Author: Feminist Newswire

The Feminist Newswire has provided a daily feminist perspective on national, global, and campus news stories since 1995. You can receive a weekly feminist news digest when you subscribe here.

States are Passing Extreme Anti-Abortion Laws to Challenge Roe v. Wade

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Yesterday, Alabama’s female Governor Kay Ivey signed into law the most restrictive and cruel anti-abortion legislation in the United States, legislation that female Representative Terry Collins introduced in the state house to challenge Roe v. Wade. This past week both Georgia and Alabama have passed extreme anti-abortion legislation, revealing the conservative agenda to overturn Roe v. Wade through the passage of unconstitutional abortion bans.

The bill’s sponsor in the House, Rep. Terry Collins stated after the vote that “this bill is about challenging Roe v. Wade and protecting the lives of the unborn, because an unborn baby is a person who deserves love and protection.” She went further to say that her “goal with this bill, and [she] thinks all of [their] goal, is to have Roe v. Wade turned over, and that decision be sent back to the states so that [they] can come up with our laws that address and include amendments and things that address those issues.” This law was not created even under the pretense of “protecting” women’s health; it was created to be a cruel and extreme law that would quickly reach the Supreme Court.

Alabama’s new anti-abortion law would ban abortion after 6 weeks in all cases, with no exception for rape or incest. The law passed Alabama’s Senate yesterday in a 25-6 vote; every senator that voted in favor of this legislation was a white male. Yesterday’s floor debate highlighted how these male senators that voted in favor of banning abortion did not understand human reproduction. Senator Clyde Chambliss, a prominent supporter of the bill, argued on the floor that he was “not trained medically, so [he] doesn’t know all the proper medical terminology and that sort of things but from what [he has] been told, there’s some period of time before you can know that a woman is pregnant… It takes some time for all those chromosomes and all that.” The men deciding what medical procedures women can and cannot have do not even understand basic human reproduction.

This phenomenon is not unique to Alabama. In Ohio, Rep. John Becker revealed his inadequate understanding of women’s bodies and reproduction when he declared in his floor remarks that insurance companies would cover a procedure to “re-implant the fertilized ovum into the pregnant woman’s uterus” when asked a question about how the proposed anti-abortion bill would affect ectopic pregnancies. This is a fictitious procedure that does not exist. Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri argued that a woman couldn’t get pregnant if raped because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”  Texas state representatives Dan Flynn and Vito Barbieri believe that the uterus can only be reached through an abdominal incision or through the digestive tract, not seeming to understand basic reproductive anatomy.

Georgia last week passed an extreme anti-abortion law last week that would criminalize women who seek and/or receive abortion services. Missouri’s Senate voted today for anti-abortion legislation that bans abortion after 8 weeks, even in cases of rape or incest. Ohio, Mississippi, and Kentucky have all passed similar anti-abortion “heart beat” bills this year, although the new Alabama law is the most restrictive law in the nation. The ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and the Center for Reproductive Rights are challenging the Ohio law, a judge has blocked the Kentucky law, advocates are challenging the Mississippi law, the ACLU chapter of Alabama is fighting the Alabama law, and the ACLU of Georgia is fighting the Georgia law.

While it is often highlighted that men are debating, legislating, and policing women’s bodies, autonomy, and privacy, it is important to note that in the most recent, and extreme, anti-abortion bill was written and introduced by a white woman and signed into law by a white woman. There is currently still a large political gap between women of color and white women. More white women voted for Donald Trump, who promised to overturn Roe v. Wade, than Hillary Clinton. In 2018, more white women supported Republican Ron DeSantis for governor than Democrat Andrew Gillum, and supported Republican Risk Scott over Democrat Bill Nelson for Senate despite DeSantis’ and Scott’s conservative views on reproductive rights.

This political gap is significant because overturning Roe v. Wade will affect women of color more than white women. Women of color are more likely than white women to live in states with the most restrictive abortion laws, specifically in southern, conservative states. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, then “trigger laws,” found in many of these conservative states, will go into effect, immediately banning abortion. Women of color face discrimination and racism within the U.S. healthcare system, which causes higher rates of maternal mortality, poorer health outcomes, and larger barriers for women of color, such as transportation, childcare, and work flexibility, that prevent abortion access where abortion is legal. Women of color are also more likely than white women to lack health insurance, making reproductive healthcare and abortion services financially inaccessible as well.

