1 February 2022 - NPWJ News Digest on FGM & women's rights

Articles

More Representation But Not Influence: Women in the European Parliament
The German Marshall Fund of the United States, 31 Jan 2022

Representing more than 447 million people across 27 countries, the European Parliament should be the poster child for the European Union’s “united in diversity” motto. However, the representation of women in the parliament and its key positions remains weak and change is slow. While the parliament has seen a steady increase in the proportion of female members (MEPs) over the years, from 16% in 1979 to 39.5% in 2021, this is far from the whole picture when it comes to women’s representation. 

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Women’s groups seek end to UK courts’ powers to jail people for own protection
The Guardian, 31 Jan 2022

A coalition of women’s rights organisations has called on the UK government to abolish a law that gives courts the power to send people to prison for their own protection, as part of a 10-point plan to tackle inequalities in the criminal justice system. On the fifth anniversary of the Lammy Review, leading women’s rights groups have derided the “lack of progress” in tackling persistent inequalities experienced by black, Asian, minority ethnic and migrant women in the criminal justice system.

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Ayia Napa: Woman convicted of gang rape lie wins appeal
BBC News, 31 Jan 2022

A British woman who reported being gang-raped in Cyprus has had her conviction for allegedly lying about the attack overturned. The woman, then 19, told Cypriot police she had been raped by 12 Israeli men and boys in Ayia Napa in July 2019. The Derbyshire teenager retracted the allegation after being held without a lawyer, and was then tried and convicted of causing public mischief. Her conviction was overturned at the Supreme Court in Cyprus. The woman's case had outraged women's rights campaigners, who gathered outside court ahead of the decision being handed down on Monday.
 

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Women This Week: Victory for Women’s Rights Activists in Pakistan
Council on Foreign Relations, 28 Jan 2022

A new bill that increases protections for women at work has passed Pakistan’s parliament. The bill expands on existing legislation from 2010, which had been criticized for being too narrow in scope. The new law, which was enacted earlier this month, specifically confers protection to students, domestic workers, and employees in informal workplaces. 

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Polish activists condemn abortion law after death of another pregnant woman
Euro News , 26 Jan 2022

 Human rights activists have slammed Poland's new abortion restrictions after the death of another pregnant woman. The family of a 37-year-old -- known as Agnieszka T. -- say she died of sepsis, related to a foetal illness. Agnieszka T. arrived at hospital with stomach pains while pregnant with twins, her family say. One of her foetus' died on 23 December, but doctors had waited to see if they could save the second foetus, they added.

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UN chief calls on Taliban to uphold women’s rights
Al Jazeera, 26 Jan 2022

The Taliban must uphold the fundamental human rights of women and children, the United Nations chief has said, urging the international community to release frozen Afghan aid to prevent families from selling their babies to buy food. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also warned on Wednesday that “Afghanistan is hanging by a thread” as millions of impoverished citizens struggle to survive amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

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