This ongoing series highlights women’s news and information about foreign policy. This week’s post covers June 3 to June 9.

Turkiye

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan chose seasoned banker Hafize Gaye Erkan as the new Central Bank governor on Friday, succeeding Sahap Kavcioglu.

Erkan, 41, will become the first female head of the Turkish Central Bank. She is a former financial executive in the United States.

Read more here.

Namibia

Following the landmark ruling by Namibia’s highest court affirming the recognition of same-sex marriages, LGBTQ individuals in the country are confronting an alarming surge in homophobia and discriminatory practices.

Adding to the distress, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila recently declared plans to introduce an “anti-same-sex marriage bill” that directly contradicts the court’s decision.

This announcement undermines the progress made towards equality and poses a significant setback for LGBTQ rights in Namibia.

Read more here.

Italy

A group of sex workers in Italy convened in Bologna on June 2 to address the impact of existing legislation on their daily lives and advocate for change.

Their primary demand is the elimination of legislation that penalizes third parties involved in sex work, and they strive for equal rights and protections comparable to those of any other occupation in the country. Additionally, they aim to eradicate the stigma associated with their profession, seeking its normalization and social acceptance.

By achieving this, sex workers aspire to be able to fulfil their civic duties such as paying taxes, securing housing, and reporting incidents of assault to the police, free from fear of belittlement or ridicule.

Read more here.

Japan

The Japanese government has put forth a preliminary policy proposal to bolster the representation of women in senior leadership roles within prominent Japanese corporations.

The draft policy was presented during a meeting of the Council for Gender Equality and focuses on amending the existing regulations for companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) Prime Market.

These regulations presently mandate that every company must appoint at least one woman to an executive position by the year 2025.

Read more here.

Africa

A recent study conducted by UN Women and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), commissioned by the Women in Justice Africa Initiative, has revealed compelling evidence regarding the positive impact of female judges in the judicial system.

Analyzing data from over ten African nations, the research concludes that the inclusion of women judges significantly enhances the justice experience for women and marginalized communities.

Notably, the study demonstrates that female judges exhibit lower susceptibility to corruption and play a crucial role in challenging patriarchal biases by incorporating a gender-sensitive perspective into their decision-making processes.

Read more here.