The Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) is attempting to rectify India’s poor representation of women in their lawmaking bodies by nominating 41 percent women candidates for races in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament. Despite women making up almost half of India’s 900 million voters, women make up only 11 percent of members in […]
New Research Finds Women Make Nuclear War Less Imminent
New research, including research by the Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy, suggests that women are a vital part of preventing nuclear conflict, as well as resolving potential nuclear weapons issues. Including women in non-proliferation talks is proven to increase the diversity of ideas and lead to more positive outcomes. The Royal Society found that in […]
India Supreme Court Considering Allowing Women into Mosques
India’s Supreme Court is now considering a case to allow women into mosques. Currently, most mosques in India do not allow women in at all or have a separate entrance for women to worship in a segregated area. Individuals began a petition to allow women into mosques, arguing that women were allowed to do so […]
“Virginity Exams” in Afghanistan Continue Despite Government Efforts
Invasive and medically meaningless examinations, which are meant to determine a girl or women’s virginity status by inspecting their hymen or inserting fingers into their vagina, have persisted in Afghanistan, despite the government’s official public health policy that bars health workers from engaging in the abusive practice. The prevalence of virginity exams continues as prosecutors […]
Ohio Implements Unconstitutional Six Week Abortion Ban
Ohio has officially banned abortions after 5-6 weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant. The law will make an exception to save a woman’s life, however no exceptions for cases of rape and incest. It will take effect in 90 days unless blocked by a federal judge. The law also creates […]
South Korea Rules Sixty Year Old Abortion Ban Unconstitutional
On Thursday, Seoul’s Constitutional Court voted 7-to-2 to overturn the 66-year-old abortion ban in South Korea, which criminalized abortion except in cases of rape, incest or imminent danger to the women’s health, and was one of the strictest abortion bans in a developed country. The court ruled the abortion ban as unconstitutional and violated a […]
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Trump Transgender Military Ban Takes Effect
President Trump’s highly controversial and discriminatory military policy to ban all transgender individuals from serving in the United States Military will officially take effect today at the Pentagon. In addition to banning transgender individuals from military service, the Pentagon will also prevent using any DoD or DHS resources to fund sex reassignment procedures or surgeries, […]
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A Texas Bill Would Make Abortion Punishable by Death Penalty
Texas lawmakers are considering a bill, called the Abolition of Abortion in Texas Act or House Bill 896, that would ban all abortion in the state as well as charge women who have abortions with homicide, a crime punishable by death penalty in the state of Texas. The bill was granted its first committee hearing […]
New Zealand Bans Semiautomatic Weapons in a 119-1 Vote
Twenty-four hours after a right-wing terrorist killed 50 people in a Christchurch mosque, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a national ban on military-style semiautomatic weapons. The ban, which passed the legislature in a 119 to 1 vote, extends to all high-capacity ammunition and parts that allow guns to be converted into military-style semiautomatic weapons. All parties, […]
Women’s Colleges in Japan Begin to Accept Transgender Students
Last week, Chikushi Jogakuen University, a women’s university located in Fukuoka, Japan, on the island of Kyushu, announced they will begin accepting transgender students for admission. The university stated they will give more details towards the end of 2019. The university follows the example of other women’s colleges in Japan that have announced similar policies; […]
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Congress Introduces BE HEARD Act
The BE HEARD Act, a comprehensive bill meant to address and prevent workplace sexual harassment, was introduced in Congress on Tuesday by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and other co-sponsors. The bill is intended to close loopholes within federal discrimination laws, such as the Civil Rights Act of […]
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Superior Court Judge Faces Suspension for Questioning Sexual Assault Survivor in Court
New Jersey Superior Court Judge John F. Russo Jr. is expected to be suspended from his position for three months without pay, per recommendation of the state’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct after it became public that he suggested a sexual assault survivor close her legs. Superior Judge Russo has been on administrative leave since […]
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Equal Rights Amendment Introduced to Louisiana State Senate
Today the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution was introduced in the Louisiana Senate by Louisiana State Senator Jean-Paul Morrell. It has been 47 years since the Louisiana Senate has voted in favor of ratifying women’s equality into the U.S. Constitution. HCR2 was also introduced in the Louisiana State House by Representative Robert […]
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Students Protest Kavanaugh Teaching at George Mason University
This summer, Brett Kavanaugh will be teaching a course on the origins of the U.S. Constitution at George Mason’s Antonin Scalia School of Law campus in London. Jennifer Mascott, an assistant professor of law at George Mason and a former clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals in the D.C. Circuit, will be joining him […]
Lindsey Graham Holds Hearing on Dangerous Anti-Abortion Act
Today, Senator Lindsey Graham, the head of the Judicial Committee, is holding a hearing on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a dangerous bill based on “junk science” that would make abortion after 20 weeks illegal. This bill could have lethal consequences for women who “are faced with pregnancies complicated by severe birth defects that […]
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ERA Introduced in Missouri State Senate
Last week, Missouri State Senator Jill Schupp introduced the Equal Rights Amendment into the state senate for ratification. Senator Schupp faces a tough battle in the Missouri State Senate after the Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz announced that he would oppose the legislation. Missouri’s Senate is composed of 24 Republicans and 10 Democrats and […]
Only 33 House Republicans Support the Violence Against Women Act
The House passed the Violence Against Women Act yesterday in a 263-158 vote, with 33 Republicans voting for the bill, and 157 voting against the re-authorization. The current law only bars gun ownership for convicted abusers who are married to their victim, live with their victim, or have a child with their victim. A new […]
Sen. Shaheen Invites Afghanistan Ambassador as NATO Joint Address Guest
Senator Shaheen (D-NH) brought Afghanistan Ambassador Roya Rahmani, the first female ambassador of Afghanistan to the United States, as her guest to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s Joint Address to Congress to highlight the need for women’s inclusion in all peace talks involving the U.S. and the Taliban. “I am thankful for Ambassador Rahmani’s willingness […]
Lori Lightfoot Elected as First Black Woman to Serve as Chicago Mayor
Lori Lightfoot won the Chicago Mayoral runoff Tuesday, defeating multiple career politicians and prominent local Democratic leaders. Lightfoot will be the first black woman to serve as Mayor in Chicago, as well as the first openly gay person. The race for Chicago Mayor started with over fourteen candidates. Lightfoot faced Preckwinkle in a historical election […]
Alabama Introduces Bill to Outlaw Almost All Abortions in the State
Alabama legislators introduced the most severe anti-abortion bill in the country on Tuesday that would ban abortions upon knowledge of pregnancy and make performing an abortion at any stage of a pregnancy a felony. The bill, HB314, would ban all abortions as soon as a woman is “known to be pregnant,” only giving exception if […]