Women’s Rights – Page 2 – The Diplomatic Envoy

On February 21, 2022, Colombia’s Constitutional Court ruled 5-4 to decriminalize abortions, making the procedure legal up to 24 weeks of gestation, reports The Guardian. The historic ruling will change the lives of women and young girls who often resorted to clandestine abortions and were penalized under the healthcare system, says Al Jazeera. Many pro-choice individuals and feminists in Colombia welcomed the decision as a reaffirmation of women’s bodily autonomy, hoping the ruling will inspire other countries to push for legislation protecting women’s rights.

Campus Spotlight March 2022 2022 School of Diplomacy News

March 21, 2022March 21, 2022 Megan Gawron

Chatham House Marks International Women’s Day with Climate Change Panel

Chatham House, an international affairs think tank, hosted a panel discussion on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2022, called “Feminist Solutions to the Climate Crisis.” The panel brought together Dr. Sherilyn MacGregor of the University of Manchester, founder of EmpoderaClima Renata Koch Alvarenga, Executive Director of the Center for 21st Century Issues Titilope Ngozi Akosa, and Director of the WoMin African Alliance Samantha Hargreaves to discuss how climate solutions can be more intersectional. The panel was moderated by Nina Jeffs of Chatham House and included opportunities for questions from the audience.

February 2022 Opinion 2022 Americas

February 14, 2022September 24, 2022 Shweta Parthasarathy

Mars Wrigley’s ‘Progressive’ Rebranding of M&Ms is Misguided Feminism

The decisions made by Mars and Disney are said to be reflective of their customers’ dedication to feminism and inclusivity, but the changes have become a point of contention amongst both conservatives and liberals.

2021 Analysis

November 11, 2021November 11, 2021 Elsie Tierney

New Abortion Laws in Texas Place the United States at a Moral Crossroad

Texas’ new abortion laws, which ban abortions six weeks post-conception with no exceptions for rape or incest, were signed into effect by Governor Greg Abbott on September 1, 2021. The laws are setting a dangerous precedent in the U.S., causing other states like Florida to propose increasingly restrictive laws. Meanwhile, Mexico’s laws are prohibiting judges from charging women who receive abortions, even in regions where abortion has not yet been decriminalized. The contrasting approach toward abortion between Mexico and Texas shows a dangerous trend that could lead the U.S. down a rabbit hole of restricting reproductive rights.

September 2021 International News

September 30, 2021September 29, 2021 Sergei C. Valenzuela

Mexican Supreme Court Decriminalizes Abortion

Mexico’s Supreme Court has passed a historic adjudication allowing pregnant women to decide their own reproductive destiny without having to face criminal prosecution. According to Jacobin, the court deemed it was unconstitutional for the state of Coahuila to penalize women for performing a voluntary abortion, an action that previously could have led to up to 3 years in prison.

September 2021 Focus Middle East Afghanistan

September 30, 2021May 30, 2023 Hamzah Khan

FOCUS on Afghanistan: Women

Since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover of the country, many questions have arisen regarding women’s rights in the country. The Taliban announced that they would lead an inclusive government where women would work “shoulder to shoulder” with men, promising to govern differently than before, says Al Jazeera.

2021 April 2021 International News

April 27, 2021January 6, 2022 Shawn Tuman

New Zealand Passes Legislation for Paid Miscarriage Leave

There has long been a positive correlation between employer support and productivity in the workplace. In response to this, Employment New Zealand reports that New Zealand’s parliament recently passed legislation that provides a mandated, three-day paid time off policy to women and spouses who have experienced a miscarriage during their pregnancy..

2021 March 2021 International News Europe

March 30, 2021January 27, 2022 Shweta Parthasarathy

Turkey Withdraws from the 2011 Istanbul Convention on Women’s Rights

Turkey announced in late March that it has withdrawn from the 2011 Istanbul Convention on women’s rights. The convention was held to promote the protection of women against domestic violence and promote gender equality by signatory states, reports Reuters. Notably, Turkey was the first country to sign on to the convention, which was forged in and is named after the country’s largest city.

2021 March 2021 Opinion Europe

March 23, 2021June 14, 2021 Shweta Parthasarathy

“Burqa Ban” in the Age of COVID-19

Switzerland joined several other European countries in banning burqas, niqabs, and other face coverings in public. This so-called “burqa ban” and those that came before it are highly controversial and inspired debate over religious freedoms and secularism, all of course, complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

World Winter 2021 Edition Analysis

February 11, 2021June 14, 2021 Shweta Parthasarathy

The Burden of COVID-19 on Women

Before the coronavirus pandemic took the world by storm, society had begun treating women as equals and regarding women’s rights as human rights. Leading up to 2020, male-dominated fields were becoming more equal, illiteracy rates among women and girls were dropping, and marriage rates for girls under 18 were decreasing dramatically. Slowly, young women were climbing out of the age-old well in which they were drowning. However, COVID-19 erupted, halting progress and, in some cases, threatening its complete reversal.