Tag Archives: 3: Moderate/Neutral

Gender

India Research | Women

Indian women and children showing progress in key health indicators
  • The U.N.-supported Rapid Survey on Children showed significant positive developments in the rates of stuntedness in children, child marriage, breastfeeding, immunization, and hospital childbirths.
  • The survey–the first of its kind in India in nearly a decade–still indicated that rates of adverse behaviors and conditions remain high, however.
  • Since the initial report covering 2005-06, the government has introduced a number of public health measures, including introducing female community health advisers and free facilitation services, such as hospital transportation for pregnant women.

“Overall we are pleased about the data as it shows a positive trend. … Anything India does on development has a huge impact globally and I think everyone is optimistic about the progress made.”

Read the full story from the Thomson Reuters Foundation at Reuters.

Ideology + Affiliation

Ethiopia News | Dissenters

Charges against Ethiopian journalists dropped ahead of Obama’s visit to country
  • Five of the Zone 9 bloggers jailed for their social and political criticism of the government were released as Ethiopia prepares for U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to address the African Union later in the month.
  • The Committee to Protect Journalists has indicated that 12 other journalists remain incarcerated, making Ethiopia one of the nations least friendly to press freedom in Africa.
  • The single-party rule of the People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front in the country has led to instances of criticism of the party being associated with terrorism, leading to the incarcerations.

Read the full story at the Guardian.

Sexual + Gender Minorities

E.U. News | LGBTI

European Parliament adds LGBTI rights to European relations policy
  • The European Neighbourhood Policy, which organizes relations between the European Union and its non-EU neighbors on the continent, now includes the LGBTI community in its promotion of minority rights.
  • Rights advocates lauded the move for giving a mandate for EU representatives to promote protections and inclusive policies in non-EU European countries.

“In a world where some countries make homophobia an active part of their domestic policy, I’m pleased to see Europe using the full clout of its economic power to counter these attitudes.”

Read the full story at PinkNews.

(Image Credit: Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images, via PinkNews)

Race + Color + Ethnicity

U.S. News | Racial Symbols

Confederate flag removed from South Carolina capitol grounds
  • Governor Nikki Haley signed into law the bill calling for the removal of the flag from the statehouse following its passage by the state legislature.
  • The flag was placed in the South Carolina State Museum, which houses artifacts of the state’s history.
  • Originally hoisted in 1962 in response to the growing civil rights movement, the flag remained atop the dome of the statehouse until 2000, when it was moved to a pole next to a Confederate monument on the grounds.

“Twenty-two days ago, I didn’t know that I would ever be able to say this again. … But today I’m very proud to say that it is a great day in South Carolina.”

Read the full story at BuzzFeed.

(Image Credit: nbcnews.com, via BuzzFeed)

Health + Ability

Zimbabwe News | Intellectual Disability

Zimbabwe organizations fight for sexual rights and education for people with intellectual disabilities
  • A recent panel in Harare focused on access to sexual reproductive health and HIV services for people with disabilities in Zimbabwe, who face marginalization due to lack of understanding about the spectrum of intellectual disability.
  • One leader of the Zimcare Trust, an organization focused on the empowerment of people with intellectual disabilities, noted that the legal and social infantilization of people with intellectual disabilities led to their being ill-informed about their own sexual health, increasing the likelihood of disease and pregnancy.
  • The National AIDS Council indicated it has established a special desk to ensure access to reproductive and HIV services.

“There is a thin line between Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act that regards a sexual encounter with a ‘mentally incompetent’ person as rape and a person with intellectual challenge choosing to have sex. … Persons with disabilities are regarded as perpetual minors no matter how old hence have no access to SRH [sexual and reproductive health] services.”

Read the full story at NewsDay.

Gender, Race + Color + Ethnicity

U.S. News | People of Color

95% of elected prosecutors in the U.S. are white, exacerbating distrust in the legal system for minorities
  • The study commissioned by the Women Donors Network and undertaken by the Center for Technology and Civic Life also found that white males account for 79% of elected prosecutors in 2014 and two-thirds of states that elect prosecutors have no black people in those positions,
  • While much attention has been focused on police behavior and demographics, prosecutors wield a more heady influence on the justice system, driving important decision-making such as whether to bring charges, which charges are brought, and determining punishments in widely used plea bargains.
  • Redressing the imbalance will be difficult as 85% of incumbent prosecutors are reelected unopposed, according to one study.

“I think most people know that we’ve had a significant problem with lack of diversity in decision-making roles in the criminal justice system for a long time. I think what these numbers dramatize is that the reality is much worse than most people imagine and that we are making almost no progress.”

Read the full story at the New York Times.

(Image Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images, via The New York Times)

Gender, Other

Palestine News | Women

Gender equality advocates campaign to remove marital status from Palestinian ID cards in the West Bank
  • Women testify to facing harassment and discrimination when presenting their cards, including intrusive questioning from landlords while searching for housing rentals.
  • Members of women’s rights groups launched a campaign in April petitioning for the removal of the status, with Sharia judges and other officials indicating openness to the change.
  • The Ministry of the Interior has expressed support for the idea, but deflected responsibility for change to the Palestinian Legislative Council, which would have to create legislation for the removal to take effect.

“I experienced difficulty in finding a home to rent as a divorced woman. Landlords kept telling me, ‘You’re a woman, where are we supposed to find you to collect the rent?’”

