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4/29/2013 - Bangladesh Death Toll 385, Recovery Changes Gears
Six days after the deadly building collapse outside of Dhaka, Bangladesh, rescuers are still working to recover any remaining survivors and locate bodies of the deceased. 385 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the collapse. 2,437 have been rescued alive.
Efforts were delayed on Sunday when a spark from a metal grinder caused a fire that injured six workers as they desperately and unsuccessfully tried to save a woman trapped beneath the rubble. On Monday, rescuers began using heavy machinery and hydraulic cranes to remove concrete slabs weighing anywhere between three and 12 tons. The Special Work Organization (SWO) of the Army Engineering Corps, told reporters it will take at least 15 days to remove the debris.
Building owner and local politician, Mohammed Sohel Rana, was taken into police custody on Sunday as he attempted to flee the country into India. Seven others have been arrested in relation to the collapse: four factory bosses, two engineers, and Rana's father. A fifth factory boss is at large. Rana wore a bullet proof vest and helmet as he brought into the Dhaka courthouse while onlookers chanted "Hang him, hang him."
80% of the garment factory workforce in Bangladesh are women who are often responsible for providing for their families. Under grueling working conditions, workers in garment factories can make as little as $26 a month.
Outrage over the conditions of garment factories in Bangladesh gained international headlines in November of 2012 when 112 workers died during a fire in a factory that was producing clothes for Walmart and other Western retailers. An official investigation ruled that the fire was deliberately started and determined that up to nine officials prevented workers from leaving the building and even padlocked exits.
4/29/2013 - Quinnipiac Will Keep Women's Volleyball in Title IX Settlement
Quinnipiac University has agreed to keep women's volley ball as a varsity sport, increase scholarships for female athletes and expand opportunities for women as part of a Title IX legal settlement.
The case against Quinnipiac began in 2009 when the university made an announcement that the school was cutting women's volleyball, men's golf, and men's outdoor track and changing competitive cheerleading to a varsity sport. The lawsuit, brought by ACLU, Pullman & Comley, and Sports Equity, claimed that Quinnipiac violated Title IX by failing to provide equal opportunity to women athletes to participate in varsity-level sports. One of the female coaches testified that the school takes names of male student athletes off team rosters and then reinstitutes them in order to make the school's Title IX reports appear to be in compliance with the law. In 2010, U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill ruled in favor of the women athletes and required Quinnipiac to come into compliance.
Sandra Staub, legal director of the ACLU Foundation of Connecticut, said, "This litigation advanced the cause of equality for female collegiate athletes across the nation, and the settlement will bring tremendous benefits to female athletes at Quinnipiac University." David McQuire, an attorney with the ACLU Foundation of Connecticut, told reporters, "It's not just about the numbers, it's about the quality of benefits the teams receive... We believe Quinnipiac is committed to implementing this and coming up with a first-class non-discriminatory athletic program."
The settlement must still be approved by Judge Underhill.
4/26/2013 - DOJ Issues Guidelines for Medical Examinations of Sexual Assault Victims
New national guidelines on forensic medical examination in sexual assault cases were released by the Department of Justice this Wednesday. In addition to focusing on the victim's emotional and physical wellbeing during medical examinations, the guidelines also clearly state a recommendation that sexual assault victims are offered emergency contraception. In the case that the medical staff has moral objections, the patient must be informed where they can immediately obtain emergency contraception.
The last guidelines were issued in 2004 and were mostly focused on criminal prosecution. The new guidelines [PDF] prioritize the victim's emotional and physical needs over criminal prosecution. Bea Hanson, the director of the Justice Department's Office on Violence Against Women, cites this shift in priority as a means to help the victim and law enforcement better collaborate. "Research shows that once victims get support, they're more likely to cooperate with the criminal justice system," Hanson said.
A former investigator of sex crimes for the Phoenix Police Department, Sergeant Jim Markey, described the new guidelines as "long overdue." He explained, "What this does is this allows workers in the trenches, those victim advocates, those detectives and nurses, to go to the decision makers and leaders in their communities and say: 'You know what? Here are the standards. We need the resources to provide the minimum standards that are in this protocol.'"
4/26/2013 - UPDATE: As Death Toll Rises, So Do Protests in Bangladesh
The death toll from a building collapse in Bangladesh on Wednesday has now climbed over 300 as many others are still trapped beneath the wreckage of what used to be garment factories and a shopping center.
