FOGSI Recommends Administering Covid-19 Vaccines to Pregnant, Breastfeeding Women
The Indian Express, India, 4/30/2021
The Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Society of India (FOGSI) has recommended that obstetricians and gynaecologists and women’s healthcare providers should be allowed to administer COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant and breastfeeding women with preparations to manage adverse events. Dr Alpesh Gandhi, FOGSI chairperson said that there is a need to prevent another wave of COVID-19 and vaccines are the long term solution to this. He also said that this protection should extend to pregnant and lactating women and the benefits of vaccinating pregnant and lactating women may outweigh any remote risks of vaccination. In a statement on April 30, 2021, FOGSI said, “Lactating women should also be considered as Covid vaccine candidates as there are no known adverse effects on the neonate who is breastfeeding.”
SC: Protect Disabled Women Who Face Threat of Violence
The Times of India, India, 4/29/2021
The Supreme Court batted strongly for more systematic protection to women with disabilities and women facing caste-oppression, saying they live under a constant threat of violence, both physical and sexual, that curtails their constitutionally guaranteed right to lead a full and active life. Upholding the life sentence awarded to an accused of Andhra Pradesh for sexually assaulting a girl with visual impairment, who was the sister of his friend. The bench said women with disabilities are more susceptible to sexual violence as the accused perceives that the testimony of the rape survivor would not be full proof because of her physical impairment. The bench laid down a set of guidelines to make the criminal system more disability-friendly.
Vietnam Promotes Gender Mainstreaming in Climate Change Policies
Vietnam Plus, Vietnam, 4/28/2021
Gender mainstreaming in climate change policies is crucial to promoting gender equality in Vietnam, according to Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE) Nguyen Trung Thang. At a workshop held in Hanoi on April 28, 2021, Thang said that ISPONRE carried out research on the state of gender equality in climate change policies in Vietnam, with focus sharpened on the four sectors of renewable energy, agriculture, water resources management, and garbage management. The research showed that Vietnam has made efforts to complete policies on gender equality and climate change response but pointed out that women’s participation in policy making and management is limited.
Sri Lanka Cabinet Clears Proposal for Burqa Ban
The Hindu, Sri Lanka, 4/27/2021
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet cleared a proposal to ban all forms of face veils in public places “due to national security concerns”. The announcement comes at a time when the government is urging the public to wear face masks – dozens of violators have been arrested – to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and a likely third wave in Sri Lanka. The proposal to ban the burqa was announced in March, 2021 by Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara, weeks before the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on Sri Lanka. The proposed ban on face veils, seen as targeting the burqa worn by Muslim women, had triggered concern domestically and among international actors.
Egypt Toughens Penalties for FGM; Activists Remain Sceptical
Reuters - Cairo, Egypt, 4/26/2021
Egypt has toughened penalties for female genital mutilation (FGM), imposing prison terms of up to 20 years in a push to end the ancient practice. Egypt has struggled to stamp out FGM since 2008, when its parliament first passed a law to criminalise the practice some researchers have traced back to Egypt in the fifth-century BC. Amendments approved on April 25, 2021 include increasing the maximum sentence from seven years and banning medics involved in FGM from practising for up to five years. Under the changes, prison terms of five to 20 years will be recommended, depending on who performed surgery and whether it caused permanent damage or death, a government statement said.
Women Can Take Covid Vaccine during Menstruation: Govt
The Tribune, India, 4/25/2021
Women can take COVID-19 vaccines during their period, the government has clarified in wake of various reports on social media platforms against taking the jabs at such a time. A social media post, being circulated widely, said that women should not take COVID-19 vaccines five days before and after their menstrual cycle as their immunity is very low during this time. “#Fake post circulating on social media claims that women should not take #Covid19Vaccine 5 days before and after their menstrual cycle…”, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a tweet. The rumours were also quashed by doctors and activists while urging people to get vaccinated. Vaccination in India has been open for all above 18 years of age from May 1, 2021.
Survey: Women's Unpaid Care Work Goes Up by 128% in Urban Areas
Dhaka Tribune, Bangladesh, 4/24/2021
“Rapid analysis of care work during Covid pandemic in Bangladesh,” a survey report by Sharmind Neelormi, associate professor at the Department of Economics in Jahangirnagar University has revealed that the time-related engagement of women in unpaid care work, such as cooking, cleaning and washing, has gone up by 128% in urban areas. The report said time spent by women in cooking, cleaning and washing remained almost the same in rural areas, but, for urban areas these engagements had gone up to about 128%. For at least six hours each day, 53.8% of women respondents in urban areas are engaged in household work (unpaid care work), which was 42.5% before the pandemic.
Youth Boxing Worlds: Gold Rush for Indian Women
The Times of India - New Delhi, India, 4/23/2021
India's young and upcoming women boxers created history on April 22, 2021 as they won seven gold medals at the 2021 AIBA Youth Men's and Women's World Boxing Championships in Kielce, Poland. A total of seven women reached the finals in various weight categories and all of them emerged on top with resounding victories. Gitika Narwal (48 kg), Babyrojisana Chanu (51 kg), Poonam (57 kg), Vinka (60 kg), Arundhati Choudhary (69 kg), T Sanamacha Chanu (75 kg) and Alfiya Pathan (+81 kg) put up outstanding performances to win gold medals on the penultimate day of the championship. A 20-member Indian contingent has already created history by securing 11 medals at the championships, bettering their previous best of 10 medals in the 2018 edition.
Saudi Arabia Issues Blueprint for Women’s Reproductive Health Rights
Gulf News - Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, 4/22/2021
Saudi Arabia has issued a blueprint for women’s right to health including sexual and reproductive health care services. The Saudi Ministry of Health stipulated that women must review their premarital screening reports, and conduct routine clinical, laboratory and radiological examinations to ensure their ability to withstand pregnancy stress and receive the necessary health advice, procedures and recommendations to be followed in the event of associated risks. The blueprint further stated that women are entitled to assistance in childbearing in case of delayed pregnancy and obtaining clinical examinations that are complementary to the prevention of cancer and other diseases, especially with the presence of risk factors.
Protecting Women’s Rights Challenging: NWC Chair Parajuli
Khabarhub - Kathmandu, Nepal, 4/21/2021
Kamala Kumari Parajuli, Chairperson of Nepal’s National Women Commission (NWC) recently said protection of the rights and interest of women, women empowerment and ensuring gender justice was becoming challenging. She added that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated problems like unemployment and violence for women. Chair Parajuli further said the NWC was working to prepare a five-year road map for the effective implementation of the commitments on protection of women rights made by Nepal in the various international bodies, and for ending all forms of violence against women.
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