Actress and activist Jane Fonda, along with Gloria Steinem, Ai-jen Poo, and Reverend William Barber II were arrested in Washington D.C. earlier today. Dolores Huerta (founder of United Farm Workers and Feminist Majority Foundation board member) was also in attendance. Fonda was arrested for the fifth time today at her ongoing climate action #FireDrillFriday, which began in […]
South Carolina Bill Introduced That Would Compensate Pregnant People Forced to Give Birth
South Carolina state Senator Mia McLeod has introduced a bill called the South Carolina Pro Birth Accountability Act, or SB 928, that would compel the state to provide financial support to pregnant people forced to give birth due to the state’s proposed ban on abortion after six weeks. The legislation would mandate that the state […]
Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Obamacare Insurance Mandate
On December 18, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans struck down the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act as unconstitutional. This decision did not invalidate the entirety of the Act, but rather it sent the case “back to a federal district judge in Texas to ‘conduct a […]
Gender Gap Prominent in Support for Trump Impeachment
Recent polls have shown that American women support impeachment and removal from office by around 10 points more than men—a gender gap that is reflected in national politics as well. Since the 2016 election women in the U.S. have led the fight against the rampant misogyny, racism, and xenophobia that is the hallmark of the […]
For Afghans the Drive for Education is Stronger than Ever
News from Afghanistan and about the Afghan people is often associated with violence in the western media, especially lately in the U.S. media. News of progress and success is rarely of any interest to the media or often taken with a grain of salt or dismissed as not enough to justify the investments made in […]
Court Strikes Down Mississippi Law Banning Abortion After 15 Weeks
This past Friday a federal appeals court found Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks unconstitutional. The ban was blocked from taking effect in 2018 after Jackson Women’s Health Organization—the only abortion clinic in Mississippi—sued the state. The fight came down to the argument that there is no medical evidence that proves a fetus is […]
The Fight for Paid Leave Takes Center Stage in House Oversight Hearing
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform, chaired by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), held a hearing yesterday on the critical lack of paid leave for employees who need to take time off to care for a new child, a sick family member, or their own health. Committee members and witnesses discussed the ongoing need […]
House Committee on Oversight and Reform to Hold Hearing on Paid Family Leave
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform will hold a hearing tomorrow on the critical lack of access to universal paid family and medical leave across the country. Chaired by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, sponsor of the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, the committee will hear testimony from key witnesses regarding the impact and possible long-term […]
Nearly One Million Americans Will Lose Access to Food Stamps under New Trump Rule
Under a new rule enacted by the Trump administration, close to 700,000 people will lose SNAP benefits due to regulations that make it more difficult for states to waive the requirement that “able bodied” recipients work at least 20 hours a week. The rule will affect people aged 18-49 who do not have children and […]
Ohio Bill Requires Doctors to Reimplant Ectopic Pregnancies
A new Ohio bill requires doctors to reimplant ectopic pregnancies in the uterus, in an attempt to save the pregnancy. House Bill 413 was introduced in the Republican-controlled legislature in November by Representatives Candice Keller and Ron Hood. The 700-page bill defines a fertilized egg as an “unborn child” and outlaws abortions unless the mother’s […]
Monthly Birth Control Pill Developed by Scientists
In a paper published Wednesday, MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital scientists say they have made progress on the development of a contraceptive pill that only needs to be taken once a month. The gelatin-coated pill, which has only been tested on pigs so far, dissolves in the stomach where it releases a six-armed star-shaped […]
Fab Five Member Jonathan Van Ness Makes History with January Cosmo Cover
The “Queer Eye” grooming expert, 32, is being celebrated as the first solo non-female Cosmopolitan UK magazine cover star in more than 30 years. On the January 2020 cover, Van Ness wears a voluminous pink and orange tulle off-the-shoulder Christian Siriano gown with striped socks and classic Nike Cortez sneakers. The coverline reads, “Jonathan Van […]
Survey: Growing Support for Women’s Education and Employment in Afghanistan
The Asia Foundation’s survey of 2019 shows a growing support for women’s education and their employment in Afghanistan. The survey released on Tuesday shows the progress made in the views of Afghans in regards to women’s rights and their position in public life. The approval and support for women’s education has continued to rise over […]
Afghan Civil Society Highlights Human Rights and Social Justice Issues
Building civil society (non-governmental and non-profit organizations) has been one of the major achievements in Afghanistan in the last 18 years. This flourishing new field gained recognition early on and became influential in addressing issues in the interest of the public. These issues have often included human rights, women’s rights, government accountability, foreign assistance, and […]
All-Male Feminism Panel in Pakistan Receives Backlash
The Arts Council of Pakistan received backlash for its discussion titled “Feminism; The Other Perspective,” which featured an all-male panel. After receiving criticism on social media, the Arts Council of Pakistan changed the name of the discussion, the makeup of the panel, and the graphics promoting the discussion. Originally, “Feminism; The Other Perspective” featured all-male […]
Afghan Saffron in High Demand
In an attempt to replace opium cultivation in Afghanistan, the Afghan government has continued to increase its efforts to replace the deadly plant with saffron cultivation. Saffron cultivation began in Herat, in the western part of the country, and is now being grown in 33 provinces of the 34 provinces in Afghanistan. Farmers are being […]
Seattle Man Whose Guns Were Confiscated for Threats Against Women has Guns Returned by Judge
A Seattle man, who made multiple gun violence threats on social media, had his guns returned to him by a judge. Charles Donnelly had his firearms, all legally owned, confiscated in mid-October after multiple threatening social media posts. Several weeks later, he returned to court and testified that the posts were only jokes. His lawyer, […]
Representative Carolyn Maloney Elected to Lead House Committee on Oversight and Reform
New York Representative Carolyn Maloney was elected chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Wednesday after winning a caucus-wide vote for the position, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a news release. As the most senior member of the panel, Maloney has been serving as acting chairwoman since the October 17th death of […]
Taliban Releases Two Kidnapped AUAF Professors in Zabul
The Taliban has freed two Western hostages Tuesday, American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks, after holding them hostage for more than three years, a U.S. official and the prime minister of Pakistan said Tuesday. Kevin King, 63, from the United States, and Timothy Weeks, 50, from Australia, were professors at American University of Afghanistan […]
House Oversight Committee Holds Hearing On State Reproductive Health Care Access
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform held a congressional hearing on November 14, 2019 to examine state efforts to undermine access to reproductive health care. Led by Acting Chairwoman Maloney, the committee examined “how states, emboldened by the Trump Administration’s sustained and systematic attacks on reproductive health care, are restricting access, and it will […]