Women & Leadership Links

Sourced by Meredith O’Connell

‘Europe has plenty – but where are all of Britain’s powerful women?’ – The Independent UK

Britain has slipped in the international rankings on sexual equality because of a cut in the number of female government ministers, according to a study published today.

Its conclusion will embarrass David Cameron, who once pledged that women would fill one-third of places in his government. Instead, fewer than 20 per cent of his ministers are female – and several were moved out of high-profile positions by Mr Cameron in last month’s reshuffle. Five government departments, including the Treasury, are now all-male.

The World Economic Forum’s annual “global gender gap” report places Britain 18th – down from 16th last year – after being passed by Nicaragua and Luxembourg. The report measures countries’ progress on tackling discrimination against women on a variety of measures, including earnings, educational performance and political participation.

The top five places are filled by Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Ireland.

‘Cameroon: Giving Women Land, Giving Them a Future‘ – All Africa

Although women produce 80 percent of Cameroon’s food needs according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, they own just two percent of the land, according to 2011 statistics from the Cameroon Gender Equality Network.

Although the 1974 Land Tenure Ordinance in Cameroon guarantees equal access to land for all citizens, customary laws and practices that discriminate against women’s land rights prevail over statutory laws. This has taken its toll on the economic well-being of women.

The problems of access to land for women and communities have been worsened by the land grab perpetuated by multinationals and society’s wealthy, according to Fon Nsoh. He particularly cited the case of Herakles Farms in Cameroon’s South West Region as the “hottest and the most contested.”

“Land certificates for matrimonial property should be instituted in the joint names of the husband and wife so as to do away with the patriarchal system of inheritance practiced in most of Cameroon,” Nsoh said. He added that such a requirement would make it difficult for women like Kimbi to be deprived of their land by other family members if a spouse dies.

‘Kenya: Boosting Contraceptive Use to Cut Unsafe Abortions’ - All Africa

Despite the medical risks associated with unsafe abortions, many women in Kenya continue to seek these services. Experts say only a scale-up of access to, and promotion of, contraceptives among sexually active women can reduce it.

While Kenya’s pre-2010 constitution permitted abortion only when a woman’s life was threatened, Kenya’s new constitution permits the procedure when a trained health professional deems it necessary for emergency treatment, either if a woman’s life or health are in danger, or if it is permitted under any other written law.

According one of the only studies available on the subject, conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2004, some 300,000 women and girls procure abortions each year – 20,000 of which lead to hospitalization as a result of abortion-related complications.

The unmet need for contraception in Kenya is high. The 2009 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey found that 25 percent of currently married women in Kenya have an unmet need for family planning – they would like to space their children or stop having children but are not using any form of contraception.

‘Indian government launches ‘no lavatory, no bride’ campaign’ - The New York Daily News

The Indian government has launched a ‘no lavatory, no bride’ campaign, telling women to reject potential suitors if they cannot provide an inside lavatory.

The comments were made by India’s controversial rural development minister, Jairam Ramesh, who recently angered Hindus by pointing out there were more temples than lavatories for the country’s 1.2 billion people

More than 900 million – 75 per cent of the population – has a mobile phone subscription in India, while only half of its households have a lavatory, according to last year’s census. Only 11 per cent of homes have a lavatory connected to the sewerage system.

The problem is worse for India’s women, many of whom are forced to rise before dawn to do their ablutions under cover of darkness. There have been a number of cases reported recently of women being raped or assaulted while searching for somewhere to go to the lavatory.

Egypt to Fight Sexual Harassment by Broadcasting Attackers – Bloomberg News

Egypt launched a campaign to protect women from sexual harassment by videotaping attackers and broadcasting the images, state-run Middle East News Agency said.

Cameras will be sited in major squares and streets to capture images of men harassing women, MENA reported today, citing the Interior Ministry.

Sexual harassment is one the most common problems facing girls and women in Egypt’s streets and public places.

The National Council for Women is preparing a full anti- harassment campaign with help from the Interior Ministry, and had suggested harsher penalties for such offenses, MENA said, citing the council. The project would be finalized before the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. The festival often witnesses the highest rates and worst cases of sexual harassment, said Mervat El-Talawy, the council chairwoman.

‘Nepali women break silence about sexual harassment on buses’ - UPI

“Where do I go and report against such behavior?” asks Sapana Acharya, 18, a college student, . “Is there any law against harassment? Even if there is one, how do I prove that I was harassed? There is no evidence.”

Nepali women say they face constant sexual harassment on public buses, their main means of transportation to get to work and school. Double victimization deters them from reporting incidents, as society often blames the victims of sexual abuse here and evidence and witnesses are difficult to secure. Laws are in place to protect women from abuse, but reports and enforcement of penalties are rare.
Public buses are the main means of transportation for the majority of the population, especially women, children and people with disabilities, says Kathmandu traffic inspector Sitaram Hachhethu.

They are also the most common places for girls and women to suffer sexual harassment.

Manima Shubba, a homemaker living in central Kathmandu , stresses that women of all walks of life have faced abuse in public vehicles – including her. The only difference is the number of times they have been victims.

‘Wounded Pakistan teen is now face of girls education movement’ -The Los Angeles Times

Malala Yousafzai did not trade in her modest head scarf for a pair of skinny jeans. She wanted to go to school.

For that, the Taliban tried to kill her. When her attackers learned that the freckled 14-year-old Pakistani might survive, they promised to finish the job. Malala, they explained, had been “promoting Western culture.”

People think ‘Western values’ is wearing jeans and sipping pop. Malala was doing none of that,” said Murtaza Haider, a Pakistan native and the associate dean of research and graduate programs at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto’s Ryerson University. “All she said was: ‘Would you be kind enough to reopen my school?’ This is what the Taliban thinks is a ‘Western value.’ This is not a Western value. This is a universal value.”

In 2003, came an arm of the Taliban, which imposed strict religious law, as it had in neighboring Afghanistan. Music was banned. Men would wear beards. And girls would no longer go to school.

This last bit did not sit well with Malala. When she was all of 11 years old, she started a diary about life under the Taliban’s thumb.

Entries in that diary were published by the BBC. Malala became something of a celebrity, featured in documentaries, insisting to visiting journalists that she still had rights — “to play,” she said, “to sing.” Most of all: “I have the right of education.” She knew she was risking her life, telling a reporter at one point that if the Taliban tried to kill her, “I’ll first say to them: ‘What you’re doing is wrong.’”