Shahinur Islam, a Bangladesh Army spokesperson on the collapse, told reporters that the number of people confirmed dead has reached 304. H.T. Imam, an advisor to the Prime Minister, warned the death toll could exceed 350. Of the estimated 3,122 people in the building at the time of the collapse, 2,350 have been rescued. At least half of those rescued have injuries.
Protests and strikes have erupted in Dhaka in response to the tragedy. Tens of thousands of people marched in the streets of the capital and garment workers went on strike to protest safety conditions in garment factories and call on the government to punish those responsible for collapse. Protests escalated as protesters vandalized cars or other garment factories and police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
80% of the garment factory workforce in Bangladesh are women who are often responsible for providing for their families. Despite grueling working conditions, workers in garment factories can make as little as $26 a month.
Many of the factories in the building have connections to multiple Western retailers such as Walmart, Benetton and Cato Fashions, the Dutch C & A, British Prismark, and Spanish Mango, among others.
Outrage over the conditions of garment factories in Bangladesh gained international headlines in November of 2012 when 112 workers died during a fire in a factory that was producing clothes for Walmart and other Western retailers. An official investigation ruled that the fire was deliberately started and determined that up to nine officials prevented workers from leaving the building and even padlocked exits.
4/26/2013 - Bill to Expand Abortion Access in Peace Corps Introduced
On Thursday, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a bill that would extend insurance coverage for abortion in cases of rape or incest to Peace Corps volunteers. Currently only paid Peace Corps staff have this coverage, forcing Peace Corps volunteers who are assaulted to pay for abortion procedures out of pocket. The bill, titled the "Peace Corps Equity Act" is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Currently there is no sponsor in the House.
In a press release, Lautenberg said "We must not stand idly by while Peace Corps volunteers continue to be subjected to this gross inequity in their health care coverage. Peace Corps volunteers choose to provide a valuable public service despite inherent risks to their safety, including sexual assault, and it is unacceptable that their own country restricts their access to care. My legislation would ensure that Peace Corps volunteers don't have to forfeit their rights or jeopardize their health when they volunteer to help underserved populations throughout the world."
A spokesperson for the Peace Corps, Shira Kramer, said in a statement that the corps supports the bill to create changes that "provides female volunteers with the same rights and protections as many of their female colleagues."
4/26/2013 - Jenny Yang Confirmed for EEOC
Late last night, Congress approved the nomination of Jenny Yang as a commissioner to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
In her role as partner in the class action law firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, Yang was responsible for some of the biggest sex discrimination cases in recent years. Yang was one of the lawyers representing 1.6 million women in the class action case Wal-Mart Stores Inc. v. Dukes. In 2011, the case was dismissed by the Supreme Court. The case was the largest sex-discrimination class-action suit in history. Yang was also part of the class action Beck v. Boening Company in Washington. The case was settled for $72 million in 2004.
Wade Henderson, the president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, applauded the decision in a press statement. He said, "Throughout her career, Jenny Yang has shown dedication to using the law to ensure equal opportunity in employment for all Americans. Her work at the Department of Justice, as a federal judicial law clerk, in private practice, and at the National Employment Law Project make an EEOC appointment a natural fit for her abilities... We are confident in Yang's ability to serve our nation well through thoughtful and deliberate enforcement of employment discrimination protections and equal employment opportunity programs."
4/25/2013 - Woman Could Go To Jail For Life-Saving Abortion In El Salvador
A woman who faces a life-threatening, non-viable pregnancy may have to choose between saving her life or going to jail in El Salvador.
"Beatriz", who is currently 22 and already a mother of a young infant, was diagnosed with multiple severe illness and is 18 weeks pregnant. In addition, the fetus will not survive more than a few days outside the womb (if at all) due to a severe fetal abnormality where part of the brain does not develop. Doctors fear that if she continues with the pregnancy, Beatriz could lose her life. But abortion in any circumstance is illegal in El Salvador, and if Beatriz and her doctors proceed with the abortion without approval from the Supreme Court they could face up to 30 years in jail for aggravated homicide.
Beatriz and her hospital have petitioned the Supreme Court in El Salvador to permit an abortion. While the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, the Court has not released anything related to the case in the month since the hospital sought permission to treat Beatriz. Since the request was submitted, her condition has worsened.
The case has gathered support from the Salvadoran Minister of Health, Dr. Maria Isabel Rodriquez, as well as the feminist group Agrupación Ciudadana por la Despenalización del Aborto Terapéutico, Ético y Eugénesico (Citizen Group for the Decriminalization of Therapeutic, Ethical and Eugenic Abortion). Earlier this month, Agrupacion petitioned the Supreme Court to allow Beatriz to have the life-saving procedure. In a press conference on the issue the group told reporters, "While we are talking, while the Court is thinking and the government is delaying, Beatriz is suffering... The Salvadoran government has clear obligations, international as well as domestic, to protect Beatriz's life, and to assure that Beatriz can access vital treatment as soon as possible" [translated at RH Reality Check].
Beatriz's case has also gained international attention from the United Nations and Amnesty International. Amnesty International's researcher on Central America, Esther Major, said in a statement, "Beatriz's situation is desperate and must not wait any longer. Her very chances of survival depend on a decision from the authorities... We hope that the Supreme Court treats this case with the urgency it merits, given that Beatriz's life and health are at risk. She is suffering cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in being denied the medical intervention she so urgently needs." Roberto Valent, the Resident Coordinator the UN in El Salvador, has urged authorities [SPANISH] to resolve the case quickly.
Many activists are wondering if the conservative climate of El Salvador will result in a case similar to Savita Halappanavar's death in Ireland. In November 2012, Halappanavar was 17 weeks pregnant when she arrived at University Hospital Galway complaining of severe back pain. Hospital staff determined she was miscarrying, however doctors refused to remove the pregnancy until three days later because the fetus still had a heartbeat. After the pregnancy was removed, Savita was transferred to intensive care where she died three days later of what was determined to be septicaemia (similar to blood poisoning).
4/25/2013 - HRW Report Finds Afghan Women Police Officers Face Harassment, Violence
Female police officers in Afghanistan are fighting harassment in co-ed changing facilities and restrooms at the hands of male colleagues, according to a recent report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW).
In the story, released today, HRW found that women in the Afghan police force face sexual harassment, assault, and even rape from male colleagues. Many of these attacks occur in changing rooms and bathrooms, which have peepholes or no locks. Women are forced to stand guard for each other while they change or use the restroom. On April 10th, the police chief ordered that all stations have separate facilities for women, however such orders have been ignored before. Despite a goal of increasing the number of women in the Afghan police force to 5,000 by 2014, women currently only make up 1% of the country's police and the conditions faced by women present a recruitment challenge. A senior official, who asked to remain anonymous, told reporters, "Men whose rank is junior to me won't salute me. They don't value women as they should... I am supposed to recruit women, but people say they can't send their daughters because it is not safe."
The attitude toward women in the police force combined with the small numbers of women police officers have broader implications for the women of Afghanistan, according to HRW. The organization is concerned that without women police officers to assist victims of sexual and gender violence, including fellow police officers, cases will not be reported out of fear of cultural retaliation. Brad Adams, the Asia Director for the HRW, said "The Afghan government's failure to provide female police officers with safe, secure facilities makes them more vulnerable to abuse. This is not just about toilets. It's about the government's recognition that women have a crucial role to play in law enforcement in Afghanistan... Without the consistent presence of female police officers across the country, legal protections for women will remain an unfulfilled promise."
4/25/2013 - Death Toll From Bangladesh Building Collapse Reaches Over 200
At least 228 people have been confirmed dead in the aftermath of a building collapse in Bangladesh. The collapse happened yesterday morning in the suburb of Savar, outside the capital of Dhaka.
The building housed five garment factories as well as a shopping center. Officials say that while 228 are confirmed dead, they fear the toll will actually be higher. Only 1,400 of the over 3,100 factory workers have been accounted for. Many of the mostly female workers are still trapped in the rubble.
An initial investigation found that the top four floors of the eight story building had been constructed illegally without permits. The factories also opened despite a crack discovered in the building the day before. The building owner and local politician, Mohammed Sohel Rana, had told factory owners that the crack was not dangerous and they proceeded to open the factories. Rana is currently on the run from police.
Many of the factories in the building have found connections to multiple Western retailers such as Walmart, Benetton and Cato Fashions, the Dutch C & A, British Prismark, and Spanish Mango, among others. Labor activists searching the rubble found labels for Prismark and Mango, and information from customs records, company websites, and documents found in the building show connections to the other retailers. A spokesperson for Benetton Group has denied that any of the factories in the building currently had orders from Benetton. A spokesperson from Walmart told reporters that the company is currently investigating whether any of the factories had current orders from Walmart.
