Just fourteen days after the National Assembly of Pakistan passed a Women's Protection Bill in order to provide relief and protection to women against the abuse of laws against premarital and extramarital sex, WLUML is deeply concerned to learn of another brutal "honour killing" case reported, from the Shikarpur district in the Sindh Province of Pakistan on 29 November 2006.
Colleagues at Shirkat Gah, WLUML Asia regional coordination office have been monitoring the situation and have confirmed that they have made efforts to meet with staff from the university departments involved and that the female student is now reported missing. There has been no further news on the incident and despite letters being sent to the judiciary and the university authorities, this case does not have a positive outcome. However, many thanks to those of you who responded.
Human Rights advocates are shocked over the attempted rape of a female law student by staff of the Islamic Learning Department of Karachi University on 28 July 2006. They urge you to write to the Pakistani authorities to demand action for the arrest of the perpetrators and the filing of a criminal case.
A second purpose of this manual is to make helpers aware of the so-called 'burnout syndrome' that comes with the stress of difficult and depressing work. It offers suggestions how to avoid having a burnout.
On October 8, 2005, a massive earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale jolted the mountain ranges straddling Pakistan and India. This is a Special Bulletin on the 2005 earthquake with a particular focus on women's survival, safety and rights.
WLUML is disturbed to hear that, in the latest outbreak of violence in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces as well as the LTTE are targeting unarmed civilians. We urge you to show solidarity and support friends in Sri Lanka and sign on/circulate this appeal.
During 2003-2005 we circulated calls for action regarding attacks on the community, and subsequent updates urging action. WLUML again urges you to write to the Bangladesh Government regarding their duty to protect minority communities.
