSO statements in preparation for and coming out of the two-week meeting.
Democratic Republic of Congo
AWID is alarmed by the escalating violence in the North Kivu province of the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and is dismayed by the lack of international response to protect civilians and women human rights defenders. We stand in solidarity with our sisters in DRC and our partners who are working closely to ensure that WHRDs in the area are out of harm's way.
Parliamentary Coup in Paraguay
On June 22, 2012, the Paraguayan Senate found President Fernando Lugo guilty of impeachment charges in a 39 to 4 vote, resulting in his removal from office.
Rio+20
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 20-22 June 2012 marking the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
Crisis in Haiti
Two years after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti’s capital of Port-Au-Prince, on Tuesday, 12 January 2010 the nation is still trying to rebuild their country and their lives.
Announcements
Campaign for women's health rights in Saudi Arabia
11 June 2013
As the preparations for the for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio are beginning, the Institute for Gulf Affairs would like to share our concerns for the wellbeing of Saudi Arabian women.
Statement from the Brazilian Network of Prostitutes about Censorship and the Federal Government's Intervention and Alteration of the AIDS Prevention Campaign
11 June 2013
Against the common good and the general happiness of the nation, the government violates the principles of the Constitution and the Unified Health System.
High Level Panel recommendations fall short of the human rights litmus test
10 June 2013
CESR statement on the Post-2015 Development Agenda report of the Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons.