Migration Category: Feminist Newswire

Stories from the Feminist News Wire.

Wisconsin Republicans Push Health Officials to Close Abortion Clinics

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Wisconsin Republicans argued in a letter that state health officials should temporarily close abortion clinics for safety, and to ensure that they are not utilizing medical resources that are needed elsewhere during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Tony Evers’ “Safer at Home” order given last week did not specifically mention abortion clinics as essential business; however, the letter did broadly mention clinics and medical facilities as essential. After Evers’ order, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin posted on their Facebook page saying that they are still open for appointments, with three of its twelve clinics across the state providing abortions, and all of them providing access to birth control, cancer treatments, and STI treatments, along with numerous other services.

U.S. states such as such as Ohio, Alabama, Iowa, Texas, and Oklahoma have been temporarily stopping abortion procedures due to them being described as “medically unnecessary” by anti-abortion proponents. Pro-choice advocates have brought lawsuits against the states attempting to enact these restrictions. In Texas, the state won its appeal and can now enforce the ban. According to clinic escorts, there are still anti-abortion protests occurring at Wisconsin abortion clinics despite social distancing rules, and protestors continue to harass patients.

Sources: Wisconsin Legislature 4/2/20; State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services 3/24/20; Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin Facebook 3/24/20; The Cap Times 4/2/20; Ms. Magazine 3/25/20

Senators, LGBTQ Advocates Demand Lift on Federal Blood Donation Ban to Address COVID-19 Shortages

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Senators and LGBTQ rights groups are urging the federal Food and Drug Administration to allow gay and bisexual men to donate blood and plasma to address supply shortages during the coronavirus pandemic. Current FDA guidelines prohibit men who have had sex with men in the last 12 months from donating blood. Activists argue that this policy perpetuates inaccurate information about HIV transmission and stigmatizing stereotypes about gay and bisexual men.

A group of 17 senators sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn advocating for a change in blood donation guidelines in light of the COVID-19 crisis, stating, “We must take every possible step to secure our nation’s blood supply in this critical time, and in order to do so, we need to shift away from antiquated and stigmatizing donation policies to ones that are scientifically sound, based on individual risk, and inclusive of all potential healthy blood donors.”

The demand for donors has spiked during the coronavirus pandemic due to blood drive cancellations and a new focus on plasma transfusions as a treatment for COVID-19. Several companies have begun investigating the potential of using the plasma of those who have recovered from COVID-19 to treat the virus in others. Preliminary data from China on the efficacy of plasma treatments for the coronavirus is promising: of the five critically ill COVID-19 patients who received plasma transfusions, two are now stable and three have been discharged from the hospital. The FDA approved the emergency use of plasma to treat COVID-19 on March 24, but the supply of plasma from recovered patients is extremely limited.

“The FDA cannot let an outdated and discriminatory ban on blood donations from gay and bi men get in the way of potentially life-saving treatment for the country’s painful current health crisis,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, head of LGBTQ advocacy organization GLAAD. “Continuing to enforce this antiquated policy is dangerous, irresponsible, and flies in the face of recommendations from medical experts.”

Sources: ABC News 3/31/20; CNN 4/1/20; Forbes 4/1/20

France Unveils Plan to Combat Heightened Risk of Domestic Violence During COVID-19 Crisis

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This week, France’s Secretary of State for Equality Between Women and Men, Marlène Schiappa, announced a plan to address the increased risk of domestic violence during the COVID-19 crisis. Schiappa pledged to provide 20,000 hotel bookings for victims of domestic violence, send 1 million euros to organizations specializing in domestic violence relief, and establish assistance points that victims can access at supermarkets and pharmacies.

France’s nationwide lockdown began March 17 and is scheduled to last until April 15, at least. Since restrictions came into force, reports of domestic violence to police increased by 36% in Paris and by 32% throughout France. These incidents include the deaths of two women. Schiappa’s measures aim to reduce instances of domestic violence by providing refuge from abusers and maintaining channels of communication so that victims can receive assistance from authorities.

The heightened risk of domestic violence is not exclusive to France. For people who are already in an abusive situation, the COVID-19 pandemic is amplifying stress levels of perpetrators and preventing victims from accessing help, globally.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline in the US has warned that increased financial hardship and general stress over lack of control may intensify instances of domestic violence. The hotline has received reports of abusers preventing victims from going to their essential jobs, and even threatening to use firearms for the first time.

Likewise, it is nearly impossible for victims to seek temporary refuge while COVID-19 restrictions are in place. Most can no longer escape to go to work at non-essential jobs. They may avoid going to their families for fear of infecting their more vulnerable loved ones. Also, women’s shelters may face overcrowding, and even close down, if the risk of infection becomes too high.

Furthermore, leaving an abusive relationship is made even more difficult by the economic situation. The process of leaving an abusive partner usually involves secretly saving money, which will become increasingly challenging as the unemployment rate rises. In fact, Anita Bhatia, a leader in UN Women, called on governments to prioritize packages for paid sick leave and unpaid care work with the intention of helping victims of domestic violence maintain financial independence from their abusers.

Sources: NPR, 3/31/20; Aljazeera 3/31/20; Time, 3/31/20; New York Post, 4/2/20; Time, 3/18/20

Democrats and Civil Rights Groups Demand Delay of New Title IX Rule

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The Education Department’s new proposed Title IX rules have already been cleared by the White House and are scheduled to be implemented in the coming weeks. Three senators signed on to a letter—along with multiple civil rights’ and human rights’ organizations—calling for the delay of these rules until the COVID-19 crisis is under control. The new Title IX regulations will dramatically affect the way universities handle reports of sexual misconduct.

Betsy DeVos, the Education Secretary, proposed new rules early in 2018 that require universities to provide accused students more access to case information in the name of due process. Title IX underwent changes last in 2011 under the Obama administration; the changes required universities to take stricter action to “eliminate, prevent, and address” any form of sexual misconduct. Stricter guidelines include requiring institutions to allow victims to speak to law enforcement, inform students reporting an incident of their options, and conclude investigations in a timely manner.

The three senators, Patty Murray, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Elizabeth Warren signed a letter addressed to DeVos asking for the delay of new regulations. The senators along with other progressive groups wrote, “We urge you not to release the final Title IX rule at this time and instead to focus on helping schools navigate the urgent issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic that is top of the mind for all students and families.”

The new changes are said to ensure the due process for accused students, the argument that the effort is to make the litigation process more transparent falls short to concerns that hearings, access to total evidence, and cross examinations will make victims less likely to come forward.

Sources: Politico 4/1/20; DailyWire 4/1/20; The College Post 3/16/20

UN Report: Women Face Barriers When Consenting to Sex, Accessing Healthcare

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According to the United Nations, only around half of the world’s women are able to make their own decisions regarding sexual consent and healthcare, limiting gender equality for millions. A study by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported that women’s rights are actually on the decline in some countries, and one in four women does not have the freedom to say no to sex. Even more women, according to the report, cannot make their own decisions regarding their healthcare.

The United Nations has ‘achieve gender equality by 2030’ as one of their fundamental global goals. Adopted in 2015, this goal was seen as a way to address social issues such as poverty and conflict. The UNFPA report examined whether or not women have access to healthcare and the ability to make decisions surrounding contraception and sex. Emilie Filmer-Wilson, a human rights advisor to UNFPA, said that the researchers determined a woman is empowered if she has access and can say yes to these three areas: access to healthcare, agency regarding contraception, and ability to say no to sex. Only 55 percent of women from data from 57 countries were able to say yes to all three questions.

Factors seen as influencing women and their decision making include levels of education, age when they marry, and views of husbands. In one in ten countries, being a married woman is a prerequisite in order to gain access to maternal healthcare. More than 25 percent of countries in the study also have age limitations when accessing contraceptives; a husband’s permission is also required to obtain an abortion.

“Women’s ability to make decisions on reproductive health, contraceptive use and sexual relations is pivotal to gender equality and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights,” said the UNFPA report.

These considerations are more important than ever in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Women can feel pressured into having sex when in a relationship, and being quarantined can increase these pressures. Lack of access to maternal healthcare when so many hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and pressures can be potentially dangerous for women lacking contraceptives or healthcare.

Sources: Reuters, 4/1/20; NBC News, 3/28/20.

California Special Needs Students Left Behind Amidst COVID-19 Education Changes

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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guarantees disabled students access to equal, high-quality, and free public education. However, as California nears its third week of physical school closures amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, special needs students are being left behind in the struggle to navigate the uncharted territory of distance learning.

Approximately 800,000 California students receive special education services. Additionally, tens of thousands of children under 3 receive specialized services through California’s Department of Developmental Services’ 21 regional centers. The type of care and instruction special needs students receive ranges from sit-in aides to speech therapists to teams of educators and specialists. These are highly trained professionals with years of experience working with specific conditions, and experts warn that parents just can’t be expected to fill in for these specialized roles.

“You’ve got severe kids who, for six and a half hours a day, have a one-on-one aide and a teacher in their classroom, and they’re on this really strict and rigid routine because that’s what they need,” California Association of Resource and Special Educators President Nica Cox stated,  “Now they’re at home, and a parent doesn’t know how to do that.”

So far, educators received broad guidance on ensuring the continuation of services laid out in each student’s individualized education plans amidst social distancing rules. According to both state lawmakers and parents, this broad guidance just isn’t enough.

Kristin Wright, California director of special education, acknowledged that students, educators, and families are facing overwhelming challenges. In a March 18 webinar, Wright noted, “every student will not be able to access online learning in the same way that they accessed their education in their classrooms at school. But again, we need to think about each of our individual students and their (individualized plans) to ensure we do the best we can to meet their needs in these times.”

California lawmakers are working hard to narrow guidance and protect schools from possible litigation– a strong possibility if they can’t provide special needs students with the “free and appropriate education” guaranteed under federal law. California is hosting a webinar on Thursday to discuss distance learning innovations for special needs students. A statewide group of experts is developing best practices for providing remote special education services. Governor Newsom has a call scheduled Monday with all 58 county superintendents to have “a very sober conversation … about the expectations for the remainder of the school year.”

Meanwhile, special needs students, parents, and educators are struggling. Natalia Acosta, a Tracy mother of two toddlers with special needs, has had to choose between paying her mortgage and funding regular, private insurance therapy sessions for Jonathan, her 3-year-old autistic son. Like many parents, Acosta worries the disruption will delay Jonathan’s developmental progress.

Some educators, like Alameda County special education teacher Sherry Doyle, have been staying up until 1:30 a.m. preparing their online Classrooms and lesson plans with resources and materials for parents. Doyle now spends a significant portion of her days connecting with and assisting parents who lack her professional training and teaching experience.

“I wish I could just take everything I know and give it to the parents,” Doyle said, “just so they have a sense of where to take things.”

[EdSource, 3/19/2020][California Government, 3/13/2020][CalMatters, 3/13/2020, 3/19/2020,  3/31/2020]

Reproductive Rights Groups Sue to Stop Oklahoma’s COVID-19 Abortion Ban

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The Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) have filed an emergency lawsuit to nullify Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s ban on abortion procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, Stitt issued an executive order temporarily halting elective surgeries, which he later specified includes all abortions not deemed “necessary to prevent serious health risks to the unborn child’s mother.”

Stitt, an extreme anti-choice Republican who believes life starts at conception, claims that the ban will free up hospital beds and personal protective equipment for COVID-19 care. The reproductive rights groups behind the lawsuit argue that Stitt is using the coronavirus as an excuse to unconstitutionally target abortion, with dangerous effects.

“A global pandemic is not an excuse to attack essential, time-sensitive medical procedures like abortion. Yet that’s exactly what anti-abortion politicians and activists are trying to do, instead of working together to ensure everyone has access to health care,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, the acting president and CEO of PPFA.

PPFA and the Center for Reproductive Rights argue that the ban is a “clear abuse of power” and violates the constitutional right to abortion care established by Roe v. Wade and subsequent Supreme Court decisions. They also assert that the ban would actually facilitate the spread of COVID-19 by forcing patients to travel out of state for abortions and increasing hospital visits for those who now have to carry pregnancies to term.

Oklahoma is one of several states trying to use the COVID-19 pandemic to restrict abortion access. Abortion providers in Texas are suing Governor Greg Abbott over that state’s ban, and clinics in Ohio have continued operating despite the state attorney general’s recent attempt to shut them down. In their fight against these state bans, reproductive rights groups have emphasized that abortion is essential healthcare that cannot be delayed without catastrophic impacts for patients.

Sources: The City Sentinel 3/31/20; The Oklahoman 3/27/20, 3/31/20

U.S. Appeals Court Rules in Favor of COVID-19 Texas Abortion Ban

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On Tuesday, March 31, a United States appeals court ruled to allow Texas to continue enforcing limits on people’s ability to obtain safe and legal abortions due to the state’s policy to postpone “non-essential” procedures in lieu of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a New York Times release by Reuters, “Texas and other states that previously pursued abortion restrictions have sought to crack down on abortion availability during the pandemic” which has prompted abortion providers like Planned Parenthood and Whole Woman’s Health to sue to block the policies “after clinics said they were forced to cancel hundreds of appointments for abortions across the state.”

In response to the 5th Circuit court’s decision, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel in Austin, TX ruled that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s actions to block abortion access “prevents Texas women from exercising what the Supreme Court has declared is their fundamental constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy before a fetus is viable.” And according to Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, “the 5th Circuit is escalating the fear and confusion women seeking abortion in Texas are already experiencing.”

Sources: The New York Times 3/31; Reuters 3/31

Equal Pay Day: Healthcare Workers Deserve Equal Pay (And Then Some)

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Women in healthcare are on the frontlines of the response to COVID-19 and are risking their safety every day to save the lives of those who are critically ill right now. Women make up 78% of the healthcare field overall, but consistently make less than their male counterparts across the board. This national Equal Pay Day we want to recognize their courage and all of their hard work by drawing attention to the pay inequity they face.

Racial and ethnic pay inequities compound the problem of the gender gap. Women of color make even less than their white female colleagues across all industries. On average, Black women make 65% of what white men earn, Hispanic women make 61% of what white men earn, while white women make 81% of what white men earn.

The healthcare field is dominated by women, but research shows that when men, especially white men, join fields that have traditionally been dominated by women they are paid more, and rise through the ranks with more ease. They are also more likely to be promoted to a supervisory position than a woman with similar experience and qualities.

On average men in the healthcare field earn around $86,219 a year, while women only make an average of $45,976 a year.

Registered nurses make around $73,000 a year or $30 an hour on average, while licensed practical nurses make about $20 an hour, or just about $44,000 a year. Even though men make up less than 10% of the nursing field they still make about $6,000 a year more than their female counterparts, regardless of level of education or experience. 

Women healthcare workers, especially women of color, are vastly underpaid. Nursing assistants only make $26,268 a year or around $13.50 an hour, while personal care aides make and home health aides, who care for those who are too sick or elderly to leave their homes, make $22,000 a year or around $10 an hour. Female paramedics make $40,872 a year while their male counterparts make $51,532 a year, meaning women paramedics make 65.5% of what their male colleagues earn. These workers provide lifesaving, essential, compassionate care to millions but are not paid a living wage.

An article titled “In Demand and Undervalued—The Plight of American Healthcare Workers” from the American Journal of Public Health states that, “…in 2017, 1.7 million female health care workers and their children in the United States lived below the poverty line. More than 7% lacked health insurance. Many relied on public assistance for health care, food security, and housing.” 

Healthcare workers of all genders, races, and ethnicities nationwide are overwhelmed with patients who are ill with COVID-19, and they are working around the clock to care for our family members, friends, and neighbors. They are facing an outrageous shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) but are still showing up for every shift to face the ongoing pandemic that seems to have no end in sight.

We want to salute all of the healthcare worker’s sacrifices and demand equal and better pay for women healthcare workers, particularly women of color, and we believe all first responders, healthcare workers, and hospital employees deserve higher salaries especially during this crisis.

They are the heroes that have emerged during what is truly a frightening time in our country, and they deserve more than our admiration and thanks. Women healthcare workers deserve fair and equal pay, but all healthcare workers regardless of gender and race deserve higher wages, and even bonuses, during this pandemic.

Sources: https://datausa.io/profile/naics/health-care-social-assistance#about; www.payscale.com; Bureau of Labor Statistics; American Journal of Public Health; Institute for Women’s Policy Research; Fast Company; HealthLeaders Media

Instacart, Amazon Workers Strike for Coronavirus Protections

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Workers at Instacart and Amazon struck yesterday and today, critiquing the companies for not prioritizing their safety in response to coronavirus.

Instacart, an app-based delivery service, employs gig workers to go into grocery stores, pick up orders and deliver orders to homes. The company wrote in an official statement, “As the crisis unfolds, our teams are committed to continuing to deliver for all the communities we serve and ensuring our customers and shoppers can safely and reliably use Instacart. We’re proud to be able to serve as an essential service for you and your loved ones during this critical time.” Though Instacart claims its workers are essential, the workers do not believe that the company has done enough to protect their health and safety in this pandemic. They staged a nationwide strike on Monday with demands for the company to provide gloves, hand sanitizer, disinfectants, hazard pay of $5 per order and more paid sick leave.

Currently, Instacart will pay anyone who tests positive for coronavirus or anyone who is placed into mandatory quarantine up to 14 days of pay. It is also offering cash bonuses for workers. March is the busiest month in the company’s history, as it and other delivery services face exponentially increased demand as people choose not to shop in stores themselves. Instacart is looking to hire 300,000 new workers to its platform in response, specifically targeting 10 states where demand is highest, including California and New York.

Amazon warehouse workers, too, struck on Monday in both the United States and Italy for stronger protections.

“Several employees working at the site use face masks for days instead of having new ones each day,” said a union representative. Amazon has said that they are taking extra precautions to respond to coronavirus, including improving social distancing, staggering shift and break times and increasing cleaning of its facilities. Workers and critics have publicly questioned the company’s poor track record on paid sick leave and shortages of protective and cleaning supplies.

One of the organizers of Monday’s Amazon walkout at a warehouse in Staten Island, Christian Smalls, was fired by the company Monday night. Amazon claims Smalls was terminated because he refused to quarantine himself after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), countered Amazon’s claims about the situation: “Workers should be protected when speaking out about safety conditions during this crisis. They are performing a public service. It is unacceptable that Amazon has terminated Chris Smalls for doing that today rather than addressing their serious COVID-19 safety problems.”

Today, employees at Whole Foods, an Amazon subsidiary, are staging a sick-out to demand paid sick leave, free coronavirus testing and hazard pay.

One Whole Foods worker and strike organizer in Chicago said, “a bunch of us have already gotten sick. It’s very plausible that some of us will die for this job.”

 

Sources: 6 ABC 03/30/20; BBC 03/31/20; CNN 03/30/20; RWDSU 03/31/20; VICE 03/30/20

MSU Makes Graduating Health Care Students Available to Aid in COVID-19 Response

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In cooperation with the growing needs of Michigan’s health care workforce in its fight against the coronavirus and the high rate of transmission/number of cases in Michigan, Michigan State University (MSU) is now ending its programs early to make newly graduated students available to help the state’s health care field fight against the coronavirus.

MSU’s actions are a result of MI Governor Whitmer’s efforts to increase the number of young professionals in the field. These recent graduates will jump in, immediately beginning their professional career by working on the front lines of this global pandemic. This effort includes 87 nurses, 61 medical doctors, and 213 osteopathic physicians. Michigan State is also working with the Department of Licensing to expedite licenses.

Additionally, the University is also joining efforts with other health care professionals to create 3D-printed face shields to help supply hospitals and other healthcare facilities with the necessary personal protective equipment they desperately need. Different colleges across MSU’s campus, including the College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Engineering, College of Natural Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the College of Arts and Letters, are all contributing to this aid effort.

 

Sources: MSU Today 03/31/2020; MSU Today 03/30/2020

Attorneys General Urge the FDA to Allow Use of Mifepristone by Mail During COVID-19 Pandemic

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In response to abortion-related concerns taking place during the COVID-19 outbreak, a group of 21 attorneys general are urging the federal government to allow pregnant individuals to use mifepristone if they would like to terminate their pregnancy without unnecessary travel.

According to Huffington Post senior reporter Melissa Jeltsen, the current system in place requires that pregnant individuals looking to obtain a medically-induced abortion must “travel in person to an abortion clinic to pick up the medication, even though the termination generally takes place at home. That’s because mifepristone, the first of the two drugs used in medication abortion, is subject to a special set of U.S. Food and Drug Administration restrictions called Risk Evacuation and Mitigation Strategy. Under the REMS, a person seeking a medication abortion cannot obtain the drugs from a pharmacy or in the mail. The drugs can only be dispensed in a medical facility.”

In their letter, the authoring attorneys general have urged the Trump administration, the FCA, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to allow mifepristone to be accessed and prescribed through telemedicine. The attorneys general believe that “The FDA should not mandate this medically unnecessary travel, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis where not only are [pregnant individuals] being advised to stay at home, but families are faced with additional childcare and financial constraints.”

 

Sources: Huffington Post 3/30; AG Letter 3/30; FDA.gov 3/2020

Pay Gap Expected to Worsen Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

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Activists’ work to close the gender pay gap may be undermined by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to experts, as women take time off or are laid off in order to care for others, any advances could be reversed.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) reports that women earn approximately one-fifth less than their male counterparts across the globe with underlying factors including motherhood, employment in lower-wage jobs, stereotypes, and promotion decisions. According to U.N. Women, it could take up to 70 years to reach gender parity.

Anita Bhatia, assistant Secretary-General and deputy executive director of U.N. Women, said to expect an increase in the gap due to women being disproportionately affected by the virus. She said, “We have a lot of very supportive men in society but not enough, and we really need to work on the gender biases or the stereotypes that prevent equal sharing of care.”

The ILO also reported there could be losses of up to 25 million jobs because of COVID-19. Industries that will be particularly hard hit include hospitality and travel, which have high numbers of female employees. A report from PayScale has also indicated that when employees attempt to return to work, which will inevitably happen in droves after the pandemic ceases, women will receive offers up to 7 percent less than candidates who already have a job.

“Women are over-represented in the low-paid service economy jobs that are really getting slammed right now with layoffs,” said Emily Martin, vice president of education and workplace justice at the National Women’s Law Center.

 

Sources: Economic Times, 3/31/20; CNBC, 3/24/20.

Taliban Increases Attacks on Afghan Security

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Amidst a rising number of COVID-19 cases as well as the ongoing so-called peace talks, the Taliban has further intensified their attacks across Afghanistan. Last week alone, the Taliban launched 300 attacks against the Afghan government and civilians, inflicting heavy casualties. The Afghan government has responded to the attacks, inflicting heavy casualties on the Taliban as well.

On Saturday, the terrorist group further increased their attacks by launching major offenses in three provinces, attempting to take over some districts. The increase in attacks is happening while some U.S. diplomats are optimistic that that the intra-Afghan negotiations will begin soon. The intra-Afghan negotiations are part of the condition included in the peace deal between the U.S. and the Taliban. As part of the deal, the Taliban has stopped attacking both American and its allies’ targets. However, the group has increased its attacks on the Afghan security forces.

The spike in violence is also happening at a time that the Afghan government and the Taliban reported on progress in releasing prisoners from each side as laid out in the so-called peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban. The prisoner exchange is due to begin March 31.

After almost a year wait, last week on Friday, the Afghan government released the list of the negotiating team representing the country. The list includes 16 men and five women.

Last week in another horrific attack, a religious minority was targeted and lost 25 members of its community. Sikhs are a religious minority in Afghanistan, with a history of persecution by the Taliban as well as ISIS. Almost two years ago, the Afghan Sikhs were targeted in another major attack as well.

 

Sources: Tolo, 3/30/20, 3/25/20, NYT, 3/29/20

UK Government Permits Medication Abortions at Home During Coronavirus Lockdown

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The United Kingdom government announced that it will allow patients to perform medication abortions at home during the national coronavirus lockdown. The decision follows a week of confusion over abortion access in the UK after the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) issued and then hours later rescinded its initial order to allow home abortions.

Under the DHSC’s temporary new rules, patients who are up to ten weeks pregnant can receive abortion pills through the mail after a phone or video consultation with a doctor instead of having to go to a clinic. Reproductive health organizations—including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) —had urged the government to adopt such measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 without restricting abortion access.

Medication abortion, the most common abortion method in the UK, involves taking two pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, that stop fetal development and cause the uterus to empty, a process similar to an early miscarriage. Before the enactment of the new rules, patients had to visit a clinic to receive the pills. They were required to take the first pill at the clinic and could take the second at home.

The new DHSC guidelines provide clarity for providers and patients after a series of confusing statements on the provision of abortion services during the pandemic. On March 23, DHSC announced on its website that it would be allowing home administration of both pills. Just hours later, DHSC reversed its decision, stating, “This was published in error. There will be no changes to how abortion services are regulated.” Now, the government has returned to its position of allowing patients to take both abortion pills at home.

“This is a very safe and simple measure that will dramatically improve women’s access to care at this time of national crisis,” said Claire Murphy, the director of external affairs at BPAS. “We’re really pleased that the government has acted on this. It will make a huge difference to women’s health and wellbeing in the current climate.”

Sources: Independent 3/30/20; BBC News 3/24/20; The Guardian 3/30/20

Education Department Sanctions Penn State Again for Sexual Misconduct Procedures

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On Thursday, the Department of Education announced that after a  recent investigation, it is ordering Pennsylvania State University to implement significant changes to the way the school handles complaints of sexual misconduct. The released investigation finds that the university persistently mishandled cases after the Sandusky scandal.

A federal investigation released Thursday identified “serious deficiencies” in the way Penn State responded to students’ sexual abuse complaints in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

The investigation report totaled 29 pages, with the Civil Rights office finding that Penn State does not have systems in place that effectively protect students. The Department of Education’s investigation also specifies that this failure includes the cases where the sexual misconduct allegations involves athletic staff. This means that the fundamental failures that allowed for the abuse under Sandusky are continued in the 2019-2020 academic year. There have not been systematic changes to protect Penn students even after the school’s national sex abuse scandal.

This is the university’s second time being sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education for failure to handle sexual misconduct cases. A previous investigation that began in 2011 found the university violated 11 Clery Act policies, which resulted in a then-record $2.4 million fine. Still, the school seems to not have learned its lesson, putting all its students in danger.

An official statement from Penn State claims that the university has voluntarily entered into the resolution proposed by the Department of Education on March 18 but has yet to make any admission of liability. The Education Department announced its Office for Civil Rights will oversee the school’s changes to handle future allegations of sexual misconduct, including those involving athletic staff.

Sources: The New York Times 3/27/20; Centre Daily Times 3/26/20; Sports Illustrated 3/28/20

Report: Autocratization Surging Worldwide, Alongside Resistance

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According to a new report by Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), autocratization is on the rise worldwide, alongside anti-autocratic resistance.

V-Dem’s Democracy Report 2020, which compiled 123,118 datasets with the help of three thousand country experts, notes an unprecedented global decline in democratic traits. For the first time since 2001, democracies no longer constitute the majority of world countries; autocracies now host 54 percent of the global population. The world is now left with just 87 electoral and liberal democracies.

Meanwhile, 35 percent of the world’s population lives in autocratizing nations. As this “third wave of autocratization” accelerates and deepens, major countries are more openly and harshly restricting critical democratic freedoms like the freedom of expression and the press, attacking civil society, and–notably–attacking elections.

V-Dem noted that a new trend in the 2020 report was a deteriorating quality of elections, arguing that “After years of undercutting countervailing forces, rulers seem now to feel secure enough to attack the very core of democracy: free and fair elections.”

The report highlighted one country in particular for its “substantial” and “exceptional” democratic decline: the United States. “Only one country in [the western and North American] region has registered a substantial decline in liberal democracy – the United States of America,” wrote V-Dem.

While America’s Liberal Democracy Index (LDI), a tool political scientists use to measure democracy, declined .07 points in during the Obama Administration, the LDI has declined .11 points under the Trump Administration. The United States now sits at the bottom of the top 20% of countries, ranking significantly lower than some of its closest allies and neighbors. Given the United States’ massive size and political, economic, military influence, V-Dem warns that “The possible ripple effects of the USA’s decline are huge.”

Alongside this unprecedented rise in autocratization has been an “unprecedented degree of mobilization for democracy,” a “sign of hope” according to V-Dem. The number of countries with substantial pro-democracy mass protests nearly doubled since 2009, rising from 27 percent to 44 percent. From Bolivia to Hong Kong to Sudan, citizens are fighting against authoritarian impulses and for their democratic rights.

“While pro-autocracy rulers attempt to curtail the space for civil society,” wrote V-Dem, “millions of citizens have demonstrated their commitment to democracy.”

[V-dem, Democracy report 2020, March 2020] [Washington Post, 11/15/2019][BBC, 11/28/2019] [VOX, 2/21/2020]

Benny Gantz Elected Israeli Speaker, Handing Power Back to Netanyahu

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

After a year of political deadlock in Israel, Benny Gantz was elected Speaker of the Israeli Parliament and expressed his desire to form an emergency national government. Gantz is set to serve in a Netanyahu-led government, Gantz’s main political rival. Gantz’s backing will now almost certainly allow the indicted prime minister to continue in his role and continue his streak as longest-serving leader in the country’s history.

Gantz’s move to Speaker drew accusations of betrayal from former supporters and set off the dissolution of the Blue and White political party that had formed a year ago and included Gantz’s own Israel Resilience party. It appears that Israel Resilience will come under the umbrella of the right-wing bloc of the Israeli Knesset, forming a majority for Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Pointing to the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for unity, Gantz said he will “do the right thing at this time of emergency.” Although the move has been hailed as a clear victory for Netanyahu, both sides need to come to an agreement in order to form a unity government. Gantz had previously refused to be in a Netanyahu government, citing the prime minister’s corruption charges.

