Saturday, June 30, 2012

Women's Views on News

Women's Views on News

Cyndi Lauper launches project to reduce homelessness among LGBT youth

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 12:30 PM PDT

Karen Whiteley
WVoN co-editor 

Cyndi Lauper, the singer best known for telling us ‘girls just wanna have fun’, has turned her attention to an entirely more serious subject.

Lauper’s ‘Forty to None‘ project, launched this week, aims to help homeless LGBT youth and to raise awareness of the scale of the problem.

Estimates suggest that in the US, there are between 500,000 and 1.6 million homeless children between the ages of 12 and 17.

Further estimates suggest that a staggering 40% of them identify under the LGBT umbrella, despite the fact that LGBT youth make up only 3-5% of the national youth population.

It is thought that the high number of LGBT homeless is caused by factors such as abuse, neglect and rejection by families which are directly connected to the children’s sexuality or gender identity.

The project’s name reflects its aim to reduce that 40% figure to zero.

Talking about the project, Lauper said:

‘There's no shortage of organizations focused on ending homelessness or addressing the needs of homeless youth—but everything we've learned over the past year has made it clear that runaway and homeless gay and transgender youth are being left behind.

‘There's a void that needs to be filled. There are kids who are struggling and need real help, and my mission is to get them that help. That's why we started the Forty to None Project. Because I give a damn, and society should, too.’

The project consists of a five-year plan which will work to drive down the number of gay and transgender youth on the streets through campaigns that will:

- raise awareness about the young people affected

- advocate at the state and federal levels

- strengthen the network of services working on the issue

- train service providers to be more inclusive and understanding of the specific issues these children face

- empower homeless gay and transgender youth through resources and information.

Women not informed about natural birth options vs repeat c-section

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 11:30 AM PDT

Kathy Audin
WVoN co-editor

Women are opting for repeated cesarean sections without being fully informed about natural delivery options by their physicians.

A study conducted by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has found that women did not have the information they needed to make an informed decision about the risks of a natural delivery.

Researchers found that three quarters of women who had opted for a repeat C-section did not know that the risk of uterine rupture during labour is low - on average, about 0.5  to one percent.

The study of 155 women also revealed that there are many factors affecting a woman’s choice between repeat C-section and labor — including the preference of their doctor and worry over malpractice.

In particular, it found that most women would choose a "trial of labour after cesearan" if it was their physician's preference.

Dr Sarah N. Bernstein who headed the study said:

“The point of this is not to say that one option is better than the other. They are both safe options”.

The point is that women should make their decision based on as much information as possible.

Pregnancy is biggest killer of teenage girls worldwide

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT

Naomi Wilcox
WVoN co-editor

Pregnancy is the number one killer of teenage girls, according to a report published this week by the charity Save The Children.

The report, ‘Every Woman’s Right: How Family Planning Saves Lives’ reveals that over one million girls die or are seriously injured due to pregancy each year.

It has been published ahead of a Family Planning Summit in London next month.

Hosted by the British Government and the Gates Foundation, the summit aims to address the family planning needs of women in the world’s poorest countries, where it is estimated that over 200 million women who would otherwise want to prevent pregnancy, have no access to contraceptives.

Over 25,000 girls under 18 are married every day, and those who fall pregnant when under 15 are five times more likely to die during pregnancy than those over 20.

The risk to their children is just as serious. For mothers under 18, their babies’ chance of dying in the first year of life is 60 per cent greater than that of a baby born to someone aged 19 or older.

The chief executive of Marie Stopes, Dana Hovig, explains the stark reality of what this means:

“Every year 358,000 women die due to pregnancy or childbirth – that’s one woman every two minutes. Many of those women did not plan to be pregnant. Equally tragic is that 47,000 women die every year because of unsafe abortions.”

The summit will address these horrifying statistics, and the UK will play its part in the UN’s “Every Woman, Every Child”  global strategy.

International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, said:

“Every woman should be able to choose whether and when she has children, yet for 215 million women across the developing world this is not an option.

“The UK Government is determined to take action. We will work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and our partners to improve the lives of millions of girls and women in the poorest countries who want to avoid pregnancy and improve their health, education and future chances.”

