Taliban Cracks Down on Woman Rights while Demanding Western Aid
ANI News - Kabul, Afghanistan, 12/31/2021
Taliban officials are taking new actions to restrict women’s freedom and dismantle democratic institutions as they appeal to the world to release frozen humanitarian aid funds and bank accounts. Over the past few weeks, the ministry of Islmaic guidelines has issued rules requiring women to fully cover their heads if they ride in a public taxi and to be accompanied by a male relative if they travel more than 45 miles. Rights groups and analysts see the moves as signals that the new Islamist rulers are both tightening and widening their grip across Afghan society - despite intial promises of leniency after they took power. Further, the Taliban demands the release of foreing funds which seems more of a contest of wills rather than an sign of urgency.
Pakistan Women's Rights Group Condemns Imran's 'Misogynistic, Racist' Remarks
Deccan Herald - New Delhi, India, 12/30/2021
Speaking at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit, Imran Khan had made comments on the need to be careful about Afghan and Pashtun cultural norms. Following this, the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) made their disapproval visible in a press release. With concerns about the escalating incidents of gender-based violence against girls, the press release stated “The PM continues to misuse-abuse his public office to voice his personal regressive, misogynistic, racist views on women, Pakhtuns as an ethnic group, culture and fundamental human rights.” WAF is one of the oldest women’s rights groups in Pakistan. Calls for a public apology “addressed to all women, girls, and Pakhtuns of Pakistan and Afghanistan” were made by WAF.
Amid Widespread Backlash, JNU Changes Language in ICC Circular on Sexual Harassment
The Wire - New Delhi, India, 12/29/2021
The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has edited the public invitation uploaded on its website which stated “girls are supposed to know how to draw a tangible line between them and their male friends”. The circular came under heavy criticism from the professors and students at JNU. The National Commision for Women also sought the withdrawal of the circular on grounds of its “misogynistic” tone. Now the line has been replaced with “Boys will be counselled to clearly distinguish between friendship and behaviour that may be considered sexual harrassment. Girls will be counselled how to avoid sexual harrasment.”
Afghan Women Call For Rights, Protest Alleged Taliban Killings
Al Jazeera - Kabul, Afghanistan, 12/28/2021
After gathering near a mosque in the centre of Kabul, a group of women marched through the capital making calls for women’s rights to be respected. The group was stopped by Taliban forces and journalists were prevented from covering the march. Reporters were detained and their equipment was confiscated. The United Nations and Amnesty International have released reports on extrajudicial killings by the Taliban. The protestors in a statement to Taliban read out “to stop its criminal machine”. After the new guidelines issued by Taliban which bans women from travelling long distances unescorted, women’s anger is apparent. Mahbooba Saraj, chair of Afghan Women’s Network, recognised this as “another way of placing restrictions on women for no apparent reason”.
UNICEF Employs Mobile Health Teams Across Afghanistan for Women, Children
ANI News - Kabul, Afghanistan, 12/27/2021
With the Taliban takeover, the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has rapidly deepened and worsened. To tackle this, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) made announcements to share that multiple mobile health teams have been employed in Afghanistan. The teams serve to address issues of health for women and children who have not been able to access medical care. Special attention has been paid to the increase of malnutrition children in Afghanistan and for this nutrition packages have been given to service providers. The humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan is estimated to be the worst in the world. Large numbers of people may be on the verge of starvation, the help comes at an important time.
Maharashtra District's New Year Gift for Transgender Persons - Rs 12,000 annual assistance
Deccan Herald - Maharashtra, India, 12/26/2021
Monthly financial assistance will be provided to transgender persons in Palghar district of Maharashtra. A sum of Rs. 1000 will be deposited directly into the eligible persons’ bank accounts. Through surveys, about a 100 eligible trangender persons were identified for the scheme. Many of them did not have proper documentation like Aadhar Card or Ration Cards which now with the help of the government are being made. One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Aarti spoke of feeling overwhelmed by the initiative and hoped this would help in mainstreaming the marginalised community. Officials are hoping to implement the scheme at a state level, however, the lack of reliable data available on the number of transgender persons is a hurdle.
Maharashtra District's New Year Gift for Transgender Persons - Rs 12,000 annual assistance
Deccan Herald - Maharashtra, India, 12/26/2021
Monthly financial assistance will be provided to transgender persons in Palghar district of Maharashtra. A sum of Rs. 1000 will be deposited directly into the eligible persons’ bank accounts. Through surveys, about a 100 eligible trangender persons were identified for the scheme. Many of them did not have proper documentation like Aadhar Card or Ration Cards which now with the help of the government are being made. One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Aarti spoke of feeling overwhelmed by the initiative and hoped this would help in mainstreaming the marginalised community. Officials are hoping to implement the scheme at a state level, however, the lack of reliable data available on the number of transgender persons is a hurdle.
Syrian Women And Girls in Aleppo Find New Outlet in Sports
Al-Monitor - Aleppo, Syria, 12/25/2021
There has been a renewed interest of women in sports such as basketball, badminton, taekwondo and football in the city of Afrin. The local council has made many efforts to promote sports in the area's youth. Women have been showing active involvement in many sports but especially basketball. However, Mazen Mahrous, the coach of Al-Sham Basketball Club for women expressed the need for more support and need for more qualified and experienced trainers. Abeer al-Habibi, a schoolteacher in Afrin made comments noting that the restrictions that were imposed on women playing sports have begun to fade away in some areas.
Abortion Ban: El Salvador Frees Women Jailed After Miscarriages
Al Jazeera, El Salvador, 12/24/2021
El Salvador has strict bans on abortions. Women can be sent to jail for up to 8 years for terminating a pregnancy. Judges often even convict women for homicide which can imprison them for up to 50 years. Amidst such efforts three women have been freed after spending between six to thirteen years in jail when their miscarriages were miscontrued as abortions. An abortion rights group informed, the loss of foetus occured because of health emergencies that the women were facing. Women in El Salvador are often prosecuted on suspicion of attempted abortion even if they seek medical help in relation to complications in pregnancy.
2021 Worst Year for Afghan Women as Taliban Rolled Back Access to Their Rights: Human Rights Watch
ANI News - Kabul, Afghanistan, 12/22/2021
According to Human Rights Watch, 2021 has been the worst year for the Afghan women as the Taliban after assuming control of Afghanistan has rolled back access to their rights. A prominent Afghan women rights activist, Mahbouba Seraj voiced concerns over the current status of women. “When the right of education of taken from girls and women, and they are incapable of doing their activities, and kind of access is restricted for women, this is the worst situation for women in the country”, Serja added. According to her, the main reason for the current crisis is due to women’s isolation from society, including governmental affairs.
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