Africa | Burundi | Crimes

Merck Wants To ‘Empower’ Infertile Women In Africa. Can Music Videos Help?

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In June, an unusual email arrived in the inbox of an NPR global health correspondent. The headline was: "Merck Foundation together with First Lady of Burundi release 'Plus Qu'une Mere' an empowering French Song as courtesy to all infertile women in Burundi and Africa." The email had a link to a video of a performance with an all-female choir. Wearing traditional African clothing printed with the Merck Foundation's logo, they sing a song with lyrics that encourage people not to blame women for infertility. They're performing before an audience of maybe a hundred people, most of them in
Middle East | Israel | Ethics

Israel’s culture minister threatens left-wing artists

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In the few weeks that have passed since she became the minister of culture and sports, Miri Regev, who is a member of the ruling Likud party, has been attacking specific artists and shows. “We won the election and you lost so I can decide that none of your institutions will get any funds,” Regev said recently at a meeting with a few of the leading directors of Israeli theaters. She also added that it is “under my authority to decide where the money goes and I can forward all available funds to the settlements or only certain towns if I wish to.” If artists rebel against her pri
South Asia | Pakistan | Ethics

Women in region of Pakistan forbidden to vote

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As local elections in Pakistan are drawing nearer, the local jirga – a traditional group of leaders that make decisions according to the teachings of Islam – has become active in the Odigram area of Swat valley in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, barring women from voting. The jirga is trying to convince elders to stop women from going to the polls on May 30 in order to follow the region’s conservative traditions.
Middle East | Israel | Culture

Protest against Arab-Israeli TV host lighting Independence Day beacon

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Lucy Aharish, an Arab-Israeli journalist and TV host, was chosen among 13 other people to light a beacon on Israel’s 67th Independence Day ceremony in Jerusalem on April 22. Aharish is known as well-versed in both Jewish and Muslim cultures and many see her as a symbol of true coexistence between Arabs and Israelis, of tolerance and equality, as well as the face of Arab-Israeli women’s issues. The extremist right-wing Lahava organization — working for the prevention of assimilation in the holy land — started an online campaign calling to cancel Aharish’s participation in the cerem
South Asia | Nepal | Ethics

In Nepal, Women As Second-Class Citizen Takes A Sad New Twist

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Sabin Shrestha, the executive director of the Forum for Woman, Law and Development, says it is really an issue of male control. "They think if they give equal rights to women in terms of citizenship, then the patriarchy system will be destroyed," she says. Former prime minister and Assembly member Madhav Kumar believes mothers should not have the same rights as fathers. The Interim Constitution made in 2007 clearly states that "any person whose father or mother was a citizen of Nepal at his or her birth is a Nepalese citizen." But in practice, women in this patriarchal society still face
Europe | Great Britain | Ethics

Fair pay, ma’am! Queen’s staff prepare to take industrial action over low pay

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For the first time in history, the Queen could face industrial action among disgruntled palace staff. Workers at one of the royal family’s most iconic residences, Windsor Castle, are preparing to ballot in a dispute over pay. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) confirmed more than 100 of the lowest-paid workers at Windsor Castle are due to be balloted from Tuesday, and will decide whether to take non-strike action in a dispute over pay. Mark Serwotka, the PCS general secretary, called the royal family’s treatment of workers “scandalous.” “These workers are loyal t
Europe | France | Culture

The ‘moderate’ imam who claims ‘all women are selfish’

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An imam in France has claimed in a sermon that selfishness is part of “the nature of women”, comments that have shocked all the more because of his reputation as a progressive influence on Islam in the country. “No matter how much good you bestow upon a woman, she will deny it. Her selfishness drives her to deny it.” These were the words of Imam Mohamed Khattabi, delivered during a Friday sermon at the Aicha Mosque in Montpellier, southern France, on March 6, two days before International Women’s Day. Standing high in the mosque’s minbar (pulpit), Khattabi continued: “This