The Supreme Court is currently scheduled to hear a challenge to a Louisiana law that requires doctors that perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of where abortion services are offered, similar to the laws at the center of the Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt decision in Texas. This law is an undue burden on women’s access to abortion services and reproductive health care.

 

Media Resources: Slate 5/16/19; Slate 5/15/19; Slate 5/15/19; CNN 5/15/19; Feminist Newswire 5/3/19; Feminist Newswire 5/7/19; Center for American Progress 8/23/18; Washington Post 11/30/18; CNN 11/23/16; Feminist Newswire 6/29/17

Anti-Abortion Extremist Testifies in Support of Louisiana’s 6 Week Abortion Ban

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Today, the Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee unanimously voted to advance a bill banning all abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is frequently around 6 weeks, before many people know they are pregnant. It now goes to the full state House floor for a vote.

“Low-income women, women of color, rural women, and women who are abused or assaulted will suffer the brunt of this ban,” testified Amy Irwin, executive director of the New Orleans Abortion Fund. “It will force women seeking abortion services back into dangerous, desperate situations, reviving the public health crisis that existed before Roe v. Wade.”

Also testifying today in favor of the abortion ban was Jennifer McCoy, a woman who was convicted of conspiring to bomb two abortion clinics in 1996 and who has close ties to the man who assassinated abortion provider George Tiller in 2009.

“It is both telling and shameful that lawmakers invited a convicted conspiring clinic arsonist and unapologetic advocate for the justifiable murder of abortion providers to speak on behalf of this bill,” said duVergne Gaines, director of the Feminist Majority Foundation’s National Clinic Access Project. “McCoy employed domestic terror to further her political goal, threatening the lives of countless innocent people. This is the person Louisiana lawmakers are now looking to for guidance? It speaks volumes about their position on ‘life’.”

According to the Feminist Majority Foundation’s 2018 National Clinic Violence Survey, almost a quarter of U.S. abortion clinics experienced the most severe types of threats and violence in the first half of 2018, including death threats, stalking, and blocking clinic access.

Already this year, the Supreme Court has upheld a temporary hold on a Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. The decision however was only 5-4, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh writing a dissent in which he said he saw no undue burden placed on doctors.

This is only the latest of what has been a wave of state-level anti-abortion legislation in the first half of 2019. Kentucky, Mississippi, Iowa, Ohio, and Georgia have all recently approved 6-week bans. Yesterday, the Alabama Senate passed a bill that would make performing abortion a felony, punishable by up to 99 years in prison, with almost no exceptions. These bills are part of a larger nationwide strategy to pass anti-abortion legislation aimed at overturning Roe v. Wade.

Media Resources: US News 4/30/19; Star Tribune 5/15/19; Ms. Magazine 6/14/10; Feminist Majority Foundation 1/16/19; Feminist Newswire 2/8/19

More than 1 Million Americans Lost Health Coverage in 2018

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

In 2018, more than 1 million Americans lost health coverage, continuing a pattern of decline since 2017 when Trump Administration and Congress decreased the Affordable Care Act requirements and regulations. In 2017, 29.3 million Americans did not have coverage and in 2018 this number increased to 30.4 million Americans, while previously the number of uninsured Americans declined under Obamacare according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Last month, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) also reported a decline in health coverage among Americans. Daniel Derksen, a health policy expert at the University of Arizona, stated that he “doesn’t think [the coverage decline] is too shocking with efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”

After the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the number of Americans without coverage decreased. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, removing the requirement that people must have health insurance or pay a fine. Americans have since turned to “skinny” health care packages that offer low prices in exchange for high deductibles that people cannot afford. The percentage of people under 65 with a high-deductible health plan increased in 2018 from 43.7% to 45.8%, an all-time high.

Congressional Republicans and President Trump have attempted to repeal the Affordable Care Act since 2017. In September 2017, the Graham-Cassidy-Heller proposal was introduced that would have kicked at least 32 million people off of health insurance, barred Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid reimbursements, gutted the Essential Health Benefits that protect women’s access to reproductive healthcare and prescription drugs, and once again would have allowed insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions.

The bill would have also ended Medicaid as we know it by blocking granting funding instead of guaranteeing it while cutting hundreds of billions from the program. This proposal would kick millions of poor, disabled, and elderly people off of health insurance and leave millions more with inadequate coverage.

Advocates argue that demolishing Medicaid piece by piece is a dangerous and deadly proposition that disproportionately impacts women. One-in-five women of reproductive age rely on Medicaid and half of all births in the United States are paid for with Medicaid. Medicaid also pays for two-thirds of all nursing home patients, a vast majority of whom are women. In addition, 42 percent of all Medicaid spending benefits children and adults with disabilities.

