Around the World in 5 is an ongoing series that highlights news related to women in five countries, updated every week. This week’s post covers March 3 — March 9.
Haiti
The United Nations has issued a warning highlighting the dire situation facing nearly 3,000 pregnant women in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince due to escalating gang violence. The UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) expressed concern that essential health services could be inaccessible to these women, putting approximately 450 of them at risk of life-threatening complications without proper medical care.
Additionally, BINUH emphasized that 521 survivors of sexual violence, a pervasive issue exacerbated by the instability in Haiti, may also face barriers to accessing crucial medical services by the end of the month if the violence persists. The statement, released on Friday to coincide with International Women’s Day, underscores the urgent need for intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of women in Haiti amidst the ongoing crisis.
Iran
According to Iranian media reports on Saturday, two young women were detained in Tehran following the release of a video showing them dancing to mark the arrival of the Persian New Year. The footage, which captured the two women dancing near Tajrish square, a frequented area for youth in northern Tehran, gained widespread attention on social media platforms. Tasnim news agency disclosed that the Tehran prosecutor authorized the arrest of the two women for contravening social conventions by dancing in Tajrish.
Ireland
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar acknowledged defeat as two constitutional amendments he advocated for faced rejection. The proposed changes aimed to expand the definition of family and eliminate language regarding a woman’s role in the home.
Varadkar had campaigned for the amendments to promote gender equality and to update the constitution to reflect contemporary family structures. However, he admitted that voters had dealt “two wallops” to the government, signaling a setback in his efforts to modernize Ireland’s constitutional framework.
Mexico
On Friday, cities throughout Latin America were draped in purple as hundreds of thousands of women took to the streets to mark International Women’s Day. The marches occurred amidst a period of transformation in a region troubled by escalating levels of violence against women.
While some hailed significant milestones, such as Mexico’s impending election of a female president for the first time, others expressed concerns about potential regressions in rights they have tirelessly advocated for. In Argentina, the ascent of far-right President Javier Milei has sparked apprehension among those fearing rollbacks on hard-won rights.
Turkiye
Last year, at least 403 women lost their lives in Turkey, with the majority falling victim to violence perpetrated by current or former spouses and other men close to them, as reported by the We Will Stop Femicides Platform. This group monitors gender-related killings and extends support to victims of violence.
In the current year, the toll continues to rise, with 71 women already killed in Turkey, including seven on Feb. 27 alone — marking the highest number of such killings recorded in a single day.
Fidan Ataselim, the secretary general of WWSF, attributes these tragic incidents to deeply entrenched patriarchal traditions in the predominantly Muslim country, as well as to an increasing number of women seeking to leave troubled relationships or pursue employment outside the home.
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