Read the full story at Al-Monitor.
(Image Credit: Ammar Awad/Reuters, via Al-Monitor)
Nationality + Migration

Kenya News | International Visitors

Kenya transitions to electronic visa system, easing visa acquisition for foreign visitors
  • Launched at the beginning of July, the new system aims to improve the efficiency of the visa application process by digitizing the application, payment, and issuance cycle.
  • The e-visa will operate alongside the old visa until September 1, allowing travelers with upcoming trips to enter under previous policies.
  • The transition comes on the heels of the digitization of the passport application process for Kenyans through its new e-citizen system.

Read the full story at the Daily Nation.

Nationality + Migration

China News | Immigrants

1 Comment
Shanghai implements new long-term visa policies for foreign workers
  • A new five-year work visa has opened up for foreign workers skilled in areas like science and innovation.
  • The new immigration policy also features the option for workers to apply for permanent residence after having lived in the city for three years.
  • Previously, only around 2,500 immigrants received permanent residence in Shanghai because of high application barriers.

“So if you come here to China and your children are in high school, and you’re reaching the end of your five-year visa and they are about to go to high school, and you’d like to stay longer and see them through high school, then you can. And that’s really important for a family to be able to stay longer.”

Read the full story at CCTV.

Health + Ability

South Africa News | HIV & Diabetes

Cape Town campaign brings HIV testing to busy public spaces
  • The Target 5000 Campaign has set up mobile tents at Cape Town’s main train station, where nurses conduct screenings for HIV, tuberculosis, and diabetes and counselors provide sexual health information and tools.
  • Coordinators target busy public spaces such as train stations, shopping malls, and taxi stands to maximize convenience and visibility in a nation that still sees individuals falling through the crack as infection rates fall.
  • The campaign aims to get 5,000 tested in three months as a part of its work towards UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 targets for 90% of people with HIV to know their status, 90% of positive individuals to be receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 90% of those receiving treatment to have viral suppression by 2020.

“It’s been fantastic. People are getting tested who wouldn’t typically go to a clinic for an HIV test. Over half of the people who have come to get tested are men. Many young people and people who are not aware of any signs or symptoms of disease are popping in. We’re providing early case detection and linkage to HIV care.”

Read the full story at News24.

Age, Health + Ability

South Africa News | Special-Needs Youth

South African province’s education minister announces plans for new special education programs
  • At the 2015 Inclusion Focus Week in Johannesburg, the Gauteng education minister announced that the government will attempt to add 18 new schools catering to special education.
  • The province, which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria, currently has 102 schools that include special education instruction.
  • The minister also identified the need to strengthen diagnostic and identification measures to accession children into special education programming as early as possible.

“We have got the financial muscle to deal with this matter, we just have to strengthen the partnership element of it. If we can have strong partners, I am of the view that it will help us address the issue of access.”

Read the full story at the South African Government News Agency.

Nationality + Migration

Australia News | Greek Immigrants

As financial crisis looms, Greeks escape to Australia
  • Tens of thousands have immigrated to Australia in search of opportunity after Greece’s financial collapse has left families in economic ruin.
  • The immigration wave is the largest from Greece since its civil war in the 1940s, which sent more than 150,000 to Australia’s shores.
  • Melbourne, the city with the largest Greek population outside of Europe, has already seen overcrowding and a tightening job market, which could hamper opportunity for arrivals.

“I feel like I’m on a lifeboat and seeing the Titanic sink. … I’m relieved but my people are still on that ship.”

Read the full story at Reuters.

(Image Credit: Melanie Burton/Reuters)

Gender

Afghanistan News | Women

Afghan president appoints second female governor despite vocal opposition
  • President Ashraf Ghani appointed Seema Joyenda to the governorship of the Ghor Province in central Afghanistan, the second of three female governor appointments promised by the administration.
  • The first, Massoma Muradi, has been marooned in Kabul, unable to take her post in the Daikundi Province due to demonstrations against her appointment.
  • Provincial leaders and community members opposed to the appointments claim a woman will be unable to navigate the complex security terrains of the provinces, which see continuing conflict between tribal groups, including the Taliban.

“This is not new to me. As their former representative, I traveled the province, I know my people’s pain.”

Read the full story at the New York Times.

Nationality + Migration

Turkey News | Syrian Youth

Syrian university student population in Turkey experiences nearly eight-fold increase over four-year period
  • The total number of Syrian students in Turkish higher education has increased from 608 to 4,597 since 2011, according to Turkey’s Higher Education Board (YÖK).
  • The board has allowed for seven Turkish universities to accept Syrian students as “special students,” waiving the need for the documentation usually necessary for admission, and later allowing for students with full documentation to transfer as undergraduates.
  • Education Minister Nabi Avci announced in May the creation of a university in the Gaziantep province that would primarily accept Syrian students.

Read the full story at Sunday’s Zaman.

(Image Credit: Cihan/Sunday’s Zaman)

Gender, Race + Color + Ethnicity

Caribbean News | Afro-Latinas

Inaugural Latin American Afrodescendent Women Leaders’ Summit brings Afro-Latina leaders together to address community security
  • The summit convened in Managua, Nicaragua, bringing leaders together to address such issues as black women’s rights and protections, health, education, the environment, poverty reduction, and public services access.
  • Organizers aimed to use the discussions to adopt a shared political platform for Afro-Latinas throughout Latin America to combat the disproportionate impact of poverty and other socioeconomic barriers on black women.
  • Afro-Latinos make up between 20 and 30% of the population in Latin America, with complex histories of colonization, slavery, and migration making identification uneven.

Read the full story at teleSUR.

(Image Credit: Network of Afroamerican, Afrocaribbean, and Diasporic Women; via teleSUR)