Around the World In 5″ is a recurring weekly series spotlighting news concerning women across five different countries. This week’s edition spans May 6 to May 11.
Afghanistan
The supreme leader of the Taliban has announced the reinstatement of public stoning for women. In a troubling statement from late March, Haibatullah Akhundzada justified this practice, asserting that it aligns with their interpretation of Islamic law despite differing views from scholars and religious leaders who argue that stoning is not supported by the Quran.
Palestine
A recent UN Women survey has revealed the profound physical and psychological impact of the Gaza conflict on women and girls. Conducted in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city with a population of around 700,000 females, the survey found that 93% felt their safety was jeopardized and were enduring psychological distress due to the war.
Mozambique
The International Development Association of the World Bank is launching a new initiative in Mozambique to tackle gender-based violence (GBV). The Capacity Building for Improved Gender-based Violence Response Project will invest $20 million to enhance the skills of 2,196 GBV service providers and enhance integrated digital GBV services for better data collection and case management. By implementing new platforms and awareness campaigns, the project aims to empower more survivors to access support and assistance.
Nigeria
The Ladies on Wheel Association of Nigeria (LOWAN) was founded years ago with just six women, but it has since grown to include around 5,000 female commercial drivers aged 25 to 60 across Nigeria.
LOWAN operates as a close-knit community where members support and watch out for each other on the road. Founder Nkechi Abiola describes LOWAN as a network where members not only provide mutual support but also share trade advice and explore secondary business opportunities together.
Read more here.
The United States of America
A New York judge struck down a Long Island county’s ban on female transgender athletes after a local women’s roller derby league challenged it. The judge ruled that the county executive didn’t have the authority to issue the order, which aimed to prevent transgender women from participating in girls’ and women’s athletics in county parks.
The decision was hailed as a victory against discrimination by the president of the Long Island Roller Rebels, who emphasized the rights of transgender individuals to participate in sports without prejudice.
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