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 a reality. As a valued member of our global community, here's the latest news from our teams working on women’s rights around the world.


** A quarter of countries have nationality laws that discriminate against women
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Under international law, everyone has the right to be born with a nationality and to be secure in their human right to equally acquire, change, retain, or transfer it. Nevertheless, in our updated report, released this week, The State We’re In: Ending Sexism in Nationality Laws 2022 Edition - Update for a Disrupted World ([link removed]) , we found that sex discriminatory nationality laws still exist in 49 countries.

The ramifications of unequal nationality laws can be diverse and long-lasting. Individuals may encounter restrictions on their right to marry or be unable to obtain a birth certificate for their child, rendering their offspring stateless; a woman can be trapped in an abusive or otherwise unhappy marriage when her or her child’s citizenship is dependent on her spouse; mothers maybe unable to claim child custody or gain access to her children if her marriage breaks up; and girls who do not have nationality in their country of residence are at greater risk of child and forced marriage as families may view this as a way to gain legal status.
Explore the full report on our website ([link removed])


** Holding Malawi Accountable for Rising Rates of Sexual Exploitation
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Together with our Malawian partner, People Serving Girls at Risk (PSGR) ([link removed]) , Equality Now filed a communication at the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child against the government of Malawi for its failure to protect its women and girls from trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Despite the fact that Malawi has strong laws to combat and prosecute human trafficking, they are not adequately implemented, resulting in 500 to 1,500 women and children trafficked every year, with at least 30% of those aged between 14 and 18 years. The scope of the problem has escalated during the COVID19 pandemic but the government response has not kept pace. Our communication will catalyze a regional response to hold Malawi accountable to its international treaty obligations.

>> Learn more about ([link removed]) our work to hold the government of Malawi accountable and ensure access to justice for girls in Malawi ([link removed])


** Decimation of Reproductive Rights in the United States
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June 24th was a dark day for human rights in the United States. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court of America overturned Roe v. Wade and stripped Americans of their federal right to abortion. Bodily autonomy is a bedrock of women’s liberation and this decision is a devastating setback for gender equality.

We are currently working with our partners in the US and around the world to harness our collective expertise, knowledge, and resources to respond to this unfolding crisis.

>> You can read our official statement ([link removed]) here ([link removed]) as well as a list of organizations that can support you in accessing up to date abortion care and information. ([link removed])


** Advocating for survivors’ rights in Nepal
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Due to myriad reasons, including psychological trauma, stigma, and fear of retribution, many survivors of sexual violence don’t immediately report their assault to authorities. Short statutes of limitations for sexual violence crimes, therefore, create significant barriers to justice for survivors. This is especially true in Nepal, where the statute of limitation for rape cases is only one year, the shortest in all of South Asia.

With our Nepalese partner, Forum for Women Law and Development ([link removed]) , we organized a discussion with Members of Parliament chaired by the President of the Women and Social Committee of the House of Representatives, to present a list of necessary reforms to Nepal’s sexual violence laws.

>> You can learn more about sexual violence laws in Nepal, and the efforts of our partner in our recent blog ([link removed])


** More of the latest news:
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* UN’s “No-Fly List” on Sexual Harassment Falls Short, Complains Rights Group ([link removed])
* Dear President Bio, Please Ban Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone ([link removed])
* Day Of The African Child: Partnering To End FGM In West Africa ([link removed])
* Ensuring Women Have Equal Rights To Inheritance And Property Is Key To Tackling Climate Change ([link removed])


** Missed our recent UN HLPF events? Catch up now:
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* The SDGs and international law: opportunities and gaps to protect the rights of women and girls in the digital space ([link removed])
* Achieving Gender-Equal Nationality Laws For Sustainable Development ([link removed])

None of this work would be possible without the support of people like you. We are grateful for your solidarity at this moment.

In solidarity,

Niki Kandirikirira
Director of Programs

P.S. Want to be a part of our global team? Explore our current vacancies including Content Officer and Legal Advisor. ([link removed])

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