Russia could be the first European country to introduce paid leave for menstruation if a bill is passed in the state Duma. The bill, introduced by Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) member, Mikhail Degtyaryov would see women paid for two days off during their period. These two days would effectively equate to 24 in…
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Women’s rights in Afghanistan are at risk of being undermined in the peace process, according to a United Nations watchdog. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women says patriarchal attitudes and the country’s political turmoil are partly to blame for existing problems and that the peace process may have a twofold…
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Norwegian woman Marte Deborah Dalelv was granted a pardon last week against her sixteen month jail sentence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Dalelv had reported being raped by a co-worker in Dubai four months earlier and was subsequently jailed by officials for having extramarital sex, an act that is illegal in the UAE. Following…
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On 13 July 2013, Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai delivered a speech to the United Nations (UN) on behalf of ‘every woman.’ Standing up against the Taliban and Islamic Extremists, Malala asserted that all women and children should have equal rights and access to free education. But not only did her speech reach the heart of…
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Last week the world was shocked after a video of a young Yemeni girl made the rounds on the internet. In the clip, 11-year-old Nada Al-Ahdals tells of how she ran away from her family in order to escape a forced marriage. ‘What have the children done wrong?’ she asks, her dark brown eyes pleading…
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Image via Evgeny Feldman / AP In the last week, more than 100 famous musicians including Madonna, Elton John and Sting have called for Russia to release the two members of feminist punk-rock band Pussy Riot still jailed for an anti-government protest performance. This high-profile campaign represents a growing international focus on Russia’s human…
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Queen Elizabeth has given her assent to a bill that will legalise same-sex marriage in Britain. The royal seal of approval is essentially a formality after the bill passed both houses of parliament on Tuesday to clear the way for the first same-sex marriages to begin in England and Wales in mid-2014. Before then, lawmakers…
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After having developed an interest in the social bases of global gender inequality and differences in men and women’s health, I spent a considerable amount of time studying relevant academic theories and views. But aside from doing research and developing my own understanding, I didn’t think that there was anything an individual like me could…
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When I first hear about the Gulabi Gang in India, my initial feeling was exultation. Being from an Indian background myself, I’m used to the inherent and pervasive issues of sexism and misogyny that seep through almost every aspect of Indian culture. I had never before seen Indian women taking action against sexism though –…
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Women have been raped and assaulted during this week’s protests in Tahrir Square — a reality that is in stark contrast to images of women fiercely demonstrating alongside men during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Egypt’s Operation Anti-Sexual Harassment/Assault, a crisis hotline for sexual assault victims, has reported over 100 incidents of sexual violence against…
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The Steubenville rape case of August 2012 was given international attention and exposed many of the darker elements of America’s – and the world’s – reaction to and further creation of rape culture. The well–documented incident involved sixteen-year-old students and budding football stars Ma’lik Richmond and Trent Mays, and the repeated rape and sexual…
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What is it with people getting all het up about women breastfeeding in public? Seriously – what is it about the sight of a small portion of breast, mostly covered by the head of a child, that stirs the masses into a morally outraged frenzy? This Monday saw a protest of hundreds of mothers outside…
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Three activists from the feminist action group Femen were arrested in Tunisia on June 13. Among the charges was ‘offending public morality’, for which, according to the Femen Germany Facebook page, the women have been sentenced to four months jail time. This contrasts sharply to the suspended sentence handed down to the men responsible for…
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Celebrity chef, Nigella Lawson has been photographed allegedly being abused by billionare husband, Charles Saatchi. Disturbing images of Saatchi gripping Lawson by the neck and flicking her nose at London restaurant Scott’s were circulated on Sunday in British tabloid the Daily Mirror’s weekend rag. Restaurant goers watched on in disbelief during the incident but failed…
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