Girls Learn International, a project of the Feminist Majority Foundation, has been working to aid in Malala’s effort for broader education around the globe for 10 years – and today they’re honoring Malala as part of their 10th anniversary celebration, 30 Days of Sheroes.
We’ve Got a Clinics Crisis on Our Hands
In states across the country, legislatures are restricting women’s reproductive healthcare choices at an unbelievable rate.
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House Legislators Cut Food Stamps for 48 Million Americans
On Thursday afternoon, the US House of Representatives passed a severely reduced version of The Farm Bill. This version of the bill eliminated the food stamp program and the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP). The bill passed in a close vote of 216 to 208 along stark party lines. In 2013, 48 million Americans, approximately […]
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Ireland Passes First Abortion Exception Law
Early Friday morning, Irish lawmakers passed a bill allowing abortions if the mother’s life is in danger. For the first time the Roman Catholic country approved a bill in the lower house of the parliament (Dail) in a 127 to 31 vote. The controversial bill will allow a woman to terminate her pregnancy if two […]
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Indian Juvenile Court Defers Verdict of Fatal Rape Case
A juvenile court in India has deferred the verdict of a 17 year old who is accused of participating in the gang-rape of a woman who later died from her injuries. He is charged with “rape, murder, destroying evidence, and other crimes including kidnapping carried out while aged 17.”
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Unlawful Single-Sex Education Case Settled in WV Court
A settlement reached this week between the ACLU of West Virginia and the Wood County Board of Education will result in the abandonment of single-sex education attempts for the next two years in the West Virginia school district.
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NC Legislature Passes Another “Sneak Attack” Anti-Abortion Bill
Conservative North Carolina representatives have passed a “sneak attack” bill that combines an unrelated House bill on motorcycle safety with anti-abortion provisions. These provisions mirror the amendment added to an anti-Sharia bill that was passed in the Senate.
“Rape Is Rape” Bill Fails in NY Senate, Bronx Teacher Vows to Continue Her Fight for Justice
[Trigger Warning: This post contains references to sexually violent acts and threatening behavior.] Lydia Cuomo, a 27-year-old Bronx teacher, was brutally raped at gunpoint by drunken off-duty cop Michael Pena. That was in August 2011, but over the past year Cuomo has traveled to Albany, NY numerous times to tell her horrific story in hopes of finally finding […]
DOMA Speaks, States React: The Marriage Equality Movement Goes to Pennsylvania and Beyond
Different states have had different reactions to the recent SCOTUS decision. Some state policies remain relatively similar to what they were before the decision and some states are taking action to pass same-sex marriage laws. Here’s the latest on the new frontier of marriage equality: a state-by-state strategy to legalize gay partnerships.
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Duke University to Expel Students Disciplined for Sexual Assault
Yesterday, Duke University announced that the “preferred sanction” for attackers in cases of sexual assault will now be expulsion. The previous precedent for sexual assault was suspension for three to six semesters. However, this change does not mean that every student found guilty of sexual misconduct will be expelled because the University does not have […]
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Texas Anti-Abortion Bill Advances
On Tuesday, the Texas House of Representatives tentatively passed restrictive abortion bill HB2 in the second special session, two weeks after Senator Wendy Davis’ filibuster on SB5. With this vote of 98 to 42, the House approved HB2 which includes multiple abortion restrictions such as a ban on abortions after 20 weeks. The ban does […]
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UN Presses Vatican for Information on Child Sex Abuse Cases
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has requested details from the Vatican on child sexual abuse cases from November 1995 to January 2014. The information has been requested in connection with the Holy See’s scheduled appearance in front of UNCRC in January. The information requested includes what victim support systems […]
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Judge Temporarily Blocks Abortion Law in Wisconsin
A federal judge temporarily blocked the portion of a new Wisconsin abortion law requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles. U.S. District Judge Conley delayed the law for 10 days, until after another hearing on July 17th.
A Women in Academia Mini-Roundtable
It’s clear that women still struggle to find standing in academia. Two FMF interns tackle the issue right at the line where the personal becomes political.
Supreme Court Reversed Woman’s Torture Case in Afghanistan
A case of three Afghans who were jailed for torturing a girl has been reversed by the Afghan Supreme Court. Sahar Gul was sold for $5,000 to a 30 years old man New York Times said . She was forced to marry in 2011 in her 13 or 14 years of age. As a result, […]
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LGBT and HIV-Positive Somali Refugees Fear Return Home
Many gay, lesbian, and HIV-positive Somali refugees now fear persecution, jail, and even death sentences upon their return home after fleeing to Kenya to avoid harsh punishmentsharsh punishments under Sharia law. Next month Kenya will be host to international leaders and groups like the International Organization for Immigration as they discuss the impending repatriation of […]
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UNC Faces New Federal Investigation of Sexual Assault Policies
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill is now facing a third investigation into its sexual assault policies by the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). OCR is investigating allegations that sophomore Landen Gambill faced retaliation after filing a federal complaint against the school for their inappropriate response to her report of sexual assault.
In Jackson, A “Solidarity Economy” Might Make Room for the Rest of Us
Lumumba has championed what’s known as a “Solidarity Economy,” in which wider economic participation and increased skepticism about “big money” in the economy are key parts of a community’s economic philosophy.
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Governor Scott Walker Signs Anti-Abortion Bills into Law
On Friday, Governor Scott Walker (R) of Wisconsin signed into law a bill that would require all abortion providers to attain hospital admitting privileges. In addition, the law will now require women seeking an abortion to first receive an ultrasound before undergoing the procedure. The law is scheduled to take effect July 8. The regulations […]
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11-Year-Old Chilean Rape Victim in Jeopardy
The life threatening pregnancy of an 11-year-old rape victim is sparking debate around abortion in the socially conservative country of Chile. The girl is fourteen weeks into the pregnancy, and doctors are reporting that both she and her fetus are at high risk. The pregnancy is the result of rape by her mother’s partner. The […]