A Los Angeles, in California, 12.000 rape kits rimangono giacenti in attesa di essere testati. Questo significa che 12.000 donne e ragazze vittime di violenza sessuale attendono di avere delle possibilità concrete che i loro assalitori vengano trovati e, di conseguenza, processati e condannati.

La ricercatricce Sarah Tofte ha svolto un'indagine per conto di Human Rights Watch che ha anche pubblicato una relazione.

Women who are raped have a right to expect police to do all they can to thoroughly investigate their case, but in LA they often feel betrayed to learn that their rape kits are never even tested. And in some cases, failure to test means that a rapist who could have been arrested will remain free.

Sarah Tofte, researcher for the US program at Human Rights Watch

 

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/03/31/us-los-angeles-county-should-test-thousands-rape-kits

 

12,000 Untested Kits Undermine Investigations and Justice for Victims

Women who are raped have a right to expect police to do all they can to thoroughly investigate their case, but in LA they often feel betrayed to learn that their rape kits are never even tested. And in some cases, failure to test means that a rapist who could have been arrested will remain free.

Sarah Tofte, researcher for the US program at Human Rights Watch

(Los Angeles) - Los Angeles County officials should move urgently to test a backlog of more than 12,000 rape kits - the physical evidence collected after a sexual assault - to ensure justice for rape victims, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

The 68-page report, "Testing Justice: The Rape Kit Backlog in Los Angeles City and County," reveals that the backlog of untested rape kits in Los Angeles County is larger and more widespread than previously reported. Through dozens of interviews with police officers, public officials, criminalists, rape treatment providers, and rape victims, the report documents the devastating effects of the backlog on victims of sexual abuse.

"Women who are raped have a right to expect police to do all they can to thoroughly investigate their case, but in LA they often feel betrayed to learn that their rape kits are never even tested," said Sarah Tofte, researcher with Human Rights Watch's US program and author of the report. "And in some cases, failure to test means that a rapist who could have been arrested will remain free."

Women who report being raped are asked to undergo a lengthy, extensive examination to collect DNA and other physical evidence that might identify their attacker, corroborate testimony about the assault, or connect their case to other rape crime scene evidence. The resulting rape kit is then booked into police evidence. However, although rape victims may believe it is automatically tested, that is often not the case in Los Angeles County. Rape treatment providers told Human Rights Watch that victims assumed silence from the officers investigating their case simply meant no evidence was found, or that there was no DNA match.

But Human Rights Watch analyzed data from the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, and Los Angeles County's 47 independent police departments, and found that as of March 1, 2009, there were at least 12,669 untested rape kits sitting in storage facilities. In those cases, officers never sent the kits on for forensic testing.

Of these 12,669 untested kits, at least 1,218 are from unsolved cases in which the attacker was a stranger to the victim. And 499 kits are attached to cases past the 10-year statute of limitations for rape in California, making it impossible to prosecute the alleged assailants even if they were to be identified. Under California law, if those 499 kits had been opened within two years of the attack, the statute would no longer apply. Thousands more rape kits were destroyed untested.

The backlog grew even as the Police and Sheriff's Departments received millions of federal dollars from the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant, a program the US Congress created to address rape kit backlogs, the effect of which is blunted by the fact that grantees can use the money to test any kind of DNA backlog.

Human Rights Watch's report also contains previously unpublished data on the extent of the rape kit backlog in the 47 cities in Los Angeles County that have independent police departments. For example, records obtained by Human Rights Watch show that the City of Long Beach booked 1,911 rape kits into evidence in the past 15 years. Of those, 51 were sent to the crime lab, an estimated 780 untested kits were destroyed, and 1,072 currently sit untested in their police storage facility. (A chart of data from the 47 cities is available in chapter VI of the report.)

Backlogs of rape kits exist at police stations and crime labs throughout the United States, but nowhere is the problem known to be more acute than Los Angeles. The accumulation of rape kits in Los Angeles County is due to a combination of police discretion regarding which rape kits get tested; a lack of financial commitment to testing; and the length of time it took officials to acknowledge the nature and extent of the problem, Human Rights Watch said.

"Failing to test rape kits denies justice to women who've suffered sexual violence," said Tofte. "If officials had spent federal money to test more kits, they might have prevented future rapes and allowed for prosecution in cases that are now beyond the statute of limitations."

The backlog can have tragic results. In one case documented in the report, in the time it took police to test one woman's rape kit, the alleged perpetrator had attacked at least two other victims, including a child.

 

Per leggere tutto l'articolo cliccate sul link riportato sopra.

Per chi avesse interesse a leggere la relazione nella sua interezza ecco il file pdf:

http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/rapekit0309web.pdf

 

 

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Since 2002, Nepalese law has permitted abortion under most circumstances, but multiple barriers—including the government’s failure to implement its own policy, prohibitive costs, and inadequate availability of abortion providers—have prevented women from accessing safe abortion services. Under the court ruling, the government must set up a fund to cover the cost of abortion for poor and rural women; and invest enough resources to meet the demand for abortion services and to educate the public and health service providers of the existing abortion law. 

This decision shows that protecting women’s health and lives means more than just keeping reproductive health services legal – it means ensuring that those services are in fact available to everyone who needs them.

http://reproductiverights.org/en/press-room/court-orders-nepal-to-improve-women%E2%80%99s-access-to-abortion

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The High Court gave a landmark judgment today in the first application of its Sexual Harassment Guidelines pronounced on 14 May

One year ago, in May 2008, four women students at Jahangirnagar University made complaints of serial sexual harassment against their teacher and the Chairperson of the Drama Department, Sanowar Hossain Sunny. The University appointed three separate inquiry committees, which examined witnesses and issued reports with clear findings against the teacher. During this period, the students continued to face threats and harassment.

Today the High Court held that the decisions taken by the University to exonerate Sunny on the one hand, and to expel the students on the other, were both without lawful authority. It also directed the University to hold a fresh inquiry into the incident, with independent persons, on the basis of the new Guidelines on Sexual Harassment pronounced in BNWLA v Bangladesh . Citing judgments of the Supreme Courts of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, the Court held that corroboration was not always required to prove allegations of sexual violence, and further that the standard of ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ could not be applicable in cases of this nature, relating to disciplinary inquiries regarding allegations of sexual harassment. The Court also noted that Jahangirnagar University authorities had failed ‘for reasons best known to themselves’ to adopt their own guidelines on sexual harassment, and therefore in the absence of any applicable law, the High Court’s new guidelines should be applied to any fresh inquiry.

http://www.wluml.org/english/newsfulltxt.shtml?cmd[157]=x-157-564621

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Barak Obama, pur essendo un eccellente difensore dei diritti delle donne negli Stati Uniti, ha quasi completamente dimenticato la tematica nel suo recente discorso al mondo islamico.

