WLUML/allies

UPDATE: Iraq: Campaign to affirm Personal Status Law and remove Article 41 from the constitution

We have received the following information from Iraqi friends who have initiated a campaign now that the constitutional committee has been formed. Their demands will be sent to the committee, to urge them to affirm the Personal Status Law and to remove Article 41 from the Iraqi constitution.

Pakistan: Demand action after incident of sexual violence at the Islamic Learning Department of Karachi University

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.

UPDATE: UN: Act now for UN reform and gender equality

The Coherence Panel met on 30-31 August 2006 to finalize, among other things, their report for the Secretary General. We have heard that many critical recommendations on the gender architecture of the UN may be included in the report. At this point, it is critical to send a bold message to the panel members about strengthening operational capacity alongside the normative functions.

Iran: Campaign to collect one million signatures demanding changes to discriminatory laws

Iranian women’s rights activists are initiating a wide campaign demanding an end to legal discrimination against women in Iranian law. The Campaign aims to collect one million signatures to demand changes to discriminatory laws against women and is a follow-up effort to the peaceful protest of the same aim, which took place on June 12, 2006 in Haft-e Tir Square in Tehran.

UPDATE: Iran: Stay of execution for Ashraf Kalhori but your solidarity is still needed

We are glad to inform you that we have heard that Ayatollah Shahroudi has acted to stop the execution of Ashraf, the 37 year old mother of four, who was sentenced to stoning for having had extramarital sex. However, her fate is not yet clear and we urge you to continue writing to the Iranian authorities on her behalf.

Iran: Urgently appeal against the execution, by stoning, of Ashraf Kolhari

WLUML has received the following request for solidarity from an Iranian networker who is voluntarily representing Ashraf Kalhori, currently in Evin prison in Tehran and scheduled to be stoned to death as a result of having an extramarital affair, despite her earlier request for a divorce being denied.

Update: Kyrgyzstan: Continued access to abortion - safe, for now

We have heard from friends from The Forum of Women's NGOs of Kyrgyzstan who recently requested support in the protest against initiatives that restrict women's right to abortion. They send their thanks and warm wishes to those who sent letters of support and solidarity. For now, these initiatives have not been adopted by the Kyrgyztsan Parliament.

UPDATE: Iran: Support Iranian women - demonstration 12 June 2006

We have heard from friends who say, "Thanks to everybody who participated in this solidarity action, the website of the Iranian Presidency drastically slowed down and came to a halt several times on the 18th and 19th of June. We can be sure they have received the word. We are ending this action for now with an urgent note."

Kyrgyzstan: Support the campaign to ensure continued access to abortion

The Forum of Women's NGOs of Kyrgyzstan is requesting your support in the protest against initiatives that restrict women's right to abortion.

UN: Act now for UN reform and gender equality

Despite the good commitments from CEDAW and the Beijing Platform for Action especially, implementation by governments and in the UN has been far slower than we would like. With the initiatives for reforms in the UN, there is an important opportunity now to ensure that the structural and other obstacles to effective implementation within the UN are addressed.