Violence against women

Iran: '“Unforgettable Butterflies”, Women's resistance movement of Iran'

The International Day against Violence against Women is observed on the anniversary day of the “Unforgettable Butterflies” of the Dominican Republic, when three sisters, the Mirables, were killed in the struggle against the dictatorship in their country. It was this heartbreaking incident that caused the United Nations to designate one day for publicising opposition to violence against the women the world over. We Iranian women also have many “unforgettable butterflies” in our civil nonviolent resistance Movement, such as Parvaneh Eskandary, Haleh Sahabi, and Neda Agha Soltan, our three generations of Unforgettable Butterflies, who were victims of brutal violence that is blazing more heatedly today.

Afghanistan: 'Afghan woman to be freed from jail after agreeing to marry rapist'

An Afghan woman jailed for adultery after she was raped by a relative is set to be freed – but only after agreeing to marry the man who attacked her. The case, which has highlighted the plight of Afghan women jailed for so-called moral crimes, was to be the subject of a documentary film funded by the European Union – until diplomats censored it out of fear for the woman's welfare, and for their relations with the Afghan government.

مصر:منظمات حقوقية مصرية توقف مشاركتها في حملة دولية ضد العنف المبني على النوع الاجتماعي

بيان مشترك – 25 نوفمبر 2011

يحتفل العالم اليوم، الجمعة 25 نوفمبر 2011، باليوم العالمي للقضاء على العنف ضد المرأة، ولقد أردنا كمنظمات نسوية الاشتراك في الحملة الدولية "16 يوم ضد العنف المبني على النوع الاجتماعي" وذلك عن طريق تنظيم عدد من الفعاليات في مصر، خاصة أن موضوع هذا العام هو مقاومة العسكرة وإنهاء العنف ضد النساء، وذلك للفت الأنظار إلى حقيقة الوضع الحالي في مصر وكيف يساهم العيش تحت الحكم العسكري في تعاظم معدلات العنف ضد النساء من خلال تعزيز القيم الأبوية.

Egypt: Egyptian Human Rights Organizations Stop their Participation in an International Campaign Against Gender Based Violence

Joint Statement -25 November 2011

Saudi Arabia: 'It's time to abolish the lashing penalty'

I realize that this is another very sensitive subject, but I would like to make an important point in order to dispel any confusion or misunderstanding. When I discuss a matter having religious implications, I do not mean to criticize the divine Islamic religion itself nor the positive achievements realized by Saudi Arabia, of which I can only express admiration, respect and my sincere devotion. However, I will criticize the wrongful practice of the religion when it betrays Islam's fundamental principle of human rights.

Afghanistan: 'Afghanistan Mother and Daughter Stoned and Shot Dead'

A group of armed men have stoned and shot dead a woman and her daughter in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, security officials have told the BBC. The officials blamed the Taliban, who they said had accused the women of "moral deviation and adultery". The police said two men had been arrested in connection with the murder.

The attack was only 300m from the governor's office in Ghazni city, which is on a list of places to be transferred to Afghan security control.

Taliban grip

Mexico: 'Women Reject Normalisation of Gender Violence'

Ninety percent of the non-governmental organisations in Mexico are founded and run by women, says journalist and women's rights activist Lydia Cacho Ribeiro, even as crimes against women remain cloaked in impunity.

Cacho was recently in New York, where she was awarded the Civil Courage award from the Train Foundation, and also spoke at a special event hosted by Columbia University.

Senegal: Movement to End FGM Spreads in Senegal

SARE HAROUNA, Senegal — When Aissatou Kande was a little girl, her family followed a tradition considered essential to her suitability to marry. Her clitoris was sliced off with nothing to dull the pain.

But on her wedding day, Ms. Kande, her head modestly covered in a plain white shawl, vowed to protect her own daughters from the same ancient custom. Days later, her village declared it would abandon female genital cutting for good.

Iran: Iran sentences film actress to 1 year in prison and 90 lashes'

An Iranian court has sentenced an Iranian actress to one year in jail and 90 lashes related to her role in an Australian-made film portraying social alienation, artistic repression and drug use in Iran, according to an Iranian opposition website.

Australia: 'Lebanese-Australian girl goes to court to stop her marriage'

A 16-year-old girl has been placed on an airport watch list in Australia after going to court to prevent her parents sending her to Lebanon for a forced marriage.

The Federal Magistrates' Court ruled that the parents of the teenager, who cannot be named, could not remove or attempt to remove their daughter from the country to marry the young man she has met only once.

Magistrate Joe Harman also ordered that the parents not assault, molest, harass, threaten or otherwise intimidate the girl or take her out of school.