Riporto la parte del discorso che riguarda la condizione femminile:

 "I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous.

Now let me be clear: issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world.

Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity � men and women � to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal, and I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams."

Riporto alcuni commenti che in massima parte condivido:

First of all, Obama's discourse is addressed to 'Islam', as if an idea, a concept, a belief, could hear him; as if those were not necessarily mediated by the people who hold these views, ideas, concepts or beliefs. As Soheib Bencheikh, former Great Mufti of Marseilles and now Director of the Institute of High Islamic Studies in Marseilles, used to say: “I have never seen a Qur'an walking in the street...”

Can we imagine for one minute that Obama would address himself to '’Christianity' or to 'Buddhism'? No, he would talk to Christians or Buddhists – to real people, keeping in mind all their differences.

Obama is essentialising Islam, ignoring the large differences that exist among Muslim believers themselves, in terms of religious schools of thought and interpretations, cultural differences and political opinions. These differences indeed make it totally irrelevant to speak about 'Islam' in such a totalizing way. Obama would not dare essentialise, for instance, Christianity in such a way, ignoring the huge gap between Opus Dei and liberation theology...

In this religious strait-jacket, women's rights are limited to their right to education, and Obama distances himself from arrogant westerners by making it clear that women covering is not seen by him as an obstacle to their emancipation – especially if it is 'their choice'... Meanwhile, Iran is next door, with its morality police that jail women whose hair slips out of the aforementioned covering, in the name of religious laws. And what about Afghanistan or Algeria where women were abducted, tortured, raped, mutilated, burnt alive, killed for not covering***?

At no point does he raise the issue of who defines culture, who defines religion, who speaks for 'the Muslims' – and why they could not be defined by individual women themselves, without clerics, without morality police, without self-appointed, old, conservative, male, religious leaders – if their fundamental human rights were to be respected. Obviously, Obama trades women's human rights for political and economic alliances with 'Islam'... 'Islam' definitely owns oil, among other things.

http://www.wluml.org/english/newsfulltxt.shtml?cmd[157]=x-157-564633

At one stage when Obama made reference to Bang-ladesh and Indonesia and Turkey, my heart fluttered in anticipation. Yes, I thought. He is now going to make the argument directly to the men who rule the Arab world with an iron fist. Talking about women’s rights, Obama said: “In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead.”

Bravo, I thought. I hoped his next sentence would say: Now is the time for Arab countries to take a lead from their non-Arab co-religionists and learn how to bring women to the forefront of politics and leadership.

But he didn’t.

Instead his next line was almost an apology for why the Arab world is so hostile to women’s equality. Obama said, “Meanwhile, the struggle for women’s equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world.”

To me he sounded as if he was saying to the kings and generals: Do not despair, we Americans too are not without blame as far as women’s rights are concerned.

Of course America has miles to go before it rests, but to even hint of a parallel between the challenges facing women in America and the appalling condition of women in the Arab world is downright dangerous and only feeds the mullahs who will say, “Look, even America discriminates against women — Obama said it.”

 http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/Obama+misses+tear+down+this+wall+moment/1663349/story.html

En attaquant la laïcité et en défendant le port du voile, le Président des Etats-Unis, dans son discours au Caire, a mis à mal le combat de millions de femmes qui paient de leur vie tous les jours pour sortir de la violence des fondamentalistes. Le président Obama nous réduit ainsi toutes au silence.

http://www.niputesnisoumises.com/blog/2009/06/05/obama-part-en-croise-contre-les-femmes/#more-1975

 

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 Whether it's perceived sorcery-related killings of women in Papua New Guinea (PNG), the frequency of murders of women in Tonga, outdated laws in Solomon Islands or cultural attitudes in Kiribati, women in the Pacific continue to face challenges in working toward violence-free communities.

    The Fifth Pacific Regional Meeting on Violence Against Women also outlined some of the challenges they faced in their work.

Participants from the Solomon Islands raised concern about the narrowness of criminal laws to cater for specific forms of violence against women and girls, apart from assault.

    The Kiribati participant, Maere Tekanene, described the challenge of convincing male leaders of the reliability of alarming statistics on violence against women gleaned from a national survey.

    Apart from male attitudes, some women also accepted violence perpetrated against them, blaming themselves for being beaten.

    However, with all the depressing challenges, there have been some achievements in moving towards a violence-free Pacific in the four years since the last Pacific Regional Meeting on Violence Against Women.

    Vanuatu has made major headway with a Family Protection Act, the redefinition of rape to include rape with objects, and the amendment of the Penal Code to include child pornography.

 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/09/content_11513812.htm

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From August 2009, the Center for Gender and Equality at the University of Agder will have a new leader: Ulla-Britt Lilleaas. She is a professor in health science and has done research on men’s health, from a gender perspective. Now she is looking forward to establishing a high-quality research environment at the centre, with a particular focus on gender issues and gender equality in the region.

In the annually released statistics on gender equality in different parts of Norway, made by Statistics Norway, the Agder region repeatedly attains very low scores. The low educational level and employment rate among women is one aspect of this gender inequality.

http://eng.kilden.forskningsradet.no/c52778/nyhet/vis.html?tid=62346

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Preuve du sérieux avec lequel Téhéran prend en considération la question, toute une partie de la conférence portera sur l’analyse du féminisme, avec notamment «l’évaluation de son influence sur les enfants et particulièrement les garçons» ; «les tactiques utilisées par le mouvement féministe pour influencer les médias» ; «le rôle de Hollywood dans l’expansion du féminisme» ; «l’influence de la globalisation sur le féminisme», et - il fallait s’y attendre «le rôle du sionisme dans la création, le développement et la propagation du féminisme» !

La lettre annonçant la conférence de Téhéran démontre au moins que nous sommes identifiées comme l’ennemi principal par le régime des mollahs. Ils ne se trompent pas. Et c’est pour nous féministes d’ici et d’ailleurs, surtout d’Iran, une source de fierté.

http://www.liberation.fr/monde/0101572902-le-feminisme-ennemi-des-mollahs 

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Ennesima dimostrazione che, quando c'è la volontà politica, i problemi si risolvono.

The so-called 24-year rule was introduced in 2002 to prevent unwanted arranged marriages and affected those coming to Denmark under family reunification schemes by requiring both parties in the marriage to be at least 24 years of age.

