Gang Rape Protest May Make Marketers Show Greater Gender Sensitivity in Advertisement Campaigns
The Economic Times - Mumbai, India, 12/31/2012
There are several ads, stereotyping women and sometimes blatantly portraying them as a sex object. Prasoon Joshi, president, McCann Worldgroup South Asia, says a mindset has to be created that immediately condemns and rejects wrong portrayal of women. ‘If people start finding such ads offensive, marketers will not stick to such portrayal and put themselves at risk - except for some fly-by-night operators,’ he says. ‘After all, it is all about the value of the brand.’
Sex Education, Yes, But Not as Separate Subject
Daily News and Analysis- Mumbai, India, 12/31/2012
After the shocking incident in which a 17-year-old girl lost her life after her boyfriend tried to bring on her periods by inserting a screwdriver in her vagina, the need for sex education has been brought to light. However, worried about the back lash of society, the National Council for Educational Research and Training is not going to introduce it as a separate subject but is planning to integrate sex education into other subjects. Speaking at the 7th International Conference on Yoga for the Youth held in Lonavla, Dr PV Prakasa Rao, coordinator, PSSCIVE project and yoga scheme, Ministry of Human Resource Development, said, “Sex education is necessary, but we have to introduce it subtly. There is a lot of opposition from society to teach it as a separate subject altogether, so we have come up with other ways to include it in the syllabus.”
Leave No Woman Behind: Why we Fought for Reproductive Health Bill
CNN - Manila, Philippines, 12/31/2012
After 14 long years in the dustbins of Congress, mainly due to strong opposition from the Catholic Church, the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill was approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Monday, 17 December 2012. This is the will of the Filipino people; it is the democratic expression of what the public wants from government. The anti-RH groups are mute on this ineluctable fact.
Death of Delhi Rape Victim Stirs Anger, Promises of Action
Reuters- New Delhi, India, 12/29/2012
The 23-year-old woman whose gang rape provoked protests and rare national debate about violence against women in India died from her injuries on Saturday, prompting promises of action from a government that has struggled to respond to public outrage. The unidentified medical student suffered a brain injury and massive internal damage in the December 16 attack and died in hospital in Singapore where she had been taken for treatment. Protesters rallied peacefully in New Delhi and other cities across the country to keep the pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh`s government to get tougher on crimes against women. That was in contrast to the pitched battles protesters fought with police last weekend.
Philippine President Signs Contraceptives Law Opposed by the Country’s Roman Catholic Church
The Washington Post- Manila, Philippines, 12/29/2012
The Philippine president has signed a law that will promote contraception, sexual education and family planning programs vigorously opposed by the country’s Roman Catholic Church. President Benigno Aquino III signed the law on Dec. 21 and his administration announced it only Saturday because of the “sensitivity” of the issue, said deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte. Valte said the passage of the law “closes a highly divisive chapter of our history” and “opens the possibility of cooperation and reconciliation” among those who oppose and support the “Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012.”
Make Media Houses Gender-Friendly: Govt
The Himalayan Times- Kathmandu, Nepal, 12/28/2012
The Department of Information (DOI) has urged all the media houses to ensure a gender-friendly atmosphere in offices and conduct interactions on gender-based violence every four months. The DOI directive to media houses comes in the wake of complaints and findings that some of the media houses are biased against women journalists. The department has asked media houses to make newsroom and editing sections of news desks transparent to avoid sexual harassment and violence, arrange separate toilets for ladies and gentlemen and provide vehicles for female journalists working till late. Speaking at a press conference, director-general at the information department, Laxmi Bilas Koirala, said the new ruling is aimed at curbing probabilities of sexual harassment and violence against women journalists in media houses.
Adolescents in Pakistan Have Little Knowledge of Sexual Health: JPMA
The News International- Karachi, Pakistan, 12/28/2012
The Journal of Pakistan Medical Association (JPMA) has published the findings of a survey titled “Understanding of Puberty and Related Health Problems among Female Adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan”. Data was collected from 150 females between the ages of 10 and 19. The survey revealed that the majority of participants had limited knowledge about puberty and sexual health. Seventy- two percent of participants believed that they should be given proper information about puberty and the changes of adolescence so they could deal with them better.
IT Staff Protest Against Gender Violence
The Hindu- Bangalore, India, 12/28/2012
After work on Thursday, groups of IT workers protested near IT parks in Electronics City and ITPL, against gender inequality and violence against women. Organised by ITEC (IT/ITeS Employees Centre), a welfare forum for employees working in the technology sector, the protestors staged a street play, shouted slogans and staged a candlelight rally. Over 200 people took part in the rally. “The thinking that women are a commodity has to change,” said Shruthi Jolly, a member of ITHI, the women’s group that is part of ITEC.
Gender Abuse: As Assembly Tenure Nears End, Lawmakers Yet to Finalise Domestic Violence Bill
The Express Tribune- Peshawar, Pakistan, 12/27/2012
With nearly three months left for the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to complete its tenure, the fate of the Domestic Violence Bill remains uncertain. There were several attempts made this year to criminalise domestic violence, but the bill repeatedly faced obstacles. The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2009 passed by the National Assembly to give protection and justice to women in cases of abuse was thwarted because of the objections raised by the Council of Islamic Ideology. Since then, the issue has been delegated as a provincial matter, requiring all assemblies to pass the law for their respective provinces. This not only makes the possible passage of the law difficult and complicated, but also reflects a lack of interest in addressing an issue concerning nearly half the population of Pakistan.
Sex Worker Gang-Raped in Surat
The Times of India- Surat, India, 12/27/2012
A 22-year-old sex worker was allegedly gang-raped by at least ten persons at Bamroli area of the city, police said on Thursday. Seven out of ten persons allegedly involved in the crime that occurred on the night of December the 25th have been detained, they said.`The detainees will be formally arrested by this evening after completion of gathering of evidence and paper work`, assistant commissioner of police (`F` division) VV Rathod said.
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