User:Rhododendrites/Women's rights in 2012
Issues and events
[edit]Pussy Riot
[edit]In February the Russian feminist punk rock band Pussy Riot staged a performance at Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior to protest the Russian Orthodox Church's support of Vladimir Putin. In the following weeks, three of the group's members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, were arrested. After serving six months in custody awaiting trial, in August the three were convicted of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" and each sentenced to two years imprisonment.[1][2][3] Although Samutsevich's sentence was reduced to probation in October, the other two women remained imprisoned until December 2013.[4] The Church's head, Patriarch Kirill I, said the group was doing the work of the devil.[5] Putin, the most frequent target of Pussy Riot's criticism, stated the band "undermined the moral foundations" of the nation and "got what they asked for".[6]
The trial and sentence attracted considerable criticism. According to the BBC, writing about coverage of the sentencing, there was "almost universal condemnation in the press".[7] Amnesty International designated the women prisoners of conscience.[8] Support for the band persisted until their release at the end of 2013.
Girls' right to education in Pakistan
[edit]14-year-old Malala Yousafzai, an advocate for the right to education for girls, outspoken critic of the Pakistani Taliban for their policies to the contrary, and recipient of Pakistan's first National Youth Peace Prize, was shot in the head in October. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the shooting, citing her promotion of "Western thinking". The event quickly drew international press and many vigils were organized worldwide in her honor.[9][10][11]
Sexual violence in India
[edit]In December 2012, a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern was beaten and gang raped in Munirka while on a bus to Delhi. The event drew international attention to sexual violence in India and sparked large-scale demonstrations in which thousands of protesters clashed with security forces. Demonstrators attempted to march to the president's residence, the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, but were met with tear gas and water cannons.[12] The victim died due to her injuries 13 days after the attack.[12][10]
A judicial committee was set up in December 2012 to research and solicit suggestions for how to modify laws to provide quicker investigation and prosecution of sex offenders. The committee's findings and subsequent report resulted in passage of new laws and procedural changes in 2013.
Laws
[edit]Ireland
[edit]The Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2012.[13]
Nicaragua
[edit]Law no 779- Integral Law against Violence against Women (Ley Integral contra la Violencia hacia la Mujer). [14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Pussy Riot sentenced to two years in jail". Russia Today. 17 August 2012.
- ^ "Pussy Riot members jailed for two years for hooliganism". BBC. 17 August 2012.
- ^ Elder, Miriam (17 August 2012). "Pussy Riot sentenced to two years in prison colony over anti-Putin protest". The Guardian.
- ^ "Pussy Riot member Smutsevich sentence reduced to probation". Rapsi. 10 October 2012.
- ^ Amos, Howard (25 March 2012). "Russian punk band were doing devil's work, says leader of Orthodox church". The Guardian.
- ^ "Putin deems fair Pussy Riot sentence". Interfax. 8 October 2012.
- ^ "Press aghast at Pussy Riot verdict". BBC. 18 August 2012.
- ^ "Russia: Release punk singers held after performance in church" (PDF). Amnesty International. April 3, 2012.
- ^ "Thousands rally in Karachi for Malala, 14-year-old Pakistani girl shot by Taliban". NBC News. 14 October 2012.
- ^ a b "2013's Biggest Women's Rights Moments So Far". Daily Beast.
- ^ "Malala Yousafazai Vigils". Daily Beast. 21 October 2012.
- ^ a b Robson, Steve (22 December 2012). "'I want to live': Extraordinary courage of rape victim who lost intestines in horrific attack on Indian bus as police use tear gas on her supporters". Daily Mail.
- ^ http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2012/en/act/pub/0011/
- ^ http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/SILEG/Iniciativas.nsf/0/8f45bac34395458c062578320075bde4/$FILE/Ley%20No.%20779%20Ley%20Integral%20contra%20la%20Violencia.pdf
Further reading
[edit]- Houghton, Kristen (28 October 2012). "Women and Rights in 2012 -- What We Stand to Lose and Why". Huffington Post.
- Bello, Walden (4 January 2013). "Women's rights: Turning point in India, triumph in Philippines". The Nation.