The new study shows that the number of women from an immigrant background married by the age of 23 in Denmark dropped from 46 percent in 2000 to 19 percent in 2008. The study classed those from non-Western countries, who moved to Denmark before the age of 15 and had lived here for at least two years as having an immigrant background.

In comparison the marriage rate among 23-year-old Danish women remained unchanged at five percent.

"With young immigrants now waiting to get married, they can manage to get an education or a job and get a foothold in the labour market before they get married and have children,’

 http://www.cphpost.dk/news/national/88-national/45829-24-year-rule-affects-marriage-rates.html

 

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One in four men in South Africa have admitted to rape and many confess to attacking more than one victim, according to a study that exposes the country's endemic culture of sexual violence.

Three out of four rapists first attacked while still in their teens, the study found. One in 20 men said they had raped a woman or girl in the last year.

South Africa is notorious for having one of the highest levels of rape in the world. Only a fraction are reported, and only a fraction of those lead to a conviction.

Anti-rape campaigners said the shocking figures demonstrated the need for reform. Dean Peacock, co-director of the Sonke Gender Justice project, said: "We need to make sure the criminal justice system is held to account. We have lots of discussion in this country, but not enough action is taken to ensure that perpetrators will face consequences."

A report published by the trade union Solidarity earlier this month said that one child is raped in South Africa every three minutes, with 88% of rapes going unreported. It found that levels of child abuse in South Africa are increasing rapidly.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/17/south-africa-rape-survey

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Iranian women have been on the front lines of anti-government protests challenging the official results of the June 12 election, in which President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the victor.

The face of a woman has become the symbol of the opposition. Music student Neda Agha Soltan, 27, was captured on video dying of a gunshot wound. The unsettling scene was transmitted around the world, and even President Obama referred to it this week.

Political protest is not new to Iranian women. Yet, the extent of their activism in this election is unprecedented in the years since the 1979 revolution overthrew the U.S.-backed shah and created an Islamic regime, some Iranians and Iran experts say.

They cite several factors, including a growing population of young women who are hungry for social freedoms, the participation of prominent women during the campaign and promises by opposition candidates for advances in women's rights.

Fatemeh Haghighatjoo served in the Iranian parliament from 2000 to 2004. She and her colleagues passed a law to join an international convention calling for an end to discrimination against women, she said, but the law was vetoed by the country's powerful Guardian Council, an unelected body of clerics.

Haghighatjoo, who resigned from the parliament to protest a government crackdown on activists, came to the USA in 2005 and is a visiting scholar at the University of Massachusetts-Boston.

She agreed that Iranian women have been particularly active in this campaign, and believes they were energized by promises from some candidates for more gender equality. "They're fighting at this very moment to create a better future for their children," she said. "I am hopeful."

 http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-06-24-iranianwomen_N.htm

 

 

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Joe Biden continua il suo lodevole impegno nel campo della lotta alla violenza contro le donne.

Vice President Biden, the author of the landmark Violence Against Women Act, announced today the appointment of Lynn Rosenthal as the new White House Advisor on Violence Against Women. Ms. Rosenthal is one of the nation’s foremost experts in domestic violence policy, and has worked at the local, state and national levels to create an environment where violence against women is not ignored and perpetrators are held accountable. This is a newly created position at the White House, dedicated specifically to advising the President and Vice President on domestic violence and sexual assault issues.

"President Obama and Vice President Biden could not have named a more qualified, visionary leader to advise the White House on violence against women," said Sue Else, President of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. "Lynn Rosenthal is a pioneer in the movement against domestic abuse and sexual assault. Her expertise will help to shape federal policies that will serve countless survivors of domestic and sexual violence."

In this new position, Ms. Rosenthal will serve as an advisor to the President and Vice President on domestic violence and sexual assault issues; be a liaison to the domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy community; coordinate with the Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) on implementation of Violence Against Women Act programs; coordinate with the Department of Health and Human Services on implementation of Family Violence Prevention Act services (including the National Domestic Violence Hotline); coordinate with the State Department and USAID on global domestic violence initiatives; and drive the development new initiatives and policy aimed at combating domestic violence and sexual assault with advocacy groups and members of Congress.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Violence-Against-Women

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The Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, on Monday passed the first reading of a bill on domestic violence against women, severely increasing the penalties for such violence.

Up until now, there has been no such crime as domestic violence on the Mozambican statute book. When a husband beat up his wife, this was treated as

 

The bill states that in any case of domestic violence, the minimum and maximum prison terms established for crimes such as assault and causing grievous bodily harm will be increased by a third. But, after assessing the family situation, the court may replace a prison sentence by a period of community work.

The bill defines domestic violence as a "public crime" - which means that prosecuting the offender does not depend on a complaint from the victim. The police can act without waiting for a complaint, and anybody else who becomes aware of the violence can denounce it to the police or prosecution service.

Helena Zitha pointed out that widows in the Mozambican countryside are victims of pitiless violence from their late husbands' relatives. "Everything that a widow managed to obtain when she was living with her later husband is torn away from her", she said.

Nobody pushed their objections to a vote, and so the bill passed unanimously and by acclamation. It will now be amended in committee before coming back to the plenary for a final vote in mid-July.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200906291384.html

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Human rights violations are a global phenomenon. However, as a result of long standing discriminatory practices against women and the girl child and the non recognition of their rights as human rights, much remains to be done to eliminate laws and customs that violate their most fundamental human rights in Nigeria.

As a state party to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on Women’s Rights in Africa (Maputo Protocol) and the United Nations Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Nigeria must adopt specific and comprehensive legislation protecting women and girls from violence, which should encompass preventive, protective, criminal, compensatory and rehabilitative measures.

Moreover, Nigerian parliamentarians should immediately address gender-based violence, by adopting the necessary laws, by granting the necessary financial resources for the implementation of preventive measures (including training of law enforcement, judicial, health and social service personnel and awareness-raising campaigns), access to legal assistance and shelters, and by establishing qualified, independent and well-resourced institutions to receive and handle complaints in a gender-sensitive manner.

http://www.omct.org/pdf/VAW/2009/African_Women_s_Day_Nigeria_310709.pdf

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Se questa è sicuramente un'eccellente notizia rimane il fatto che il contratto sociale deve cambiare e che devono essere rimossi tutti gli ostacoli alla realizzazione delle piene pari opportunità in ambito lavorativo e non solo tra uomini e donne.

Il rapporto Shriver, che analizza nel dettaglio la tematica, affronta esattamente tutte le questioni irrisolte per la forza lavoro femminile.

http://www.awomansnation.com/execSum.php 

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On November 6. 1990, 40 brave Saudi women drove their cars publicly in the capitol of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, to demand their right to drive. They were subsequently detained, their passports were confiscated, and fired from their jobs.

