Women's Rights in the News
News items on women's rights from around the world
Jordan: Coalition Reaffirms Goal to Ensure Women Can Pass on Nationality to Children
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.
Read more...Islamic states frown on Islam-opposing paragraphs of UNHCR violence against women resolution
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.
Read more...Supreme Court Rules Human Genes May Not Be Patented
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.
Read more...Seimas voted in favour of the abortion ban bill
The Seimas of Lithuania on Tuesday gave its initial backing to a proposed abortion ban bill after 46 MPs voted in favour, 19 were against and 25 abstained.
Read more...Human Rights Council discusses causes of violence and discrimination against women
The Council has held a series of discussions on women’s rights over the course of the past week. In the interactive dialogue with the Working Group on discrimination against women in law and practice, States considered challenges to women’s representation in decision-making positions, including during periods of political transition.
Read more...C-section OK for pregnant woman in El Salvador
El Salvador's government gave permission Thursday for doctors to perform a premature delivery for a seriously ill woman whose pregnancy attorneys say is putting her life at risk.
Read more...Nigeria lawmakers pass bill banning gay marriage, setting prison sentences of up to 14 years
Nigeria’s House of Representatives voted Thursday to ban gay marriage and outlaw any groups actively supporting gay rights, endorsing a measure that also calls for 10-year prison sentences for any “public show” of affection by a same-sex couple.
Read more...Salvadoran Supreme Court Denies Beatriz Her Right to Life
In a stunning decision made worse by the length of time it took to be handed down, the Supreme Court of El Salvador gave a young woman a death sentence on Wednesday by denying “permission” for an abortion needed to save her life.
Read more...Canada: Abortion rights activist Dr. Henry Morgentaler dies at 90
Dr. Henry Morgentaler, who led the abortion movement in Canada, has died at age 90. Mortgentaler emerged in 1969 as one of Canada's most controversial figures when he broke the law at the time, and opened the country's first abortion clinic in Montreal.
Read more...Namibian Women Missing On Rights
While Namibia has put in place a strong legal framework to address the various forms of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation, ineffective implementation prevents Namibian women from enjoying their rights to life, security of person and bodily integrity, a United Nations report on ‘Extreme Poverty and Human Rights' in Namibia has found.
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