They hope that over the next eight years 120 million women will be given access to contraceptives. Crucially, this will be accompanied by a widespread effort to empower women and girls through education and the law.

For the many young girls and women at risk this will be a vital lifeline, and it is estimated that access to family planning could reduce maternal deaths by a third.

Save The Children have set up a petition to urge British prime minister, David Cameron, and those at the Family Planning Summit to commit to providing the funds and resources needed to create this change.

“The issue of children having children – and dying because their bodies are too immature to deliver the baby – is a global scandal,” said Save the Children’s chief executive Justin Forsyth.

“In the developing world, family planning isn’t just a lifestyle choice. Children’s lives depend on it.”

To add your support to the petition click here.

Clinton disappointed in reproductive rights declaration at Rio summit

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 08:30 AM PDT

Kathy Audin
WVoN co-editor

Last week at the UN Economic Sustainability Conference in Rio, US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, stood up for the reproductive rights of women.

She said it was crucial that women were empowered to decide “whether and when to have children” if the world was ever to agree sustainable development goals.

She therefore supported the reference to women's sexual and reproductive health in the final document from the conference, but objected to the fact that there was no specific reference to "reproductive rights”.

Clinton said:  "this year's outcome document endorses sexual and reproductive health and universal access to family planning, to reach our goals in sustainable development we also have to ensure women's reproductive rights."

However, as a result of opposition from various G-77 developing nations, including the Vatican, part of a clause referring to "women's sexual and reproductive health and their reproductive rights” was deleted.

The final and diluted document states that:

"We are committed to promote equal access of women and girls to education, basic services, economic opportunities, and health care services”.  The previous draft said the conference was committed to ensuring equal access of women and girls.

The Vatican defended its opposition by associating reproductive rights with abortion, arguing that  “all human life, from conception until natural death, has the same worth and deserves the same dignity.”

This week, an international network of women's groups including Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) and Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) responded to the disappointing outcome.

Sascha Gabizon, executive director of WECF, "Two years of negotiations have culminated in a Ri0+20 outcome that makes almost no progress for women's rights and rights of future generations in sustainable development."

Anita Nayar, executive committee member of DAWN, said:

"Women worldwide are outraged that governments failed to recognize women's reproductive rights as a central aspect of gender equality and sustainable development in the Rio+20 Outcome Document.  Reproductive rights are universally recognized as human rights."

In Rio 20 years ago, leaders unanimously agreed that gender equality was integral to  sustainable development.  One step forward, several steps back?

Cambodian women jailed for protesting against forced eviction freed

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT

Karen Whiteley
WVoN co-editor 

Thirteen Cambodian women jailed for protesting against their eviction from their homes have been released by a Cambodian Appeals Court.

The women, members of the League of Boeung Kak Women Struggling for Housing Rights, were arrested following protests in Phnom Penh against the forced eviction of their community from land being cleared to make way for private developments.

Most of the women were sentenced to two and a half years in jail for illegally obtaining land and inciting others to illegally obtain land. Their trial was largely regarded as a farce and widely criticised by human rights groups.

Four of the women arrested began a hunger strike whilst in prison.

Although the women’s convictions were upheld by the court, their sentences were reduced because of time already served, leading to their immediate release.

Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the prison to greet the women, but were joined by around 300 police who were also deployed. Human rights groups said at least a dozen people were hurt in clashes between the two groups.

Such clashes are increasingly common. Conflict over land rights is regarded by many as Cambodia’s most pressing human rights issue.

Those involved in the protests say the authorities are increasingly cracking down on dissent, with deadly force often being used by police both during forced evictions and the protests against them. Land grabbing is often underpinned by corruption amongst Cambodian officials.

Whilst welcoming the news of their release, human rights groups expressed dismay that the women’s convictions were not overturned.

Amnesty International’s Cambodia researcher, Rupert Abbott said: ‘We are delighted that the 13 women will be released and reunited with their families and community.

‘Cambodia's Appeal Court should have overturned the women’s convictions, not merely suspend the remainder of their sentences,’ said Abbott.

