In a historic development concerning women’s rights, the Sudanese transitional government recently criminalized the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and made it punishable by up to three years in prison. FGM is a deeply discriminatory practice which results in the partial or total removal of external female genitalia without any medical reasons. It violates [...]
Search Results for: female genital mutilation
Sudan’s new government officially criminalized female genital mutilation (FGM) on Wednesday. The change is the result of an amendment to Sudan’s Criminal Law Article 141. The act is defined as removing or mutilating “the female genitalia by cutting, mutilating or modifying any natural part of it leading to the full or partial loss of its [...]
UN study: gender-related violence increasing as COVID-19 lockdown continues
In a study released MONDAY by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and some of its partners, experts showed that gender-related violence has risen while and access to family planning has decreased. This study found that nearly 50 million women across 114 countries are projected to be without access to modern contraceptives if the COVID-19 shutdown [...]
Guinea President Alpha Conde enacted a new constitution by decree Monday. Although voters supported the new constitution, a referendum on its changes last month spurred mass protests by the opposition. The US, the EU and France have questioned the validity of last month’s vote. Although Conde has been criticized as becoming increasingly authoritarian, he argues [...]
Federal judge finds female genital mutilation ban unconstitutional
A judge for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on Tuesday dismissed the case against Jumana Nagarwala, a doctor accused of performing female genital mutilation on at least 9 girls, finding the federal ban unconstitutional. The government brought this case against the doctor and seven other defendants including three additional medical [...]
The Chilean Congress passed a bill late Wednesday night that would would allow abortions in instances of rape, threat to the mother's health, and fetal abnormality "incompatible with life." The 70...
UK Supreme Court rules women from Northern Ireland not entitled to free abortions
The UK Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that women from Northern Ireland are not entitled to abortions under the England's National Health Services (NHS) . In a 3-2 decision, judges dismissed the appeal of a...
UN rights group calls on world leaders to invest in health and well-being
The High-Level Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents released a report Tuesday imploring world leaders to allocate 5 percent of their country's GDP in "public health spending," according ...
Trial begins for France soldier accused of abusing minors in Burkina Faso
The Paris Criminal Court , began a trial Tuesday over the alleged abuse of two minors by a French soldier in Burkina Faso in 2015. The French soldier, only recognized by the name Sebastian L., is alleged to film...
Physician Jumana Nagarwala, was charged Thursday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan for performing female genital mutilation (FGM) on minors out of a medical office in Livonia, Michigan. According to...