On the 19th anniversary of this event, Saudi women’s activists, led by Wajeha al Huwaider, are launching the “Black Ribbons Campaign”, demanding that:

A) Saudi woman be treated as a citizen just like her male counterpart

B) Saudi woman enjoys her rights to marry, divorce, inherit, gain custody of children, travel, work, study, drive cars and live on an equal footing with man

C) Saudi woman gain the legal capacity to represent herself in official and government agencies without the need of a male guardian.

We, Saudi women activists appeal to all those who support Saudi women’s rights, inside and outside the Kingdom, to participate in the campaign by wearing a black ribbon on their wrists as a symbolic and peaceful gesture of their .advocacy to Saudi women’s rights.

This campaign is raising the motto: “we will not untie our ribbon until Saudi women enjoy their rights as adult citizens”.

Please make sure to wear a black ribbon on November 6th.

http://www.metransparent.com/spip.php?page=article&id_article=8564〈=en

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Che dire? Era ora!

Canada's revamped citizenship guide warns newcomers that "barbaric cultural practices" such as honour killings will not be tolerated, marking a stronger tone against importing beliefs that clash with Canadian values.

"In Canada, men and women are equal under the law," the document says. "Canada's openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, ‘honour killings,' female genital mutilation or other gender-based violence. Those guilty of these crimes are severely punished under Canada's criminal laws."

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Women in North Africa have made tremendous progress in promoting and upholding their rights. Women in this region—commonly known as the Maghreb—are at the forefront of the Arab world in terms of individual rights and gender equality, and constitute models for other Arab women to follow. A number of lessons may be drawn from the inspiring experience of women in North Africa, especially in Morocco and Tunisia.

Access to justice has been greatly facilitated by the new Family Courts in Morocco as necessitated by the Moroccan Family Code of 2004. When women marry, they are now able to retain ownership of their property thanks to Article 49 of the code, which allows for a separate contract on property alongside the marriage contract. This is in accordance with Islamic law, in which women may remain the sole owners of their property and have no legal obligation to share it with their husbands.

In addition, mothers married to foreign nationals in Morocco and Tunisia can now pass on their citizenship to their children—a privilege previously allowed only to men.

 Women are also more visible in economic and academic spheres than before in the Maghreb. Nationwide youth literacy is gradually becoming a reality with women demanding accessible and standardised educational opportunities. And women often spearhead business ventures, are increasingly choosing their professions freely and feeling safer at the workplace as a result of laws that combat sexual harassment, and have better access to clinics and more independence in making decisions about their reproductive health.

http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=26736&lan=en&sid=1&sp=0

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On the occasion of the 19th annual 16 Days Campaign, CWGL is celebrating the work and dedication of civil society organizations worldwide. We have asked partners from around the world to describe their activism and commitment to ending violence against women during the campaign.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Official-16-Days-of-Activism-Against-Gender-Violence-Campaign/134783551561

http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/kit09/voices.html

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Wales could get its first court based on Islamic law under proposals from a Muslim body, BBC Wales has learned.

A Sharia law tribunal in Cardiff will help community relations and give some Muslims services they want, supporters have told the Dragon's Eye programme.

But the Ministry of Justice said that Sharia law "has no jurisdiction in England and Wales".

A spokesperson said: "Regardless of religious belief we are all equal before the law".

A recent report by Civitas was critical of Sharia courts, saying they were not in keeping with UK legal principles.

Denis MacEoin, of Civitas, said: "It is Sharia law that is given the prominent position and this effectively means that British law is shoved to one side.

Considero importante la seguente dichiarazione, centrale per la questione dei diritti delle donne:

Marya Shabir, of the Welsh Women's National Coalition, said: "It's being advertised as this opt-in system when it actually isn't.

"If a Muslim woman is given the option of using a Muslim Arbitration Tribunal over going through the courts system using the law of England and Wales; there's no question as to which system she's going to use.

"If she doesn't go with the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal, she is going to face stigmatisation, she will be ostracised by her community, her peers, her family who believe she is turning her back on the community."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8406796.stm

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The High Court of Swaziland ruled on 23 February 2010 that some married women will be allowed to register property in their own name. It has been five years since the new Constitution granted women equal status, after centuries of being classified and treated as minors.

Although the Constitution has granted women equal rights with men, in practice old laws still on the statute books continue to define gender relations. Observers blame a lack of political will for the slow progress in replacing laws that conflict with the Constitution. 

Justice Qinisile Dlamini, the High Court's sole female judge, ruled that "Section 151 (2) of the Constitution states that the High Court has jurisdiction to enforce fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed by (the Constitution). This includes the right to equality, which is guaranteed by section 20 and 28 of the Constitution."

However, the ruling only applies to women married in a civil ceremony, and with a community of property agreement. About 80 percent of Swaziland's one million people live on communal Swazi Nation Land under customary law administered by chiefs.

"The marriage law must be changed because it assumes that all Swazi women are married the traditional way, which is really arranged marriages that unite two families. A woman is a minor under her parent's homestead until she goes to her husband's homestead, where she is also a minor. The law considers the husband the administrator of the marital property," said Lomcebo Dlamini. 

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=88230

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C'è da chiedersi come sia possibile ancara gli Stati Uniti non abbiano ancora ratificato la Convenzione sull'eliminazione di tutte le forme di discriminazione contro le donne. 

The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is the most complete international agreement on basic human rights for women and was adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1979. To date, 185 countries have ratified CEDAW. Even though the U.S. helped draft the treaty, it is the only industrialized country left to ratify.

CEDAW promotes not only women's empowerment, but also a foundation for peace and justice around the world. Women in the U.S. and around the world have already waited 30 years for the world's superpower to sign onto this important treaty. Demand President Obama and the Senate RATIFY WOMEN! by prioritizing and passing CEDAW without restrictions.

http://www.now.org/issues/global/cedaw/

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5996/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1364

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Dans cette veine, le Rajya Sabha, la Chambre haute du Parlement indien, a adopté il y a trois semaines une loi établissant que 33 % des sièges seront à l'avenir réservés aux femmes à la législature fédérale et dans chacune des assemblées des États. Un vote qu'il n'est pas exagéré de qualifier d'historique et de révolutionnaire. Soixante-deux ans de vie démocratique n'excluent pas que l'espace politique qu'y occupent les femmes demeure extrêmement restreint. Il n'y a que 10 % de députées au Lok Sabha, la Chambre des communes indienne.