Media Resources: USA Today 5/13/19; CDC 5/9/19; CBO 4/19; Feminist Newswire 7/20/17

Maloney and Bonamici Introduce the Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women’s Healthcare Services Act

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Today, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Rep. Suzanna Bonamici (D-OR) introduced legislation called the Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women’s Healthcare Services Act to combat fake pregnancy centers and false advertisement of reproductive and family planning services.

“No one should have to question that the person they are seeking medical advice from is actually a doctor or that information is accurate, objective, and complete,” said Congresswoman Maloney. “It is truly disgusting that women’s reproductive rights are being taken away from them by fake women’s health centers whose guiding principle is to mislead, misinform, and outright lie to pregnant women, all to dissuade them from exercising their constitutionally protected right to have an abortion. It is long past time that we prohibit these predatory tactics to undermine women’s reproductive health. This legislation simply requires the FTC to ensure honesty in advertising for anyone promoting healthcare services to women.”

“Women must be able to trust their health care providers when making critical decisions about family planning and reproductive health,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “Crisis pregnancy centers mislead women into thinking they provide comprehensive services, then limit women’s options by spreading misinformation about abortion. The mistruths and lies these centers spread can have devastating, long-term consequences for women and their families. This legislation will protect women by making sure crisis pregnancy centers cannot continue to advertise deceptive messages about the services they provide.”

Among the most cynical of medical charades, CPCs simulate the appearance of comprehensive women’s health care facilities. While advertising under “abortion services,” CPCs routinely lure young women – especially targeting women college students and low-income women — into their facilities with offers of free pregnancy tests and “options counseling.”

In reality, a vast number of CPCs promote scientific and medical fallacies about the consequences of abortion and birth control to intimidate women out of seeking these services. These lies range from the most outrageous — that abortion causes breast cancer and suicide — to the most irresponsible – that condoms will not protect you from HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. It is estimated that there are 4,000 fake clinics nationwide; there are 3 CPCs for every 1 legitimate reproductive healthcare clinic.

 

Media Resources: Press Release 5/9/19; Feminist Newswire 7/24/09

Maine House Passes Bill to use State Funds on Abortion Services

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Yesterday, Maine House passed a bill to use state funds to cover abortion services and if the bill becomes law, then Maine will be the 16th state to allow public funds on abortions.

In a 79-63 party line vote, bill L.D. 820 passed the Maine House and will now be debated on in the Senate where Democrats also hold a majority. Abortion rights advocates are hopeful that the bill will pass the Senate as well and be signed into law by Democratic Governor Janet Mills.

“No one – no politician, no insurance company – should ever come between a person and their health care provider,” argued bill co-sponsor Rep. Joyce McCreight yesterday. She continued, “we have created a system that opens the door for those with means to pay, while slamming it for those less fortunate. It is unfair and it is discrimination.”

Rep. Margaret O’Neil said that it “scares” her to “think of a woman having that choice [of an abortion] taken away from simply because she does not have the right insurance coverage or she does not have the money to access the appropriate health care procedure.”

“We all deserve health coverage that includes all medically necessary care. This legislation will be a dramatic step toward making that a reality for the women of Maine. It will make Maine one of the most progressive states in the country on abortion rights. We urge the Maine Senate to follow suit and pass L.D. 820,” said George Hill, CEO of Maine Family Planning in a public statement.

While the Hyde Amendment bans federal funds from being used for abortion services, fifteen states have passed laws to use state funds on abortions. Mainecare, Maine’s Medicaid program, currently covers abortion services but only in the cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is at risk. This bill would greatly expand abortion access for people with Medicaid and who would otherwise find reproductive healthcare inaccessible.

 

Media Sources: Press Herald 5/8/19

Georgia Passes Strict Anti-Abortion Law

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Today, Governor Kemp of Georgia signed into law the controversial “Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, which bans all abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. A fetal heartbeat can usually be detected around 6 weeks into pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. This is one of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the country.

The American Civil Liberties union (ACLU) has announced that it will file a lawsuit against the legislation before the January 2020 implementation because the law is a direct violation of Roe v. Wade.

Elizabeth Nash, senior states issues manager at the Guttmacher Institute, said that “the surge in attempts to ban abortion in the earliest stages of pregnancy underscores that the end goal of anti-abortion politicians and activists is to ban all abortion – at any point during pregnancy and for any reason.”

