About: women rights
First commercial flight takes off Kabul as UN accuses Taliban of harassment
The first international commercial flight under Afghanistan's new Taliban interim government departed Kabul on Thursday (9 September) carrying more than 100 foreigners, including some US citizens left behind after last month's chaotic Western airlift.
Taliban name new Afghan government, interior minister on US sanctions list
The Taliban drew from its inner high echelons to fill top posts in Afghanistan's new government, including an associate of the Islamist militant group's founder as premier and a wanted man on a US terrorism list as interior minister.
Taliban pledge peace and women’s rights under Islam as they strike conciliatory tone
The Taliban said they wanted peaceful relations with other countries and would respect the rights of women within the framework of Islamic law, as they held their first official news briefing since their lightning seizure of Kabul.
EU parliament demands progress in ensuring women’s sexual reproductive health
The European Parliament voted in favour of a resolution on sexual reproductive health and rights of women on Thursday (24 June), calling on member states to ensure access to abortion, contraception and sexuality education.
Turkish women rally in defense of Istanbul Convention
Hundreds of women rally in Istanbul on Saturday (19 June), urging President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to reverse his decision to withdraw from a Council of Europe anti-violence treaty ahead of a formal exit on1 July.
Malta MP tables historic bill to decriminalise abortion
A bill proposing the decriminalisation of abortion in Malta was tabled Wednesday (12 May) in parliament, a first for the Mediterranean nation.
UN chief calls to combat violence against women
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called Monday (15 March) to combat violence against women, at the start of the annual Commission on the Status of Women, which is expected to call for greater action against sexual harassment.
Brussels to rename tram, bus stops after famous women
Brussels' public transport operator marked International Women's Day by renaming 10 metro stations after famous women for one day, and pledging to permanently rename 17 bus and tram stops over the next three years to "feminise" its network.
Merkel in 8 March message: Pandemic risks undoing gains for women
German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Saturday (7 March) that the pandemic risked rolling back progress made on gender equality, as women take on the lion's share of childcare in lockdown and are more likely to work in at-risk jobs.
Nothing to celebrate in 2020? 20 years of UNSC 1325
2020 did not bring significant progress for the agenda of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and the COVID19 pandemic even caused significant setbacks for women's rights, writes Brigitta von Messling.
‘This is war’, say anti-abortion protesters in Poland
Poles staged further protests in cities across the country ahead of the expected entry into force of a ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal that bans most abortions and that has prompted nearly two weeks of demonstrations and rallies.
Dalli: ‘There is structural racism also inside the Commission’
Helena Dalli is the first European Commissioner for Equality, an issue to which she dedicated a big part of her life. In an interview with EURACTIV, she said that racism is “alive” in Europe, and called for "thinking 'out of the box'" to address the structural biases inside the Commission.
US expands abortion ‘gag rule,’ cuts funding to the Organization of American States
The Trump administration on Tuesday (26 March) expanded its anti-abortion policies, cutting funding to the Organization of American States (OAS) and prohibiting the use of US tax dollars to lobby for or against abortion rights.
Erdogan accuses Women’s Day march of disrespecting Islam
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday (10 March) accused a women’s march in central Istanbul on Friday of disrespecting Islam by booing the Islamic call to prayer.
Beyond #metoo: We need to tackle violence against women and girls
Women and girls in South-Eastern and Eastern Europe live in danger. This is what a new survey published by the OSCE just ahead of this International Women’s Day tells us, says OSCE's Thomas Greminger upon publication of the new report.
Seeing leaders in young girls
There is currently no country in the world where men and women are truly treated equally. At the current rate of progress, according to indicators from the World Economic Forum, it will take an estimated 217 years to achieve full gender parity. We cannot afford to wait that long, writes Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.
Sakharov Prize nominees include NGOs in the Mediterranean
The nominees for the 2018 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought have been announced on Thursday (27 September), including Oleg Sentsov, the Ukrainian film director imprisoned in Russia and NGOs saving lives of migrants in the Mediterranean. Since 1988, THE...
‘Water, women and waste’ are our development priorities, says Coca-Cola SVP
In an interview at the European Development Days in Brussels, Perez underlined Coca-Cola's hopes to work with the EU on its flagship External Investment Plan that seeks to build partnerships between local communities, governments, and the private sector.
Ireland overturns abortion ban in landslide vote
Ireland voted by a landslide to ditch its strict abortion laws in a landmark referendum that Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said had finally lifted decades of stigma and shame.
Spanish women stage unprecedented strike for rights
Spain marked International Women's Day yesterday (8 March) with an unprecedented strike in defence of their rights that saw hundreds of trains cancelled and massive protests held in Madrid and Barcelona.
Least developed countries benefited most from EU duty-rebate schemes
A report published today (19 January) by the European Commission and the European External Action Service shows the positive impact of the European Union's duty-rebate schemes on developing economies, including human rights improvements.
Greece limits power of sharia law for its Muslim minority
The Greek parliament yesterday (9 January) made the practice of Islamic sharia law in family disputes optional for the country's Muslim minority, changing a century-old legacy.
UNFPA: Inequality and lack of reproductive rights threaten development
Gender inequality, denial of reproductive rights and shortcomings in sexual education are becoming a possible threat to reach the UN development goals on ending poverty by 2030, a new report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) finds.