Outrage over the conditions of garment factories in Bangladesh gained international headlines in November of 2012 when 112 workers died during a fire in a factory that was producing clothes for Walmart and other Western retailers. An official investigation ruled that the fire was deliberately started and determined that up to nine officials prevented workers from leaving the building and even padlocked exits.
4/24/2013 - Eden Foods Suing Obama Administration, Facing Boycott
Eden Foods, a popular supplier of organic food items, has filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration over contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The Michigan-based company says that the contraception clause of the Affordable Care Act violates religious freedom. In the words of Eden's lawsuit, the clause "attacks and desecrates a foremost tenet of the Catholic Church" where the use of contraception is sinful. In the words of Michael Potter, the CEO of the company, "The government is just walking on the rights of companies and individuals who are trying to exercise their lives consistent with their conscience." Potter wrote to the Huffington Post to say he did not intend to block health care access for his employees.
The lawsuit is inspiring activity on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, with many former fans vowing to boycott Eden's products and encouraging their friends and followers to do the same. Some grocery stores that carry Eden Foods products are considering canceling their orders. Potter said the amount of negative feedback was "certainly alarming." Although the majority of reactions have been negative, some customers have contacted the company to voice their support of the lawsuit.
Eden Foods joins a long list of companies suing the administration over the mandate. Other companies that have sued include Dominoes, Hobby Lobby, and more. Other companies, such as Universal Orlando, have said they will drop insurance coverage for their part-time employees so they do not have to comply with Obamacare.
4/24/2013 - ENDA to be Introduced in Congress Thursday
Both the House and the Senate are expected to reintroduce The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) this Thursday. In the House, ENDA will be introduced by Representative Jared Polis (D-CO), an openly gay member of the House. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) will be introducing the Senate version of ENDA. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would ban discrimination by employers based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
While the number of co-sponsors in the House is yet to be determined, the Senate version has five original sponsors: Senator Merkley, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME); and Tom Harkin (D-IA), the Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
ENDA legislation has been introduced in every Congressional session since 1994 except one. According to the Center for American Progress, only 21 states and the District of Columbia prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and only 16 and the District prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
"The bottom line is no worker in America should be fired or denied a job based on who they are. Discrimination is wrong. Period. And I think the Senate is ready to take that stand," said Senator Merkley (D).
4/24/2013 - Building Collapse in Bangladesh Kills Over 100
An eight story building in Bangladesh collapsed on Wednesday morning, killing at least over 100 people. The death toll is still rising.
The building in the suburb of Savar, outside of the capital Dhaka housed five garment factories as well as a shopping center. An official appointed to give information about those missing or hurt told Reuters that 96 people were confirmed dead and at least 1,000 were injured. Firefighters said that they believed over 2,000 people were in the building at the time of the collapse. The Daily Ittefaq, a local paper, reports that the death toll is over 100, and the government has declared Thursday a national day of mourning.
Mohammad Asaduzzaman of the local police station told reporters that a crack had been detected on Tuesday and the factory owners were given a warning not to allow their workers in the building. However, factory owners either ignored or never received the warning. "There were some crack at the second floor, but my factory was on the fifth floor," said Muhammad Anisur Rahman, a factory owner. "The owner of the building told our floor manager that it is not a problem and so you can open the factory." Another worker said that factory owners told their workers they had examined the crack and "not to worry."
Outrage over the conditions of garment factories in Bangladesh gained international headlines in November of 2012 when 112 workers died during a fire in a factory that was producing clothes for Walmart and other Western retailers that an official investigation ruled that the fire was deliberately started. In addition to being a deliberate act, the investigation determined that up to nine officials prevented workers from leaving the building and even padlocked exits.
The investigation also found severe evidence of negligence on behalf of the factory owner, Delwar Hossain. Hossain had originally denied that the factory was unsafe, however the factory's fire certificate had expired before the fire. In addition, the building only had permission to be three stories high but was in fact nine and lacked sufficient emergency exits.
4/23/2013 - Kansas Governor Signs Anti-Abortion Bill into Law
On Friday, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback (R) signed an anti-abortion bill into law that defines life as beginning at fertilization.
