Equality Now

📢 Amazing news from the Gambia! The parliament has rejected the Bill attempting to repeal the anti-FGM ban in the Women’s (Amendment) Act. Equality Now commends the government including the National Assembly for upholding the anti-FGM law and standing with Gambian women and girls to ensure their protection from FGM. Back in August 2023, the Kaur/Kuntaur Magistrates’ Court convicted three women for performing #FGM on eight adolescent girls. This landmark judgment marked the first conviction of its kind since the enactment of the law banning FGM eight years prior. In response to the conviction, in September 2023, religious leaders and select members of parliament initiated public discussions seeking to repeal the Women’s Act to introduce ‘consent’ to FGM for women who wish to go through FGM as part of their culture or religion. The decision by Gambian lawmakers to uphold the Women’s (Amendment) Act is not only commendable but also sets a crucial precedent in the protection of laws against regression. This landmark decision is a beacon of progress and demonstrates Gambia’s commitment to international and regional human rights agreements. We recognize that the law is fundamental in serving as the foundation from which we all draw protections from violations. #EndFGM #WomensRights #HumanRights #ViolenceAgainstWomen #VAWG #GenderEquality #LegalEquality #LegalReform #TheGambia #Africa

🔴 The 100-day countdown to the #USElections starts today, with Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential frontrunner. Just 55 days ago, #Mexico elected the country’s first female president. 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. But gender parity in leadership and government has far to go. According to UN Women, as of June 2024, there are only 27 countries where women serve as Heads of State and/or Government. Last year, Equality Now launched our podcast, ‘We Change the Rules’, hosted by award-winning journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed. The podcast offers new perspectives on gender equality, to guide research and policies targeted at legal reform. Read our full blog to learn from the experiences of our guest speakers, The Hon. Julia Gillard AC, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Margarette Macaulay, and Michelle Ryan, who shared their experiences from the world of politics and leadership. https://lnkd.in/dBhEcqSn #GenderEquality #LegalEquality #WomenLeaders

📢 UPCOMING WEBINAR on sex trafficking. Equality Now, Trace Kenya, Lifebloom, and People Serving Girls at Risk invite you to attend our upcoming webinar on state responsibility to prevent and protect women and girls from sex trafficking, commemorating #WorldDayAgainstTraffickingInPersons. Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and an extremely complex human rights challenge, particularly because it is often underreported, and there is limited global data on its prevalence. Globally, women and girls consistently represent over 90 percent of all victims trafficked for sexual exploitation. We are bringing together stakeholders to discuss how to enhance state responsibility to prevent sex trafficking in Africa, by solving the systemic issues that perpetuate the cycle of exploitation. The webinar will foster discussions with civil society organizations from Eastern and Southern Africa to share their experiences in the fight to end sex trafficking in Africa. 🗓 Mark your calendars now: July, 29 2024 from 4.00 PM to 5.30 PM East African Time Register here: https://lnkd.in/guwE4Rcp  #WorldDayAgainstTraffickingInPersons #WDATP #SexTrafficking #SexualExploitation #HumanRights #HumanRightsAbuse #WomensRights #LegalReform #LegalJustice #LegalEquality #Africa #EndHumanTrafficking

We are celebrating a great moment for girls in Sierra Leone following the enactment of a law that not only bans child marriage but also provides social protections for victims of child marriage.  On July 2, President Maada Bio of Sierra Leone signed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024 into law, setting the minimum age of marriage at 18 without exception across Sierra Leone. This is a significant step towards gender equality and a progressive move that will safeguard the rights and futures of millions of girls. This law is crucial in upholding children’s rights, empowering the next generation, and setting a precedent for broader human rights protections. A future free of child marriage is one that every girl deserves and one that can only be realized with the full implementation of this law. Our legal experts have broken down what this law could mean for women and girls in Sierra Leone. Head to our website to learn more:  https://lnkd.in/dpZzxnQT #EndChildMarriage #ChildMarriage #18NoExceptions #LetGirlsLearn #SocialProtection #WomensRights #HumanRights #GenderEquality #LegalEquality #SierraLeone #Africa

