Harpreet A De Singh Appointed CEO of Alliance Air; Becomes First Woman to Head an Indian Air Carrier
Firstpost, India, 10/31/2020
Harpreet A De Singh, the first woman pilot of Air India, has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alliance Air, a subsidiary of the national carrier. She has become the first woman ever to head an Indian carrier. Harpreet was appointed as the first woman commercial pilot of Indian Airlines in 1988. She, however, had to give up her flying job due to health issues. A report by Scroll said that as per data released in 2018 by International Society of Women Airlines Pilots, India has the maximum percentage of women airline pilots in the world. The data also highlighted that the percentage of women pilots in India is more than double the global average.
India Urges UNSC to List Terror Entities Involved in Violence Against Women
The Print, United Nations, 10/30/2020
India has underscored the need for the UN Security Council to effectively integrate women, peace and security considerations into the sanctions regimes, including by listing terrorist entities involved in violence against women in armed conflicts. In 2007, India provided the United Nations Mission in Liberia with its first all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU), which rendered critical policing support in deterring sexual and gender-based violence and helped rebuild safety and confidence among the population. India said that through the Action for Peacekeeping initiative, the Member States are committed to implement the Women, Peace and Security agenda by increasing the number of civilian and uniformed women in peacekeeping.
Pandemic has Worsened Gender Inequality in India, Says Oxfam
Mint, India, 10/29/2020
According to a report by Oxfam, the COVID pandemic could have worsened inequality between men and women in terms of income. The report said that the inequalities that persisted before the pandemic were not good. It estimated that women and girls put in 3.26 billion hours of unpaid work every day. Diya Dutta, one of the authors of ”Oxfam’s 2020 India Inequality Report — On Women’s Backs” said that the burden of care work is so immense that it impacts women’s participation in the workforce, circumscribes their pursuit in education and discourages them from taking care of their health. She added that Indian women’s contribution to the GDP is one of the lowest in the world.
Survey: Most Young Women Facing Violence Never Called the National Helpline
Dhaka Tribune, Bangladesh, 10/28/2020
According to a recent study conducted by ActionAid Bangladesh, more than 85% Bangladeshi young women facing gender-based violence have never used the national helpline for violence against women, children or any other help. The remaining 14.7% women who had used the helpline at some point in their life were not satisfied with the service. The respondents of the survey indicated various challenges they face such as unsafe environment for women in Bangladesh, services provided for their protection not being effective enough, and harassment and abuse in public spaces. Joya Islam, a female youth representative, said that she notices women getting harassed in public transport but no men raise their voices against violence.
‘Pride Station’: North India’s First Metro Station Dedicated to Transgender People in Noida
The Hindustan Times - New Delhi, India, 10/27/2020
In a first for metro services in north India, the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) on October 27, 2020 officially renamed the Sector 50 station as “Pride Station”, dedicating it to the transgender community. Ritu Maheshwari, managing director of NMRC, unveiled the new name of the station in the presence of six members of the transgender community, who had been recruited by NMRC through contractors for services at the Metro station. The artwork and look of the Pride Station have also been changed to signify the essence and spirit of the transgender community. The Pride Station will also provide employment opportunities for the transgender community. In 2017, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited in Kerala had taken a similar step by employing transgender people.
Qatar ‘Forcibly Examined’ Women, Drawing Angry Diplomatic Response
Deccan Herald - Doha, Qatar, 10/26/2020
In an incident labelled "offensive" and "inappropriate", women passengers flying from Qatar were subjected to invasive examinations after a premature baby was found abandoned in an airport bathroom. Airport officials have not denied the incident, saying women passengers “were asked to assist” with inquiries to locate the mother of the baby. According to reports, security officials escorted an undisclosed number of women from several flights to ambulances, where the women were examined for signs of having given birth recently. In response to the incident, Human Rights Watch has urged Qatar to examine the policy that led to the event. Qatar practices a strict form of Islamic law, with stiff penalties applied to women who bear children outside marriage.
‘Indian Women Diagnosed with More Aggressive Breast Cancer Very Early’
National Herald, India, 10/25/2020
In a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, researchers have found that Indian and Pakistani women are diagnosed with Breast Cancer, including its more aggressive form at a very early age. The study also revealed the treatment and survival rate among women with Breast Cancer. Additionally, varied socio-cultural factors including lack of family support, prevented women from accessing health care services such as mammogram screening early. The author of the study, Anita Kinney, said that it was important to work towards health equity in cancer prevention, screening, early diagnosis and treatment through community engagement and a team science approach.
31% Adolescents Battled Extreme Anxiety in Past Few Months due to COVID-19, Says Survey
National Herald, India, 10/24/2020
According to a survey of 7,300 adolescents from four states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Odisha, around 31% adolescents surveyed faced extreme anxiety in the months of April, July and August, 2020 due their concerns about the impact that COVID-19 would have on their families’ financial status. The survey also revealed that adolescent girls faced significant gender discrimination during the lockdown. Only 12% adolescent girls had access to their mobile phones to be able to attend their classes online. Additionally, 51% of adolescent girls did not have access to essential textbooks in comparison to boys. About 39% of the girls were involved in housework as opposed to the number of boys at 35%.
India Inc Fails to Settle Sexual Harassment Cases
The Economic Times - Mumbai, India, 10/23/2020
According to data provided by BSE 500 companies, the number of sexual assault cases at the workplace have surged four times since 2015 and the total number of complaints have increased by 75% during the same period. Although India passed a law to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace in 2013, several companies are unable to resolve the issue. Vishal Kedia, PoSH trainer and founder of Complykaro Services, suggested various reasons including lack of expertise and lack of urgency. He said that Internal Committee members may not be adequately trained to address the complaints they receive or people may not take complaints of sexual harassment seriously.
As Many as 1,673 Rape Cases Recorded in the Past Six Months across Nepal
My Republica - Kathmandu, Nepal, 10/22/2020
Nepal has recorded as many as 1,673 rape cases from May, 2020 to October, 2020. 44 cases of gang rape, 825 cases of domestic violence and 51 cases of attempt to rape were recorded. More than 90 percent of rape or attempt to rape cases were found to have been committed by family members or close relatives of the victims, according to latest data from Women’s Rehabilitation Center, Nepal (WORAC). The data also shows that most of those accused of rape crime are youths between 26 to 35 years old. A total of 474 youths were accused of their involvement in the cases of violence against women.
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