For the fourth year in a row, the Bush Administration has withheld delivering $34 million in Congressionally approved funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), based on false allegations that the UNFPA participates in coercive abortion and involuntary sterilization in China. This funding would have been used to prevent as many as 2 million […]
On the third day of questioning by Senators on the Judiciary Committee, Roberts continued to refuse to answer questions about his views on abortion rights and the right to privacy. In fact, Roberts’ answer to a question about the right to privacy posed by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) echoed Clarence Thomas’ answer to a similar […]
A federal judge Monday declared unconstitutional a Michigan law attempting to ban some abortion procedures. US District Court Judge Denise Page Hood wrote that the Legal Birth Definition Act is vague and confusing—”The act does not describe any specific procedure to be banned”—and that it does not adequately provide exceptions for a woman’s life and […]
The citizens of Afghanistan will vote on Sunday for a national assembly and members of 34 provincial councils. The democratic vote—and the presence of women as candidates—would have been unimaginable just a few years ago when the repressive, violent Taliban was in power, but violence and intimidation are seriously undermining the process according to a […]
On the third day of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on John Roberts’ nomination as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Roberts continued to stonewall Senators on issues important to women. In refusing to answer questions about end-of-life issues posed by Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), Roberts said that his consideration of those issues would not […]
A whistleblower with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said that water is being pumped out of the flooded city in a way that increases the danger to human health. Hugh Kaufman, a 35-year EPA veteran and an expert on toxic waste and responses to environmental disasters Ñ and a longtime whistleblower on EPA’s shortcomings—told […]
Azhar al-Sheikhly, Iraq’s Minister of State for Women’s Affairs, expressed concerns on Tuesday about women’s rights under the draft Iraqi constitution in a discussion on human rights and the constitution sponsored by the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and the Iraqi Women’s Caucus. The discussion which was chaired by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, (D-TX) and also […]
On the first full day of questioning by Senators, John Roberts avoided answering questions about whether he would uphold a woman’s right to choose abortion as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Though he was asked repeatedly about his views on Roe v. Wade and the right to privacy, he never said whether he would […]
Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) introduced a bill on Monday to reauthorize a program that funds breast and cervical cancer screenings for low-income women. “Breast and cervical cancer strike America’s women in large numbers and continue to be a silent killer in communities across the country,” said Senator Mikulski. Since 1991, […]
by Eleanor Smeal, President Feminist Majority Today on Capitol Hill, John G. Roberts appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee and offered Senators and the American people assurances that he was a nominee with “no agenda” and if confirmed, would decide cases with an “open mind.” If all of this sounds eerily familiar, it may be […]
After months of fierce protesting by Canadian and international women’s rights groups, the Ontario provincial government on Monday rejected a 2004 proposal to allow Muslims use of sharia (Islamic) law to settle family disputes. “It is a victory for women’s rights, for children’s rights, for human rights,” said Homa Arjamond, co-chair of the No Religious […]
The Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on John Roberts for the Supreme Court begin today. Women’s and civil rights groups held a dawn vigil and a lunchtime demonstration today to urge Senators to vote “no” on Roberts. “As Chief Justice, John Roberts would be in the nation’s top judicial leadership position and could lead the rollback […]
A bill that would protect patients from pharmacists attempting to deny them access to prescribed medication is now on the desk of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The measure, which easily passed both state houses late last week, requires pharmacies to fill prescriptions in a timely matter. If Gov. Schwarzenegger approves the bill, pharmacists who are […]
A three-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reduced the damages awarded to abortion providers in the “Nuremberg Files” case from $108 million to $4.73 million, the maximum allowed under a 2003 Supreme Court precedent. The case, American Coalition of Life Activists v. Planned Parenthood, originated as a suit filed in 1999 by […]
In the Kansas Supreme Court yesterday, it was revealed that Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline’s subpoena of 90 patients’ medical records is part of an investigation into possible felonies committed by two clinics. Kline’s chief deputy testified that the records are “indispensable” to an investigation into clinic misconduct, including violating late-term abortion statutes and failing […]
Leading women’s and civil rights groups are holding a Week of Action against John Roberts for the Supreme Court, to coincide with Roberts’ confirmation hearings next week. Events planned include daily visibility events in the early morning and around lunchtime, a dawn vigil on Monday, and a lobby day and rally on Thursday. No on […]
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a mark-up of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization today. The bill, which expires on September 30, passed out of committee, but an amendment was added that could prevent or delay its passage by the full Senate. The amendment, introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), on behalf of Senator […]
With the nomination of John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Senate Democrats and progressive organizations are reiterating their call for the Bush Administration to release Roberts’ papers from his time as deputy solicitor general. “Women have a right to know where John Roberts stands,” said Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority. […]
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy statement last week, in which they again supported the safety of emergency contraception for adolescent women. “Emergency contraception has tremendous potential to reduce unintended pregnancy rates in teens and adults. Information on emergency contraception (EC) should be incorporated into the sexuality counseling included as part of […]
Police officers searching for survivors of the New Orleans hurricane have reported that supplies are not reaching them. Many have not been able to wash their clothes or shower since the hurricane hit, and the water is so polluted that they cannot reuse clothing or boots that have been in the water. They have sent […]