«Sans quotas, impossible de faire élire des femmes au Parlement», dit clairement et simplement Mausam Noor, députée du parti du Congrès. C'est un premier pas, estime-t-elle. Or, la nouvelle loi, qui doit encore franchir d'autres étapes difficiles avant d'entrer en vigueur, a ceci de particulier — rien n'est simple — que les 33 % de sièges réservés feront l'objet d'un système de rotation, d'élections générales en élections générales. 

http://www.ledevoir.com/international/asie/285929/un-tiers-pour-les-femmes

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Continuo a stupirmi di quanto scarso peso i miei colleghi stiano dando alla questione. Non mi sono chiari i criteri in vase ai quali una notizia è degna di pubblicazione e un'altra no specie laddove l'argomento è la trasparenza, l'universalità e la coerenza in tema di diritti umani e di diritti delle donne. Nel mio piccolo intendo dare visibilità alla questione.

the Secretary General of Amnesty International makes a shocking and incredible claim that "Defensive Jihad not antithetical to Human Rights". If this is the official position of the world’s leading human rights organisation, this would gravely undermine the future of the human rights movment. The rationale and call for ‘defensive jihad’ runs through many muslim fundamentalist texts. It is precisely ‘defensive jihad’ that the Taleban use to legitimise its anti human rights actions such as the beheading of dissidents, attacks on minorities, attacks on schools and religious shrines and the public lashing of women.

We are revealing and making public (see attached documents) the full text of the letter received from secretary General of Amnesty international in response to the ’Global Petition to Amnesty International: Restoring the Integrity of Human Rights’ and also the Response sent by Initiators of Global Petition

The highlights of the response sent to Amnesty International by Initiators of Global Petition are:

• Endorsement of the concept of ‘defensive jihad’ by an organization such as Amnesty International calls into question its commitment to research the ideological underpinnings of acts of terrorism and its commitment to the eradication of discrimination on the basis of sex/gender and religion.

• In the present climate, within the mainstream human rights world, a serious challenge is being posed to the principles of universality and equality by a host of concessions to ‘traditional values’ and ‘cultural rights’.

• Amnesty International should make public the following information - Investigative research which informs decisions on partnerships and alliances:
  • What process of investigation was carried out to determine whether Moazzam Begg was a suitable partner for Amnesty International?

Allow real internal debate and give individuals within Amnesty International including at the level of National Sections, the right to act according to their conscience and to exercise their freedom to dissent.

 http://www.human-rights-for-all.org/spip.php?article53

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Experts say trend of men taking more time off work following their children’s birth is beginning of a social revolution

More men are choosing the pram instead of the desk, according to new figures that reveal an increasing number are opting to take the full ten weeks possible off work following the birth of a child.

In Copenhagen, the proportion of public sector fathers taking extended paternity leave is rocketing, with those taking the full ten weeks having almost doubled in the last four years. Nine percent did so in 2005, whereas 21 percent did so in 2009, with the average number of days off jumping from 26 to 38 over the same period.

The figures also hold true for Århus Council, where HR director Per Jensen noted a similar trend.

‘We’ve seen a similar phenomenon, especially among academics, who take the full amount of leave offered,’ he told Politiken newspaper.

‘This is a very significant development in which we’re experiencing a whole new generation of men with different values. It’s happening mostly in the public sector, because that is dominated by women who generally promote the idea that family values should be a priority. But there’s no doubt the trend will spread to the private sector,’ he said.

http://www.cphpost.dk/news/national/88-national/48604-more-fathers-taking-extended-paternity-leave.html

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THERE is a significant sense of change among women’s lives in Kisarawe following public education on their land rights, saving them from cultures and traditions which had confined them to the fence of family property.

Findings from this oldest district of 100 years with 76 villages and 15 wards revealed an unfolding impact of public education on the lives of mothers who had suffered for years under disguises of culture and traditions whose character of succession were discriminatory against women.

The ‘Daily News’ pitched camp for two days in this district of 100,000 people to find out if local authorities are conforming to the principle equality between women and men under the watch of different village councils.

Women in the age group of 40 to 60 , who had suffered discrimination in inheritance of family property for decades, are now able to use the information empowerment about their rights to save their colleagues who face the ruthlessness of their in-laws over land when their husbands dies
 

The Community Development Officer at ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children, Ms Grace Mbwilo said the radical move, which was initially facing resistance by forces supportive of cultures and traditions had confined women to the fence of family property, had gradually received acceptance as more women armed themselves with information on what their land rights are and where they can report in case of difficulties.

“We have to right the cultural and social economic wrongs that hinder the economic progress of women and other traditional disadvantaged groups, in all rural Tanzania”,she said

Land rights issues which were initially seen to be putting tradition and modernity in a confrontation is currently gaining approval on either side as girls are viewed as stakeholders of their family land. 

http://dailynews.co.tz/feature/?n=8693

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For centuries, only males could be awarded the title.

Ten women will become hereditary Freemen of the City at a ceremony at the Freemen of Newcastle's Easter Guild at the Guildhall on Monday.

During the ceremony, each new Freeman will hold a musket and bible as their name is called and they will be asked to sign an oath which will also be signed by the Lord Mayor.

Sir Leonard Fenwick, Chairman of the Freemen of the City, said: "This is an occasion to celebrate for Newcastle upon Tyne which has led the way for more than a decade in campaigning nationally to bring about gender equality and ensure the absolute rights of women to receive the Freelage and of course the civic responsibilities such a distinction does also bring." 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/8614203.stm

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A NEW fund dedicated solely to women’s causes was launched yesterday in Dublin by President Mary McAleese.

The Women’s Fund for Ireland aims to address problems facing women and girls in Ireland including poverty, violence and improving access to healthcare and education. It will also support grassroots projects in areas such as the arts, literacy and support for carers.

The fund launch took place at a symposium on Women in Philanthropy, Realising the power and potential of women in philanthropy, which was hosted by Philanthropy Ireland and the Community Foundation for Ireland (CFI).

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0415/1224268372322.html

The Fund will tackle the problems facing women and girls in Ireland today by raising funds, promoting women’s organisations and raising awareness of the challenges facing women. The fund will be dedicated to supporting a number of varying women’s issues by giving small grants to enable positive change at the grassroots and strategic level and tackle women’s inequality at its source.

http://www.irishpressreleases.ie/2010/04/15/the-womens-fund-for-ireland/

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Le scrutin uninominal a des avantages, mais il ne favorise pas la présence de femmes », confirme la députée UMP Chantal Brunel (photo), rapporteuse de l’Observatoire.

