20 March 2018 - NPWJ News Digest on FGM and Women's Rights

Articles

Saudi Crown Prince, in His Own Words: Women Are ‘Absolutely’ Equal
by the New York Times, 20 Mar 2018

When asked if women were equal to men, Prince Mohammed said: “Absolutely. We are all human beings and there is no difference.”His rise to power has been accompanied by a loosening of restrictions on women’s dress and an expansion of their role in the work force. He said the government was working on regulations to ensure equal pay.But women in Saudi Arabia are still bound by so-called guardianship laws that give male relatives control over aspects of their lives, like their ability to travel abroad and undergo certain medical procedures.

Read More

Iranian Kurdish scholar, activist commended for commitment to elevation of women
by UNPO, 19 Mar 2018

Kurdish Iranians face increasing prosecution in Iran, and in the context of our commitment to international women’s day, one can observe how the struggle for recognition across gender and ethnic lines co-exists. Dr Soraya Fallah has been leading a dual struggle for both Kurdistani and women’s rights in Rojhilat, and has recently been commended for her work during the Women’s Day Celebration in Los Angeles.

Read More

No Shelter in Afghanistan: Afghan Government Moves to Seize Control of Women’s Shelters – Again
by Human Rights Watch, 19 Mar 2018

More than 8 out of 10 Afghan women and girls will suffer domestic and other violence in their lifetime. Before 2001, they had nowhere to run. These days there are some safe havens: the country’s tiny, but desperately important, network of women’s shelters.But these shelters are now under attack – and not for the first time – by Aghanistan's own government. Last month, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA) announced plans to seize control of shelter funding provided by foreign donors, and instead require shelter operators to seek funding through the ministry. This might sound reasonable – a hallmark of President Ashraf Ghani’s government has been a push for greater government control over donor funds in the name of corruption.

Read More

Tanzania Is Working On Basic Education for All Youth
by Allafrica, 19 Mar 2018

Dar es Salaam — The government has revealed its plan to establish Qualifying Test (QT) centers in every district across the country targeting to accommodate adolescent school dropouts, especially girls. The permanent secretary (Perm-Sec) in the ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Dr Leonard Akwilapo, revealed this in Dar es Salaam on Monday, March 19, during a meeting of the National Steering Committee of the UN Joint Project on 'Empowering Adolescent Girls and Young Women through Education.'

Read More