Women, Child Suffer Most as Conflict Hampers Health Services in Balochistan
Business World - Balochistan, Pakistan, 1/31/2021
According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Aga Khan University, the maternal and child health services in the conflict-hit parts of Balochistan are severely affected due to insecurity, unavailability of staff, and damage to healthcare facilities. The study consisted of a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the provision of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition services comparing coverage in districts facing minimal, moderate and severe levels of conflict. Researchers found significantly lower levels of contraceptive use, facility delivery, exclusive breastfeeding, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccinations. The study also found incidents of harassment, target killings, security threats and kidnappings of the health workforce, specifically polio workers, in conflict-hit areas.
Delay Pregnancy Until Two Months After Taking Covid-19 Vaccine, Caution Indian Health Experts
News18, India, 1/30/2021
As vaccines are being rolled out in India in phases, gynaecologists and fertility experts in India have urged people to delay planning a pregnancy until two months after they get the vaccine against Covid-19. On the other hand, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it doesn’t recommend pregnancy testing before vaccination, nor does it recommend delaying pregnancy following vaccination. This comes a day after the WHO recommended against the use of the vaccine during pregnancy except in those at high risk of exposure or having a severe case. The Centre has confirmed that pregnant and lactating women have not been part of any clinical trial and should not receive the vaccine.
Myntra Changes Logo After Complaint Calls Signage Offensive to Women
The Hindu, India, 1/30/2021
E-commerce firm Myntra has decided to change its logo after a complaint was lodged with the Mumbai Cyber police alleging it to be insulting and offensive towards women. The complaint was lodged by Naaz Patel of NGO Avesta Foundation in December, 2020, demanding removal of the logo by Myntra and appropriate action against the firm. "We found that the logo was offensive in nature for women. Following the complaint, we sent an email to Myntra and their officials came and met us. The officials said they will change the logo in a month's time," said DCP Rashmi Karandikar, Cyber Crime Department of Mumbai police. Myntra said they would revise their logo on their website, app as well as on all packaging material.
Six Million Women and Girls on Contraception in Kenya - Report
The Star, Kenya, 1/28/2021
According to a new report, at least six million women and girls in Kenya are using modern contraception to prevent pregnancy. Since 2020, women and girls prevented at least 2.2 million unintended pregnancies and averted 503,000 unsafe abortions. The report titled ‘The FP2020: The arc of progress’ revealed that in total, 57.8% of married women in Kenya are on modern family planning methods. However, the prevalence rate dropped to 42.5% when all women including single girls were factored. Kenya was among the first countries to commit to the FP2020 partnership when it launched in 2012. Beth Schlachter, executive director of FP2020 said, “The FP2020 partnership has bent the curve of progress sharply upward and responded with the strength to Covid-19.”
Thailand Backs Amendment Allowing Early-Stage Abortions
CNN - Bangkok, Thailand, 1/27/2021
Lawmakers in Thailand have voted in favour of allowing abortions upto 12 weeks of pregnancy while retaining penalties for later terminations, a move that pro-choice activists said fell short of protecting the rights of pregnant women. Legislators voted 166-7 in favour of amending a law that criminalises abortion, and backing a plan that seeks to tackle unregulated terminations by non-medical practitioners. The amendment was passed by the lower house and follows a constitutional court decision in February, 2020 that said that criminalising abortion was unconstitutional and violated human rights. Under the new criteria, abortion beyond 12 weeks will be allowed under select conditions such as danger to the life of the pregnant woman, or if a pregnancy was the result of rape.
Emergency Calls on Violence Against Women Spiked in Mexico in 2020
Reuters - Mexico City, Mexico, 1/26/2021
According to recently published data, emergency calls related to violence against women in Mexico rose more than 30% in 2020 as the COVID-19 lockdown kept families stuck at home. More than 260,000 emergency calls were made about violence against women compared to under 198,000 in 2019. The report also showed a decrease in the number of investigations opened in Mexico into some crimes against women in 2020. Wendy Figueroa, head of the National Network of Shelters, confirmed the increase in numbers but warned that closer analysis was needed. Surveys by national statistics agency (INEGI) revealed that two-thirds of women in Mexico have experienced some form of violence, with almost 44% suffering abuse from a partner.
New Law to Prevent Domestic Violence Against Women: CM
Dawn - Peshawar, Pakistan, 1/25/2021
Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has described the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Domestic Violence against Women (Prevention and Protection) Bill a landmark legislation and said that it will prevent domestic violence against women. He said that it was an important achievement of the incumbent government and that they will be taking additional steps “to provide all kinds of protection to the vulnerable segments of society including women and children.” Laying out the details of the law, the chief minister said that violence against women could be punished with imprisonment for a minimum of one year and a maximum of five years, while economic, psychological and sexual pressure would also be defined as violence against women.
Groping Without ‘Skin-to-Skin Contact’ Does Not Amount to Sexual Assault Under POCSO Act: Bombay HC
Scroll, India, 1/24/2021
The Bombay High Court has noted that groping a 12-year-old minor girl’s breasts without ‘skin-to-skin’ contact does not amount to sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Nagpur bench of the court said that it would fall under the purview of Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalises ‘outraging the modesty’ of a woman. A single bench of Justice Pushpa Ganediwala made the observations while modifying an order by a sessions court that held a 39-year-old man guilty of sexually assaulting the minor. During the hearing on January 19, 2021, the High Court questioned whether groping a minor’s breasts without ‘skin-to-skin’ contact would fall within the definition of ‘sexual assault’ under Section 7 of the POCSO Act.
Privacy Fears as Indian City Lucknow Readies Facial Recognition to Spot Harassed Women
South China Morning Post, India, 1/23/2021
Digital rights experts recently warned that the plan to monitor women’s expressions with facial recognition technology in an attempt to prevent street harassment in the north Indian city Lucknow will lead to intrusive policing and privacy violations. Police Commissioner DK Thakur said that the police had identified around 200 hotspots that women visit and that they will set up five AI-based cameras which will be capable of sending an alert to the nearest police station. However, technology analysts and privacy experts are not sure of the benefits and believe that the technology could breach people’s privacy and lead to greater surveillance.
Sort Data on Violence Against Disabled Girls, Women Separately: Rights Activists
Mint, India, 1/22/2021
More than 90 individuals, disability rights activists, and organisations have urged the Home Minister Amit Shah in a letter to ensure that the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) maintains separate data on violence against women and girls with disabilities. In the letter, disability rights groups and activists, including the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled, National Association for the Blind and the All India Federation of the Deaf urged the Home Minister to pass necessary orders to ensure that the NCRB maintains disaggregated data which includes, but is not restricted to, sex, age, place of residence, relationship with perpetrator and disability in cases of violence and exploitation, including gender-based violence against women and girls with disabilities, and violence inflicted by intimate partners.
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