All articles tagged with #womens rights
The United Nations says at least one person was killed in a crackdown on protests in Herat over the arrests of women, while urging Afghan authorities to uphold rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and security. Afghan officials denied widespread arrests and defended hijab enforcement, but UN officials stressed the detention of women carries stigma and violat es international human rights obligations.
Taliban security forces opened fire on protesters in Afghanistan who were demonstrating against arrests of women for dress-code violations, highlighting ongoing restrictions on women’s rights under the regime and drawing international attention.
Former Oregon Republican Sen. Bob Packwood, a powerful lawmaker who resigned in 1995 amid a sexual misconduct scandal and destruction of evidence, died at 93 in Rancho Mirage, California.
Myanmar's military expands its ban on distributing sanitary products, accusing rebels of using them for medical aid; activists warn the policy worsens gender-based harm, raises prices, and exacerbates health risks in a country with a collapsing health system and widespread displacement.
People around the world marked International Women's Day with protests and events urging equal pay, reproductive rights, education and leadership, while highlighting gender-based violence; observances ranged from Berlin to Santiago and Peru, reflecting a global push for progress under the UN-recognized day, with the 2026 theme 'Give to Gain' emphasizing fundraising and peer-to-peer advocacy.
Afghanistan’s decree-based penal code imposes longer punishment for animal fighting than for domestic violence against women, formalizes gender and social class discrimination by granting husbands authority over wives and varying punishments by status, and has drawn criticism from UN rights officials who urge reversal for violating international obligations and restricting women’s rights.
The UN’s human rights chief warned that a Taliban decree expands the death penalty, authorises corporal punishment, and criminalises dissent, deepening repression and rights abuses—especially against women—and called for its reversal and a moratorium on executions.
Violet Zulu, a 26-year-old in Zambia, was sentenced to seven years in 2024 for procuring her own abortion after clinics refused legal care and she couldn't afford private services; she delivered the fetus in a toilet, pleaded guilty after representing herself in court, and was later freed on appeal thanks to intervention by international rights groups. Her case highlights barriers to legal abortion, stigma, and lack of information, underscoring the need for better access and education amid Africa's high rate of unsafe abortions.
The Gambia's supreme court is hearing a case to overturn the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), amid protests from religious leaders and some MPs who argue it infringes on cultural and religious freedoms. Despite FGM being criminalized in 2015 and associated health risks, efforts to decriminalize it continue, reflecting a broader global regression in women's rights and ongoing cultural debates.
Queen Camilla publicly shared her personal experience of being assaulted on a train in the 1960s to highlight the issue of domestic violence and advocate for awareness and change.
Despite global setbacks in women's rights, inspiring resistance and progressive policies are emerging in places like Iceland and Rojava, demonstrating the resilience and potential for positive change through grassroots democracy, feminist activism, and innovative legal strategies.
Queen Camilla publicly shared her personal experience of being assaulted on a train in the 1960s to highlight the issue of domestic violence and advocate for awareness and change.
UN experts and prominent women worldwide have called on Iran to halt the execution of Zahra Tabari, a 67-year-old women's rights activist, citing serious procedural violations and gender discrimination in her trial, amid a broader increase in executions in Iran.
Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest U.S. park ranger and a pioneering advocate for Black and women's history, passed away at 104. Her life was marked by resilience, activism, and storytelling, from surviving the Great Mississippi Flood to working in segregated industries, founding a Black-owned record store, and dedicating her later years to preserving overlooked histories at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park. Her legacy includes numerous honors, a memoir, and a school named in her honor, inspiring ongoing conversations about justice and inclusion.
Despite ongoing enforcement, Iran's authorities appear to be easing their strict mandatory hijab policies amid social disobedience and protests, though they have not officially abandoned the rule, and a potential crackdown remains possible. Women are increasingly dressing freely in public, reflecting a shift driven by civil resistance, but the regime continues to enforce and threaten repression against those opposing the hijab.