Dr. Leana Wen, president of Planned Parenthood, said that, “this legislative session could turn out to be the most harmful for women’s health in decades.”

This bill is similar to a recent bill in Alabama that attempted to criminalize abortion and is part of a larger nationwide strategy to pass anti-abortion legislation. Elizabeth Nash went on to say that, “because of the shift in the balance of power at the U.S. Supreme Court, conservative politicians from across the country are looking to send the Court multiple opportunities to undermine or overturn abortion rights.” Other states such as Mississippi, Iowa, Ohio, and Kentucky have sought to ban abortions and decrease abortion access as well.

 

Media Resources: CBS News 5/7/19; Feminist Newswire 5/3/19

U.S. House Holds First ERA Hearing in Over Three Decades

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Last week, high profile women’s rights advocates and feminists gathered in Washington, D.C. for the first Congressional hearing on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in over three decades. The ERA is a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would specifically ban discrimination on the basis of sex.

“Today marks an historic turning point in the fight to ratify the ERA,” said Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority and Feminist Majority Foundation. “Our nation’s most fundamental rights are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, which should include equal rights for women.”

The hearing, which was held by the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, centered on H.J. Res. 38, the joint resolution to remove the arbitrary seven-year deadline in the preamble of the ERA. The deadline to achieve the required ratification by three-fourths of the states is believed by exerts to be a historical injustice that was never voted on by the states. Congress has extended the deadline once before, but it expired in 1982.

“We are pleased to see that the House is once again moving proactively to clear the way for full ratification of the ERA and give constitutional recognition to the rights of American women,” continued Smeal. “There can be no time limit on the pursuit of equality.”

“Nations around the world have looked to us to model their constitutions and have recognized the need for women’s equality, yet we fail to do the same. It is quite frankly an embarrassment,” said Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), the sponsor of H.J. Res. 38. “Discrimination is not prevented against women in the U.S. Constitution.”

“State efforts to ratify the ERA are on a roll,” said Smeal. “Nevada ratified in 2017, becoming the 36th state, and Illinois became the 37th state in 2018. Then, just this year, Virginia came within one vote of advancing the ERA. By removing the deadline, Congress would reflect the growing American sentiment that the time for the ERA is now.”

“It’s time for Americans to show the global neighborhood that when it comes to equality, we lead for all,” said Senator Pat Spearman, a witness at the hearing who successfully championed the ERA in the Nevada State Senate in 2017. “Persistence, faith & hope fuel this movement. We got tired but we did not faint. We got weary but we did not stop…History demands we take this important step.”

Recently the ERA was introduced in Missouri and Louisiana, where the Feminist Majority has been working to organize college students in support of the Amendment. “I love Louisiana and I want the state to show that it loves and respects me back,” said Feminist Majority Louisiana organizer Ashley Sheffield. “That’s why it’s time for our state to take initiative to end discrimination against women and ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”

“The Feminist Majority and our partner organizations have been at the forefront of this effort for decades,” said Smeal. “We have now been joined in our efforts by the most empowered and energetic generation of American women who will not take ‘no’ for an answer. The time is now to permanently and constitutionally prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex.”

Media Resources: Feminist Majority Foundation 4/8/19; Feminist Majority 3/30/19

Belgium Convicts Man for Sexism

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

For the first time, a man in Belgium was convicted of sexism and faces a $3,724 fine for breaking a Belgian law that criminalizes sexism in public places. The law was introduced in 2014 and defines sexism as remarks that diminish “someone to his or her sexual dimension” and “express contempt.”

The Belgian man told a female police officer to “shut your mouth, I don’t talk to women, being a police officer is not a job for women.” This was after the female officer stopped the man for a highway violation. The spokesman for the public prosecutor’s office said that “to personally blame a policewoman because of her sex is special,” and due to the high number of witnesses to the incident, this was a good first case to test the 2014 law.

France recently announced that there will be a €300 fine for street harassment against women, following Belgian’s lead.

 

Media Resources: World Economic Forum 5/7/19

Alabama Seeks to Outlaw Abortions and Criminalize Doctors

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

This week, the Alabama state house passed the most restrictive anti-abortion bill in the nation that bans abortion, even in cases of rape and/or incest, unless the woman’s life is in danger, and makes performing an abortion a felony. Doctors that do perform abortions can be sentenced to up to 99 years in prison. It is expected that this bill will pass the state senate as well.