The measure requires that abortion providers supply women with a list of organizations that provide abortion alternatives, prevents any abortion facility from receiving state funding or tax credits, and requires doctors to provide patients with medically inaccurate information. In addition, it will define life as beginning at the moment of fertilization in the state-s constitution. The bill passed in the state legislature earlier this month by a wide margin in both chambers.
Before signing the bill into law, Governor Brownback wrote "JESUS + Mary" in his notes as captured in an Associated Press photograph. Brownback continued in his notes and in his oral statements that this bill would create a "culture of life' in Kansas.
4/23/2013 - BSA Proposal Would Allow Gay Youth, But Not Adults
The Boy Scouts of America have proposed to partially lift the ban that excludes gay members from service. The proposal would admit gay youth, but would still continue to bar adult troop leaders. It is a revision to a BSA proposal made in January that would have allowed local troops to decide whether to accept gay members. Unveiled last Friday, the new proposal must go before roughly 1,400 voting members of the BSA's National Council. The council will vote over the week of May 20th during its annual meeting in Texas.
Gay-rights advocacy groups are criticizing the current proposal as incomplete. Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign asked "What message does this resolution send to the gay Eagle Scout who, as an adult, wants to continue a lifetime of Scouting by becoming a troop leader?"
Some conservative groups went on the defensive saying that the ban should remain in its entirety. "The policy is incoherent," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. "The proposal says, in essence, that homosexuality is morally acceptable until a boy turns 18 - then, when he comes of age, he's removed from the Scouts."
The BSA anticipates backlash from many long-term members of the organization and estimate that between 100,000 and 350,000 members would leave the organization should the proposal pass.
4/23/2013 - Cuba's Ladies in White To Receive International Award
A group of women opposition activists from Cuba called the Ladies in White will be in Brussels to collect the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought today.
The women were awarded the prize in 2005 for their efforts to raise awareness of the treatment of dissenters in Cuba, but were not permitted to leave the country. With the end of an embargo on exit permits in January, the Ladies in White will finally be able to collect their prize.
The Ladies in White began in 2003 when 75 activists were jailed in an attempt to curb opposition to the regime. The women close to the activists decided to dress in white and march silently on the Cuban capital every Sunday for the release of the 75 jailed activists. The Ladies in White often face detention and arrest themselves due to a ban on street demonstrations. Though all 75 activists have been released, the Ladies in White still march to have their sentences overturned as well as to draw attention to other opposition activists still in jail.
4/23/2013 - Breaking News: France Legalizes Same Sex Marriage
Today French lawmakers voted to legalize same sex marriage and adoption in the country.
In a vote of 331 to 225, the National Assembly approved the "Marriage for All" law after reviewing amendments made by the upper-house Senate. President Francois Hollande, who included same-sex marriage and adoption rights in his platform during the French presidential election, is expected to sign the bill into law once it is reviewed by a constitutional council.
Despite a majority of the French public supporting same-sex marriage, numerous protests against the bill have been rampant throughout France. Gay rights organizations believe they have documented a rise in attacks on LGBT individuals, and protesters against the bill have come into violent confrontations with law enforcement. Lawmakers have even faced threats - the National Assembly president Claude Bartolone received a letter filled with gunpowder warning him to delay the vote, and debate in parliament results in physical blows.
According to Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, same-sex couples could get married as early as June if the bill goes smoothly through the constitutional council.
4/22/2013 - FL House Passes Controversial Abortion Restrictions
The Florida House of Representatives passed an abortion measure last Thursday that would outlaw abortion based on the sex or race of the fetus. HB 845, "Termination of Pregnancy Based on Sex or Race of Unborn Child," passed on what anti-choice activists have declared "Right to Life" day on a vote of 71 to 44.
The bill's sponsor, Representative Charles Van Zant (R) from Keystone Heights, who is white, stated that abortion groups target black women. "In America alone - without the Nazi Holocaust, without the Ku Klux Klan - Planned Parenthood and other abortionists have reduced our black population by more than 25 percent since 1973," Van Zant told the House.
Despite Van Zant's assertion that the legislation was to prevent what he called "discriminatory targeting," many black Representatives were offended during the debate and a few even left the proceedings. Representative Barbara Watson (D) of Miami chose to leave. She later told the Huffington Post, "I don't appreciate anyone trying to explain what any other ethnic group's lifestyle is and what they do, when you really don't have any authority to interpret it. I think the women and people of color in that chamber deserve an apology from him, but I don't know that it would actually change his point of view."
