Mumbai: Gender Sensitive Classrooms Now a Part of Every School’s Agenda
Hindustan Times - Mumbai, India, 8/30/2013
Many schools in Mumbai are addressing issues of gender sensitivity to create awareness among their students. Single sex schools are trying to challenge the general widespread idea that children of these schools tend to be awkward around children of the opposite sex. Counselors who can help answer queries around gender are also being involved to help students with any problems around these issues.
Cervical Cancer Vaccine Study Violated Law: House Panel
The Hindu - Mumbai, India, 8/30/2013
Incomplete consent forms and conflict of interest on the part of Government agencies are some of the discrepancies pointed out by a Parliamentary panel in its stinging report on alleged irregularities in a project using cervical cancer vaccines. The panel report points out the careless manner in taking informed consent - forms signed by people when they agree to participate in a trial where a medicine is tested on them. The committee report also put the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in the dock for its conflict of interest in partnering with a foreign agency, even as it plays a regulatory role in clinical research.
Gynaecologists, Activists Demand Expansion of Abortion Services
The Hindu - New Delhi, India, 8/29/2013
An analysis of the official data on abortions suggests that the quality of data on comprehensive abortion care for most States is poor, with incomplete reporting on most indicators. The utilisation of services in both certified public and private sector facilities is very low, with second trimester service delivery being abysmal. Even where data is provided as per the amended Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act of 2002, it just gives numbers of terminations and not the reason behind them or any complications associated with them. Health activists and gynecologists have been demanding more amendments to the MTP Act to permit trained non-MBBS graduates and mid-level healthcare providers like Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and nurses to perform abortions so that these facilities are accessible and confidentiality is maintained.
A Task Only Half Finished
The Hindu - New Delhi, India, 8/28/2013
The Criminal Law Amendment Act of 2013 has, so far, not been able to introduce the pace of reform that everyone hoped it would. The act provided for the new offences of rape causing death or a vegetative state, sexual intercourse by a person in authority, gang rape and repeat offences and also introduced several other new offences such as causing grievous hurt through acid attacks, sexual harassment, use of criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe, voyeurism and stalking. However, many discrepancies still remain, pertaining to registration of the FIR, the issue of fast track courts, jurisdiction of the crime and many others.
Thailand May Legalise Same - Sex Marriage, Set to Cement its Gay - Friendly Image
The Indian Express - Bangkok, Thailand, 8/26/2013
Thailand has become a haven for same sex couples, as opposed to other countries in the South-East Asia region that ban same sex relationships. Now, a civil partnership law is in the works that aims to give lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) couples the same rights as heterosexuals which could make Thailand one of the more inclusive Asian countries. However, activists continue to be anxious about the law as it raises the age of consent for homosexual couples to 20 from 17 while also proposing to force transgender people to register their gender assigned at birth on their marriage certificate though Thai law makes it impossible for people to change their gender on a national identification document.
One Rape Every 20 Minutes in Country
The Times of India - Delhi, India, 8/25/2013
A photo exhibition titled `Confronting Rape Culture` at the Press Club of India showcased a series of photos chronicling the Nirbhaya gang rape protests by Chandan Gomes. The panel discussion aimed at bringing the prevalence of rape to the forefront of political and social dialogue. The images illustrated the coming together of people from all walks of life in the fight against rape. The event was sponsored by the Apne Aap Women Worldwide (AAWW) organization, which works to empower women to resist and end sex trafficking.
Syllabus Upgrade: Sexual Health Rights to be Incorporated in Curriculum
The Express Tribune, Pakistan, 8/24/2013
A syllabus on sexual health rights targeting the adolescents has been designed by Hayat Lifeline Campaign to be incorporated in the curriculum. The curriculum has been prepared on two levels. Level one target the 10 to 12-year-olds and is about self-awareness, self-esteem, feelings, human rights, body protection, nutrition and peer pressure. Level two designed for 13 to 15-year-olds include topics like maternal health, awareness regarding HIV and AIDS and hepatitis, stigma, discrimination, addiction and advanced information regarding puberty, human rights and effective communication. The curriculum is being designed as Life Skills Based Education (LBSE) which is in line with the National Education Policy of 2009.
Labouring for a Cause
The Hindu, India, 8/23/2013
In the past few years, civil society groups from different parts of the country have been documenting maternal deaths (MDRs or Maternal Death reviews). All of these reports bring out very clearly the need for a more comprehensive approach which goes beyond technical and narrow indicator-oriented approaches and must address the social determinants such as nutrition, violence, poverty as well as healthy systems. Activists engaged in monitoring the state of health services have pointed out that women still continue to die during pregnancy and labour because health facilities in many parts of the country are not equipped to provide emergency care. They demand that MDR findings of each state be made public and must announce the remedial action taken to prevent similar deaths in future.
Sexual Minorities March to Demand Rights
The Himalayan Times, Nepal, 8/22/2013
About 1,000 gays, lesbians, transgender people and their supporters have marched through Nepal`s capital to celebrate and demand rights for their community during the 4th International Gay Pride Parade, held in Kathmandu on August 22, 2013. Dressed in colourful clothes and holding banners, persons participating in the march used the opportunity to come out in the open and educate the public.
Sex Workers Meet to Demand Rights
The Times of India - New Delhi, India, 8/22/2013
The setting up of Usha Cooperative Bank in Sonagachi in Kolkata is helping create new opportunities for employment and empowerment for sex workers. The idea for the bank arose when it was felt that most banks were opposed to the idea of opening an account for a sex worker due to the stigma attached to their occupation. The All India Network of Sex Workers (AINSW) has stood behind the bank and stated at the recently held national consultation on the protection of dignity and rights of sex workers that the lawmakers need to engage with the problems of sex workers beyond mere punitive and coercive laws, but include challenges like poverty, gender discrimination, violence and social inequities.
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