‘Guarani Women Arise! Indigenous Leader Matilde Lucio Wins International Rural Women’s Day Prize’ – Upside Down World Organization

Matilde Lucio grew up in a small mud house in a Guarani community in the province of Jujuy, located in northern Argentina. She completed only a few years of primary school before being sent to help her parents work on a nearby estate. Little did she imagine that one day she would be recognized as one of  2012’s outstanding rural women by the Women’s World Summit Foundation.  On October 15, Rural Women’s Day, Matilde will be awarded one of 10 international prizes for her creativity in rural life.

Matilde and other women, with support from local and international non-governmental organizations, began to organize workshops.

“We were invited to participate in trainings being given by a local NGO,” says Sonia Gimenez, a member of the APG from El Bananal Community. “At first we were afraid, most of us women hadn´t even finished primary school, we lacked confidence and felt shy. I did not speak out or ask questions as I had no idea what they were talking about. But over time we gained confidence. During the workshops we learned about our rights as indigenous people, we now know that we have special rights that correspond to us as as pre-inhabitants of Argentina.”

“The men said it was a waste of time, that the government was not going to listen to a group of women,” says Flora Cruz, who for many years lead the Guarani People´s Assembly. “But we were rebellious. Many of us suffered violence at the hands of our husbands. It was not unusual to see a woman with a black eye – this was the cost of becoming involved in community leadership.”

‘Roman Catholic women priests?’ – The Washington Post

From the outside looking in, it seems the Vatican would be just as happy to throw all its women ministers under the bus.

First, Rome ordered an investigation of all U.S.-based institutes of Catholic women religious, the sisters most people call “nuns.” Then Rome forced what amounts to a hostile takeover of their largest leadership group, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). Then there is the ongoing debate over whether women can be ordained.

The Catholic Church does not ordain women as priests, and says it never did. Despite volumes of evidence of ordinations of women to the diaconate, the sacred order responsible for the church’s charity, the priesthood has always been a different story.

Why? Well, the priesthood is rooted in the action of Christ with the Apostles: “do this in memory of me”—and until recently Christianity has uniformly agreed that Christ as head of the church must be represented by a male and that the church does not have authority to digress from his choice. In modern times some members of the Anglican Communion and various Protestant denominations have created women priests and pastors, but the Catholic and Orthodox Churches retain their older tradition.

‘Liberia: Baby Blues: No policy for Pregnant Schoolgirls’ – All Africa

The end of the war should have provided Patricia Kollie with an opportunity to start her studies again. But last month she was expelled for being pregnant.

“We were five who were pregnant. They called us in the office. They said ‘You are pregnant. Since you feel you’re big, go home. I can’t keep you in my school,’” Kollie explained.

We took the decision in line with our own handbook,” said Principal Peter Jutee. “Article 10.2d states that we can’t keep pregnant women in school. When they give birth, we readmit them.”

The Liberia Education law is silent on what should happen to girls who get pregnant while enrolled.

Pregnancy and subsequently dropping out of school is just one of many problems limiting access to education for girls in Liberia.

Girls in the rural areas have even more obstacles in their paths. Traditional practices along with a lack of schools and financial support are some of the challenges they must overcome.

Rape and sex for grades are not uncommon here. A study by Save the Children found that as many as four out of five schoolgirls in war-scarred Liberia resorted to having sex for cash so they could pay for their education.

‘Egypt: Suggested Constitutional Articles Threaten Women and Child Rights, Human Rights Watch’ – All Africa

 

Heba Morayef, representative of Human Rights Watch organization in Cairo, said that some of the suggested articles in the new Egyptian constitution are worrisome because it represents a threat to the rights of women and children.

Moravef pointed out, in a statement on radio ‘Sawa’ that was then reported by the Middle East News Agency, that the article on women’s rights in the light of the term ‘Islamic Sharia’ is particularly worrisome. It conflicts with the Egyptian constitution itself and also with Egypt’s obligations with respect to non-discrimination in accordance with the International Covenant on Political and Economic rights, according to her.

She added that the previous wording of the article that was suggested last August in relation to human trafficking stated “the prohibition of slavery and trafficking in women and children”. However, the wording was changed to “the prohibition of slavery and the violation of the rights of women and children”, saying that the word “violation” is too “loose and the general and does not state the actual crime in international law, namely human trafficking”.

‘Hell’s Angels’ – Republica

When the Koshi River broke through its embankment in Kusaha [in 2008], submerging several districts in Nepal and much of Bihar, India. In four of the most affected VDCs in Nepal, the flood displaced over 70,000 people and swept away 5,000 hectares of fertile land, including Samitra Devi’s, next to the East-West Highway in Sunsari District. After the flood receded, Samitra Devi was left with sedimented, uncultivable land, bringing her daily farming activities to a grinding halt. Her only source of livelihood had been washed away.

This is the story of thousands of women in Nepal affected by floods, forced to take on new roles as household heads and rebuild their families after men temporarily leave home in search of income. While taking on new tasks, these women must still attend to their usual responsibilities, made even more grueling and protracted in the aftermath of flood. However, even as they take on more activities and greater responsibilities, most institutions undervalue their contributions to the economy, whether through agricultural work, domestic work, or home-based livelihoods and small businesses, because key decision making power usually rests in the hands of men.

There is no dearth of eye-witness accounts of women, especially those from poor communities, who have shown enormous resilience despite the disproportionate amount of challenges they face after disasters. However, just because they are resilient does not mean they should be left to fend for themselves. In the absence of an overarching international legal framework that protects the rights and dignity of disaster-affected populations, the fate of millions of disaster-affected women around the world depends on the discretion of local authorities, the capacities of humanitarian agencies, and existing disaster management policies and practices.

Women & Leadership Links

 Sourced by Meredith O’Connell

‘At General Debate, Mongolia’s President calls for more Women in Leadership Positions’ – United Nations News Center

We need more women leaders. Women tend to see the whole picture. For society to advance, we need more women in public service at all levels – local to global. They bring a unique perspective often missing in global challenges,” President [Tsakhia] Elbegdorj told the 67th Assembly’s General Debate, taking place at UN Headquarters in New York.

With mothers wanting a better life for their children, the Mongolian leader said too many of them suffer when their children struggle – whether it is for lack of human rights or economic opportunity – and highlighted their valuable role in society.

