THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WOMEN
Women's Leaders Put ERA Back on Agenda By Allison Stevens - Washington Bureau Chief
After a weekend meeting in Washington of key figures in the women's rights movement, federal lawmakers reintroduced the long-dormant Equal Rights Amendment. Supporters of the ERA say its time has finally come.
Full Story: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3112
AUSTRALIA Appointment of new federal magistrate
Attorney-General Philip
Ruddock today announced the appointment of Ms Janet Terry as a federal
magistrate.
"Ms Terry brings to her new position considerable
experience in, and knowledge of, the family law jurisdiction," Mr Ruddock
said.
Before taking up her
appointment, Ms Terry managed her own family law practice.
Prior to this,
she was a partner in Darwin
law firm Morgan Buckley, where she focussed primarily on family law
matters. She is an accredited Family Law Specialist.
Ms Terry will take up her
appointment on 10 April
2007 and will be based in
Darwin.
She will replace Federal
Magistrate Stuart Brown, who recently transferred to the Federal Magistrates
Court in Adelaide.
"It is with great pleasure that I announce Ms Terry's appointment. I look forward to her continuing valuable contribution to the law in her new capacity as a federal magistrate," Mr Ruddock said.
Sharing the Wealth: Female Philanthropists Open Up By Helen LaKelly Hunt - WeNews commentator
Helen Hunt was saddened to learn that the women's suffrage movement was largely funded by men. Today, however, more women are learning to give to causes aimed at women and girls. Twelve will tell their stories here in the months ahead.
Full Story: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3111. ED. NOTE: Few women in the early days of the suffrage movement had access to their own finance, which was normally controlled by their husbands if they were married. Single women’s finances were usually tied up in unbreakable trusts, again administered by men.
U.S. Challenged on Immigrant Women's Legal Limbo By Adriana Gardella - WeNews correspondent
A 2000 law designed to reduce violent crimes targeting immigrant women and children has yet to be implemented because regulations were never issued. Now advocacy groups have sued the government to force it to comply with the law.
Full Story: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3110
Young Chess Queen Makes Her Moves By Angeli Rasbury - WeNews correspondent
As a black girl Darrian Robinson faces minority status on two levels in the high-cost, high-pressure world of competitive chess. But the 12-year-old from Brooklyn, N.Y., isn't focusing on any of that. She's dreaming of the day she's a grandmaster.
Full Story: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3109
Good news and more good news! Our reporter Angeli Rasbury has won the 2006 PASS Award from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency for her piece: "Out of Jail, Mothers Struggle to Reclaim Children." http://womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2890. Send congratulations to Angeli to editors@womensenews.org A European human rights court has ruled in favor of a Polish woman who was denied a legal abortion.
GOOD NEWS FOR THE DISABLED
UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF URGES
STATES TO IMPLEMENT NEW TREATY TO PROTECT DISABLED
United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today called on Member States to
protect and respect the rights of the disabled, who comprise 10 per cent of the
world’s population, by implementing the landmark Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities after it is opened for signature on
Friday.
“I strongly believe that this
new instrument comes at a time when there are broad shifts in attitudes within
societies towards the rights of persons with disabilities,” Ms. Arbour told a
panel discussion of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. “The Convention provides a
catalyst to hasten this urgently needed change” which could potentially impact
650 million people living with disabilities, she said.
A new Committee on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities will also be established to report periodically on
progress made, and the Convention also includes an Optional Protocol which
allows for individual communications and inquiry procedures.
The High Commissioner added
that she hopes to elevate the profile of the issue of the rights of people with
disabilities, and her office will take the lead in establishing partnerships
with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and States.
Sheikha Hessa al-Thani, the
Special Rapporteur on Disability, said that the “complementary relationship”
between the two areas – social development and human rights – to which the issue
of people with disabilities belongs “had now found expression in the brilliant
document,” the Convention.
Ambassador Don Mackay of
New Zealand, who is also chair of the ad
hoc committee on the Convention, said the treaty radically alters the conception
of disabilities, transforming the issue from being solely a social welfare
matter to being a human rights one given existing social barriers and
prejudices.
The 47-member Council, created
last year to replace the Commission on Human Rights which had been criticized
for ignoring abuses in many countries, also heard presentations from two UN
Special Rapporteurs, who are unpaid experts serving in an independent personal
capacity.
In his report, Martin
Scheinin, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights
and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, said that profiling in the
context of rooting out terrorists based on race is incompatible with human
rights, while profiling based on ethnicity, national origin and/or religion,
which he said are inadequate indicators, could potentially have negative
consequences.
In response, Ahmet Uzumcu, the
representative from Turkey, said that terrorism is the
biggest threat the world faces and is also a crime against humanity, but
cautioned that in combating it, human rights should not be
sacrificed.
The Special Rapporteur on
torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred
Nowak, also delivered his report to the Council. In it, he said that under the
Convention against Torture, States must fulfil their obligations to end impunity
for those who commit acts of torture by exercising universal jurisdiction,
citing the recent example of the prosecution of the former Chadian President
Hissène Habré.
Mousa Burayzat, representing
Jordan, denied that torture was as
widespread and as routine as Mr. Nowak indicated in his report, but said that
the Government would seriously review the Rapporteur’s recommendations and
approach them positively.
The fourth session of the
Council will conclude on Friday, and its next session is slated to be held from
11 to 18 June.