Mais alors que le gouvernement planche actuellement sur une réforme des collectivités territoriales qui prévoit notamment d’élire 80% des conseillers territoriaux (qui remplaceront les conseillers généraux et régionaux) au scrutin uninominal, il y a urgence d’agir. Au sein de ces nouvelles assemblées, la part des femmes pourrait en effet chuter à 17,3% (contre 24% aujourd’hui), rapporte « Le Monde »

Parmi les trois mesures phares, la députée propose de fixer des objectifs précis aux partis politiques qui ne veulent pas subir de retenue sur l’aide publique qui leur est accordée : ces derniers devront compter au moins 30% d'élues femmes en 2012, 40% en 2017 et 50% en 2022. Deuxième idée liée à la première : que les pénalités soient calculées non pas en fonction du nombre de candidates, mais en fonction du nombre d’élues.

http://www.elle.fr/elle/Societe/News/Parite-en-politique-bientot-une-loi-plus-contraignante/%28gid%29/1220744

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Investing in women smallholder farmers is the key to halving hunger and results in twice as much growth as investment in any other sector, a new ActionAid report reveals.

At the moment, virtually nothing is being spent on research into crops grown by women, training, credit, early childhood education and access to land, despite food price hikes and shortages likely to worsen as climate change intensifies.

ActionAid believes that by scaling up support to smallholders to at least $40 billion per year globally, world leaders can deliver a 50 percent reduction hunger and poverty by 2015 – the most fundamental of the UN Millennium Goals.

http://www.actionaid.org/main.aspx?PageID=1436

http://www.actionaid.org/assets/pdf/Fertilegroundreport_webfinal.pdf

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The CEDAW Women's Rights Treaty, formally known as the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, has been ratified by 185 countries, including all industrialized nations -- with the exception of the United States.

CEDAW was signed by President Carter, and 30 years later the Senate continues to drag its feet. NOW is calling on President Obama, who supports CEDAW, to throw the weight of his presidency behind the basic truth that women's rights are human rights and urge the Senate to RATIFY WOMEN! without delay or restrictions.

Though many cities have adopted resolutions calling on the Senate to ratify CEDAW, the city of San Francisco went a step further, becoming the first U.S. city to adopt an ordinance obligating itself to the principles of CEDAW. After ratification, the city adopted harsher sentences for domestic violence, implemented new flexible work schedules for its workforce and decreased the distance between streetlights for the purpose of women's safety. We can assume that this expansion of justice for women strongly suggests what could happen when our country ratifies CEDAW.

http://www.now.org/nnt/spring-2010/ratify.html

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Last week, 20 participants from across seven Arab countries came to Cairo for a four-day meeting to kick off the first Young Arab Feminist Network (YAFN), an initiative fueled by a determination to seek gender equality, and a desire to “be taken seriously,” according to one Egyptian founder, Engy Ghozlan.

“We decided we want to do a big meeting for young feminists, for older feminists, for people who are interested in the topic to exchange knowledge, to exchange experiences, to learn from each other, to show solidarity with each other. And you don’t have to be a feminist to come,” said Sharaf El-Din. 

With only one main activity on next year’s agenda, YAFN wishes to encourage offshoot projects that come up as they year unfolds. With such strategy in mind, YAFN is leaving room for each member to come up and implement a project in their respective communities, projects that will be nurtured by the support of other members in the network.

After a four-day meeting, participants were pleased with the outcome.

“I can’t believe it actually happened and that it happened the way it did; the openness, the criticism, the determination. This is something we have all been yearning for,” said Sharaf El-Din about the last four days.

Similarly, Ghozlan said: “It was very enlightening. There was a lot of commitment and people felt that they really need this.”

http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=29560

http://www.yafn.org/

 

 

 

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Un aumento davvero esiguo. Di questo passo quanto tempo ci vorrà per arrivare ad una rappresentanza politica davvero paritaria?

No party will be able to govern with authority or democratically without women or without immediately addressing the shocking state of women's representation in politics that this election campaign has exposed.
 
"Women's voices have been notable by their absence - pushed to the margins in the rush for power - but this has caused a broad based groundswell of anger and concern from women which won't go away after polling day.  Fawcett and many others will be looking to see how the parties respond to this over the next days, weeks and months.

 Figures produced by the Centre for Women & Democracy show that, the percentage of women MPs has risen by just 2% from 19.5% to 21.5% - this represents an increase of about a dozen women in the House of Commons.

http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1142

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Ennesima dimostrazione che, laddove esiste la volontà politica, i miglioramenti avvengono.

Les nouvelles unions polygames et la justice musulmane vont être proscrites à Mayotte, île française de l’océan indien où l’islam est très fortement majoritaire, aux termes d’une ordonnance examinée mercredi en Conseil des ministres.Le gouvernement a décidé de mettre un terme à l’inégalité entre hommes et femmes en matière de mariage et de divorce, poursuivant ainsi la modernisation du statut civil de droit local applicable à Mayotte.

L’ordonnance prévoit d’appliquer aux Mahorais relevant du droit local - inspiré du droit musulman et des coutumes africaines et malgaches - les règles ordinaires du code civil dans ces domaines.

Elle interdit de contracter, à l’avenir, de nouvelles unions polygames, et ce sans condition d’âge, allant dans le sens des souhaits d’une majorité des habitants, notamment des femmes de l’île, les hommes étant, selon des sondages, beaucoup plus partagés.

A Mayotte, le mariage d’un homme avec plusieurs femmes étant toléré, certaines femmes ont dû accepter de “cohabiter” avec d’autres. Certains hommes polygames louent parfois plusieurs maisons.

Le texte du gouvernement constitue une nouvelle avancée par rapport à la réforme Girardin de 2003, qui avait commencé à restreindre la polygamie, mais permettait encore aux hommes nés avant le 1er janvier 1987 et aux femmes nées avant le 1er janvier 1990 de contracter de telles unions.

L’ordonnance présentée par la ministre de l’Outre-mer Marie-Luce Penchard proscrit en outre la répudiation.

Elle supprime la justice “cadiale”, une justice rendue par des juges musulmans pour des Mahorais relevant du statut personnel de droit local, dont le fonctionnement, souligne le pacte, “est incompatible avec des principes républicains” (assistance d’un avocat, procès contradictoire, audiences publiques).

http://www.niputesnisoumises.com/blog/2010/06/03/les-nouvelles-unions-polygames-interdites-a-mayotte/

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A wide-ranging coalition of organizations and individuals representing 30 million citizens, led by The Center for Partnership Studies (CPS), is urging the Obama Administration and Congress to adopt the recommendations of the just released Urban Institute's report, The State of Society: Measuring Economic Success and Human Well-Being.

