On:
In: Fatwa, female genital mutilation, FGM, Health, Iraq, Kurdistan Regional Goverment, Middle East/N. Africa, Press release, Reproductive Choices and Sexual Autonomy, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Sexual Violence, Women’s Status in the Family and Legal Status, Women's Rights

A Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) law that bans female genital mutilation (FGM) is a crucial step in eradicating the practice. The Family Violence Bill, approved by the Kurdistan parliament on June 21, 2011, i…Continue Reading

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In: Abortion, contraception, global gag rule, Health, maternal health care, Press release, Reproductive Choices and Sexual Autonomy, Sexual and Reproductive Health, The Failure to Protect, United States, US Foreign Policy, Women's Rights

The House Foreign Affairs Committee should remove language that would reinstate the so-called “Global Gag Rule” from the draft Foreign Affairs Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012. The “Gag Rule” would …Continue Reading

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In: Arms, Europe/Central Asia, Foreign, Free Expression, Germany, Human Rights Defenders, Media, Middle East Uprising, Middle East/N. Africa, Other, Press release, Racism and Discrimination, Saudi Arabia, Women in State Custody, Women's Rights

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany should consider the political signals her government is sending to Saudi Arabia before approving a deal to sell 200 German-made tanks to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia has a dismal h…Continue Reading

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In: Asia, Bangladesh, cruel punishment, Fatwa, gender-based violence, Health, Press release, shalish, Violence Against Women, Women & Girls, Women’s Status in the Family and Legal Status, Women's Rights

The Bangladesh government should take urgent measures to make sure that religious fatwas and traditional dispute resolution methods do not result in extrajudicial punishments, Human Rights Watch said today. The g…Continue Reading

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In: CEDAW, Dar al-Fatwa, honor crimes, KAFA, Lebanon, marital rape, Middle East/N. Africa, Press release, sexual abuse, Sexual Violence, Women’s Status in the Family and Legal Status, Women's Rights

Lebanon’s parliament should adopt a draft law that would specifically criminalize violence against women, Human Rights Watch said today. The bill, which would criminalize physical, mental, and sexual abuse, mari…Continue Reading

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In: child care, Commentary, Health, paid maternity leave, paid sick days, Reproductive Choices and Sexual Autonomy, Same-Sex Couples, United States, US Domestic Policy, Women Workers, Women's Rights, workplace flexibility, Workplace Health

Kimberley N., a senior manager of a non-profit organization, gave birth to a baby with a life-threatening illness. After years of stellar performance reviews, she received a scathing one immediately after returnin…Continue Reading

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In: Asia, Child Labor, Children, Children's Rights, Commentary, Domestic Workers, Human Trafficking, ILO Convention, ILO Treaty, Indonesia, Labor, labor laws, Migrant Domestic Workers, Migrants, Migrants, Forced Labor, modern-day slavery, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Trafficking, Trafficking of Women and Girls, Women & Girls, Women's Rights, Workers, Forced Labor & Trafficking

Being forced into domestic servitude is one of the most common forms of human trafficking. Yet it remains one of the most invisible, including meager media coverage and law enforcement efforts. On June 27, the US …Continue Reading

On:
In: Asia, Asian migrant domestic workers, ILO Convention, Indonesia, Labor, Malaysia, Memorandum of Understanding, Migrant Domestic Workers, Migrants, Migrants, Forced Labor, MOU, Press release, Women's Rights, Workers, Forced Labor & Trafficking

A revised agreement between Malaysia and Indonesia provides some benefits for migrant domestic workers but fails to provide some needed safeguards linked to low wages and high recruitment fees, Human Rights Watch …Continue Reading

On:
In: Commentary, Domestic Violence, gender-based violence, Health, Middle East/N. Africa, Racism and Discrimination, Sexual Violence, Women & Girls, Women and Security, women demonstrators, women protestors, Women’s Status in the Family and Legal Status, women's legal status, Women's Rights, Yemen

  In the past, any mention of Yemen’s women in the news media has usually been about two issues, neither of them positive. The first is that they are more likely than most women in the Middle East to die in child…Continue Reading