MADRE’s Post

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, changing how courts listened to domestic violence survivors improved their ability to handle such sensitive cases. This video gives exemplifies the importance of a #gender perspective in #justice institutions. Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/dRvTTgZz

Today is #IDAHOBIT - the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia! #LGBTIQ* people across Europe are particularly affected by discrimination, exclusion, hatred and violence. This is confirmed again by current publications from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, ILGA-Europe, TGEU, OII Europe and the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community. The upcoming #EuropeanElections will also be crucial for the future of gender equality in the EU. Reactionary parties aim to restrict their rights. In its work, the #Observatory deals with the Europe-wide equality of LGBTIQ* people and rainbow families. All information here: https://lnkd.in/gqQT6yiY #HumanRights #Society #LGBTIQSurvey #SOGIESC #IDAHOT #EU4LGBTIQ #StandUp4HumanRights #IDAHOT2024 #UnionOfEquality #SocialPolicy #Democracy #Equality #rainbowfamilies #genderequality ©Ajdin Kamber / Shutterstock (2237471547)

[Latest News] The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria co-hosted a consultative meeting with United Nations Independent Expert on SOGI, (Graeme Reid) on the next thematic mandate report. The discussions underscored the pressing challenges faced by #LGBTQ+ communities across the world, including pervasive stigma, targeted violence, direct and indirect legal barriers as well as the ‘chilling effect’ of laws and practices targeting the #LGBTIQ+ community. As we await the release of the thematic report, let's reflect on the importance of challenging discriminatory laws and policies that undermine the rights of #LGBTIQ+ individuals. https://lnkd.in/dd-YwNmh

The recent proposal in Iraq's parliament to lower the legal marriage age for girls to 9 years old is deeply alarming and poses serious human rights concerns. If enacted, this legislation would undermine progress in women's rights and gender equality, while also risking increased child marriages, exploitation, and abuse. Allowing citizens to choose between religious authorities and the civil judiciary for family matters could erode protections in inheritance, divorce, and child custody. Beyond Iraq, this law could inspire other countries to adopt similar regressive measures, threatening global efforts toward gender equality. A unified international response is crucial to safeguard vulnerable populations and prevent the rollback of hard-won progress. #HumanRights #GenderEquality #ChildProtection

🏳️🌈 Individual rights versus traditional values: a crucial debate for a progressive society! 🌍✨ The adoption of an anti-LGBTQ law in Ghana divides and raises essential questions. #MinorityRights #IndividualFreedom #SocietalEvolution 🌈🤝

Investing in the education of women about their legal rights is a critical step toward creating a society where women and girls are fully aware of and able to exercise their rights. It helps them achieve: 💪Empowerment and gender equality ⚖️ Access to justice 🚫 Prevention of domestic violence 🩺Access to proper healthcare services and protections against medical discrimination 💸Financial independence which includes knowledge about property rights, inheritance laws and right to equal pay 🏘️Community development 🗣️Building self-advocacy skills to stand-up against injustice. Our partner Associação Cabo-Verdiana de Luta Contra Violência Baseada no Género is doing exactly that. They are an NGO based in Cape Verde (West Africa) that promotes gender equality and fights against gender-based violence (GBV). They have been successful in promoting human rights and preventing discrimination and other forms of gender-based violence. Their support involves ensuring GBV victims are provided with access to financial and educational resources. They also ensure victims have quick access to emergency services, legal assistance, and medical support. Let’s remember that educating women about their rights helps in the prevention of violence against women and girls. #NoExcuse #Womanity #GenderBasedViolence #EmpowerWomen #EndDomesticViolence #16DaysOfActivism #16Days

On the third anniversary of a landmark decision from the Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos y Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) urging the Jamaican government to repeal the country’s homophobic laws, the Human Dignity Trust calls on Jamaica to take immediate action and end the criminalisation of consensual, same-sex intimacy. Since the IACHR’s decision was made public, Jamaica has failed to show interest in complying with a single recommendation made by the Commission. In the face of this resistance to progress, the Trust has released a report, From Rulings to Reality: Jamaica Must Repeal Homophobic Laws, saying violence, harassment and discrimination against LGBT people in Jamaica has persisted over the last three years. According to our report, between 2021 and 2023, the Canadian NGO Rainbow Railroad received 867 requests for assistance from LGBT individuals in Jamaica seeking asylum abroad. In a 2023 national LGBT survey, a large majority (73%) of respondents expressed fear of being assaulted, threatened or harassed purely based on their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.  Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eQGQF-XU.

my latest article on the "CEDAW in Pakistan: A Critical Analysis of Legal and Social Implications," where I explore the role of CEDAW as a vital instrument in advancing women's rights in Pakistan. Despite being signed by Pakistan in 1996, CEDAW continues to be pivotal in the ongoing struggle against gender-based discrimination, with the journey toward full compliance still underway. Special thanks The Reviving Pakistan for publishing my article. The Reviving Pakistan #CEDAW #WomensRights #Pakistan #InternationalLaw #GenderEquality #LegalAnalysis #SocialImplications #TransgenderRights

A Friday win... LGBTQA+ Conversion practices are officially banned in NSW. Decades of activism and advocacy have led to this historic day. The NSW Parliament has passed the Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill. Today, countless lives have been saved – and we hope future generations will never know the pain these practices cause. Now in NSW, practices that seek to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and cause serious mental or physical harm have been crimialised. The bill also provides redress to survivors and makes it illegal to take someone out of NSW to undergo a conversion practice. Importantly, the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board can also disseminate information, conduct research and hold public inquiries about conversion practices, to prevent these practices in the future. Equality Australia thank you. But while we’ve had this historic win, there’s still more work to be done. Despite commitments to ban these dehumanising practices they remain legal in most states and territories, and only partially banned in Queensland. Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia are considering reforms but urgent action is needed. We need to fix this. As we open this new chapter in our history, there’s something you can do to help. Will you sign our petition to build the public pressure to ban these practices across the country? link in comments. note: this copy is from Equality Australia. Follow them to be part of the change.

Save the Date: Wed, June 5, 5.30-8 pm, The Showroom, Washington, DC. Journey to Justice 2024: An Evening with the Tahirih Justice Center. Join me at this annual event celebrating the progress made the past year and honoring the partners and supporters who have helped make the work of advancing gender equality and justice possible. ♦ Buy tickets here: https://lnkd.in/guAG92ts ♦ Find event details here: https://lnkd.in/gUCSewqh ♦ About: The Tahirih Justice Center is a national, nonprofit organization that serves immigrant survivors fleeing gender-based violence. Its interdisciplinary, trauma-informed model of service combines free legal services and social services case management with bridge-building policy advocacy and research-based training and education. By amplifying the experiences of survivors in communities, courts, and Congress, Tahirih’s mission is to create a world in which all people share equal rights and live in safety and with dignity. Did you Know.... ♦ Tahirih is a national leader in ending child marriage in America. ♦ Tahirih has supported more than 34,000 clients and their families since 1997. ♦ In 2022, 92% of cases were closed successfully. ♦ Tahirih's free legal services are valued at average of $48,000 per client. ♦ In 2023, Tahirih engaged more than 10,000 professionals in outreach and trauma-informed training to equip them with an understanding of unique obstacles that immigrant survivors face in the wake of violence and the essential tools needed to help. #genderequality #humanrights #immmigration