Church Puts Clout on the Line with Drive vs RH

Manila Standard Today, Philippines, 11/29/2012

A Catholic official said on November 28, 2012 that the bishops for the first time would be urging the faithful to vote as a bloc to defeat the Reproductive Health bill that the bishops say is anti-life and the candidates favoring passing it. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman earlier introduced a substitute bill to his HB 4244 that, among other things, would limit the distribution of contraceptives to the poorest of the poor in a move to appease those opposing the measure, and especially the Catholic Church.

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Gender-Based Violence: ‘Make Violence Against Women Cognisable Offence’

The Express Tribune - Faisalabad, Pakistan, 11/29/2012

Participants of a rally taken out to condemn violence against women urged the government to pass legislation against domestic violence and violence perpetuated by the state machinery to make it a cognisable offence. The rally, Protect Women against Violence, was taken out by the Peace and Human Development (PHD) Foundation and the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) in collaboration with several non government organizations. The rally marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed on November 25, 2012.

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Campaign on Sexual Health to Engage Clerics

The Express Tribune - Islamabad, Pakistan, 11/28/2012

An advocacy campaign launched on November 27, 2012 aimed to disseminate credible information on sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), to help adolescents make the right choices. The campaign, HAYAT, is a mass awareness and advocacy campaign on SRHR for youth aimed to address the physical and emotional challenges of adolescents and suggest ways to handle them.

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Indonesia and Elimination of Violence Against Women

The Jakarta Post, Singapore, 11/27/2012

Indonesia has passed several laws and regulations under the convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) after it ratified CEDAW in 1984. In 2004, a law on elimination of domestic violence, 2006 law on citizenship and the 2007 law on elimination of human trafficking were passed. Unfortunately they are not supported by the Criminal Code, Marriage Law, Pornographic Law, Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Worker Law and more than 200 discriminative bylaws. Also, Indonesia has yet to pass a Law on gender equality despite its initiation in 2009.

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Numbers Don`t Count, Gay Walk With Pride

The Times of India - New Delhi, India, 11/26/2012

In spite of the prying eyes and shocked stares, the LGBT community in the capital came out once again in rainbow colours on November 25, 2012 to reinforce their identities. Almost three years after the judiciary decriminalized consensual sex among homosexuals, the community feels a lot more confident. However, a sense of taboo and underlying insecurity still

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Indian Gay Rights Parade Demands Greater Tolerance

Dawn - New Delhi, India, 11/25/2012

Hundreds of gay rights activists marched through New Delhi on November 25, 2012 to demand that they be allowed to lead lives of dignity in India’s deeply conservative society. Dozens of demonstrators carried a nearly 15-meter long, rainbow-colored banner and waved placards demanding that the government extend the scope of anti-discrimination laws to schools, workplaces and public and private spaces. Activists said that three years after the Delhi High Court made changes in India’s colonial-era law that made gay sex a crime, homosexuals are still not socially accepted in India.

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Indian LGBT-Themed Films to be Shown in London

Daily News and Analysis - Mumbai, India, 11/25/2012

An Indian-theme film festival being held abroad is not very big news anymore. But an Indian LGBT-themed festival is definitely unique. A collection of Indian LGBT-themed films will screen across several venues across the UK, among them the historic Old Theatre at 309 Regent Street. Among the films playing at the queer festival include Sridhar Rangayan’s Gulabi Aaina (The Pink Mirror) and award-winning short films from the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival like Amen, Kusum (The Flower Bud), Logging Out and Raat Baaki (Night is Young). The event is organised by the India Media Centre at the University of Westminster.

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China Orders Hospitals to Treat HIV/AIDS Patients

The China Post - Beijing, China, 11/25/2012

China has banned health institutions from withholding care to people living with HIV and AIDS after an outcry over a cancer patient with the disease who was denied treatment, state media reported. The Ministry of Health issued a memo ordering authorities to take steps to guarantee the right to medical treatment for people with the disease, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Xinhua said the memo warned that violators will face harsh punishment, without elaborating. Chinese authorities have been credited with increasing access to HIV and AIDS drugs for patients, though widespread discrimination is still a problem.

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Men to Kick off Campaign on Gender Violence

The Times of India - Chennai, India, 11/24/2012

For a little more than a fortnight, 16 well-known men in the city will lend their voices to a campaign against gender violence. Prajnya, a non-profit group working on gender issues, is kicking off its annual `16 Days Campaign Against Gender Violence` on November 25, 2012 by involving men, not just in the planning and organising, but as the face of the movement. ‘We`ve got businessmen, sportsmen, musicians and entertainers to make short videos with their views on gender violence and will release them one a day on YouTube during the campaign. We hope men will see the videos, think about these issues, and send in their own clips,’ said Swarna Rajagopalan, managing trustee, Prajnya.

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Coverage for People With HIV/AIDS Must be Clear

The Jakarta Post - Jakarta, Indonesia, 11/23/2012

To ensure that people living with HIV and AIDS can also enjoy the benefits offered by the National Social Security System (SJSN), the government needs to specify the protection scheme covering this sexually-transmitted disease, experts say. Universal health coverage mandated by the 2011 Social Security Providers (BPJS) Law is expected to come into effect by January 2014. HIV and AIDS is among the ailments that will be covered and yet, details of the coverage are unknown. ‘We should be very specific about the benefit package to ensure that those affected are aware of their entitlements,’ Valérie Schmitt, a social security specialist with the International Labor Office (ILO), said.

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