In a 72-28 vote, the state house voted to outlaw abortion in all cases except when the woman’s life was in danger. The bill also criminalizes abortion; doctors who perform abortion face jail time and doctors who attempt to perform an abortion face up to ten years in prison.  This is the most restrictive legislation passed in the nation and violates Roe v. Wade. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur), said that the bill was created to be “a vehicle to revisit the constitutionally flawed Roe v. Wade decision.”

Representative Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) argued that “we have so many problems that exist in the state of Alabama, from only 32% of the children in Alabama have access to pre-K [to being] one of the few states that did not expand access to healthcare. And we spend our time dealing with legislation that we know is going to be unconstitutional? We wasted about $1.7 million before on similar pieces of legislation. You would think that we would learn from our mistakes, but we’ve chosen to go down the same road again.”

Amanda Reyes, the president of the Yellowhammer Fund, a group that raises funds to help women afford abortion care, said that “if you make abortion illegal somewhere that doesn’t mean that abortion goes away. It just becomes more difficult and more dangerous to access. This bill is an awful piece of grandstanding.”

This bill is part of a larger nationwide strategy to pass anti-abortion legislation in an attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade. Elizabeth Nash, senior states issues manager at the Guttmacher Institute, said that “because of the shift in the balance of power at the U.S. Supreme Court, conservative politicians from across the country are looking to send the Court multiple opportunities to undermine or overturn abortion rights.” Other states such as Georgia, Mississippi, Iowa, Ohio, and Kentucky have sought to ban abortions and decrease abortion access as well.

 

Media Resources: Refinery 29 5/2/19; NPR 5/1/19

Women Call for Peace amid their Absence in the Peace Talks

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Almost 3200 delegates gathered in Kabul from across Afghanistan this week to discuss peace in Afghanistan; nearly 30% of the participants in the grand assembly meeting were women. Women headed 13 committees of the total 51 committees and 28 were elected as committee secretaries.

Despite some opposition and pushback from some conservative men, women continued to raise their voices and concerns about the prospects of peace talks with the Taliban. Women called on the Taliban to end the suffering of the Afghan people because of their ongoing war. Some men objected to the role of women in the peace talks, calling on the women to stay at home where they “should be in the kitchen cooking.”

The grand consultative assembly, known as Loya Jirga in Afghanistan, was convened by President Ashraf Ghani to debate Afghanistan’s path to peace. Such gatherings have a long history in Afghanistan, often called for general consensus building. The meeting began on Monday and ended on Thursday with a 23 Article resolution. The resolution strongly calls for the end of war, an immediate ceasefire, and respecting human rights, including women’s rights. In a goodwill gesture, the President of Afghanistan announced that his government will release 175 Taliban prisoners and is ready for a ceasefire with the group. President Ashraf Ghani has previously offered ceasefire with the Taliban as well. The Taliban, however, has rejected calls for a ceasefire.

Afghan women remain concerned about the peace talks between the U.S. and the Taliban. Afghan women fear that their hard fought and hard won rights will be compromised if they are not present at the table. They fear that the deal with the militant group could bring them back to power and will strip away rights and freedoms gained in the last 18 years, since the militant group was removed from power. The Afghan government has not been invited to the so-called peace talks either. The U.S. is negotiating its troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan and is asking for guarantees from the Taliban that they will not provide safe havens for terrorist groups in Afghanistan again.

Take action to support Afghan women’s demands for inclusion in the peace talks.

Media Sources: BBC 5/3/19; Tolo News 4/29/19; Grand Hara 5/2/19

Court Rules Female Athletes Must Suppress Testosterone Levels to Compete

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Today, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled to uphold a controversial International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rule that restricts testosterone levels in runners, specifically female runners, through the use of testosterone suppressing medication.

The court ruled that the rule is discriminatory, but “such discrimination is a necessary, reasonable, and proportionate means of achieving the IAAF’s aim of preserving the integrity of female athletics.”

However, the court also expressed “serious concerns” about the implementation of the rule, including the possibility of serious side effects for the athletes. “The side effects of hormonal treatment, experienced by individual athletes could, with further evidence, demonstrate the practical impossibility of compliance which could, in turn, lead to a different conclusion as to the proportionality of the DSD Regulations.”

This ruling was released after Caster Semanya, a two-time Olympic track and field champion from South Africa, appealed the IAAF’s controversial rules to the court.  These rules were designed to specifically target women like her who naturally produce higher levels of testosterone. These ruled were put into place in response to what is believed to be Semenya’s intersex condition that produces more testosterone and the IAAF believes that “heightened testosterone levels could improve performance by 5 percent or more.”

