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Beyond Asia
ECOWAS court passes first judgment on the Maputo Protocol in the Case of 4 Women vs. Nigeria
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court passed the first judgement in the case of four women who were abducted and assaulted sexually, physically, verbally and unlawfully detained at different times between January 2011 and March 2013 at the hands of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and other government agencies, such as […]
Mauritania releases new ‘apostasy’ draft law
Mauritania has proposed a new ‘Apostasy’ draft law that would make death penalty mandatory for the crime of “insulting” or “mocking” God, the Quran or the Prophet Muhammad. The approved draft legislation would eliminate the possibility under the current law, of substituting a prison term for death penalty if the offender repents promptly. Mauritania’s current […]
Egyptian parliament amends inheritance laws
The Egyptian Parliament has passed a law guaranteeing women’s right to inheritance after over a year’s process on amending the 1943 inheritance law. Egyptian women for the longest time have been deprived of the right to inheritance due to patriarchal cultural norms and traditions, especially in the Upper Egypt region. Article 49 of the new […]
Vote in Brazil could lead to ban on abortion even for rape victims
The proposed abortion ban under all circumstances (including rape and in cases where the mother’s life is in danger) is part of a constitutional amendment approved by a special congressional committee in November. The committee has to vote on the final text of the proposed amendment, before it goes to the full Chamber of Deputies […]
Ohio outlaws abortion of foetuses with Down’s syndrome
The state of Ohio has recently enacted a law that would make the abortion of foetuses detected with Down’s syndrome illegal. The legislation also prescribes felony charges against physicians who perform the procedure, while exempting the woman from the same. The law, said to be in consonance with the state’s Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act, is […]
Quebec court partly suspends contentious face-veil ban
A Canadian Court has suspended part of the controversial law that banned face coverings in the province of Quebec. The Supreme Court of Quebec suspended section 10 of Bill 62 that barred individuals from covering their faces while receiving or giving public services such as riding a public transport or visiting a doctor. The legal […]
Greece adopts new law to permit change of gender status
Amidst strong opposition from the Greek Orthodox Church, the Greek government passed a legislation that will enable its citizens to determine and change their gender identity legally on all official documents without the need for psychiatric evaluation or medical intervention. The law will allow trans individuals to affirm their desired gender identity from the age […]
Malta introduces third gender marker in official documents
The Maltese Minister for European Affairs and Equality, alongside Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms, Citizenship and Simplification of Administrative Processes announced that citizens of Malta may now apply to have their gender identity marked as “X” on all official documentation, including passports, identity cards, and residence permits. Those wishing to change their identity marker must take […]
Finland refuses revision of ‘Trans Act’, mandates sterilization as pre-requisite to changing gender identity
The Finnish government rejected the recommendations made by the UN Human Rights Council to reform the ‘Trans Act’. The current law mandates that those wishing to legally change their gender identity status must undergo forced sterilization and mental screening. The UNHRC recommendations included revision of the Trans Act by abolition the needs for sterilization or […]
Austria bans women from wearing face veils in public places, becomes fifth European country to do so
The Austrian legislature has enacted a new law to ban the use of niqabs and burqas. Although the law bans all face coverings, including scarves, it has been widely understood as targeting Muslim women. The ban also imposes a hefty fine of Euro 175 for every violation. Austria is the fifth European country to ban […]