‘The charges against the women were baseless, and their original trial was grossly unfair.’

Abbott’s sentiments were echoed by local human rights organisations.

Pung Chhiv Kek, president of the Cambodia League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, said: ‘I thank the Court of Appeal for its decision to free these 13 people, but I am disappointed because they did not do anything wrong and were charged.’

More female parliamentarians needed in Sierra Leone

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 05:30 AM PDT

Sarah Macshane,                             WVoN co-editor                                                                                                              

Women's groups in Sierra Leone are keen for women to achieve 30% representation in the forthcoming November general elections.

They are putting pressure on President Ernest Bai Koroma and his government to fulfill their promises to boost women's involvement in decision-making processes.

Barbara Bangura, coordinator of Sierra Leone's Grassroots Gender Equality Movement wants the government to commit to bring a draft gender quality bill into law before the elections.

The bill was drawn up after Women's Day celebrations in 2011 and stipulates that political parties must have a minimum of 30% of parliamentary female candidates but it has not yet been passed.

Women's rights campaigners are worried that male parliamentarians will not want to push it through as they fear losing their own seats to women.

According to Melrose Kargbo, head of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) in Sierra Leone, the men say that the policy 'does not allow people to freely choose who they want to represent them and infringes on people's basic human rights.'

Women's rights campaigners disagree and argue that special measures must be taken in countries such as Sierra Leone, where there are only 17 women out of 124 members of Parliament.

The National Commission for Democracy (NCD) has also launched a nation-wide call for women to participate more actively in politics.

Chair of the Commission, Dr Abubakar Kargbo, believes that increased participation of women in politics will 'help promote gender equality'.

In order for women to fight against violence and become more empowered, he says they must participate in politics and become decision-makers. But for men and women to work together to promote gender equity and politics, he says the government needs to introduce the 30% quota.

Rosaline Oya-Sankoh, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, said that her ministry is working extremely hard to make sure that women are included in the decision-making process of the government.

She is also a firm believer in the quota system and argues that it will 'push the issue of gender forward.'

And, as Bangura rightly argues: 'If we really want to practice true democracy, the women have to be involved… we have been left out for too long.'

IT lecturer becomes first female boxing referee in Wales

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 04:00 AM PDT

Sarah Macshane                                                        WVoN co-editor

An IT lecturer has become the first female boxing referee in Wales.

Mandy Brown – an inspiration to many female boxers and aspiring referees – she is the first woman to climb through the ropes and get up close with the competitors.

The Welsh Amateur Boxing Association confirmed earlier this month that she is its first qualified woman to referee in the ring.

Ms Brown has always loved boxing and became more involved when her husband opened a boxing club for young people where she lives in Llandudno, Conwy.

She accompanied her husband to matches as he trained to be a judge but she was not allowed at the ringside. She decided to change that situation by becoming a Grade One National Referee. She is also the first Welsh woman referee to oversee a GB international bout.

She is now taking her AIBA Amateur International Boxing Association qualification to allow her to referee at international matches.

Ms Brown says eh wants to help other women achieve similar goals and is currently helping one of Wales’ first female boxers Helen Jones to become a referee and judge.

She says she sometimes can’t believe how well she’s done: ‘Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I realise how far I have come”.

She believes anyone is capable of becoming a referee; you just have to be passionate about the sport and give up a few Friday nights!

Female Kazakhstani artist exhibits The Rhythm of Color

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 02:30 AM PDT

Jem McCarron
WVoN co-editor

From the end of July through to 21 August, the Agora Gallery in New York  is hosting the work of Kazakhstani artist Julia Ismambetova.

Her exhibition, The Rhythm of Color, introduces the viewer  ”to a deceptive simplicity which on closer inspection proves to conceal a thought-provoking sense of mystery and an intriguing complexity."

Born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Ismambetova  studied at the Faculty of Art in Almaty State University where she then lectured in the Arts and Crafts Department for three years.

Her exotic images are created with batiks and silks, although because she combines traditional techniques with modern she prefers to classify her work as "graphics on silk".

