COVID-19: Divorces Up 30% in Saudi Arabia As Women Find Out Husbands Married Others in Secret
Gulf News - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 5/31/2020
During the COVID-19 crisis, observers noted that there has been a 30 per cent increase in requests for divorce and Khula, a procedure through which a woman can divorce her husband in Islam. In contrast, the number of marriage contracts made across Saudi Arabia in February 2020 reached 13,000, an increase of 5 per cent over contracts made in the same month last year. Reportedly, the pandemic, home quarantine and the curfew has contributed to women discovering that their husbands had married other women in secret. Law offices recorded a remarkable increase in requests for divorce and annulment of marriage during the coronavirus crisis.
No National Strategy Yet to Ensure Menstrual Hygiene
Dhaka Tribune - Dhaka, Bangladesh, 5/30/2020
In 2009, Bangladesh government initiated separate toilets for boys and girls in schools in order to facilitate menstrual hygiene facilities. Furthermore, in recent years following the advocacy of several NGOs and INGOs, the government also started taking several measures including distribution of sanitary pads. However, as per the reports Bangladesh is yet to ensure menstrual hygiene. Mahbuba Haque of Ritu project, Simavi, Dr Abu Sayed Hasan, program specialist, Sexual and Reproductive Health at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and WaterAid Country Director Hasin Jahan have all raised the issue of the price of sanitary pads. Dr Abu Sayed Hasan stated, “Like other food products that were counted as essentials, taxes and duties should be lowered to make sanitary pads available to the masses.”
Go-Go Bars Gone as Coronavirus Hits Bangkok's Sex District
The Jakarta Post - Bangkok, Thailand, 5/29/2020
Thailand shut its bars and clubs in mid-March as coronavirus cases surged. With tourism coming to a halt due to the lockdown, the whole sex industry seems to have collapsed in Bangkok. Patpong's nightlife district employed thousands of people, mostly young women who are now finding it difficult to find work as physical distancing has become the need of the hour. It has been predicted that go-go bars would be amongst the last places to open up and get back in business after the lockdown. The current situation along with the prediction highlights the challenging situation of sex workers who are now finding it difficult to make ends meet.
Mexico Walks Back Campaign Against Domestic Violence After Backlash
Reuters - Mexico City, Mexico, 5/28/2020
A top official on May 27, 2020 said a new campaign against domestic violence would be revised after the video ads sparked strong public opposition from critics who said it misrepresented the growing problem. The initial campaign showed images of men and children, but no women, as potential victims of domestic violence, sparking criticism from activists who said female victims were made invisible. Activists have also criticised the voiceover of the #CountToTen campaign, which says, ‘Before you despair, count to 10’. According to rights groups, domestic violence has been rising across Latin America, especially as coronavirus lockdowns have left many women isolated at home with abusive partners. Contrary to official data, Mexico’s president has denied the rising violence against women during lockdown.
NACO Writes to Govt Seeking Lockdown Relief for Transgenders, Other Vulnerable Communities
The Times of India - New Delhi, India, 5/27/2020
The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has written to the Union Ministry of Social Justice about the concerns of injected drug users, transgender persons, female sex workers and people living with HIV during the lockdown due to Covid-19. In the letter, NACO has sought the intervention of the ministry to include these sections in social protection schemes. NACO has also suggested in the letter that at the state level, State AIDS Control Societies could coordinate linkages of the social welfare departments with the vulnerable communities. The Deputy Director General at NACO, Dr Shobini Rajan, shared that many representatives from these communities had approached NACO and stated how they were greatly affected in terms of livelihood, nutrition and access to shelter.
Costa Rica Becomes the First Central American Country to Legalise Same-Sex Marriage
CNN, Costa Rica, 5/26/2020
On May 26, 2020, Costa Rica became the first country in Central America to legally recognise same-sex marriage. The move to marriage equality followed an August, 2018 ruling by the country’s constitutional court, which ruled that laws preventing same-sex marriages was unconstitutional and gave the legislature a deadline of 18 months to enact marriage equality. Costa Rica’s decision also followed an opinion issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in January, 2018 where it had asked the court to determine whether it was obligated to extend property rights to same-sex couples. The decision was celebrated by couples who held weddings overnight. LGBTQIA+ organisations also celebrated the move, while adding that more work needed to be done to achieve marriage equality around the world.
Tanzania: Violence Against Women, Girls on Rise Amidst Corona Virus Pandemic
All Africa, Tanzania, 5/25/2020
Anna Kulaya, the Director of Women in Law and Development Africa (WiLDAF) said in a joint statement by the Coalition Against (MKUKI) and Data Driven Advocacy – Working Group Two (DDA - WG2) that the number of gender-based violence (GBV) cases in Tanzania increased during the Covid-19 outbreak. According to Kulaya, crowded homes, substance abuse, limited access to services and reduced peer support were some of the contributing factors behind the increase. Kulaya said that while MKUKI and WG2 were struggling to gather data on current GBV, particularly violence against women and girls, emerging data showed such instances had intensified. She added that based on global case studies, Tanzania was no exception and that there was a need for interventions to curb the situation.
Delhi State Legal Services Authority Comes to the Aid of Domestic Abuse Victims
The New Indian Express - New Delhi, India, 5/24/2020
To help women affected by domestic violence during the lockdown, the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) is collaborating with Mother Dairy booths, pharmacists and chemists throughout the national capital. DSLSA has also tied up with Anganwadi and ASHA workers who might come across domestic violence cases in their areas. DLSA has now set up a phone number, in addition to its previous helpline, which can be reached through WhatsApp messages and SMS. DSLSA has also launched a mobile application called the ‘Vidhik Sewa’ to provide free legal aid to women affected by domestic violence, in addition to legal aid for missing children reports, civil and labour disputes etc.
Education Ministry Takes Flak for Child-Abuse Failings
Bangkok Post, Thailand, 5/23/2020
A network of 92 organisations on May 22, 2020 has called on the Education Ministry of Thailand to step up proactive measures to eradicate sexual abuse of school children following recent abuse scandals in three provinces of Thailand. Network representatives of the organisations handed a letter to the Education Minister, Nataphol Teepsuwan, urging him to take action. In addition, nearly 10,000 people signed a petition supporting the call. Waraporn Chamsanit, manager of the Women’s Wellbeing and Gender Justice Programme, urged that the ministry must file lawsuits against the offending teachers and come up with proactive measures to prevent sexual abuse in schools along with guidelines for teachers on protecting student’s rights.
StanChart Extends Staff Mediclaim to LGBT Partners
The Times of India - Mumbai, India, 5/22/2020
Standard Charter (StanChart) Bank has decided to extend medical and domestic relocation benefits to LGBTQIA+ partners of all employees in India. The employees can now declare an LGBTQIA+ partner as an eligible beneficiary under the bank’s medical reimbursement policy and domestic relocation policy. StanChart has been taking successive steps in ensuring an equal and inclusive workplace for LGBTQIA+ employees over 2019, such as the launch of an online resource group for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies, sensitisation sessions for employees with the help of activists and NGOs, and participating in the Mumbai pride in 2020. In 2019, another multinational bank Citi had extended family benefits to all domestic partners, including live-in partners and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender partners.
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