Semenya released a statement saying that “I know that the IAAF’s regulations have always targeted me specifically. For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger. The decision of the CAS will not hold me back, I will once again rise above and continue to inspire young women and athletes in South Africa and around the world.”

Semenya’s legal team has called the ruling “discriminatory, irrational, and unjustifiable” in a statement and that the ruling only furthers “the offensive practice of intrusive surveillance and judging of women’s bodies which has historically haunted women’s sports. Ms. Semenya believes that women like her should be respected and treated as any other athlete. As is typically the case across sport, her unique gift should be celebrated, not regulated.”

The ruling only applies to the 400, 800, and 1,500 meter races; all races that Semenya primarily runs. “I am very upset that I have been pushed into the spotlight again. I don’t like talking about this new rule. I just want to run naturally, the way I was born. It is not fair that I am told I must change. It is not fair that people question who I am. I am Mokgadi Caster Semenya. I am a woman and I am fast.”

The new rules require that all female athletes must have testosterone levels below 5 nmol/L and maintain this level for six months before a competition. It is not known whether this is healthy or possible for athletes to achieve.

 

Media Sources: Washington Post 5/1/19; Buzzfeed News 5/1/19

UN Passes Anti-War Rape Resolution Despite US Opposition

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

On Tuesday, the United Nations amended resolution aimed at ending sexual violence in war passed 13-0, with Russia and China abstaining. This was after the United States threatened to use their veto power to demand that all references to sexual and reproductive health be cut out. The Trump administration called for this change because they claim the resolution “implies support for abortion.”

The Security Council expressed their concern over slow progress in addressing sexual violence through their new resolution, which denounces the use of rape as a weapon of war. The original form has garnered the support of activists around the world. Because of the U.S.’s restrictive demands, activists have displayed outrage.

French U.N. Ambassador Francois Delattre told the 15 members of the council: “It is intolerable and incomprehensible that the Security Council is incapable of acknowledging that women and girls who suffered from sexual violence in conflict – and who obviously didn’t choose to become pregnant – should have the right to terminate their pregnancy.”

Jessica Neuwirth of the Sisterhood Is Global Institute addressed the resolution in a statement: “It is unthinkable and bizarre to see the US lining up with Russia and China to block efforts to strengthen the UN’s ability to effectively address rape in conflict and to provide sexual violence survivors with sexual and reproductive health services.”

 

Media Resources: Reuters 4/23/19; BBC 4/23/19; CNN 4/23/19

Afghan Women Demand Ceasefire

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Hundreds of Afghan women marched throughout the capital city of Kabul on Thursday, demanding a ceasefire from all parties involved in the ongoing conflict with the Taliban.

Human rights and women’s rights groups also launched a campaign called “Ceasefire for Peace” with more than 300 women in attendance. Dr. Sima Samar, the Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, spoke at the event. She discussed how the war is costly to all parties and asked to instead that the government allocate resources to building schools and providing better services to the people. She added that “the money should be instead spent on addressing the treatment of diseases such as tuberculosis and polio rather than investing in war.”

Women leaders asked all parties, including the Afghan government, to cancel their offenses or so-called security operations to pave the way for negotiations.

Even though the Taliban is engaged in direct talks with US special envoy Zalmay Khalizad, they have not halted attacks on governmental institutions and civilians, and intend to carry out spring operations.

For months, Afghan women’s rights activists have been demanding their inclusion in these US-Taliban peace negotiations, with women now saying they are willing to meet in any part of the country to hold peace talks with the Taliban directly.

Media Resources: Feminist Newswire 2/28/19; Tolo News 4/25/19; Pajhwok Afghan News

Tarana Burke Discusses Intersectional Issues of the Me Too Movement at Time 100 Summit

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Tarana Burke, the founder of the Me Too Movement, spoke as a part of this year’s inaugural Time 100 Most Influential People Summit on Tuesday. Included in her speech Burke pointed out the need for more conversations about the untold stories of minority women, and the inclusion of survivors of all genders.

In her reflection, Burke pointed out that the movement has gained momentum from the focus on white female celebrities accusing powerful men throughout Hollywood of sexual assault and misconduct. She acknowledged that it is far easier for the public to discuss and call out big powerful men who are known “bad guys” rather than examine those in our own lives that may be committing the same offenses. She reiterated the importance of examining our own behavior as well as everyone in our lives, even those men who we may initially see as allies or “good guys.”