 

Commissioned by CPS, The State of Society report focuses on indicators that go beyond GDP to include key factors in a nation's quality of life and economic success, including health, education, human rights, environmental sustainability, workplace fairness, and poverty levels. It pays special attention to the still largely ignored, but bellwether status of the majority of the population: women and children.

 

The coalition includes the National Organization for Women, the National Education Association, the National Associations of Mothers' Centers, True Child, Green America, United Methodist Church, the Women's Funding Network, the NoVo Foundation, MomsRising, the National Council of Women's Organizations, Workforce, Inc. and leaders such as CEO Jeffrey Hollender of Seventh Generation and former U. S. Senator and Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun.

 

See link

 

http://www.partnershipway.org/

 

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The Welsh Women's National Coalition's (WWNC) holds a closing ceremony at the Senedd later after it was refused assembly government money.

Ministers have accepted mistakes were made in handling funding bids.

The equivalent groups in England and Scotland are 100% government funded.

The WWNC said the "mistake" would have "long-standing repercussions".

The group speaks on behalf of more than 50 organisations, representing the views of women in Wales with the assembly government, particularly in regard to policy making.

WWNC director Naomi Brightmore said the the organisation had achieved "so much with so little" in its history and hit out at the assembly government.

"It is a very sad state of affairs that government priorities, in this very difficult economic climate, make it impossible for WWNC to formally continue," she said.

"It is still my firm believe that the Welsh Assembly Government have made a huge mistake which will have long-standing repercussions for the equality of women in Wales."

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/wales/10267366.stm

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Compiled by Faith Matters, an independent multi-cultural organization, the directory gives 50 mosques a five-star rating while another 50 get four stars.

"This project is the first of its kind to focus on the needs of women and their access to, and participation in the governance and day to day functioning of the Mosque," said the founder and director of Faith Matters, Fiyaz Mughal.

The 486 mosques surveyed were judged by criteria deemed important by over 100 Muslim women surveyed nationally.

The most frequent were: a separate prayer space for women; services and activities designed for women; an Imam or female scholar accessible to women; women to have a say in decision-making about the institution and women to hold office on mosque committees.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100609/lf_nm_life/us_britain_mosques

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The summit is the brainchild of Belinda Stronach, a former MP and now executive vice-chairman of Magna International Inc.

Stronach challenged the girls to become a voice for women in the international community as she spoke to the crowded room at the Rotman School of Management in Toronto.

"Girls have to recognize the value that they can contribute. We have to change the mindset of boys and men so they value girls worldwide," said Stronach.

Panellists, some shedding tears, spoke about violence, poverty and lack of education -- all identified as barriers to a woman's success.

The solution, according to the summit's mantra, is the "the girl effect."

It's similar to the old proverb: Give a man a fish he'll eat for one day, but teach a man to fish he'll have food for a lifetime. In this version, the woman gets the fishing rod.

According to Stronach, when a woman earns greater income, she ends up giving 90 per cent back to her children. This translates to healthier, educated children and in turn, a better society.

 The young women's policy conclusions will be sent to the world leaders attending the summit, which runs June 26-27.

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100616/girls-summit-toronto-stronach-100616/20100616/?hub=TorontoNewHome

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Based on an 8 March 2010 Seminar on Sharia Law, research, interviews, and One Law for All case files, the report has identified a number of problem areas:

- Sharia law’s civil code is arbitrary and discriminatory against women and children in particular. With the rise in the acceptance of Sharia courts, discrimination is being further institutionalised with some UK law firms additionally offering clients advice on Sharia law and the use of collaborative law.

-Sharia law is practiced in Britain primarily by Sharia Councils and Muslims Arbitration Tribunals. Both operate on religious principles and are harmful to women although Muslim Arbitration Tribunals are wrongly regarded as being of more concern because they operate as tribunals under the Arbitration Act 1996, making their rulings binding in law.

- Sharia Councils, on the other hand, claim to mediate on family issues but in practice often this differs little from arbitration: they frequently ask those appearing before them to sign an agreement to abide by their decisions; they call themselves courts, and the presiding imams, judges. Their decisions are then imposed and regarded as having the weight of legal judgements.

- There is neither control over the appointment of “judges” in Sharia Councils or Tribunals nor an independent mechanism for monitoring them. Clients often do not have access to legal advice and representation. The proceedings are not recorded, nor are there any searchable legal judgements, nor any real right of appeal.

- Sharia law cannot be compared to secular legal systems because it is considered sacred law that cannot be challenged. There is no scope to look at the interests of the individuals involved, as required by UK family law.

- These legal processes ignore both common law and due process, far less Human Rights, and provide little protection and safety for women in violent situations.

http://www.onelawforall.org.uk/new-report-sharia-law-in-britain-a-threat-to-one-law-for-all-and-equal-rights/

http://www.onelawforall.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/New-Report-Sharia-Law-in-Britain.pdf

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A study on polygamy, which is allowed only for Muslims here, showed that 44 per cent of first wives are forced to find extra work after their husbands take on a second wife.

The study by non-governmental organisation Sisters in Islam (SIS) and the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (Ikmas) of the National University of Malaysia (UKM) surveyed some 1,200 participants from polygamous families throughout peninsular Malaysia since 2008.

“The husband’s contribution to his first wife’s family decreased after his second marriage,” said SIS senior research officer Adibah Mohd. Jodi.

“About 44 per cent of first wives have to take on extra work after their husbands take on a second wife,” she added.

Centre of Research on Women’s Development (Kanita), University of Science Malaysia (USM) director Rashidah Shuib said that many first wives are unable to get financial aid from the government as they are told to rely on their husbands.

“First wives are the most dissatisfied (parties) in almost all aspects, such as time, emotion, resources and communication (with their husbands),” she said.

When asked why majority of children of either the first or second wife remarked that they “did not care” about being in a polygamous family, head researcher Norani Othman said that their lax attitude could be a psychological defence mechanism.

Majority of the research participants were from Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang as they were more open to answering surveys than their urban counterparts in Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan, added Norani.

About 47 per cent of husbands and 35 per cent of second wives surveyed were either self-employed or blue collar workers, while about 52 per cent of first wives were homemakers.

“Academics tried to apply for funds (for this project), but they were all rejected by the Ministry of Higher Education,” said Norani.

http://www.sistersinislam.org.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1034&Itemid=1

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Certain provisions in the proposed Constitution will dramatically alter the status of women in Kenya.

The executive director of Kenya's Federation of Women Lawyers, Grace Maingi, said the new constitution includes affirmative action to achieve gender parity in parliament. Women are guaranteed a minimum of one-third of elected and appointed posts in government.

