The latest updates from our teams working to protect and promote the rights of women and girls across the world.   

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Dear John

While the work towards gender equality can sometimes feel relentless, we know that together we can make it reality. Last month we launched our new Future Proofing Equality ([link removed]) strategy, doubling down on our commitment to our vision and scaling up to meet the growing assault on justice for women and girls around the world.

As a valued member of our global community, here’s your round up of news from our work around the world to #MakeEqualityReality for women and girls.


** World Press Freedom Day: Misogynistic Online Abuse Poses Major Threat To Women Journalists
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The media play a vital role in holding governments accountable, and influencing public opinion. In much of our work we work side by side with journalists and media houses. With women journalists around the world experiencing an exponential increase in misogynistic online abuse, our Head of Media, Tara Carey, called for action to address the online abuse seeking to silence women.
Read Tara’s op-ed in IPS news ([link removed])


** The Adult Survivors Act: Bringing justice to thousands of New Yorkers
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Last week, New York State passed the Adult Survivors Act, creating a one-year look-back window to allow individuals who were 18 or older when they were sexually assaulted to file a civil lawsuit against the person who harmed them and/or the negligent institution.

Due to the short statute of limitations that most adult survivors faced at the time they were assaulted, many have been denied the opportunity to seek legal accountability for the crimes committed against them. On April 26, 2022, Equality Now participated in a day of advocacy, organized by our partners at Safe Horizon ([link removed]) , in support of the ASA and of all survivors who have been denied justice.

>> Learn more about the impact of statutes of limitations in Equality Now Legal Advisor, Jorie Dugan’s remarks delivered in Albany in April. ([link removed])


** Championing Diverse Voices: Announcing the 2022 Public Voices Fellowship on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls
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We partnered with The OpEd Project, and Senior Advisor Ann MacDougall to launch the inaugural Public Voices Fellowship on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls, championing fresh, bold, radical thinkers whose ideas break down the barriers that continue to hold women and girls back.

>> Explore the twenty inspiring individuals bringing their expertise, unique personal experiences, and fresh ideas about strengthening the rights of women and girls. ([link removed])


** Sexual Violence And Intersectionality: Demanding Access To Justice For Women With Disabilities In Kyrgyzstan
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Survivors with disabilities face additional barriers when trying to access justice. In Kyrgyzstan and throughout Eurasia this is exacerbated because of insufficient protections in sexual violence laws, the stigmatization of survivors, and specific discriminatory procedures applied in cases when the victim has a disability.

We’re partnering with two Kyrgyz organizations, Ravenstvo (Union of People with Disabilities in Kyrgyzstan) and Bir Duino, to litigate a case on behalf of Sabira (not her real name), a young woman with disabilities who was raped by a family member when she was a minor.

>> Learn more about the importance of accessibility and intersectionality in sexual violence cases ([link removed])


** Family Laws In MENA Fail To Protect Women And Girls
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As the world celebrated the International Day of Families on May 15th, the lives and futures of millions of women and girls across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are being undermined by laws that deny them equality in the family. Discriminatory family laws across the region are failing to protect women and girls.

It is time for change. Equality Now is building a feminist movement bringing together young women, women’s rights organizations, activists, legal experts, and decision-makers to tackle gaps in Family Laws and support women and girls to realize their rights.

>> Learn more about the impact of discriminatory family laws and the work we’re doing to change them ([link removed])


** Holding Kenya accountable before the Committee Against Torture
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Holding governments to account to the commitments they have made under international law through international accountability mechanisms like UN Treaty Bodies is core to our theory of change. Recently we, with our Kenyan partner REEP, participated in the review of Kenya before the Committee Against Torture in Geneva. We were invited to make a presentation on the issues we had raised in our report to Committee members had submitted during the private NGO briefing. The recent concluding observations from the committee highlight some of the issues we raised - sexual violence, FGM, and trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. This contributes to our efforts with local partners to hold the Government of Kenya accountable for protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls.


** Universal Digital Rights: Your Questions Answered
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Earlier in April, the panelists for our webinar, ”Protecting people’s rights in the digital age: The case for a Universal Declaration on Digital Rights” ([link removed]) had a lively and far-ranging conversation as part of the Ecosystems Day on the Skoll World Forum.

But why is there a need for globally agreed fair principles and standards that articulate the rights of all people in the digital age?
Explore our Q+A to learn more ([link removed])


** Watch again:
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* Our End Harmful Practices team hosted a webinar ([link removed]) to discuss the role of community chiefs in ending FGM in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
* Equality Now's Legal Advisor Jorie Dugan moderated a panel at the University of California, Berkeley - School of Law ([link removed]) conference on the weaponization of defamation lawsuits against survivors of sexual violence.


** Join our global team working to make equality reality for women and girls around the world
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Our current vacancies include:
* Global Executive Director ([link removed])
* Campaign Manager, Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law ([link removed])
* Communications Officer, Latin American & The Caribbean ([link removed])
* Director of Development ([link removed])
* Eurasia Communications Consultant ([link removed])
* Internal Communications Consultant ([link removed])
* Operations Manager ([link removed])

We are delighted to share the news that Asenath Mwithigah, Global Lead on Ending Harmful Practices has just taken up a role as CEO of The Orchid Project ([link removed]) , a long term partner of Equality Now, dedicated to ending FGM. Congratulations Asenath.

All of Equality Now’s work is impossible without you. Thank you for being a huge part of our work, which would not be possible without your constant support and activism.

In solidarity,

Niki Kandirikirira
Director of Programs

PS: Want to make sure everyone you meet knows you are a full-time feminist? Our incredible collaboration with UK-based jewelry brand Tatty Devine ([link removed]) features earrings, necklaces, and even tees raising money to support our work to end gender inequality around the world.

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