Women's Rights in the News
News items on women's rights from around the world
Opponents of girls’ right to education violate Islam, ambassador tells United Nations
UNITED NATIONS: “Those who deny women and girls their right to education, violate Islam,” Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Masood Khan told an audience at the world body on Monday. He said the religion was for all men and women without discrimination.
Read more...Somali woman wins appeal against sentence for claiming soldiers raped her
Mogadishu court overturns conviction but journalist who interviewed her still faces six months in prison
Read more...Kenya heads to polls as women seek justice for violence during last election
People who were sexually abused in Kenya's 2007 post-election violence are still seeking justice as the next vote near
Read more...Kurdish women in Syria create first female battalion
For the first time in Syria, 150 Kurdish women have set up a female-only battalion in the northern province of Aleppo, which has seen some of the heaviest fighting since the start of the Syrian uprising in early 2011.
Read more...Musicians from around the world join forces with UN to highlight women's rights
More than 20 musicians from across the globe are joining forces with the United Nations to spotlight the importance of empowering women through a song that will be released on International Women's Day, celebrated on 8 March.
Read more...Vigils in 35 countries condemn harassment of Egyptian women
Scores of people held a vigil in Talaat Harb Square in downtown Cairo Tuesday, denouncing what they called “sexual terrorism of women in Egypt.” Those in attendance said the government has failed to protect female protesters and activists during demonstrations and marches recently.
Read more...Turkish Women's Groups Gird for Abortion Rights Battle
Women rights groups demonstrated in Istanbul earlier this month in support of abortion rights, accusing state institutions of complying with a government campaign to systematically curtail the practice.
Read more...Saudi king swears in first women members of advisory council
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on Tuesday swore in the country's first female members of the Shura Council, an appointed body that advises on new laws, in a move that has riled conservative clerics in the Islamic monarchy.
Read more...Gunmen in Nigeria kill nine polio health workers
Boko Haram sect suspected of carrying out two separate attacks on medical centres in northern city of Kano
Read more...Gaza Gags Civil Liberties
Gaza is becoming increasingly radicalised as Hamas continues its crackdown on civil liberties, press freedom and the rights of women. In the last few weeks a number of journalists have been arrested and accused of being involved in “suspicious activities”, several detainees shot dead by police during arrest attempts, and female students asked to abide by a strict Islamic dress code.
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