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4/1/2012
Iraq: 'Women are the Biggest Losers: Reflecting on the War in Iraq'

In the third week of December 2011, a confluence of political events profoundly affecting Iraqi and American women took place.

In that week, the remaining occupying US troops in Iraq were withdrawn, unceremoniously in a fortified concrete courtyard, with only a small band playing as the US flag was furled. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta avowed that the price was high, but the US invasion and occupation “gave birth to an independent, free and sovereign Iraq.” Iraq President Maliki did not attend.

4/1/2012
Egypt: 'Egyptian Court Says "Virginity Tests" Violated Women's Rights'

An administrative court ruled Tuesday that the Egyptian military had wrongly violated the human rights of female demonstrators by subjecting them to “virginity tests” intended to humiliate them.

The decision was the first to address a scandal arising from one of the military’s first crackdowns on protesters, on March 9, less than a month after it seized power with the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. And the ruling was also the first time since the military takeover that a civilian court has attempted to exert judicial authority over the ruling generals, who have suspended the Constitution and set themselves up as the only source of law.

4/1/2012
International: '2011's Big Wins - Brought to You by Women'

2011 was a year of transformations.

It began with thousands of people in the Middle East rising up to demand an end to repressive government and a say in their futures.

That spirit of transformation continued throughout the year. The world welcomed the new country of South Sudan, the culmination of a years-long peace process. A global network of activists sprang into action to thwart a policy that threatened Afghan women. The United Nations launched a new agency dedicated to guaranteeing women’s human rights worldwide.

21/12/2011
Egypt: 'Female Protesters Systematically Targeted'

Local human rights watchdogs on Sunday accused the Egyptian military of systematically targeting female political activists, and demanded that Egypt’s military rulers admit to violations committed against demonstrators.

In a joint statement, five human rights organizations accused military rulers of exercising "unprecedented violence against protesters, with the targeting of female activists being a distinctive feature of the proceedings to disperse sit-ins, as depicted in pictures and video clips showing protesters being arrested, beaten, dragged and stripped of their clothes.”

20/12/2011
Update: Indonesia: 'Aceh Punks File Report with Human Rights Commission'

A number of Aceh youths wearing punk hairstyles and attire reported to Banda Aceh authorities and to the National Commission on Human Rights’ Aceh branch on Monday over last week’s concert raid.

They were joined by human rights activist Hospi Novizal Sabri, Banda Aceh Legal Aid Foundation director Evi Narti, Tikar Pandan and community artist Azhari.

Felix and Juanda, the two youths representing the Aceh punk community, met with commission members Romi Mulya and Eka Azmiyadi.

20/12/2011
Indonesia: 'Aceh: "Morally Rehabilitating" Young Punks'

Indonesian sharia police are "morally rehabilitating" more than 60 young punk rock fans in Aceh province on Sumatra island, saying the youths are tarnishing the province's image. Since being arrested at a punk rock concert in the provincial capital Banda Aceh on Saturday night, 59 male and five female punk rock fans have been forced to have their hair cut, bathe in a lake, change clothes and pray.

15/12/2011
Afghanistan: 'Afghan TV Challenges Attitudes Towards Domestic Violence'

Afghanistan has been called one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman, and much of that danger lies in the home.

According to the United Nations, more than 87 per cent of all women there suffer from domestic violence.

But now, a radical television show is challenging attitudes to this abuse, inviting women to speak candidly and anonymously about their problems at home.

From Kabul, Tahir Qadiry reports.

Please go to the BBC link below to see the video report.

15/12/2011
Mali: 'Mali's New Family Law: Women's Rights Denied, Discrimination Upheld'

For more than 10 years, women in Mali have been waiting for the adoption of a Family law to protect their fundamental rights. Last week (2 December 2011), the Malian Parliament adopted a text which – far from increasing protection – eliminates rights and perpetuates discrimination.

14/12/2011
International: 'Women's voices must be heard during times of transitions and reform / Statement by the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and the Working Group on discrimination against women in law and in practice'

"Recently we have witnessed the active participation of women in public protests in many parts of the world which reflect their strong desire to promote societal change, including in respect of the rule of law and human rights generally, and women's human rights in particular. Moments of political transition provide a unique opportunity to ensure that women participate equally in public life and that their rights in legal and social systems, including the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence in law and in practice are addressed.

13/12/2011
Turkey: 'Can Turkey Make Its Mosques Feminist?'

A campaign to make Istanbul's roughly 3,100 mosques more welcoming for women could set off a gender revolution in Turkey's places of Islamic worship - and one that may not be uniformly welcomed.

"This is about mosques being a space for women," declared Kadriye Avci Erdemli, Istanbul's deputy mufti, the city's second most powerful administrator of the Islamic faith. "When a woman enters a mosque, she is entering the house of God and she should experience the same sacred treatment. In front of God, men and women are equal; they have the same rights to practice their religion."