Around the World In 5 is a recurring weekly series spotlighting news concerning women across five different countries. This week’s edition spans May 19 to May 25.
South Africa
New research from the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in partnership with the University of Sheffield reveals that online attacks against women journalists in the country are rampant and occur with impunity.
These attacks, which often involve misogyny, racism, or homophobia, aim to marginalize journalists and suppress their critical reporting. Despite the prevalence of such violence, law enforcement and Big Tech platforms provide little to no recourse, and too few newsrooms offer mental health support for the affected women.
The attacks, often perpetrated by populist political actors, their followers, co-opted media, anti-vaxxers, and others, tend to surge following critical reporting and increase as elections approach.
Thailand
A new report by Amnesty International, “Being Ourselves is Too Dangerous,” reveals that women and LGBTQ+ activists in Thailand are facing digital violence aimed at intimidating and silencing them.
The report is based on interviews with forty activists, including nine women who were targeted by Pegasus, an invasive spyware. The investigation highlights that both state and non-state actors are using technology to harass these activists, spreading disinformation, sexualized content, and hateful speech to suppress their voices.
Turkiye
The Istanbul Municipality’s new course is empowering women drivers by teaching them tire changing and vehicle maintenance, promoting gender equality in automotive skills. Hundreds of women navigating Istanbul’s traffic will now be able to change their own tires, thanks to this initiative.
The course, coordinated by the municipality’s suborganization on women and based on principles of gender equality, has attracted significant interest among women drivers, providing them with practical skills traditionally associated with men.
Nepal
Nepali climber Phunjo Lama set a new record on Thursday by reaching Mount Everest’s summit in just 14 hours and 31 minutes, achieving the fastest ascent of the mountain by a woman. Typically, climbers take several days to reach the top of the 29,032-foot peak, spending nights at various camps to rest and acclimatize.
Pakistan
The Pakistan government is considering changing its passport policy for married and divorced women, following a petition by lawyer Khadija Bukhari against the mandatory inclusion of the husband’s name on travel documents.
Bukhari highlighted inconsistencies between the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Directorate General Immigration & Passports (DGIP). While NADRA allows women to keep their father’s name on their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) even after marriage, the passport authority requires a change from the father’s name to the husband’s name.
As passports are issued based on NADRA data, women who have not updated their CNIC to reflect their husband’s name must first obtain a new CNIC before being issued a passport.
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