While this has given way to an increased awareness of survivors of sexual violence, Burke was critical that many stories of minority women have been ignored and unnoticed. Burke, a survivor of sexual assault herself, stated that “the women of color, trans women, and queer people—our stories get pushed aside and our pain is never prioritized.”

Burke also highlighted that the Me Too movement is not just a women’s movement and that survivors of all genders must be included. She hopes that the focus on men involved in the movement can shift to the men who are survivors.

 

Media: Time 2019; Variety 2019; Huffington Post 2019

Brandeis Offers Plan B via Vending Machine On-Campus

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

A student-run activism club, Brandeis Pro-Choice, has installed a vending machine on campus that contains Plan B. The vending machine also includes menstrual products, condoms, and other health products and will be accessible 24/7.

Brandeis Pro-Choice, in a statement, wrote, “Without access to emergency contraception on nights and weekends, Brandeis students are left without the ability to access care on campus when they need it, this vending machine will remove this barrier to timely care by expanding access to the medication and allowing students more privacy in their health care.”

The club is a chapter of Planned Parenthood Generation Action, which is a national youth organizing program. Through this, the club was able to receive a grant from Planned Parenthood to pay for the vending machine.

The club president, Susannah Miller, has said “access to sexual and reproductive health care is essential to everyone’s health and well-being.” The club also has said the 24/7 access to the vending machine will be resourceful for victims of sexual assault.

 

Media Resources: Boston 25 News 4/18/19

Supreme Court Will Hear Cases on LGBTQ+ Rights in the Workplace

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

The Supreme Court announced yesterday that they have agreed to hear a group of high profile cases regarding the rights of gay and transgender individuals in the workplace. These cases are aimed to determine if existing federal laws banning sex-based discrimination applies to cases of sexual orientation or gender identity.

In particular, the case will look at whether the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII, applies to LGBTQ+ employees. Another case regarding transgender rights will evaluate whether transgender individuals are protected themselves or if their cases fall under “sex stereotyping.”   The cases that will be heard are Altitude Express v. Zarda, Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia and R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC. The two sexual orientation related discrimination cases will be consolidated into one oral argument.

Currently, lower federal courts are split as to whether sexual orientation and transgender identities are protected under sex-discrimination, with multiple contradictory lower court rulings currently in effect. While the Trump administration has argued that Title VII does not apply to LGBTQ+ individuals, the government’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission affirms that these people should be protected under the law.

Sarah Warbelow, the legal director of the Humans Rights Campaign argues that “the impact of this decision will have very real consequences for millions of LGBTQ people across the country.” The Human Rights Campaign reports that in half of the country, states legally allow for sexual orientation-based job discrimination. This case could overturn these laws, or allow for all individuals to be discriminated in the workplace.

These cases will be heard fall of next year, with the decisions likely not made until after the 2020 election. These cases are highly anticipated as this ruling with have significant effects on current state laws surrounding sexual orientation based workplace discrimination. Furthermore, these rulings will have constitutional and legal implications for the reach of Title VII.

 

Media: SCOTUS 2019; Politico 2019; CNBC 2019

Armed Militia Leader Detaining Migrants Arrested by FBI

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

On Saturday, the FBI arrested the leader of the United Constitutional Patriots, an armed militia that illegally hunts and detains hundreds of undocumented migrants seeking asylum at the border. Larry Mitchel Hopkins, the leader of the militia, was arrested in New Mexico on charges of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

New Mexico’s Attorney General Hector Balderas released a statement following the arrest that Hopkins is “a dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families. Today’s arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes.”

The group has recently started filming and posting videos of migrants that the group illegally detained. In one video posted on April 16th, a woman filmed a group of illegally detained migrants that included several children and the video depicts people huddled together on the ground. Border Patrol then appears in the video and orders the migrants to walk.

The ACLU encouraged New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Attorney General Balderas to investigate the militia after the videos surfaced online. In a letter to the governor and attorney general, the ACLU wrote that “we cannot allow racist and armed vigilantes to kidnap and detain people seeking asylum. We urge you to immediately investigate this atrocious and unlawful conduct.” “Law enforcement belongs strictly in the hands of trained professionals,” Peter Simonson, director of the ACLU in New Mexico argued.

While the militia argues that their actions are legal, the Sunland Police Chief Javier Guerra said that he explicitly told the militia that they are not legally allowed to detain migrants. Local and state officials have issued warnings to militia members after online videos suggested members “were stopping immigrants at gunpoint, wearing badges, and falsely identifying themselves as law enforcement.”

Militia members have been camped at the border since November in an attempt to stop migrants from crossing the border. The militia claims that since November, they have detained more than 3,000 migrants.