“My 92-year-old-mother reminds me daily to serve all people with respect – especially women, children and the elderly. Women are the backbone of the family and the bedrock of a nation,” he said. “They bring life into the world. They sense the cries of an infant. Their instincts are to care for the old, the sick and those in need. Our mothers, sisters and daughters share a core value of caring for others.”

Noting that education is the “most basic” human right and the fundamental building block for human development and free societies, President Elbegdorj said that the way to empower women is to ensure that girls share the same education opportunities as boys.

‘How Edna Adan Built Somalia’s first Maternity Hospital’ – ABC News

Edna Adan has spent much of her life being first.  The daughter of  a prominent medical doctor in Somaliland,  she was the first girl in her country to learn to read, the first Somali woman to drive, the first certified nurse-midwife,  and the first lady of Somalia — her husband was Prime Minister Ibrahim Egal.

“It was something I’d always wanted to do – to build a hospital,” Adan told ABC News. “I could have retired and lived somewhere else in the world, but I think I would have found it difficult to live with myself.   I would have been spending a lot of time playing bridge or worrying about do I wear Gucci or some other fashion designer’s scarf or watch or belt….”Instead, in 1991,  Adan cashed in her pension from the World Health Organization,  sold all of her jewelry and belongings – including her favorite car, a Mercedes – and spent $300,000 of her own money to build a hospital.

Somalia has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. Every year, one baby in eight dies in infancy while nearly 4,000 Somali women die in childbirth.   Yet when Adan wanted to build the first maternity  hospital in her country, the only available plot of land was a garbage dump in the slums of Hargeisa.

Today, the Edna Adan University Hospital has treated over 14,000 patients and delivered more than 12,000 babies.

‘Are Sikh Women Allowed to Wax?‘ - The Wall Street Journal

When Balpreet Kaur, a young Sikh American, discovered she was being widely mocked on the Internet for her facial hair, she proudly pushed back. A picture of Ms. Kaur went viral on the Internet this week, with many commenting on the unusual amount of hair on her face.

The Sikh code of conduct, approved by the committee in the 1930s, forbids followers from “tempering with the hair with which the child is born.” A U.S.-based Sikh group, the Sikh Coalition, was of the same opinion. On its website it said that “Sikhs are not supposed to cut hair from any part of their body. All Sikhs are thus supposed to have unshorn hair, and Sikh women are to maintain a separate identity and not shave.” They blamed the fact many women flout this rule on “societal pressure.”

Some Sikh women have openly opposed the guidelines, saying it should be a matter of personal choice. “It doesn’t make me a sinner if I wax,” says 33-year-old Gursharan Sandhu, who spends her weekends doing community service at a local Sikh temple in New Delhi. “These are century-old beliefs….We need to move on with changing times,” she adds.

 

‘Swedish Firm Erases Women in Saudi Catalogue’ - Al-Jazeera

Swedish furniture giant IKEA has landed itself in hot water in its home country after women and girls were airbrushed out of some of the pictures in its Saudi Arabian catalogue.

A local version of IKEA’s yearly catalogue, published on its Saudi website, shows images that are identical to those in other editions save for one detail: the women are gone.

The removal of women from the pages of the Saudi edition, including a young girl who was pictured studying at her desk, has prompted a strong response from Swedes, who pride themselves on egalitarian policies and a narrow gender gap.

“You can’t remove or airbrush women out of reality. If Saudi Arabia does not allow women to be seen or heard, or to work, they are letting half their intellectual capital go to waste,” Ewa Bjoerling, the trade minister, said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia applies strict rules of gender segregation, banning women from driving and requiring them to have permission from a male guardian before traveling or receiving medical care.

 ‘Women in Focus: What the Arab World can Learn from the UAE’s Female Empowerment Policies’ -AME Info

While the Arab World may not have the best track record for female empowerment, the UAE stands as the exception to the rule. Research shows UAE women have equal access to education and they outperform men in academic settings.

What is more, studies have found Emirati women start their own businesses for much more than monetary gain. According to a survey conducted last month by Abu Dhabi University (ADU), in collaboration with Qatar University, UAE female entrepreneurs do not enter the workforce out of necessity, rather for a sense for accomplishment inspired by a need to help others and contribute to the local economy. Furthermore, as Raja Easa Al Gurg, President of the Dubai Business Women Council within the Dubai Chambers notes, “entrepreneurship provides the desired social flexibility between a woman’s traditional role in the home and widely emerging career aspirations.”

Prominent Emirati businesswomen and UAE organizations are gathering to discuss key topics about Emiratisation, leadership, innovation and youth at the 4th Annual Women in Leadership Forum Middle East and Africa, organized by the French business information company Naseba.

 ‘High in the Himalayas Brothers Share One Wife’ - The NY Daily

In ancient times, the sons of almost every family in the region of Upper Dolpa would jointly marry one woman but the practice of polyandry is dying out as the region begins to open up to modern life. But polyandry prevents the practice of each generation of a family dividing their holdings, and food supplies just manage to cover the locals’ basic needs.

Marriages are typically arranged, with a family picking a wife for their oldest son and giving the younger brothers the chance to wed her later. In some cases the wives will even help raise their future husbands, entering into sexual relationships with them when they are considered mature enough.

Unlike most men in conservative, predominantly Hindu Nepal, husbands in polyandrous marriages handle domestic duties, helping with cooking and childcare, while women are in charge of the money. Polyandry also works as a form of birth control as a woman can only get pregnant so many times, regardless of how many husbands she has.

The polyandrous household doesn’t usually acknowledge which husband is the biological parent, with the children calling father and uncles “dad”. Polyandry breaks many Western sexual taboos and often fascinates outsiders, but locals see it as natural and beneficial.

Women & Leadership Links

Women emerge as Strong leaders following elections in India’s Odisha state-  UNWomen.org

Bharati Behra has great apirations for her people. As a recently elected Sarpanch  or village head, she hopes to become the voice of tribals from the area. Elected from Kankadpal Gram Panchayat (village council) during panchayat elections in Odisha state of India, Bharati’s victory is a trimuph for the tribal women of her region.

These elections encourage decentralisation of power and services to the villages and people. Held every five years, they were mandated by the Constitution after the creation of local government bodies or Panchayati Raj Institutions in 1993.