Equality Now, in partnership with The OpEd Project and Senior Advisor Ann MacDougall, are delighted to announce the 2024 cohort of the Public Voices Fellowship on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls. This US-based fellowship is part of The OpEd Project’s Public Voices initiative to change who writes history and Equality Now’s mission to create a just world for all women and girls. Selected from an impressive pool of highly qualified applicants residing across the United States, our fellows come from a variety of backgrounds, bringing with them a wealth of experience and unique perspectives encompassing a broad range of disciplines. During a transformative year-long program, these individuals will receive expert guidance, mentorship, and the tools necessary to effectively communicate their ideas through the influential medium of opinion writing. Through their knowledge and voices, they will advance fresh ideas to strengthen the rights of women and girls. We invite you to join us in congratulating the 2024 class of the Public Voices Fellowship on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls and stay tuned to witness the impact of their collective voices as they challenge systemic barriers and help to create a more equitable future for all women and girls. #WomensRights #WomensVoices #OpEdProject

We, along with AUDRi co-founder Equality Now, have endorsed a joint CSO statement, alongside partners in our GDC advocacy work and other prominent digital and gender rights organisations and champions.  #GlobalDigitalCompact

We are deeply alarmed by the reports of police brutality and violence in Bangladesh which have led to the deaths and injuries of protesting students. As a women’s rights organization working on using the law to protect and uphold the rights of women and girls, we are particularly concerned about the reports of violence, abuse, and sexual harassment against female student protesters and women human rights defenders who participated in the recent protests in Bangladesh demanding quota reform. In solidarity with the people of Bangladesh, the international community, and civil society in Bangladesh and worldwide, we strongly urge the Government of Bangladesh to support human rights and uphold the rule of law by restoring telecommunication and internet access immediately, addressing complaints of assault and violence against female protesters and ensuring the protection of all women human rights defenders, civil society and youth activists in accordance with its obligations under the Sustainable Development Goals and international human rights law. Read our full statement: https://lnkd.in/dznBGH22 #Bangladesh #QuotaReform #Violence #SexualViolence #Abuse #SexualHarrasment #Women #WomensRights #VAWG #HumanRights #HumanRightsDefenders

Equality Now, in collaboration with the SOAWR Coalition and Kenyatta University School of Law, is hosting the 3rd edition of the Africa Gender Equality Moot Court Competition (AGEMCC), launching in July 2024. Register and join the official launch webinar on 25 July at 11 am EAT: https://lnkd.in/dwQMVPK7 AGEMCC aims to nurture the interest of the next generation of lawyers in women’s and girls’ rights in Africa, emphasizing the role of continental and international human rights instruments. The 3rd Moot Court Competition will spotlight the legal complexities of commercial surrogacy in Africa, informed by the pressing need to address the challenges arising from the lack of comprehensive national legal frameworks governing surrogacy arrangements in Africa.

We know that legal equality is the foundation of gender equality. Yet, no country globally has achieved full legal equality. How did we get here, and what needs to change? Why does the US still not have constitutional equality yet regards itself as a world leader on gender equality? As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, Equality Now invited women’s rights leaders, legal experts, activists, and academics from across the international gender equality and human rights movements. to address these crucial issues in our new podcast, ‘We Change the Rules’. Hosted by award-winning journalist, writer, and broadcaster Samira Ahmed, each episode offers unique insights and bold new ideas on policies that governments should consider to achieve legal, political, and systematic gender equality everywhere. ‘We Change the Rules’ is now live on Apple and Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eh2jXefd #WeChangeTheRules #Podcast #HumanRights #WomensRights #LegalEquality #GenderEquality  #GenderJustice #GenderDiscrimination #SocialJustice #WomenLeaders

We're excited to announce our 2024 Make Equality Reality Gala happening on Tuesday, October 8th at the iconic Sony Hall in New York City. Join us for an evening of inspiration, empowerment, and solidarity for gender equality. To take full advantage of your sponsorship benefits, please make your sponsorship commitment by July 26th. Together we can make a difference and achieve legal and systemic change for women and girls! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eAd_vFHZ #MakeEqualityReality #EqualityNow