4/22/2013 - Arrests made in Delhi Child Rape Case
Two men thought to have played a part in the abduction and rape of a five year old girl in New Delhi are now in custody. One suspect was taken in by police on Saturday, when he alleged the involvement of a second man. That second man was taken into custody today.
As for the victim, she is reportedly healing. "We are trying to control the infection and she is responding well," said DK Sharma, chief of the hospital where the girl is being treated, "it will take at least two weeks to discharge her." She can now eat semi-solid foods and drink liquids.
The girl was allegedly kidnapped on April 15th by a neighbor. She was discovered after another neighbor heard crying and called the authorities. She was admitted with injuries to her face and chest wall, and bruises on her neck that could indicate strangulation.
Protests that erupted outside the hospital in response to the assault continue today. Since the brutal gang rape and death of a 23-year-old medical student in India, protests have sparked across India, the world's largest democracy, where a woman is estimated to be raped every twenty minutes, with Delhi being labeled the "rape capital" of the country, according to the Associated Press. Huge protests and demonstrations have voiced anger regarding the treatment of women in India and calling for tougher laws on violence against women.
4/22/2013 - Global Heroes Honored in LA
An Afghan rapper. The founder of the first primary school for girls in a Kenyan village. A trailblazing member of Congress who fights to create an AIDS-free generation. An advocate for women's and children's rights and empowerment.
Tonight in Los Angeles, the Feminist Majority Foundation (publisher of Ms.) will award these four women with its 8th annual Global Women's Rights Awards, celebrating their hard-fought accomplishments for girls and women on the world stage.
The rapper--considered to be Afghanistan's first woman at the mic--is Soosan Firooz. Though facing death threats, she continues to use music to speak out against the injustices and violence faced by women and girls in Afghanistan. Through her performance and bravery, Soosan has brought attention to the need for peace-building in Afghanistan. Check out a video report on her.
The school founder is Kakenya Ntaiya, a tireless advocate for the education and empowerment of girls. The first woman in her Kenyan village of Enoosaen to leave and attend college in the U.S., she returned to her homeland in 2009 to establish The Kakenya Center for Excellence, which finally allowed girls in her village to attend primary school there. National Geographic has honored Kakenya as an Emerging Explorer and CNN named her one of its CNN Heroes. Check out her wonderful TEDX talk.
The congressperson is Rep.Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), a leading feminist in the House and a critical voice for the world�s women and girls, who remain disproportionately affected by the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. Lee conceived of and co-authored the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act.
And the advocate for women's and children's human rights is Cheryl Saban, who was recently a member of the U.S. delegation to the 57th U.N. Commission on the Status of Women and was appointed by President Obama to be the U.S. representative to the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Saban--a psychologist, author and philanthropist--has just announced a groundbreaking partnership between UN Women and her Women's Self Worth Foundation to work for women's empowerment and gender equality.
We'll be live-tweeting from the event tonight @msmagazine under the hashtag #fmfgala. Join us for a discussion with these amazing women and FMF president Eleanor Smeal!
4/19/2013 - ND Judge Overturns Medical Abortion Ban
A North Dakota Judge has overturned a 2011 law that restricted drug-induced abortions yesterday, citing it as unconstitutional. East Central Judicial District Judge Wickham Corwin stated that, "I remain convinced that a woman's reproductive rights must be protected under the state constitution and must be recognized as fundamental," at the end of the three day civil trial.
The legislation, House Bill 1297, outlawed the use of medication for the intent of ending a pregnancy, despite this being a safe and common alternative to surgical abortions. The case was originally brought to court in July of 2011 by the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), representing the Red River Women's clinic, the only women's clinic in North Dakota currently providing abortion services.
Nancy Northrup, the president and CEO of The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), said of the ban, "These efforts to keep North Dakota women from the best available medical care and deny them their right to make their own decisions about their pregnancies, their families, and their futures are not only disingenuous, but wholly unconstitutional."
4/19/2013 - Senate Rejects Gun Control Bill
The Senate rejected a bill that would have expanded the scope of background checks for potential gun owners on Wednesday. In a speech following the defeat, President Obama cited conservative control of the Senate as the reason for the loss: "A few minutes ago, 90% of Democrats in the Senate just voted for [gun control]. But it's not going to happen because 90% of Republicans in the Senate just voted against that idea." One senator, Joe Manchin, (D-WV), recently suggested that his fellow members were inclined to vote the bill down because of political pressure from the National Rifle Association.