The Constitution also provided for one-third reservation for women. In India, 4 states, including Odisha, have now passed legislation reserving at least 50 percent seats for women.Women leaders in Odisha are now breaking the barriers thanks to the decision of the Government of Odisha to ensure 50 percent reservations for women in the 2012 panchayat elections

Building a Nation of Empowered Women- SaCommercialProNews.co.z

The theme of this year’s Women’s Month is ‘Working together to enhance women’s opportunities to economic empowerment’.

Clarise van Niekerk (Site Quantity Surveyor at Murray and Roberts) reveals, “Most men have a tendency to trust another man more than they would a woman – even when the woman has been in the industry for longer.” She believes that women should be employed based on their ability to add value and not purely on gender or ethnicity and would like to see more women in senior positions across the industry.

Palestinian Women outraged by Market Killings- Wboc.com

Women have scored some breakthroughs in traditional Palestinian society in recent years, including gaining a greater role in public life. However, tribal laws still remain strong, and violence against women is generally viewed by police as an internal family matter.

Last year, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed a decree that ended a long-standing practice of treating killings within a family with leniency. Justice Minister Ali Mohanna said such killings are now treated as any other slaying, and claims of assailants that they were protecting “family honor” are no longer taken into account.

Thirteen women were killed by family members or in suspicious circumstances blamed on relatives in 2011, said Farid al-Attrash of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights. In 2012, 12 women were killed by relatives, including three in so-called “family honor” cases, he said. Those include suspected adultery and similar cases.

“Every once in a while, there is a case that makes us feel worried and afraid that we are going back to square one (as women),” she said, noting that law enforcement agencies need to look at what they can do to protect women.

We Need More Women In Leadership: What does it Take? -Anitaborg.org

Based on the assumption that women value trusting and supportive relationships, one might think women executives would be the strongest advocates for other women.  This may not always be the case. Research seems to back this up. One particular study reported that 54% of the women surveyed said that other women had never helped them advance in their career and 9% said that women had deliberately held them back.

Women who won’t take the time to help other women or simply don’t see it as their role to help other women with their careers is often referred to as the “Queen Bee.” These are women who have made it to the top and don’t necessarily want other women to join them. Perhaps they think there isn’t enough room at the top for more women and feel threatened and thus are unwilling to bring others along. Or maybe they believe, “I had to pay my dues. No one made it easy for me.”

It’s important that women realize the collective power they have together versus doing it alone.  So be intentional about reaching out and bringing other women up.  I have always said that the more women who are successful in their careers the greater chance other women will be successful as well.

In-depth: Between Two Stones- Nepal’s Decade of Conflict (Young People on the Frontline)- IrinNews.org

“Children are so traumatised, and the Maoist rebels and security forces should be blamed for making their lives this way,” said Sharma’s teacher Min Bahadur Pun, in Seri Gaun, a village in Rukum, one of Nepal’s most conflict-ridden districts.

According to a Nepali child-rights group, Child Workers in Nepal, over 400 children have been killed, around 500 injured or disabled, and as many as 8,000 have lost their parents or close relatives since the war began in 1996. About 40,000 children, it says, have been displaced from their homes.

In June 2005, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child reported that armed conflict had made it difficult to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child, an international human rights treaty which Nepal ratified in 1996.

Women & Leadership Links

Zimbabwe: 2012 Historic for African Women Leadership- AllAfrica.com

The year 2012 has thus far proved promising for the African woman’s status within public bodies following the recent election of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as African Union Commission Chair.

The main objective of the Decade for Women campaign is to strengthen and push for further commitments on implementation of agreed global and regional commitments of gender equality and women empowerment.

While there may be other power dynamics at play in the election process (for example the French/English language divide in Africa), it is still worth celebrating that for the first time in history a woman chair has been elected.

Zimbabwean women like their counterparts within the rest of Africa, identify with the rise of women into leadership and also emulate that through participating in decision making processes.

Women Leaders Chart a Path to the Future- USAid

The energy, dedication and aspiration of women leaders was on full display in Asia last week as women convened across the region to identify their priorities moving forward. I was honored to join them in discussing how to advance their agendas and maximize their influence in governing. It was simply incredible to watch these women leaders in action.

In Bangladesh, USAID worked with UKAID and the Asia Foundation to organize the first-ever South Asia Women Parliamentarians’ Conference on Women Leading for Gender-Responsive Governance. The event launched a regional network of women legislators from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. They defined priorities for collaboration regionally as well as within their countries’ parliaments. Appropriately held in a country where both the Prime Minister and the head of the opposition are both women, the conference aimed to help women recognize the opportunity and obligation to govern for the good of all citizens, and particularly the women they represent.

Taliban Execution of Afghan Woman Causes Outraged Activists to Mobilize- TheDailyBeast

Afghan activists quickly organized a march today in Kabul for several hundred women and men aimed at bringing attention to Najiba’s killing, alleged to have come at the hands of the Taliban. Details surrounding the circumstances of the woman’s murder at close range remain murky, but the story involves two commanders said to be involved with the young woman and a decision to settle the matter at gunpoint by killing her without any kind of trial for the crime of “adultery.”

The leaders of Wednesday’s march say they chose to speak out publicly in order to force their government to bring the men who committed the crime to justice.

Some women leaders say the gruesome execution lays bare the myth of a “reformed” Taliban and forces the world to see what they have argued for a while: there is no evidence that Taliban elders are ready to respect the current Afghan constitution, which offers women equal protections under the law. While Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues to tout the American strategy of “Fight, Build, Talk” when it comes to Taliban opponents and Vice President Joe Biden has previously said the “Taliban per se is not our enemy,” the American Embassy in Kabul released a statement saying, “This cold-blooded murder, carried out in front of a crowd and recorded on video, is an unambiguous reminder to the Afghan people and the international community of the brutality of the Taliban.”

Mexico: A Machista Culture of Corruption and Violence?- ASafeWorldForWomen

 When Grettel Rodriguez tried to break up with her boyfriend in 2009, he attacked her with a knife, wounding her across her body and face, and nicking her jugular, almost killing her.

 The violence epidemic against women in Mexico is being compounded by the failings of the justice system, which passes sentence in only 1 percent of the small number of murder cases that ever make it to court. 

The low social status of women in Mexico has a huge impact on their situation. Women who want to work are subjected to pregnancy tests, with a positive result eliminating them from the selection.

