President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe attacked gays and lesbians in a speech yesterday. Mugabe, speaking at the home of a state-owned newspaper editor who died Tuesday, said that wild animals are better than gays and lesbians because the animals can tell the difference between the sexes. Last December Mugabe condemned the World Conference of Churches […]
Anti-abortion extremists said they cannot afford the nearly $86,000 in damages they were ordered to pay two abortion clinics in the landmark case NOW vs. Scheidler. Defendants Joseph Scheidler, executive director of the Pro-Life Action League, Operation Rescue, Anthony Scholber and Timothy Murphy claim they used up all available funds on trial fees. Scheidler commented, […]
First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton endorsed a letter sent by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee urging women to give money in support of women candidates. Clinton said, “The fact is that unless each of us makes a sincere commitment to support women candidates, the issues and concerns important to our Democratic, pro-family agenda will go […]
A controversial new Smithsonian exhibit called “Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” focuses on 178 years of sweatshops and sweatshop laborers, and opened today at the National Museum of American History. Labor Secretary Alexis Herman was present at the opening of the exhibit. Herman said that she hoped the exhibit would help educate the […]
A four-day conference entitled, “African Women and Economic Development – Investing in our Future,” is scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia next week, marking the 40th anniversary of the United Nation’s ECA agency. United Nations Secretary General Koffi Annan, 500 non-governmental organization members and national leaders, including leaders of Botswana, Burkin Faso, Ghana […]
Family violence activists announced plans for a World Conference on Family Violence to be held in New Delhi, India this September. The conference will host delegates from more than 100 nations and will focus on all forms of family violence, including child, elder and spousal abuse. The conference will attempt to develop “practical, sustainable solutions” […]
Antonio Ivory of Riveria Beach, Florida admitted to killing his wife, 27-year-old Leasa Ivory, by stabbing her three times in the back with a 6-inch fishing knife. The murder occurred after a dispute between the couple over the custody of their 3-year-old son. Ivory drove to his wife’s apartment and took the locked door off […]
A federal jury in Chicago, Illinois found Operation Rescue, the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League, the league’s executive director Joseph Scheidler, and activists Andrew Scholber and Timothy Murphy guilty of violating the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute (RICO). National Women’s Health Organization (NWHO) President Susan Hill commented, “This is a tremendous victory for abortion […]
The United Nations will not participate in talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban militia group because the Taliban refuses to allow the presence of U.N. office for humanitarian aid to Afghanistan head Alfredo Witschi-Cestari, according to the Washington Post. Earlier this year, Witschi-Cestari ordered the temporary termination of aid to Afghanistan as a protest to the Taliban’s […]
Mexican women’s groups and lawmakers are outraged over increasing violence against women in Juarez, Mexico and city officials’ indifference. At least 70 women have been raped and murdered, their bodies left in the Chihuahua desert, in the last five years. Women’s groups cite 118 women murdered in the city over the same period. Young women […]
Women’s groups in Zimbabwe protested an increase in violence against women who are deemed “indecent” due to their dress. The women marched the streets and handed out fliers relating to women’s rights and gender violence. Director of the Women’s Action Group (WAG) Selina Mumbengegwi said, “Women are victimized and not respected in their professions, and […]
Cote d’Ivoire National Assembly members are debating whether to pass a law banning female genital mutilation (FGM) or launch a campaign focused on educating the population on related health threats and human rights issues. Approximately 43 percent of Ivoirian women and girls have been circumcised, and doctors estimate that as much as 25 percent of […]
A Federal jury in Chicago, Illinois found that Operation Rescue, the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League, the league’s executive director Joseph Scheidler, and activists Andrew Scholber and Timothy Murphy violated the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute (RICO). National Women’s Health Organization (NWHO) President Susan Hill commented, “This is a tremendous victory for abortion providers […]
During talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban militia group leaders and the country’s other warring factions, U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson spoke of U.S. aid to rebuild Afghanistan’s “war-damaged infrastructure.” Richardson said the funding was dependent on possible peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan groups that control the remaining 15 percent of the country, and the restoration […]
Almost twice as many U.S. women entrepreneurs are starting their own businesses as are men, according to a survey of members of the Committee of 200, a national organization of women entrepreneurs. The survey was conducted by the National Foundation for Women Business Owners (NFWBO) and the results were reported at a conference of businesswomen […]
National leaders attending the second Summit of the Americas in Santiago, Chile agreed on a package in which the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) will provide $120 million over three years to small businesses. The funding will be distributed through micro-credit programs or through small loans which are given to entrepreneurs, most of whom […]
Civil rights leaders are urging the Clinton administration to appeal a U.S. Court of Appeals decision against the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) 30-year-old equal employment opportunity (EEO) policies. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and others met with the Justice Department’s acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Bill Lann Lee, to discuss an appeal. The […]
Georgetown University President Leo O’Donovan reversed his decision to replace Judith Areen, the first woman to head a national law school. Amid protests from students, faculty, alumni and distinguished board members, including Clinton attorney Robert S. Bennett, Donovan announced that he would renew Areen’s contract for five more years. Areen has served as Law Center […]
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld state anti-stalking laws, refusing to hear appeals of two men convicted for stalking. In Parker vs. Virginia, Michael Parker was convicted of making threatening phone calls to a woman from jail. The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld his conviction and said that his conviction did not stem exclusively from the […]
Linda McCartney, wife of former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, died Friday morning after a three year battle with breast cancer. McCartney, 56, worked as a photographer, a musician, started her own line of vegetarian foods, and was an ardent animal rights activist. McCartney’s husband said people wanting to send condolences should consider adopting a vegetarian […]
