Welcome to 104th edition of The Pixel Project’s VAW e-News Digest!
In Malaysia, an anti-rape campaign targeted at men sparks debate about marital rape in Islam, with some scholars denying its existence and some acknowledging it. Marital rape is still not recognised as a crime in many countries, including India.
In Scotland, Clare’s Law starts to take effect and six women have been the first to apply it in order to find out if their partners have a history of violence. The law was named after Clare Wood, who was killed by a serial abuser despite her attempts to learn of his violent past.
Spain is raising the minimum age of marriage to 16 from 14 in an attempt to thwart exploitation and forced marriage. Prior to this, Spain had one of the lowest ages of consent in the world.
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The Pixel Project Team
General Violence Against Women
- AFGHANISTAN: Farkhunda’s death – turning point for Afghanistan?
- BANGLADESH: Violence against women in Khulna goes unabated
- BOLIVIA: Bolivia struggles with gender-based violence (Trigger Warning: graphic image)
- CANADA: ‘It starts with us’ – breaking one of Canada’s best kept secrets, genocidal violence against indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people
- EGYPT: Egypt launches strategy to combat violence against women
- NIGERIA: Chibok girls not among group rescued by Nigerian army
- PAKISTAN: Woman behind Pakistan’s first hackathon, Sabeen Mahmud, shot dead by gunmen
- TRINIDAD: Caribbean countries need holistic approach in responding to and preventing violence against women and girls
Domestic Violence
- AUSTRALIA: Linda Locke – Another week, another woman beaten to death
- CHINA: China, in suspending woman’s death sentence, acknowledges domestic abuse
- FIJI: Prime Minister firm on domestic violence
- MARSHALL ISLANDS: Level of domestic violence a concern
- NEW ZEALAND: Domestic abuse – police don’t take into account cultural barriers and scars they can’t see before taking a protection order breach seriously
- UKRAINE: ‘Men return completely changed’ – Ukraine conflict fueling surge in domestic violence
- UNITED KINGDOM: Clare’s Law – first six women learn if their partners have violent histories
- UNITED STATES: Domestic violence remains dark cloud over Floyd Mayweather’s legacy
Rape / Sexual Assault
- EUROPE: The truth behind the rape of Berlin
- FRANCE and CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: France investigates allegations of sexual assault by its peacekeepers in the Central African Republic
- INDIA: Government’s stand on marital rape stirs debate among lawyers
- MALAYSIA: Rights of Muslim rape victims spark debate in Malaysia
- SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa should invest in public toilets to combat sexual assault
- SOUTH SUDAN: Rape victims often forced to marry rapists, says report
- SRI LANKA: UN Security Council report notes increased sexual violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka post-conflict
- UNITED STATES: Former ‘Cosby Show’ guest star accuses Bill Cosby of rape
Sex / Human Trafficking
- ASIA: Human trafficking in Asia leaves women at risk
- CAMBODIA: Author looks at forced labour in Cambodia’s sex and garment industries
- COLOMBIA: Colombian drug lords seek virgins for sex slaves
- EGYPT: Egypt leads immigration, trafficking agreement between Europe and Africa
- INDIA: Modern slavery too often goes unpunished in India, says report
- IRELAND: New campaign urges Irish men to take a stand against sex trafficking
- MEXICO: 14 convicted in huge Mexico trafficking ring brought down in Houston
- SINGAPORE: Suspect charged under Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, faces more charges
Female Genital Mutilation
- WORLD: The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics releases joint statement with the International Confederation of Midwives and the Intercollegiate FGM Group on an article on women choosing to be circumcised
- WORLD: Editorial – tracing FGM vis-a’-vis international human rights
- INDIA: It happened to me – female circumcision left me scarred for life
- KENYA and TANZANIA: Kenyans ‘taking’ children to Tanzania for FGM
- SIERRA LEONE: Born a girl in the wrong place – focus on Khadija Gbla
- SOMALIA: Eradicating FGM in Somaliland one midwife at a time
- UNITED KINGDOM: Pioneering programme teaches pupils about the dangers of female genital mutilation
- UNITED STATES: Patients with female genital cutting experience inadequate care
Forced Marriage and Honour Killing
- AUSTRALIA: New program in Fairfield to keep teen girls out of forced marriage through education
- BANGLADESH: A dangerous clause to ‘legally’ decrease child marriage in Bangladesh
- CANADA: Feds set to make forced marriage a crime in Canada, but the practice is nothing new
- INDIA: Indian child bride, 13, writes letter begging to stop marriage but father vows to continue
- PAKISTAN: First picture of Pakistan honour killing, 25, burned alive by husband and father-in-law for leaving house without permission
- SPAIN: Spain raises minimum age of marriage to 16
- UNITED STATES: Forced marriage – more common in the US than you’d think
- ZAMBIA: Are legal remedies to counter child marriages sufficient?
- ZIMBABWE: Repeal laws that promote child marriage
VAW Activism
- GEORGIA: Georgian designers unite to combat violence against women
- LEBANON: Man enough? Lebanese men strut in heels to end violence against women
- INDIA: Government finalizes guidelines for one-stop centres to be established across the country to provide support for women affected by violence
- IRAN: Embroideries – new graphic novel from the author of Persepolis, on stories about faking virginity, forced marriage, and other taboo topics
- TANZANIA: Prestigious award for defending young girls proves inspirational
- THE PHILIPPINES: Violence against women campaign mimics Pacquaio – Mayweather promo
- TURKEY: Turkey’s leading women hit the stage, draw attention to violence against women
- UNITED KINGDOM: Editorial — women who waive anonymity are changing our perspective on rape