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 October 8 to October 13.

The Gambia

In the Gambia, political and religious leaders are threatening to introduce a bill aimed at decriminalizing female genital mutilation (FGM), despite the practice having been outlawed for eight years. This potential step has raised significant concerns among activists and civil society organizations, who view it as a regressive move.

According to the Gambia’s demographic health survey from 2019-20, a staggering 73 per cent of women aged between 15 and 49 have undergone FGM, with 65 per cent experiencing this procedure before the age of five.

Currently, the Gambian law imposes severe penalties for those involved in FGM. Conviction for performing FGM can result in up to three years of imprisonment, a fine of 50,000 dalasi (equivalent to £622), or both. In cases where FGM leads to a fatality, the perpetrator could face a life sentence.

Read more here.

Israel/Palestine

This week, hundreds of Palestinian and Israeli women rallied in Jerusalem and the Dead Sea in the occupied West Bank, calling for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

At least 243 Palestinians and 32 Israelis have been killed in the conflict so far this year.

The women first gathered in Jerusalem marching to the Dead Sea in the West Bank, where more demonstrators joined their cause. According to reports, some Palestinian women were unable to join the rallies due to difficulties obtaining authorization for entry into Jerusalem from the West Bank.

This rally was organized by the Alliance for Middle East Peace, made of two women-led organizations, namely Women Wage Peace and Women of the Sun.

Read more here.

The United States of America

Claudia Goldin was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics this week, recognizing her groundbreaking research on women’s roles in the labor market. She has become the third woman in history to receive this esteemed award and the first to be honored independently. Her remarkable career also includes the distinction of being the first woman to attain tenure in Harvard’s economics department.

Goldin’s research has been instrumental in shedding light on the evolving roles of women in society and persisting gender disparities. Her work has explored issues such as wage gaps, workforce participation, and women’s access to leadership positions in various professions. An important aspect of her findings underscores that the current wage gap is primarily attributed to the impact of raising children.

Read more here.

Asia

A recent report from the World Economic Forum has unveiled a concerning statistic: Asia shoulders a significant burden of global cancer cases among women.

The study highlights that the Asia Pacific region is responsible for a staggering 45 per cent of all global breast cancer cases and an alarming 58 per cent of cervical cancer-related deaths across the world.

Read more here.

India

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi has called for the quick enactment of the Women’s Reservation Bill, which would provide a quota for women in legislative bodies. During her address at the Women’s Rights Conference hosted by the DMK, she emphasized that women can no longer afford to wait and that immediate action is imperative.

In her speech, Priyanka Gandhi highlighted the growing recognition among political parties that women possess the potential to become a powerful and influential collective force in shaping the future of India.

Read more here.