THE NOT SO WONDERFUL WORLD
* Middleton makes press complaint *
Prince William's girlfriend, Kate Middleton, makes a formal complaint of press harassment. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/uk_news/6507759.stm
* Pakistan 'brothel woman' released *
Religious students in Pakistan free a women accused of running a brothel and two of her relatives. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/south_asia/6507205.stm
BITTER SWEET
Five years ago Britain's chocolate manufacturers promised to wipe out dangerous child labour in the farming of cocoa. A BBC investigation into the industry in Ivory Coast has uncovered evidence of continued abuse - with children being kept out of school and forced to work with little or no pay. Humphrey Hawksley reports from the Ivory Coast. Source BBC Newsnight
* Girl charged with sister's murder *
Detectives investigating the death of a 16-year-old girl charge her younger sister with murder. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/bradford/6504549.stm
* Girls bullied for 'sex favours' *
Girls are being bullied into giving sexual favours in exchange for protection from gangs, a charity claims. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/uk_news/education/6500005.stm
UN CALLS FOR NEW MEASURES TO ‘COUNTER DECIMATION’ OF JOURNALISTS IN IRAQ
New York, Mar 26 2007 10:00AM
The head of the United Nations body mandated to protect press freedom today called for new measures “to counter the decimation” of media professionals in Iraq following the murder of two more Iraqi journalists.
The body of Hamid al-Duleimi, 37, a producer of TV channel al-Nahrain was found on 19 March in the Baghdad morgue, two days after he had been abducted, while Hussein al Jaburi, the 63-year-old editor of the daily newspaper al-Safir, died on 16 March in a hospital in Amman, Jordan, from injuries sustained during an attack outside his Baghdad home on 11 February.
“Both these media professionals have paid with their lives for their courage and determination to pursue their professional commitment in a hostile environment,” UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura <"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=37227&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">said in a statement.
“Iraq and the world require such courage to make sure that the basic human right of freedom of expression is mobilized on the side of democracy and rule of law. I call on all parties concerned, to study new and more effective ways to investigate these crimes and bring their culprits to justice. This is vital to counter the continued decimation of media professionals in Iraq,” he added.
According to the non-governmental organizations (NGO) Reporters Without Borders, the two deaths bring to 155 the number of journalists killed in Iraq since the United States-led invasion four years ago.
Mr. Matsuura has repeatedly deplored the murder of media workers around the world.
In a related development, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (<"http://www.unama-afg.org/Index.htm">UNAMA) today called for the release of abducted journalist Ajmal Naqshbandi. “Ajmal has no connection with either Afghan or international military forces,” mission spokesman Aleem Siddique told a news briefing in Kabul, the Afghan capital.
“We once again repeat that the rights of journalists to go about their work, free from interference or harm, be recognized and respected by all. This is vital and is specifically recognised for the first time in UNAMA’s new mandate,” he added, referring to the latest Security Council resolution extending the mission. “UNAMA will continue to monitor this case closely.”
2007-03-26 00:00:00.000
For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
To listen to news and in-depth programmes from UN Radio go to: http://radio.un.org/
ANNA NICOLE SMITH DIED OF ACCIDENTAL DRUG OVERDOSE, FLORIDA OFFICIALS SAY
Go to http://foxnews.com for more
Safety Services Converge for Battered, Addicted Women By Marie Tessier - WeNews correspondent
Domestic violence agencies that once screened out women with substance abuse problems are beginning to open their shelters and work with addiction authorities to help women reach safety and sobriety at the same time.
Full Story: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3107
HEALTH
* Untried cancer drug bought on web *
Patients are buying an experimental cancer drug over the internet, it has been reported. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6506113.stm
* Drug-free therapy 'fights asthma' *
A drug-free treatment has helped people control their asthma symptoms for up to a year, a study has found. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6498863.stm
* WHO agrees HIV circumcision plan *
International experts have backed the use of male circumcision in the prevention of HIV. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6502855.stm
* Germany introduces cancer jab *
Young girls in Germany are to be vaccinated against the virus that causes cervical cancer. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6502367.stm
* Beef diet 'damages sons' sperm' *
Eating beef containing growth promoting chemicals in pregnancy may damage a child's sperm. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6496977.stm
* Semi-identical twins discovered *
Scientists in the US have revealed the world's only known case of "semi-identical", twins. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6498215.stm
* Aspirin 'aids women's hearts' *
Healthy women who take a low dose of aspirin could cut their risk of dying early, a study suggests. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6496125.stm
* Worm disease set for eradication *
A tropical worm disease that has plagued people since ancient times could be eradicated in less than two years, experts predict. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6499431.stm
* Spinal disc transplant 'success' *
Doctors in China have carried out the world's first spinal disc transplants on five patients, a study says. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6483521.stm
* Patient warning on flu drug risks *
Experts rule the antiviral Tamiflu must carry a warning that it could trigger abnormal behaviour. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6484051.stm
* Patients 'miss out on heart ops' *
Uncertainty over the most suitable treatment may mean heart patients miss out on best care, an expert warns. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6479415.stm
Toxic Ingredients in Cosmetics By Kara Alaimo - WeNews correspondent
In response to emerging studies that raise warnings about the potentially toxic effects of an ingredient in cosmetics, the industry is ramping up efforts to persuade consumers and lawmakers that its products are safe.
Full Story: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3106
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