On top of that, women with advanced qualifications like PhDs can sometimes receive a higher wage, but when men are not the provider, it makes men feel“emasculated”, and the shame associated with this often leads to separation or divorce.

Hoots in Parliament: France Debates Sexual Harassment Law- ASafeWorldForWomen

The hooting and catcalls began as soon as the Cabinet minister stood, wearing a blue and white flowered dress.

It did not cease for the entire time she spoke before France’s National Assembly. And they came not from an unruly crowd, but from male legislators who later said they were merely showing their appreciation on a warm summer’s day.

“Women will no longer be without protection, that’s the most important thing,” said Asma Guenifi, president of the feminist group Neither Prostitutes nor Doormats. But Guenefi said she had reservations about the replacement law, primarily its maximum punishment of three years in prison and the three escalating categories of harassment.

But in a culture where hissing at women on the street is considered a sign of approval and sexual banter is often a workplace norm, Guenifi said the law could be a hard sell for women under pressure to keep their jobs in a difficult economy. Especially coming from the same group of lawmakers who last week disrupted a normally routine presentation from government ministers.

 

Women & Leadership Links

No clear route out of servitude for indentured girls- Irinnews.org

“In Nepal, New Years celebrations are a time of happiness for families but also a tragic time for poor parents, to sell their young daughters, usually around the ages of 6 and 7, to contractors that keep the girls as servants around the house. Girls sold into this virtual form of slavery are known as kamlari. Usually, this is for money. The girls’ wages will feed their families. It is also a matter of pride, because kamlari tradition dictates culture; it is perfectly normal.”

Since the year 2000, more than 11,000 Kamlaris, girls committed to indentured servitude by their parents, have been rescued. But without financial support, those freed remain impoverished and some say they are forced to consider returning to work as Kamlaris.

There is concern that many of the formerly indentured girls are already dropping out of school because they cannot afford the fees. In Dang District, western Nepal, about 400km south of Kathmandu, more than 200 former Kamlaris have already dropped out of school this year, according to NGO the Society Welfare Action Nepal (SWAN).

India: the orphanage giving girls a future- Telegraph.co.uk

The girl’s voice rings out, as high and clear as the song of Mumbai’s native parakeets. Sitting in front of her in pigtails and school uniforms, her audience is rapt. ‘It’s a Maharashtran folk song,’ says 14-year-old Pooja beside me, with a tear welling in her eye. ‘Padmamalini wants to be a professional singer when she’s older and she sings to us every night here in the dorm once we’ve changed into our pyjamas. We’re all rooting for her; we want her to make it in Bollywood.’

Girls are particularly vulnerable to abandonment. In addition to financially supporting their parents in old age, sons hold the promise of recruiting a wife into the family home to help with domestic labour. Girls, meanwhile, require their parents to save for an often exorbitant dowry and wedding, before relinquishing them, and their labour, to another family home.

 Afghanistan Must Stop the Murder of It’s Female Leaders- Guardian.co.uk

The targeting of Afghan women leaders in government positions is not a new phenomenon. Safia Amajan held the same position as Safi in Kandahar. Sitara Achakzai was a provincial council member. Malalai Kakar was provincial chief of female police in Kandahar. A number of women aid workers, whose names and identities are not recorded, have also been murdered.

Sadly, the Afghan government does almost nothing about such incidents apart from condemning them; there is rarely any serious effort to catch the perpetrators. In some cases, attempts are made to blame the killings on “personal disputes” or “family hostility”, or to imply some moral justification – in Safi’s case, that she “had been known locally for going out without her head covered”.

Are Today’s Young Women Afraid to Lead?- HuffingtonPost  

A recent Forbes blog written by a 19-year-old college student raised an interesting issue: Women of the millennial generation are afraid to lead. Why? Because instead of hearing the “girl power” message that girls can do anything and be anything, this generation of women got the message that they had to do everything and be everything. And they had to do it perfectly… or not at all.

For generations, women like Susan B. Anthony, Margaret Sanger, and Gloria Steinem fought for women to have equal rights and hold positions of power. Yet fewer and fewer women are holding seats in Congress. Women comprise only 2 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs, 8 percent of top leadership positions, and 20 percent of college presidencies. If you were hoping the millennial generation was going to change that, think again.

So is it any wonder that today’s women are so afraid to be in positions of power? Not only do they have to be perfect, they have to look perfect. Men are simply not held to those dual standards. Caroline Heldman and her colleagues have argued that the media’s focus on women’s appearance may even be hindering women’s abilities to obtain positions of power. Specifically addressing Elizabeth Dole’s bid for the presidency in 1999, they criticized the media for treating Dole as if “she was a novelty in the race rather than a strong contender with a good chance of winning.” Diana B. Carlin and Kelly L. Winfrey from the University of Kansas made a similar argument about the media’s treatment of Clinton and Palin in the 2008 campaigns. “The analysis indicates that there was a considerable amount of negative coverage of both candidates and that such coverage has potential to cast doubt on a woman’s suitability to be commander-in-chief or in the wings,” they wrote.

Tin Toilets in India Mark a Village Woman’s Feat- WomensENews

Mula Devi’s leadership began about 15 years ago, when a nongovernmental advocacy group, the Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan, based in the neighboring town of Orai, began grassroots interventions in the region.

In Mula Devi’s group of 12 people each one began depositing about $50 each until they had enough money to start a so-called bangle business.

Her exposure to the outside world encouraged Mula Devi to consider her surroundings with new eyes. She saw pools of stagnant water, children defecating outside their homes, overflowing sewers. She listened to presentations on water safety.

Inspiring Women of the Week Blog Series: Meet Latoya Lee!

 Latoya Lee, our newest Inspiring woman of the week, knew she was destined to become a leader at a young age. Latoya from Hot Springs, Arkansas, is a Junior at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  She majors in Health Sciences with a minor in Sociology. Her primary goal is to become a Nutritionist for obese children. Her passion towards children, volunteerism, and a recent trip to Africa all inspired her to pursue become an advocator for Young Women. Latoya, hopes to start up a non-profit organization that aims to empower women and encourage them to “accept themselves for who they are.” Read more about Latoya and her goals and aspirations in the interview below!

What can you tell me about yourself?

Well, I’m a southern girl. I was born and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I will be transferring to Arizona State University next semester, and majoring in Early Childhood Education. I am very passionate about children. I currently work at Good Samaritan’s Simply kids Daycare, where I am the lead teacher for a group of toddlers. I discovered very early on in life that I was a born leader. I would put candy in the mailbox for the mailman, and volunteer at local shelters all before I reached Middle School.

