Our work to make equality reality across the world

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Dear John,

The work to protect and promote the rights of women and girls never stops. The growing anti-rights movement globally is putting many hard-won rights on the table. This month brought good news, with attempts to overturn Gambia’s law against FGM defeated. On 15 July 2024, the Gambian Parliament rejected and voted against the Women’s (Amendment), 2024 Bill ([link removed]) that attempted to remove provisions criminalizing FGM in the country.

The decision to uphold the Women’s (Amendment) Act, 2015 reaffirms The Gambia’s commitment to protecting the rights of its women and girls. With 73% of women and girls aged between 15-49 affected by FGM, this law remains crucial in safeguarding their rights in line with regional and international human rights instruments.

In the latest edition of our newsletter, here’s a round-up of our teams’ work around the world. We couldn’t do this vital work without your support. Thank you for helping us achieve victory in The Gambia and for being part of the movement to build a more equal world.
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024: Leave No Child Behind

Equality Now joined organizations around the world in marking World Day Against Trafficking in Persons ([link removed]) , 30 July, a global campaign observed annually to raise awareness of human trafficking. Trafficking can affect anyone, including adults, but one in every three victims is a child, with girls making up the majority of trafficked children.

The causes of child trafficking are diverse. For girls, existing systemic and intersecting gender and race inequalities compounded by poverty, conflict, life circumstances, and lack of support in migration contribute to increased vulnerability to sex trafficking. But girls are not trafficked just because they are vulnerable, they are trafficked because someone is willing to buy sex with a child. Laws need to address the accountability of all actors in the trafficking and exploitation chain.

As part of our efforts to end sexual exploitation worldwide, together with the International Association of Women Judges Kenya Chapter, we were proud to join members of the Judiciary, government officials, and the Chief Justice of Kenya to announce the pre-launch of the Kenya Judicial Bench Book On Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation.

We hope the Bench Book will be a step towards ensuring that all victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation can access justice in Kenya and that perpetrators are held to account, in line with Article 48 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010).

Read more:
* World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024: Leave No Child Behind - Equality Now ([link removed])
* Preview: Kenya Judicial Bench Book On Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation - Equality Now ([link removed])

Gender equality and women’s leadership in the year of elections

According to UN Women, as of June 2024, there are only 27 countries where women serve as Heads of State and/or Government ([link removed]) . Halfway through 2024, we stand at a historical turning point as almost half the world’s population will be affected by elections taking place in 70 countries this year.

Last year, Equality Now launched our podcast, ‘We Change the Rules’ ([link removed]) , hosted by award-winning journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed. We invited women’s rights leaders, legal experts, activists, and academics from across the international gender equality and human rights movements to share unique insights and bold new ideas on policies that governments should consider to achieve legal, political, and systemic gender equality.

With each episode, we explored global issues and their impact on women and girls, be it legal inequality, lack of representation in leadership, racial discrimination, patriarchy, religious traditions, or cultural intricacies.

We Change the Rules offers new perspectives on gender equality to guide research and policies targeted at legal reform.

Learn more:
* Gender equality and women’s leadership in the year of elections ([link removed])
* Listen to the podcast now on Apple ([link removed]) , Spotify ([link removed]) , and YouTube ([link removed]) .

Understanding the new law against child marriage in Sierra Leone

On 2 July 2024, President Maada Bio of Sierra Leone signed The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024 into law. We’ve analyzed some of the key provisions of the new law, as well as exploring its potential impact on the lives of women and girls in Sierra Leone and across the region.

Read more:
* Understanding the new law against child marriage in Sierra Leone - Equality Now ([link removed])

In case you missed it
* In 2023, we improved access to justice for 39.2 million women and girls worldwide by using our exemplary legal skill and acumen to help change 14 laws in 12 countries. Read more in our 2023 Impact Report. ([link removed])
* Solidarity statement on the ongoing situation in Bangladesh ([link removed])
* To mark the 21st Anniversary of the Maputo Protocol, we shared 21 reasons why the Maputo Protocol is beneficial to women and girls in Africa ([link removed])
* Gender Equality in Progress: Equality Now at the 56th UN Human Rights Council ([link removed])
* The Unfulfilled Promise Of Equal Rights For Women And Girls In The U.S. ([link removed])
* Equality Now, in partnership with The OpEd Project and Senior Advisor Ann MacDougall, who has kindly supported our work for a number of years, is delighted to announce the 2024 cohort of the Public Voices Fellowship on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls ([link removed]) .

Thank you for your continued interest in our work to protect and promote the rights of women and girls around the world.

In solidarity,

Niki Kandirikirira
Director of Programs, Equality Now

PS: Our Activist Investors, or monthly donors, help sustain our work over an extended period of time, allowing us to pursue legal change, plan for the future, and meet new challenges and opportunities as they arise. Read more about the benefits of monthly giving for both you and Equality Now. ([link removed])

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