Issue no.: 7 | June 2010

Clippings

Afganisthan

Afghan women's rights are not our fight

February 2010 (Source: Boston) Representative Stephen Lynch (my congressman) writes in a Feb. 17 op-ed that the United States must preserve the rights of Afghan women by avoiding any reconciliation with the Taliban. But the warlord-dominated regime that the United States currently supports in Kabul has brought nothing but disaster for Afghan women. Eight years after the US military intervention in Afghanistan, Afghan women still die in childbirth more than women in any other country, women’s life expectancy is one of the lowest in the world (about 42 years), and UNICEF has just announced that Afghanistan has replaced Sierra Leone as the worst place in the world for a child to be born today.

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Bangladesh

No women dev policy now in force

March 2010 (Source: New Age): The government has neither kept in force the interim government’s women development policy nor framed a fresh policy to ensure women’s empowerment and equality in rights and opportunities although a year has elapsed after the cabinet was formed. The women and children affairs ministry responsible for making the policy is yet to ready any draft updating the policy of 1997 for a cabinet approval in keeping with an earlier decision of the government, a senior official said.The National Women Development Policy adopted in 1997 stipulated equal right of women to inheritance, property including what is achieved through technology and market management and to land.

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India

Women participation in democracy, the least understood promise in Rajasthan

March 2010 (Source: OneIndia):
Rajasthan should be proud of its pioneering move being the first Indian state to introduce Panchayti Raj System and also being prime mover for a move towards integrating women into local governance.Like in all other states, the 73rd Constitutional Amendment brought in one-third reservation for women at various levels. Fifteen years after this amendment, Rajasthan increased this reservation to 50 per cent, a step aimed at parity of men and women in the democratic process. n the face of it, the move was promising, heralding political empowerment of women and strengthening democracy at the grassroots. But the recent Panchayati elections in the state showed a picture quite contrarily.

Rajya Sabha passes women's reservation bill

March 2010 (Source: Times of India):
The controversial yet historic Women's Reservation Bill, ensuring 33% reservation to women in Parliament and state legislative bodies, was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (9th March) after two days of high drama that saw suspension of seven members who violently disrupted proceedings. The Bill, pushed by the government despite the threat of withdrawal of support by Samajwadi Party and RJD, was passed by a two-third majority, a day after it was moved in the House for consideration but could not be taken up because of unruly scenes.

Determined and ready to gamble, Sonia led the way

March 2010 (Source: Times of India):
Just an hour before Rajya Sabha passed the historic women's reservation bill, Sonia Gandhi was passing through Parliament's Central Hall when she found her way blocked by a group of journalists talking to Sharad Yadav. "Yahan to kam se kam jaane dijiye," Sonia told the JD(U) leader, the third member of the Yadav troika which so desperately tried to block the legislation. Her smile and polite gentleness completely masked the steely resolve that the Congress chief has shown since Monday evening to insist that the government must to get the women's bill passed at all costs. In the event, it was her determination that saw the Congress bite the bullet and take the battle to the opposition camp.

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Pakistan

Shama first woman governor of GB

March 2010 (Source: The News):
President Asif Ali on Monday appointed Dr. Shama Khalid as first woman governor for Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), who will take oath today (Tuesday). On the second death anniversary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, President Zardari had announced that the government would appoint a woman as governor for Gilgit-Baltistan. Dr Shama Khalid, it may be mentioned, is a leading social worker, who has voluntarily worked in different parts of the GB by establishing free summer medical camps every year. She also worked for an NGO with an objective to “save the children” from 1999-2001.

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Sri Lanka

Jafna women want to change society

March 2010 (Source: UCAN): Tamil women in Jaffna now want a greater say in building a peaceful society after the civil war. “As mothers, wives and sisters, let us understand our responsibilities in society!” they shouted during a recent march through the streets of Jaffna. Although men were the main casualties during the 26-year war which ended last May, women were most affected by the loss of family members and bread winners, as well as the migrations and displacements that occurred. The civil war almost halved the Tamil population, which numbered 1.5 million in the 1980s, in their Jaffna stronghold. Traditionally, women made decisions on household and health care matters, as well as children’s education, while the men made the major decisions on economic issues. But now, women are compelled to make almost all the decisions themselves.