 

Wow! That’s impressive! How long have you been working at the daycare?

 Thank You! I have been an employee of Simply Kids for about six months now, and I plan to transfer once I relocate to Arizona. I am not sure how I will handle a job that doesn’t involve the caring of children. Every time I walk inside the classroom, I get a euphoric feeling; smiling faces and shining personalities make my day worthwhile.

So when did you first start working with children?

My first experience with children was in the summer of 2008. I was one of twenty students chosen to represent my community, state, and nation in the underdeveloped cities of Africa. My entire experience consisted of working with children. The trip lasted five and a half weeks, and I was able to volunteer at three different sites.

I spent almost six weeks volunteering in both Namibia and South Africa. Our first destination was Eenhana, Namibia. There, we worked with the community to build homes.  I also had the privilege to be a Nurses’ aide. My duties included documenting temperature readings and weight/height measurements for many of the children in the community. I would be on the work site from 8-4:30 on a daily basis. I looked forward to my midday breaks, because I had the opportunity to play with the children. We would play tag, and I introduced them to “Ring around the Rosy.”

I spent the remainder of my trip in South Africa. We visited the Sinegugu School. The community was gregarious and welcoming. Although I was hesitant to take on such tasks, I became involved with teaching, Physical Education classes. I also helped to prepare six new classrooms for the school. My last stop was the Emtshawazo School. At Emtshawazo, we completed similar work to that at Sinegugu School. At this school, I was able to spend more time to spend with the children. My favorite part of working there was teaching Math and Science to a class of more than 17 students.

That’s so great. So what would you say has been your most difficult leadership test?

 Great question! I think it has been to be able to tell Americans about my experience in Africa. As a proud advocate for Africa and volunteerism, I feel like it is my duty to spread the word about volunteering around the world. Switching from a luxurious lifestyle to a workers’ lifestyle was not hard for me at all because I gained so much knowledge. Daily things we view as necessities suddenly seem to lose value, and I wish more people could view the world through the eyes of a person that lives in an underdeveloped country. The quote from the song “Africa” by The Paul Coleman Trio, “Africa-I came to change you, but instead you changed me,” perfectly illustrates my experience in Africa.

How do you hope to be an advocate over the next few years in school and your career?

My primary goal is to become involved in leadership clubs on campus. I am also working on creating a non-profit organization targeting women and self-acceptance. I am working with a friend who resides in Kenya on a non-profit organization he created, The Urban Hope Project. This program targets youth in challenging communities. I also plan to volunteer weekends at any place needing assistance. I would prefer to work with Children’s Hospitals and Animal Shelters.

Do you want to talk a bit more about creating your non-profit? Why women and self-acceptance?

As I was growing up, I felt as if I was a victim to society. Magazines and the media place a lot pressure on women and their looks. I struggled with trying to be someone I was not by creating different looks to be like someone else. In the midst of struggling with my look, I learned that I was born Latoya Lee for a reason, and in order to be a leader I have to be positive within myself. I am proud to say that I love myself, and take pride in who I am. I want to share my story, and hopefully encourage and motivate girls, and women of all ages to take pride in their skin, hair texture, and features.

That’s great! What advice do you have for young women who want to be leaders in their schools/communities, etc?

What are you waiting for? We must be the change we wish to see in this world. Do not let fear, doubt, or worry hold you back. Come up with a plan and put it into action. Find individuals with the same goals and aspirations as you to befriend, and surround yourself with people who encourage and build you up. Positive thinking is the root to success. In whatever you do go above and beyond. Good Luck!

That’s great advice. Who is one woman leader who inspires you? Who is your role model/mentor?

One woman leader in the media who inspires me is Angelina Jolie.  She is a Good Will Ambassador, and has traveled the world volunteering, donating, and spreading love. My role model is my older sister. She has traveled to Israel, and recently visited Belize on a Children’s Crusade. In everything I do, she is my backbone and guide. I admire her leadership qualities and in return she admires mine. I am grateful to have her in my life.

Women & Leadership Links

GRCC Hosts Students as Part of U.S. State Department Women’s Leadership Institute- Enumclaw.com

Green River Community College is once again hosting 19 young women students from Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, India and Pakistan as part of the Study of the U.S. Institute on Women’s Leadership, an annual program sponsored by the U.S. State Department. The students arrived June 25.

The participating young women are outstanding and highly motivated undergraduates, typically in their junior year at a university, who have demonstrated leadership through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. They are nominated by their respective U.S. embassies after a rigorous interview process which identifies students with the potential to become future leaders in society and in their chosen careers.

CEDAW Turns 30: Ending Discrimination Against Women Leaders- Womeninpublicservice.org

“For three decades, the 23-member Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has worked to bring the landmark Women’s Convention (CEDAW) to life. In response to the Committee’s review and recommendations, governments have changed their laws, policies and approaches to women in line with international gender equality goals.

In recognition of the Committee’s 30-year milestone, UN Women and the Office of the High Commission of Human Rights held a panel discussion on 9 July 2012 at the UN Headquarters in New York. The event gave a particular focus to women’s political participation and leadership.

Although celebrating the leaps made in women’s political participation over the past 30 years, Ms. Bachelet stressed there is work yet to be done. She spoke of the power of temporary special measures, such as quotas or parity laws, to close this gap. “Women constitute 51 per cent of the world’s population, yet they are under-represented in the allegedly representative bodies that make key decisions affecting their lives,” she said, noting that the global average for women parliamentarians stands at just 19.5 per cent.

World Leaders accused of backsliding on women’s rights- Guardian.co.uk

Women’s rights are under the greatest attack for almost 20 years after a failure of world leaders to continue to support reproductive rights, according to Mary Robinson, the first female president of Ireland.Womens’ rights and youth campaigners were shocked that a coalition of the Holy See, Russia, Syria, Egypt and several of the more conservative states in South America were able to jettison international agreements made in the 1990s by speaking against the inclusion of reproductive rights in the final agreement. Instead, the only mention of reproductive rights in the 80-page missive was as a “health issue”.”We are very focused on tackling inequality … Unfortunately, since we started five years ago these issues have become more urgent. There is more of a need. Look at Sudan, South Sudan. Yes we had the Arab spring but look now at democracy.”

