Access to Safe Abortion Remains a Challenge, Says Study
The Hindustan Times - Chennai, India, 2/28/2019
Though the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act has been in place since 1971, women are still finding it difficult to access affordable and safe abortion services. A study conducted by NGOs, involving a cross-section of women in Kancheepuram district, found that there was a lack of abortion services at the primary health centre (PHC) level in the public sector, and that only 10% of all abortions were captured by official data. For the study conducted by CommonHealth and Rural Women’s Social Education Centre (RUWSEC), researchers interviewed women, including those from marginalised groups such as HIV-positive and SC/ST women. Most of those who participated in the focus group discussions still considered abortion illegal and equivalent to murder – which highlighted the lack of awareness about abortion services.
Chinese Broadcaster Censors Rami Malek's Oscars Speech Over Reference to Homosexuality
Evening Standard, China, 2/27/2019
Chinese broadcaster Mango TV has come under fire after removing a reference to homosexuality from its online broadcast of Rami Malek’s Oscar acceptance speech. Malek received the coveted Best Actor trophy for his role as Freddie Mercury in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and used his speech to pay tribute to the late star, referencing his sexuality. However, Mango TV, which is one of the most popular channels in China, removed the reference to ‘a gay man,’ reportedly replacing it with ‘special group’ – which led to outrage from LGBT Chinese people online. China was previously banned from showing last year’s Eurovision song contest by the European Broadcasting Union after censoring footage from a semi-final, including blurring LGBT pride flags.
Sexual Assault Survivors March to End Gender Violence in India
Inter Press Service - New Delhi, India, 2/26/2019
In an historic first, thousands of people participated in a 10,000-kilometre long Dignity March across India to raise awareness about sexual violence, bring an end to stigma faced by survivors, and highlight the barriers women and children face in accessing justice. Covering 200 districts in 24 states, the March began in Mumbai on December 20, 2019, and ended on Feb 22, 2019, with around 5000 gathering at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, a ground famous for hosting protests and political rallies. Organised by Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan (National Campaign for Dignity), an Indian human rights group, The Dignity March was ‘a call for women and children to speak out their experiences of sexual abuse without shame’, and to take the fight for justice forward.
Netflix's Indian Short Documentary 'Period. End of Sentence' Wins Oscar
Business Today, India, 2/25/2019
A documentary on menstrual taboos, set in rural India, titled ‘Period. End of Sentence’, has won the Oscar in the Documentary Short Subject category at the 91st Academy Awards. Award-winning filmmaker Rayka Zehtabchi has directed the short film, which has been produced by Indian producer Guneet Monga's Sikhya Entertainment. The film came to into being as a part of The Pad Project, started by students at the Oakwood School in Los Angeles and their teacher, Melissa Berton, and is set in Hapur village outside Delhi, where women lead a quiet revolution as they fight against the deeply rooted stigma of menstruation. The film highlights the resilience and power of young women who are raising awareness and helping their community.
Pakistan’s First Public School for Transgender Persons Opens Doors in Lodhran
Express Tribune - Lodhran, Pakistan, 2/25/2019
As many as 20 transgender people are in the process of getting educated from an educational institution established by the government-run Literacy department in Lodhran district. The Lodhran Deputy Commissioner said that it was a first of its kind initiative for the education of transgender people. The purpose of establishing this educational institution was to not just educate the transgender community but to enable them to access better employment and help them contribute more to society. In a bid to promote inclusiveness, the School Education Department (SED) in Punjab had also earlier directed district education authorities to ensure transgender children are treated as equals in both government and private schools across the province.
5 Lakh Indians Swarm Extra-Marital Dating App Gleeden, 30% are Women
Business Standard, India, 2/24/2019
Several Indians stuck in unhappy marriages are taking to an extra-marital dating app called Gleeden to pursue alternate relationships. Gleeden, which is the world’s first dating platform for married people looking for relationships outside of their marriage, has seen nearly five lakh registrations from Indian users, out of which women are in the majority (an unsurprising statistic, since the app is run by women and is free for women to use). In 2018, women were 25 per cent of Gleeden's Indian users, which has grown to 30 per cent. Predictably, Gleeden’s Indian user base has further expanded after the decriminalisation of adultery in the country. This goes on to show how important it is to have platforms to help women reclaim agency and pursue pleasure.
China Bans Gender Discrimination Against Women in Recruitment
Xinhua - Beijing, China, 2/22/2019
China has banned gender discrimination practices in recruitment to boost career opportunities for women. No requirements for gender should be included in any recruitment plans or interviews, according to the new guidelines released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. It is also forbidden to ask about the marital or fertility status of women candidates during interviews, and pregnancy testing should be off the list of pre-employment health test. This comes in the aftermath of a survey in 2018 which highlighted how firms are less likely to hire women, and how women face a lot of bias and discrimination in the workforce. The Chinese Government also seeks to build a sound mechanism to supervise employers and offer legal aid to women employees.
Kenya Court Delays Decision on Anti-Gay Sex Law
Al Jazeera, Kenya, 2/22/2019
Kenya's High Court has postponed a much-anticipated ruling on whether to scrap colonial-era laws which criminalise gay sex, citing a heavy caseload. The announcement of a delay, which was made on February 22, 2019, was met with dismay from Kenya's LGBT community, who have been anxiously awaiting a ruling on the petition, filed three years ago. The new date for declaring the decision is set at May 24. The petition filed by gay rights organisations is asking the court to scrap two sections of the penal code that criminalise gay sex: one section states that anyone who has ‘carnal knowledge... against the order of nature’ can be imprisoned for 14 years, another stipulates a five-year jail term for ‘indecent practices between males’.
Report Flags Gap in India Mobile Usage: 80% Men, 59% Women
Indian Express, India, 2/21/2019
Indian women are 26 per cent less likely than Indian men to own a mobile phone, and 56 per cent less likely to use mobile Internet, according to the findings of a new report by Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), a London-based global trade body. While the 2019 Mobile Gender Gap Report found that 80 per cent of women in low-and middle-income countries are now mobile owners, the gender gap in mobile ownership is not closing. The mobile gender gap is widest in South Asia, where women are 28% less likely than men to own a mobile device and 58% less likely to use the mobile Internet, due to patriarchal norms and lack of access women have.
Sexual Harassment Endemic for Female Workers in Garment Industry, Study Finds
The Independent, India, 2/20/2019
Sexual harassment, sexism and pregnancy-related discrimination are rampant in the garment industry, a damning report by Human Rights Watch has found. While India, Pakistan and many other countries have specific laws governing sexual harassment at work, 59 countries do not have any specific legal remedies for sexual harassment in the workplace. But the report found even where there are laws governing sexual harassment at work, they often are not properly implemented. Workers in India and Pakistan told researchers that many employees are not aware of their own rights or of the responsibilities of their employers under sexual harassment laws and have not had any training at work. Workers find it difficult to make complaints about their harassment due to fears of being punished for doing so.
News Archives
2022
248