Despite the focus on gender inequality in developing countries, discrimination remains widespread in European countries as well. European Commission Vice-President Margot Wallstrom reports that women make up only 24% of EU country governments, with most women holding social and cultural positions only.
Following the marriage of an 8 year old girl to a 58 year old man and a court ruling that upheld the marriage, the Saudi Justice Minister Mohamed al-Issa has spoken out, his ministry seeks “to put an end to arbitrariness by parents and guardians in marrying off minor girls.”
Two sisters from Nigeria are spending the year traveling across Africa, documenting not stories of violence and starving children, but focusing instead on what makes Africa such a vibrant and hopeful place.
During the 110th Congress in 2007, Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA) introduced the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) as a comprehensive, integrated solution to violence against women.
One women’s health issue of critical concern in Ethiopia is that of obstetric fistula. While the painful, prolonged labor and the likely death of a newborn associated with fistula are traumatic enough, most women who suffer this fate face a new nightmare even after the labor has ended.
The Palestinian Islamic court system has made revolutionary strides for women as it appointed two female judges to serve trial. In Arab nations, Islamic Court cases traditionally involve family and domestic matters, yet until this year, only Sudan had allowed female judges to preside over hearings.
On Thursday, March 26th Women’s Campaign International President Marjorie Margolies submitted testimony to the US Congress’ Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs. In her testimony, Marjorie spoke of WCI’s support for the new administration’s energized approach to addressing women’s issues internationally
The controversial law, though it directly addresses only Shi’a women, is likely to negatively impact all Afghan women on topics involving marital rape, women’s freedoms and property rights and the guardianship of children.
On March 24, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing entitled, “Alleviating Global Hunger: Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Leadership.” Catherine Bertini, former executive director of the World Food Programme, referred specifically to women, saying that the majority of those living on less than $1 a day are rural women in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
A global symposium on achieving gender equality targeting men and boys just wrapped up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The four-day symposium featured strategies, research, and programmatic best practices on engaging men and boys in gender sensitive programs.