Transformational Leadership: Do Great Leaders Share the Same Traits?- integratingwomanleaders.com

Scholars over the years have studied personality traits that you are born with and develop in childhood the traits of a great leader.  In recent times, scholars have shifted to study core competencies, which sets of behaviors and processes leaders adapt and can modify. Companies are investing a great deal of time and money to understand ways to access peoples core competencies and provide leadership development for their future leaders.

Not only are companies investing in this area for future leaders but so are the University’s. The quote from James MacGregor  Burns’s, the  book entitled Leadership served as my textbook for my semester-long course on transformational leadership. Throughout the semester, students were to choose a leader, past or present, and draw conclusions about his or her leadership style and present it to the class. The leaders discussed, more often than not, were historical figures and rarely did a student choose recent or current leaders. Towards the end of the semester, I started wondering why the interest in past leaders?  It’s obvious that leadership plays a major role in an organization’s success or failure in today’s business world. So how is it that transformational qualities are relevant for leaders today, especially in the workplace?

Afghans protest woman’s public execution- Indiatimes.com

Dozens of rights activists took to the streets Wednesday to protest over the recent public execution of a young woman for alleged adultery, which was captured in a horrific video.

The 22-year-old victim was shot dead as dozens of men cheered in a village about 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of the capital Kabul.

“We want justice,” the protesters, almost all women, chanted as they marched from the women’s affairs ministry to President Hamid Karzai’s heavily-fortified palace.

Women & Leadership Links

Building Blocks to increase Women’s Economic & Political Progress- The Huffington Post

In terms of women’s political participation, both at the grassroots and national decision-making levels, we must value women as voters, as candidates, and as elected or appointed officials. Societies must recognize the importance of women, who comprise over half of the world’s population, participating fully in policy decisions that are made at the local, national, and international levels. In an era where we are all looking to be as efficient and effective as possible, a country cannot develop a policy on anything without understanding the very different needs of men and women, whether that is in terms of access to credit or access to health care. For example, women have different health care needs because they give birth — and men do not — and because they are often the primary care givers for children. If a government policy does not take these differences into account, it will be flawed. At the same time, if women do not see their perspectives considered and taken into account in the policymaking process, they are less likely to be part of the debate and to make voting a priority.

In addition, women are more engaged in the economy and the workplace than ever before. However, in many countries, women have fewer educational and employment opportunities than men, are more often denied credit, and face social restrictions that limit their chances for advancement. It is important that countries work toward creating a business environment in which women and women-owned businesses can thrive. Every country is different, but there are some key cross-cutting policy issues that can have a positive impact on women’s ability to create and grow their businesses, such as equal access to capital and credit; equal protection of property rights; expanding the capacity of women-owned businesses to become eligible for supplier diversity programs at multinational companies; and increasing their ability to compete for government contracts.

Women not playing diverse roles on TV- Hindustan Times

“What I see is that women are not portraying too many characters or shades on screen. They are playing sweet, simple and nice roles. That is the only thing they do until they play a negative role,” Shweta told IANS.

“I think there was an overdose of reality shows, but now it is less. Now there are just a few selected ones left which have established themselves; and if people need fiction then they also need reality. I guess there is Big Boss, Dance India Dance and shows like Indian Idol. The rest of them have fizzled out. Earlier, there used to be so many, like Kitchen King and Chote Miya.”

“What I feel is that people have become more cool now. In our times, we were told to learn and mug up. We were told to become doctors and engineers. However, that is not the case now. People want to go for international learning. They know that their children have to do something. People don’t look at marks but at how much children know,” said Shweta, who has a daughter, Palak.

The hidden Costs of Early Marriage- IRIN Asia

Thousands of Nepali girls leave school every year to get married, missing out on their education, the government says. Parents are often unaware of the impact that trying to save the money spent on education can have on the future of their daughter.

“Early marriage should be stopped because it not only affects their [daughter’s] education but also their health,” said Sumon Tuladhar, an education specialist at the UN Children’s Agency (UNICEF). “In addition, that also has an impact on their self-confidence and empowerment. Many children are victims of early marriage – after marriage they hardly come to school, and even if they do, their performance is very poor.”

“Child marriage changes the children’s life options, especially their educational investment by parents,” said Sherpa. “As soon as she becomes someone else’s “property”, the parents show little willingness to invest in their education as they grow. This is total abuse of their rights.”

Housewives help fight TB- IRIN Asia

Activists trained by Aisyiah, the women’s wing of Muhammadiyah, a Muslim organization, work with religious as well as neighbourhood leaders to educate people about TB, and recruit family members to monitor patients’ adherence to their medication. People with TB often experience social stigma and many Indonesians see TB as a disease of the poor.

“One of our problems is that people here are ashamed to admit that they have TB,” said Nunung Resmawati, one of the “community cadres” in Cicendo District. “So we talk to them and try to convince them TB is not a curse, and not something to be ashamed of. It’s a serious disease but one that can be cured.”

But it’s not just women that Aisyiah is involving in their efforts. Men are also getting involved.

Close to 5,000 women are getting the word outIndonesia reduced new TB cases from 343 per 100,000 people in 1990 to 235 in 2009, according to the Health Ministry. However, under its national TB strategy 2010-2014, the goal is to lower the number of new cases to 224 by 2014.

Women’s Rights Activist becomes Malawi Leader- MSNBC.com

A champion of women’s rights, Joyce Banda has become the first female head of state in southern Africa after taking over as Malawi’s president following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika.

A winner of national and international awards for her work as a supporter of women’s rights, Banda was last year named by Forbes Magazine as Africa’s third most powerful female politician after Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Nigerian Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Women & Leadership Links

Women and Leadership: Let’s Continue the Conversation- The Huffington Post

Just over a week ago, the very first Dialogue for Action Africa was held in Libreville, Gabon. More than 550 individuals representing NGOs, businesses and governments from across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, India, China and the United States joined us to put forward their expertise in politics, health, education, development and business. These leaders convened to address some of the challenges women — and the organizations that support them — face across different African regions.

The DFAA was a big success. But it’s important that this conversation continues all year round, in our cities and homes and boardrooms. Shockingly, although women make up at least half of the world’s population, less than 10 percent of world leaders are female. The figures about women’s representation in executive positions are even more disappointing.