 

Media Resources: Washington Post 4/22/19; Buzzfeed News 4/20/19

India Congress Spokesperson Quits Over Male Inappropriate Conduct

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Priyanka Chaturvedi, the Congressional Spokesperson for India’s UPCC Party, has resigned from her position. Chaturvedi stated in a message on Twitter that this was a result of misbehavior by workers as well as a lack of regard for her within the party ranks.

The UPCC Party recently reinstated multiple workers who Chaturvedi claims “misbehaved” toward her at a press conference in the town of Matura. She had previously tweeted about this issue two days before resigning, calling out those reinstated for abusing and threatening her. The UPCC only banned these members for a few days and did not proceed with any punishments for their behavior.

Chaturvedi stated in her official resignation that the actions by the UPCC Party showcase the lack of care and respect given to her within the ranks of the party. She pointed out that, “despite the safety, dignity, empowerment of women being promoted by the party,” these policies and stances were not “reflected in the action of some members.“

This case is just one example of the indifference given to women throughout India surrounding cases of harassment, sexual assault, and rape. Despite her position of authority, Chaturvedi’s case highlights that no women are protected from the discriminatory culture that exists. Chaturvedi’s case has gained international attention and hopefully will spark newfound awareness for the women in any position in India facing these issues.

 

Media: BBC 2019; Times of India 2019

Saudi Women Continue Finding Ways to Flee Violence

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Once again the world is hearing reports of two women fleeing their home of Saudi Arabia, shedding light on the status of women in the country. The two sisters, Wafa and Maha al-Subaie, have fled Saudi Arabia to seek asylum in the country of Georgia. Saudi Arabian citizens do not need entry visas for Georgia, however the sisters are also appealing to the U.N. to allow them refuge into a third, safer country. They fear their male relatives will track them down in Georgia and take them back to Saudi Arabia.

In March, two Saudi Women seeking refuge in Hong Kong were granted humanitarian visas. The women fled their family while on vacation in Sri Lanka and spent 6 months hiding all throughout Hong Kong. They fled their family because they faced violent abuse; they feared returning to Saudi Arabia where they could face the death penalty.

Officials in Saudi have continued to arrest human rights and women’s rights activists. A few weeks ago, Saudi Arabia released three of eleven women’s rights activists that were being held in prison. Some of these women have been held since May of 2018, with no formal charges against them. Many of these women in prison have reported cases of abuse and torture to their families.

The latest move by the two sisters is a reminder of how women are treated in the country: as second-class citizens, subject to the demands of their male relatives with nearly no recourse for abuse. The guardianship rules require women to have permission from their close male relatives to work, travel, and even visit a doctor. Because women are not allowed to travel freely in and out of the Kingdom, many are forced to flee in secret and seek asylum abroad.

 

Media Resources: BBC News 4/19/19; BBC News 3/25/19; Feminist Newswire 3/29/19

Court Rules TikTok Video App No Longer Permitted in India

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

The TikTok App has been removed from Indian Google and Apple Stores this week, as a result of a state court ruling. The app was determined to be exposing children to inappropriate content.

The Indian Supreme Court Tuesday allowed for the lower court ruling on blocking Tik Tok downloads to stand. The state court of Tamil Nadu asked the federal government to ban the app earlier this month. The judges who supported the interim ban wrote that “The government has the social responsibility to prevent these kinds of applications.” The company was not given a chance to formally respond to allegations but attested that they have removed over six million inappropriate videos in India in an attempt to comply with local concerns. Despite this, the app will not be available for download.

Concerns have been raised to the government that children were able to access pornography through the app. Opponents of the app also warned that sexual predators could use the app to target children. In some cases, the app has been suggested to encourage users to commit suicide, as well as a medium for cyberbullying.

TikTok has gained significant popularity in India over the last year. The app has 120 million active users in India, with over 30 million of these users installing the app in January of 2019 alone. TikTok’s recent growing popularity has sparked interest in multiple governments other than India, including U.S. officials which are concerned about the popularity of the app among children.

Opponents of the apps ban argue that it is unconstitutional according to India’s freedom of speech protections. The Internet Freedom Foundation of New Delhi spoke out against the ban calling it “reactionary and disproportionate.” While they acknowledge the importance of technology policy to protect children, they say a blanket ban in unnecessary. TikTok and multiple groups hope to overturn the ban in the coming weeks.

 

Media: NBC 2019; NY Times 2019; CNN 2019

>