Multiple sources agree that 90 percent of Americans approve of universal background checks and more stringent requirements for gun owners in general. Vice President Joe Biden explained Wednesday's outcome despite that fact with a quote from a conversation he had with a Congressperson: "that 10 percent who doesn't agree [with gun control], they are going to show up. They’re going to show up and vote." The Washington Post reports that NRA members and other anti-gun control advocates visit their representatives with more frequency than pro-gun control individuals.
In anticipation of heightened efforts by the pro-gun control lobby, a representative from the organization stated "we are prepared for a very long war and a very expensive war."
The National Rifle Association and its supporters have been active in opposing gun control measures since December 2012. In response to the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, CEO Wayne LaPierre called for protective measures in the form of armed sentinels in schools and other public places, not limitations on who can and cannot purchase arms. He said gun control legislation violates the Second Amendment.
4/19/2013 - Five Year Girl in Critical Condition After Rape
A five year old girl is in critical condition after being allegedly kidnapped and raped in Delhi, India.
The girl was allegedly kidnapped on Monday by a neighbor. She was discovered after a neighbor heard crying and called the authorities. She was admitted with injuries to her face and chest wall, and bruises on her neck that could indicate strangulation.
Protests have erupted outside the hospital in response to the assault. Since the brutal gang rape and death of a 23-year-old female medical student in India, protests have been sparked across India, the world's largest democracy, where a woman is estimated to be raped every twenty minutes, with Delhi being labeled the "rape capital" of the country, according to the Associated Press. Huge protests and demonstrations have voiced anger regarding the treatment of women in India and calling for tougher laws on violence against women.
4/18/2013 - New Zealand Parliament Approves Same-Sex Marriage
Yesterday, New Zealand became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill passed in a vote of 77 to 44 during its third and final reading, despite mounting opposing from Christian lobby groups, and is expected to go into effect in four months.
Lousia Wells, the bill's sponsor, released a statement saying she was "very proud to be a member of a Parliament that has voted overwhelmingly to give New Zealanders, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or gender, the right to marry." A member of the rival party, Prime Minister John Key, also vocalized support for the bill. Key told reporters "In my view, marriage is a very personal thing between two individuals... And, in the end, this is part of equality in modern-day New Zealand."
Hundreds of couples celebrated outside of parliament after the bill was passed. One of the people celebrating told reporters, "For us, we can now feel equal to everyone else... This means we can feel safe and fair and right in calling each other wife and wife." Opinion polls show that roughly two thirds of New Zealand citizens support same-sex marriage, although other polls had this number closer to 50%.
New Zealand is now the 13th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. Last week, Uruguay passed a bill legalizing same sex marriage, which is expected to be signed into law by President Jose Mujica.
4/18/2013 - Washington Senate Blocks Abortion Insurance Coverage Bill
On Wednesday, an anti-choice collation of Washington state Senators blocked a motion to bring the Reproductive Parity Act to the floor for debate. The bill, which has already passed in the state House and has the Governor's support, would require that any insurance plan that covers maternity care must also cover abortion care as part of it. The vote suggests that the RPA will not be brought to the floor this legislative season.
State Senator Karen Keiser (D-Kent), sponsor of the bill, was angered by the fact that the state Senate leadership had not allowed the bill to come to a vote, especially when she believed they would have the necessary support. State Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler (Ritzville) led the move to block discussion, arguing that Keiser was "impugning" her fellow legislators. Keiser and fellow Democrats were also accused by state Senator Don Benton (R-Vancouver) of trying to force Republican leaders to bring an ill colleague, Mike Carroll, to come into the chamber and jeopardize his health.
4/18/2013 - Proposed Bill Would Ban Telemedicine Abortions in Louisiana
On Wednesday, the Louisiana state Senate Health and Welfare Committee approved a bill that would prohibit the use of telemedicine for abortion care. The bill now goes before the Senate.
Senate Bill 90 would require a physician to be physically present in the room with a woman who is seeking a medical abortion when she takes the medication. This often significantly reduces the availability for women to have access to medical abortion in rural areas where the nearest abortion clinic is hundreds of miles away. The bill's sponsor, Senator Fred Mills (R-Breaux Bridge), says the bill is meant to be a preventative measure and is unaware of any telemedicine abortions being performing in Louisiana.