Why We Need Women in Leadership- Now!- The Glass Hammer

Ilene Lang, President of Catalyst, a not-for-profit organization founded about 50 years ago to help women and girls gain equality, observes that men are promoted based on their potential, while women have to prove themselves over and over again for that promotion. Everyone I have mentioned this to, both men and women, has said, “So true!”

Many executives don’t promote women because they doubt women’s longevity in the workforce. It is true that some women take themselves out of the running for senior leadership positions by taking time off to raise their children. Yet in today’s world, with the technology available, businesses can and must be nimble in order to retain talent. Where there is a will, there is a way to keep a mother involved with email, messaging, smart phones, and Skype. The best way to develop an approach to accommodate working mothers is to ask the team how they envision themselves sharing client service and work. Let the team come up with the solution.

Helping African American Business Leaders Connect with Social Media- One.org

This week, ONE hosted its third delegation of women business leaders from Africa to talk about the benefits of using social media to expand their businesses at “The Future if Africa is Female….So Get Connected,” an interactive training session.

ONE’s social media training was part of a three-week program to help participants enhance their advocacy and communication skills, as well as learn about accessing capital and US markets, best practices for businesses, and social entrepreneurship. In this day and age, utilizing social media channels is integral to any business plan.

At ONE, we believe that investing in women and trade are essential components of economic growth for Africa. Female business owners are more likely to invest money in their families and communities, which means that by empowering women entrepreneurs, we can spread economic growth to entire communities. By helping AWEP members expand their networks and markets, we are helping to strengthen their ability to grow their business, create jobs, transform their communities and drive social and economic progress in their home countries.

Foundation empowers women in Llorin- NigerianNews.com

A non-governmental organisation in Ilorin, Aigoro Foundation has pledged to complement efforts of the state government in alleviating poverty with plan to empower about 1800 unemployed persons in Ilorin and its environs as parts of measures to make them self employed in their various communities.

Speaking during the flag-off of the empowerment programme in Ilorin, the financier of the foundation, Alhaji Mashood Bolakale Aigoro, said the essence of the programme was to reduce the unemployment level in the state.

Nepal: Boosting Entrepreneurship among poor rural women- UNDP.org

Chitrakali Budhamagar began her career in 2003 collecting yarn made out of ‘allo’ (Himalayan nettle) and selling it in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu. With the money she made selling yarn, she bought readymade garments to sell in her home village of Pyuthan, in the western part of the country.

“We micro-entrepreneurs need to expand our business,” Chitrakali said. “The women involved in this business should be trained in diversifying their products and enhancing their quality to survive in a competitive market.”

Most importantly, Chitrakali is a motivator for other women. She provides training in allo-processing and yarn-making to hundreds of women in neighbouring villages, opening the door to gainful employment for them as well.

Women & Leadership Links

As title IX turns 40, women tell of opportunity, acceptance, and intangible benefits- The Washington Post

Title IX was initially intended to give women more opportunities in higher education, with access to athletics a mere side effect. By opening the gates to gyms, stadiums and playing fields, however, Title IX changed the way women in America see themselves. Here, in their own words, are what Title IX has meant to athletes, coaches, administrators and league officials.

CANDACE PARKER, 2008 WNBA MVP, Olympic gold medalist and first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game: “Title IX is huge for sports but also it’s helped move our nation to a place where we can accept women in the workforce as well. It’s opened up a lot of jobs for women. We had a female run for president in Hillary Clinton.”

At Rio+20, diverse women leaders bring ground realities to the forefront – UnWomen

The Women Leaders’ Forum, a discussion between civil society, government and public sector representatives with UN heads of agencies, has broadened the dialogue on gender equality and sustainability at Rio +20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainability.

At the Forum, the Women’s Major Group, a civil society coalition, also presented the findings of a global survey that gathered the diverse voices of women from around the world. The survey and its dissemination were supported by UN Women in the lead up to Rio+20.

The increasing involvement of women in technology and engineering fields were commended as  promising signs of women’s  growing engagement in green jobs, the design of the green economy and better natural resource management. Governments and the private sector were also applauded  for their efforts to promote equal opportunities for women and men through policy and practice.

Obama Campaign Ad Promotes his Record On Women’s Rights- Huffington Post

One day after releasing two new TV ads that went after presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign on Thursday put out another ad, this one a positive spot.

The ad, called “First Law,” touts the fact that the first legislation Obama signed into law was the Lily Ledbetter Act, which made it easier for women to sue employers for pay discrimination.

Women Get Little Help From Men in Workplace- The Daily Beast

Every socioeconomic trend suggests women are storming the barricades of corporate America. But, two recent studies suggest, they aren’t getting much help from men.

The first study, a multiyear survey of business-school graduates by the nonprofit research group Catalyst, finds that women are far more likely to help women advance than men are. Debunking the queen bee stereotype, in which female bosses are especially hard on their female subordinates, the study found that 73 percent of women who mentored colleagues helped other women, while only 30 percent of men did. “The biggest surprise for me was that men are doing so little for women, says Catalyst chief Ilene Lang. “I really thought that there were more men speaking up.”

Lebanese Women Offered a Toothless New Law- IPS News

In an effort to protect women like Nour from abusive partners, a coalition of civil society organisations has spent the last five years drafting a law criminalising mental, physical and sexual abuse. The bill was approved by the Council of Ministers in April 2010 and is expected to be passed by parliament within the coming days. However, campaigners warn that the parliamentary committee tasked with overseeing the law has made so many amendments that they have rendered it useless.

The law, as drafted by the coalition, would have appointed public prosecutors to investigate incidences of violence, established special units within the Lebanese police force to respond to family violence cases, obliged medical personnel to report cases in which they treated women bearing signs of abuse, and empowered women and their children to seek restraining orders against their abusers. For the first time in Lebanese law, it outlined the different types of abuse women face, and designated clear punishments for offenders.

At least one-third of women in Lebanon have experienced some form of gender-based violence, says Dr. Jinan Usta, a family medicine doctor at the American University of Beirut Hospital, and researcher on domestic violence. Considered a private family matter, domestic violence remains shrouded in secrecy, and women face considerable barriers leaving abusive relationships. Women who seek assistance from the police or courts often report being told to return home, meaning few even bother to report abuse.

Despite the bleak outlook, campaigners have vowed to keep up the pressure on the government in the coming weeks with media campaigns, protests and publicity stunts. If the amended law is approved, says Ammar, it will have “succeeded in silencing the voices of women.”