Full Coverage: Gender

30.10.2007 Female foeticide has reached alarming levels in Asian countries. If China leads in declining sex ratio, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal follow closely. Experts at the on-going Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights warn against this disturbing trend and call for urgent action.

26.10.2007 Professor Bina Agarwal of the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) at Hague (Netherlands), making her join the ranks of earlier recipients Edward Said and Nobel laureates Jan Tinbergen and Amartya Sen.

26.10.2007 The Indian cottonseed industry is marked by the highest proportion of child labour in its workforce, primarily girls. This blatant modern form of child exploitation is linked to the larger operating market forces and masks the social and legal responsibilities of the state, says a recent report.

24.10.2007 NEW YORK, Oct 24 (OneWorld) - Some of the nation's leading performing artists are calling for the U.S. Congress to roll back the Bush administration's policy on global HIV/AIDS funds requiring abstinence from sex until marriage.

22.10.2007 The National Family Health Survey III says 25% of Indian women work without pay and 40% of them face domestic violence. The survey also shows how patriarchy colonises womenÂ’s minds to make both men and women think wife-beating is okay.

22.10.2007 Dr Pam Rajput, eminent women rights activist and organizer cum jurist of the recent WomenÂ’s Tribunal on Poverty has hopes that the issue of Indian womenÂ’s engagement with poverty will not end with the tribunal. OneWorld South Asia met her prior to the event to discuss the role of women in ending poverty. Dr Rajput is also Director of the Centre for Women's Studies and Development (CWSD) at Punjab University.

22.10.2007 Kamla Bhasin, feminist activist, author, and poet, was a jury member at the recent WomenÂ’s Tribunal on Poverty, held on October 17, the International Day for Eradication of Poverty, in the Indian capital of New Delhi. OneWorld South Asia spoke to her on the need for a separate space for women to raise their voice against poverty. Kamla is also Advisor to South Asian Network of Gender Activists and Trainers (SANGAT).

21.10.2007 The UN International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction that falls on October 10 calls for strategies to prevent and mitigate natural disasters. Kathambi Kinoti says the role of women has been far less explored considering the huge impact that disasters have had on womenÂ’s lives. What lessons have we learnt from past disasters?

19.10.2007 Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) reports illiteracy and poverty as main perpetrators of child marriages, leading to domestic violence in 70% of such cases. Young girls married to elderly men are bound to the consequences of such customs that hold elopement as both unlawful and taboo.

18.10.2007 In India, hundreds of women came together to raise their voices against poverty at the WomenÂ’s Tribunal on Poverty on October 17. The event, held at New Delhi, was marked by the release of a womenÂ’s charter on poverty and a visit to the President, reinforcing their rights to be heard.

18.10.2007 The Women's Tribunal Against Poverty, held in the Indian capital on October 17, was one of many tribunals against poverty in the world. Testimonies highlighted that while the country is growing at phenomenal rates, the most marginalised women are getting further impoverished.

17.10.2007 The award of the Nobel Prize of 2007 spotlights the serious issue of climate change, the need for policy and action around it and of course, IPCC's contribution under the leadership of Rajendra Pachauri. Some observations by Pachauri from the Deccan Herald...

16.10.2007 Irfan Mufti from Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) feels society has to be organised and mobilized to influence policy. The change may not be immediate, but political influence is bound to grow in future.

15.10.2007 The report, PeopleÂ’s Voices on MDGs 2007 highlights key policy areas, common obstacles, as well as MDG progress among countries in the South and Southeast Asia regions from the civil society perspective.

15.10.2007 A WHO led campaign in South and Southeast Asia has called for inclusion of nutrition issues in government programmes on HIV/AIDS. Experts are of the opinion that nutrition can go a long way in treating the disease as well as preventing mother-to-child transmission.

11.10.2007 With World Poverty Day around the corner, UNIFEM has joined hands with Women's Funding Network to call for increased investment in women to fight poverty. Their new site invites all to sign up for the online Stand Up on October 17.

11.10.2007 October 10 marks one year since the Child Labour Act banned children from working as domestic servants. Yet millions of children continue to work in domestic and hazardous occupations and are vulnerable to abuse. Save The Children has called for concerted campaigns to save these lost childhoods.

08.10.2007 Girls living in slums who have to walk miles to fetch water for their families often miss school in India. Bangalore based NGO Association for Volunteer Action and Services (AVAS) has shown how slums with access to water can lead to a good attendance rate among girl students.

08.10.2007 To mark the World Teachers' Day on October 5, the Ministry of Education along with the UNICEF will train 16,000 more female teachers to tackle the shortage of trained teachers. Afghanistan has been on a drive to recruit and train female teachers to encourage girls continue their studies.

04.10.2007 A new campaign by a global coalition of governments, civil society organisations and media will push for meeting the Millennium Development Goals on maternal and child health. “Deliver Now” will introduce specific country programmes in India and Tanzania in 2008.