Her art is described as "both decorative and abstract" and she draws on Kazakhstani folklore to inspire her images of horsemen, nomads, landscapes and everyday life.

She says "When working on each new batik, I open a new and unexpected direction for my expression, which is prompted by the material itself, and leads to the impulse to create new compositions."

Batik is an ancient yet extremely complex form of fabric painting that requires great patience to master.

When working with this medium the artist is at the whim of the materials, ensuring that every piece is unique with its own character.

The images to be exhibited in August don’t require long explanations yet each evokes its own mood and feeling capturing the essence of a moment or scene beautifully.

The Agora Gallery specialises in fine art and showcases both local and international artists, often in the form of group exhibits.

It also publishes the bi-annual ARTisSpectrum Magazine  which is distributed around the globe and sponsor ARTmine,  a comprehensive artist’s resource.

If you are lucky enough to be able to visit  Chelsea’s Agora Gallery in New York you can view Ismambetova’s work from 31 July to 21 August with the opening reception being held on 2 August from 6-8pm.

British student journalist describes sex attack by crowd in Egypt

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 01:00 AM PDT

Jale Arif
WVoN co-editor 

A British student journalist has described how she was the victim of “a horrific sexual and physical attack” by a mob of men, amid the celebrations of Egypt’s first democratically elected president in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

Natasha Smith, 21, described in her blog how an atmosphere of "jubilation, excitement, and happiness" changed "in a split second," as she was dragged away from her male companion, stripped naked and violently attacked by a "group of animals."

She wrote: “I was stripped naked. Their insatiable appetite to hurt me heightened. These men, hundreds of them, had turned from humans to animals.

"Hundreds of men pulled my limbs apart and threw me around. They were scratching and clenching my breasts and forcing their fingers inside me in every possible way. So many men. All I could see was leering faces, more and more faces sneering and jeering as I was tossed around like fresh meat among starving lions.”

Ms Smith describes how a "small minority of men" tried to save her by guiding her to a tent, offering her rags and forming "a human shield" around her but men from the mob could still reach her, because there were just "too many".

Eventually, after about 10 minutes, Ms Smith reports that her friend reached her and managed to guide her to a medical tent, where local women helped protect her and gave her a burka and clothes.

Ms Smith wrote that the Muslim women told her that the attack “was motivated by rumors spread by troublemaking thugs that I was a foreign spy, following a national advertising campaign warning of the dangers of foreigners.”

She added: "But if that was the cause, it was only really used as a pretext, an excuse, to molest and violate a blonde young Western girl."

In an interview with CNN Ms Smith said:

“Arab women, Muslim women were all around me, just crying, saying ‘This is not Egypt! This is not Egypt! This is not Islam! These are thugs!’ She said she responded, “I know, I love Egypt, I know this is not Islam, it’s OK.

“And they were stunned, ’cause they thought I was going to be so full of hate and so full of fear. But from the very beginning, I don’t blame Egypt for this. This is not the workings of the Egyptian people. This is not representative.”

She escaped by posing as a stranger’s wife and walked out hand-in-hand with the man who told her not to cry and to "look normal," as he led her through the crowds.

Ms Smith, who will graduate with an MA in International Journalism from University College Falmouth in August, was on her first international assignment, shooting a documentary on women’s rights in Egypt as her final college project with two male friends.

The incident occured on Sunday when Egyptians gathered to celebrate the announcement of Mohammed Morsi as the nation’s first democratically elected leader.

Smith is not the first western woman to be assaulted while working in Egypt.

CBS News reporter Lara Logan was attacked during the 2011 revolution. She said 'men in the crowd had raped me with their hands'. Egyptian journalist Mona Eltahawy was also assaulted by Egyptian security forces in November.

Ms Smith is determined to continue her documentary and expose and spread awareness of the wider issue of sexual assault in the country.

She said: "I will overcome this and come back stronger and wiser. My documentary will be fuelled by my passion to help make people aware of just how serious this issue is.

"It’s not just a passing news story that briefly gets people's attention then is forgotten. This is a consistent trend and it has to stop.

"Arab women, western women – there are so many sufferers."