Yair Lapid, one of Gantz’s closest allies in the Blue and White party, expressed his extreme displeasure with Gantz’s move. “Benny Gantz decided today to break apart Blue and White and crawl into Netanyahu’s government. It’s a disappointing decision,” Lapid said, speaking in Tel Aviv Thursday night. “What’s being formed today isn’t a unity government and not an emergency government. It’s another Netanyahu government.”

Sources: CNN, 3/27/20; NPR, 3/26/20; BBC, 3/26/20.

Activists and Politicians Honor Female Excellence During Women’s History Month

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Throughout the chaos and uncertainty of the past weeks, with the coronavirus pandemic and the last of the female candidates exiting the 202 democratic presidential field, Women’s History Month has been overshadowed by worldwide fear and social upheaval. Despite all of this there has “arguably never been a more significant time to consider how women’s history informs the present.” In the spirit of this, prominent women have recognized the historical women who have come before them, trailblazing the future of women’s rights and suffrage in a testament to the idea of “women empowering women.”

Congresswoman Barbara Lee recognized Shirley Chisholm, having spent years working on Chisholm’s campaign and celebrating her as the first African American woman elected to Congress. Lee was inspired by Chisholm’s activism; the way she spoke up for children and families in need, spoke out against racism, xenophobia, and sexism. Lee admired how Chisholm broke barriers in everything she did, especially in her advocacy for African American women.

Jane Goodall explained the inspiration she felt reading Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” inspired by Carson’s courage in fighting against pharmaceutical companies, and emphasizing the dangers of DDT. Goodall thought of Carson often throughout her experience studying chimpanzees, as she became aware of other scientists holding chimps in inhumane cages. Goodall held up Carson’s silent battle with cancer as an indicator of her strength.

Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, held up both Harriet Tubman and Angela Davis as two women in whose stories she found inspiration for her own life. Cullors learned every detail possible about Tubman’s life, from enslavement to freedom, and the way she continued helping so many others to freedom as well. She found Tubman’s bravery something she could lean on during struggles within her own life and community.

In Angela Davis, Cullors found a mentor, one who spoke out about the current injustices related to the prison system and police brutality and how this must be the new “frontier” towards ending slavery. Cullors has used Davis’s modern abolitionist work as the framework she will continue to follow in all that she does, and in her fight for justice and accountability.

The full story is available on CNN’s website.

Sources: CNN 03/27/2020; National Women’s History Museum 2020

COVID-19 Activates Debate on Abortion Access Around the World

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Globally, federal and local governments have adjusted abortion policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, citing shortage of medical supplies and stay-at-home orders as rationale for restriction.

The government of the United Kingdom generated confusion among abortion providers, when a government website announced that patients would be allowed to access early medical abortion from home, only to rescind the announcement hours later. Under the preexisting policy, patients in England are required to take the first of two pills in an abortion clinic, and may take the second pill in their homes. Abortion providers are urging policymakers to review the policy, as patients in the UK must now decide between risking their health by leaving their homes to get an abortion or continuing an unwanted pregnancy.

Similarly, abortions in Germany are technically continuing, but patients are having difficulty accessing counseling centers. The preexisting policy requires patients to attend an in-person counseling appointment before terminating a pregnancy. German abortion providers are pressing for the government to allow counseling sessions via video chat or phone call to limit in-person interaction.

In the United States, state governments have gone even further, by categorizing abortions among nonessential surgical procedures, effectively cancelling or delaying most abortion appointments. Abortion providers have highlighted the relatively little medical equipment that is necessary to perform abortions, as well is the procedure’s time sensitive nature–the longer an abortion is delayed, the more dangerous it is for the patient and the more difficult it is to obtain, given restrictive abortion laws throughout the United States.

In contrast, New Zealand’s parliament has expanded abortion access in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Up until last week, New Zealand law criminalized abortion, even in the first trimester, excluding cases in which the patient’s physical or mental health was put at risk by the pregnancy. The new law allows unrestricted abortion access during the first half of pregnancy, and leaves abortions in the second half of pregnancy to the discretion of medical professionals and the patient.

Sources: CNN, 3/27/20; The New York Times, 3/26/20; The Guardian, 3/24/20; The New York Times, 3/18/20

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