Clippings
Afganisthan
Women protest over laws despite attacks
They were stoned, spat on and assaulted, but when 200 women staged Afghanistan’s first public women’s rights protest since the 1970s their voices were heard around the world. And if centuries-old traditions are to change, it may well be a petite but pugnacious 28-year-old called Diana Saqeb who is responsible. One of the organizers of the march, which took place a fortnight ago in the capital, Kabul, Ms Saqeb was present this week when President Karzai promised activists that there would be changes to the Shia Family Law that prompted their protest. (30th April, 2009, Times Online)
Afghan women protest against 'rape'
Some 300 Afghan women have protested against a new law that critics say legalises marital rape. The law, passed last month, says a husband can demand sex with his wife every four days unless she is ill or would be harmed by intercourse. The women were later pelted with stones by counter-protesting men, who shouted "Death to the slaves of the Christians!" (15th April, 2009, BBC).
Bangladesh
President for women’s chamber
President Zillur Rahman on Sunday stressed the need for establishing women’s chamber of commerce and industry in every district to organize women entrepreneurs involving them in mainstream of development process. The president made the observation when an 11-member delegation of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by its president Selima Ahmed called on him at Bangabhaban. (25th May, 2009, New Age)
India
59 women MPs in new parliament
After the General Elections 2009, politics is not just getting younger but fairer too. A record 59 women MPs have been elected to the new Lok Sabha - the highest since independence.
A record 59 women were elected to the 15th Lok Sabha, with a majority - 23 - belonging to the Congress party alone.In this election, 556 women candidates were fielded by various parties.While the Congress topped the list, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came second with 13 women being elected.The All India Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) follow with four women each getting elected to the Lok Sabha.The Janata Dal-United, Shiromani Akali Dal and Nationalist Congress Party have two women MPs each.The Telangana Rashtra Samiti, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Shiv Sena, DMK and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) have one woman MP each, according to the statement. (22nd May 2009, IndiaElections)
SC orders Mayawati Government to reinstate 18,000 cops
Just a week after her poll debacle, there is another setback to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bhaujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati.The Supreme Court on Monday ordered reinstatement of 18,000 police constables in Uttar Pradesh.The constables were sacked by the Mayawati government over allegation of irregularity in their appointment by Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav which was done just before the last Assembly elections in the state.Within weeks of coming to power in two years back, Mayawati had cancelled the appointments of the police personnel and had also constituted an inquiry to look into allegations of involvement of some top police officials in the appointments."The Chief Minister has been acting arbitrarily and she should resign," said Mulayam Singh Yadav. (26th May, 2009, IBNLive)
India elects first woman Speaker
India's parliament has elected its first woman Speaker after a sweeping victory for the Congress party in recent general elections.Congress veteran Meira Kumar, 64, a former lawyer and diplomat, was elected unopposed to cheers from MPs. Ms Kumar, who is from the low-caste Dalit (formerly untouchable) community, called her appointment "historic". (3rd June 2009, BBC)
Nepal
Laws enacted to check domestic violence in Nepal
The parliament in Nepal has enacted laws making domestic violence and violence at health institutions and health professionals punishable.The Domestic Violence and Punishment Act 2065 passed on Sunday defines physical, mental, sexual, financial as well as behavioral violence as domestic violence.The Act has a provision of slapping up to four months of imprisonment and Rs 6,000 fine on perpetrators of domestic violence, and half the punishment to accomplices. In case of physical or psychological injuries to the victim, the perpetrator will have to bear all treatment costs. The law says victim will have to file complaint at a police office, local body or Women’s Commission within 90 days of facing an act of domestic violence. Hearings on such cases will be held in closed sessions. (5th May 2009, Women Sphere)
Pakistan
Violence against women on the rise in Sindh
As many as 529 women were attacked in 419 acts of violence in the province during the first quarter of 2009 — from January to March, said a parliamentarian on Thursday. A total of 13 men also fell victim to honour killings.Speaking at the launch of a report titled ‘Situation of violence against women in Sindh’, compiled by the Aurat Foundation, PML (F) MPA Nusrat Abbasi said it was deplorable that violence against women was increasing with every passing day and the state had miserably failed to protect women, the vulnerable section of society. (1st May, 2009, Dawn)
Fear of death stalks women in Swat
Terrified, locked up at home and courting death if they go out alone, women oppressed by extremists in Swat have nothing to celebrate on International Women’s Day.Nearly 100 years after the annual day was created to mark the struggle for equal rights for half the world’s population, most women in Swat look blank and go silent when asked about gender rights and discrimination.They’re too frightened to speak in public. They can only leave the confines of their homes accompanied by a male relative, their bodies hidden in veils. (7th March, 2009, Dawn)
Sri Lanka