"Under the proposed Constitution, 47 special seats have been set aside for women in Parliament," Maingi told IPS. "When political parties are nominating 12 members to the August House, they will have to pay special attention to gender parity - an obvious departure from what has been the norm."

Dr Joachim Osur, a reproductive health expert, says the proposed Constitution will guarantee better health for the people of Kenya and women in particular.

"Health services have been centered in the urban areas. And with devolution that comes with the proposed Constitution, services will be moved closer to the people, through the creation of Counties which will have their own budgets including a health budget," Osur said.

"We expect better deployment of health workers in all parts of the country, better nutrition and provision of health services. We expect more women to deliver in hospitals and a sharp improvement of family planning services."

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=52391

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Agunot such as this woman are the focus of an unprecedented information-gathering campaign spearheaded by Silver Spring resident Barbara Zakheim, the founder of the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse of Greater Washington.

The effort -- believed to be the first U.S. national survey of agunot -- aims to illustrate the nature of the problem, its prevalence, and what communal organizations and other institutions can do to better assist these women, said Zakheim.

The survey, she adds, presupposes that the Orthodox rabbinic community will not make it easier for women to procure a get.

The survey, which is scheduled to go out this month, seeks to paint a fuller picture of agunot by inquiring about such matters as their overall numbers, finances, number of children, existing support network, relationship with rabbis on the rabbinic court, unmet needs and how long they've been chained.

Questionnaires will not be sent directly to agunot but rather to about 60 non-rabbinic organizations throughout North America that likely have dealt with these women and/or other victims of domestic abuse in the past five years.

Organizations collaborating on the project include Jewish Women International, the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot and the Orthodox Union.

Deborah Rosenbloom, Jewish Women International's director of programs, says she hopes the survey results will help spur rabbinic courts to action.

"This has been dragging on and on, and it seems that the rabbis will not respond in any effective manner until they see the extent of the problem," she said. "Their actions have been totally irresponsible."

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/08/10/2740416/survey-seeks-to-paint-fuller-portrait-of-chained-wives

 

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The B.C. government asked the province's Supreme Court last year to decide if the section of the Criminal Code prohibiting polygamy also contravenes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The province launched the constitutional question after polygamy charges were dropped against two Bountiful, B.C., religious leaders.

A formal start date for the hearings has not yet been determined, but several affidavits for the case have been sworn in recent weeks.

One of them is from Mohammad Fadel, Canada research chair in Islamic law at the University of Toronto. Fadel was asked by the B.C. attorney general to address the relationship between polygamy and Islam.

But Alia Hogben, executive director of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, said in her affidavit she occasionally receives telephone calls from women that pertain to polygamy.

She said some of the Muslim women have refused to leave their "oppressive marital relationships" because they fear social stigma from other members of the community.

Hogben said some women have been warned that if they shame their husbands in any way, the Qur'an states the man may take disciplinary action, including causing bodily harm.

"Based on what I have learned through my experience as a social worker and front-line contact for Muslim women in crisis, and through my education as a Muslim, I believe that some men employ the authority of Islam to marry (polygamously) in order to suit their own sexual preferences," she said.

Hogben added not very much is known about the practice or incidents of multiple wives in Canada's Muslim communities.

The provincial government has said the constitutionality of the Criminal Code section that prohibits polygamy is of interest beyond Bountiful. It has said the practice of polygamy is accepted in other cultures, some of which have substantial and growing immigrant populations in Canada.

"The (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and these communities are perfect examples about what we're trying to prove (that polygamy is harmful)," government lawyer Craig Jones said in March.

"I still expect the majority of evidence to be outside Bountiful."

Residents of Bountiful are members of the FLDS, a breakaway group from the mainstream Mormon church. The Mormon church renounced polygamy more than a century ago.

http://news.sympatico.ca/canada/court_case_wont_just_look_at_mormon_polygamists_muslims_under_scrunity_too/ae04da45

 

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A record number of women are running in Afghanistan's critical parliamentary elections next month despite many being inundated with threatening phone calls, including death threats from insurgents.

Amid ever-rising violence, which some people fear could foster a repeat of last year's catastrophic presidential election, women are struggling to campaign at all outside a few areas, poll monitors say.

Even in Kabul, the capital, where the Guardian has interviewed a number of female candidates, women say they are facing daily obstruction from conservative hardliners.

With voting billed for 18 September, Kabul's streets have been plastered in posters and billboards, many of which show the faces of would-be female MPs in the capital, the number of whom has more than doubled since 2005. However, many of the posters do not stay up long, or get defaced with slashes of bright red ink.

Despite the dangers the number of women seeking representation in parliament has risen sharply, from 328 in 2005 to 406 across Afghanistan, according to an international election monitor in Kabul. They are running for at least 64 of the 249 seats reserved for women.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/24/record-women-candidates-afghan-election?CMP=twt_gu

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Roba da matti!

Chargé de choisir entre différents projets d'amendements, Nicolas Sarkozy a décidé d'étendre la déchéance de nationalité aux seuls meurtriers des membres des forces de l'ordre et dépositaires de l'autorité publique. La proposition de Brice Hortefeux n'a pas été retenue.

Le discours de Grenoble, et rien de plus. Chargé d'arbitrer entre plusieurs projets d'amendements encadrant le projet d'élargissement des cas de déchéance de nationalité, Nicolas Sarkozy a décidé lundi matin de s'en tenir à la mesure annoncée fin juillet en Isère. La déchéance de la nationalité ne sera ainsi étendue qu'aux seuls meurtriers des membres des forces de l'ordre et dépositaires de l'autorité publique.

La pilule risque d'être lourde à avaler en revanche pour Brice Hortefeux. La proposition du ministre de l'Intérieur de faire de lapolygamie de fait un motif de déchéance a été rejetée par l'Elysée. Brice Hortefeux, qui s'est beaucoup investi dans l'offensive sécuritaire de la majorité cet été, prévoyait de punir «le fait pour une personne engagée dans les liens du mariage, de tirer profit ou de partager le produit, de manière habituelle, de prestations sociales indûment perçues». Un amendement très instable juridiquement selon les autres ministères, et qui risquait d'être retoqué par le conseil constitutionnel. Si la déchéance de nationalité est désormais exclue pour un tel délit, Nicolas Sarkozy a toutefois souhaité un renforcement des «sanctions pour fraude aux prestations sociales» dans le cadre de la polygamie, sans donner plus de détails.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2010/09/06/01002-20100906ARTFIG00556-la-polygamie-n-entrainera-pas-la-decheance-de-nationalite.php

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