World Bank States Gender Equality Boots Development

The World Bank reported today that gender equality is needed as countries offering better opportunities for women can boost productivity.

The “World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development” by the World Bank Group (WBG) was released today in Washington DC, and stated that gaps in gender development are narrowing, however small differences are still noticeable in developing countries.

The report has stated that countries offering better opportunities and conditions for women can raise its productivity and advance the development of its women. The last 30 years has shown that over half a billion women have joined the workforce, almost closing the gender gap completely.

The report is also addressing four main issues including closing the gaps in wages and productivity in women and giving women more of a voice by listening to their opinions within societies.

These reports show positive development as the WBG provided US$65 billion to support women’s health, education and access to jobs over the past five years.

The WBG is a financial and technical source in helping the development of countries worldwide. They pledge to help fight poverty by helping people and their environment by sharing knowledge they have, and building capacities in the public and private sector.

In a press statement released today the WBG president, Robert B Zoellick, stated that the work over the last five years has been important, but it “has not been enough or central enough to what we do.

“We need to achieve gender equality” said Mr Zoellick. “Going forward, the World Bank Group will mainstream our gender work and find other ways to move the agenda forward to capture the full potential of half the world’s population.”

The statement also stated that gender gaps in education and health are narrowing and that “significant progress” has been made in the last 25 years.

The differences between young boys and girls in education are improving; however girls are out numbering boys in full-time education in over 45 countries, and more women are offered places in universities than men. Progress in life expectancy has improved, as women in low-income households and poorer countries are outliving men by 20 years.

The WBG stated that the progress in gender equality must be sustained through the international communities accompanying the domestic policy actions in their areas.

They need to help with efforts to improve data and statistics and encourage learning in young boys and girls.

The stubborn gender gaps, such as the number of young girls who are disadvantaged in education and unequal access to income for women, need to have more focus in order to improve the situation.

By Bethan Hâf Marsh

[Image courtesy of isca-web.org ]

Women Wanted for BBC On Air Positions

Trust Chairman of the BBC has said that there aren’t enough women in on air positions since a two-year pledge was made.

In a recent interview, BBC Trust Chairman Lord Chris Patten has stated that the BBC should have more women on the television and radio, even since its pledge in 2009 to find more women broadcasters.

Lord Patten praised Radio 4 broadcasters Sarah Montague and Martha Kearney, describing them as “among the good ones”.

Carole Walker has worked as a journalist for the BBC for thirty years, and in April this year she slated the BBC for its “PR stunt”, claiming they would hire more women in 2009.

“This year so far I have been given just one presenting shift. Those who warned the initiative was nothing more than a PR stunt after the Miriam O’Reilly tribunal are being proved right,” said Ms Walker.

The BBC has shown evidence of favouring young women over mature women, after Countryfile Presenter Ms O’Reilly was dropped from the show, and sued the BBC under an age discrimination programme. She won her case against the BBC, and was offered her old job back.

Following the interview with Lord Patten, British actress Caroline Quentin has criticised the gender balance in the BBC, believing that “many, many more men” than women are on screen.

Ms Quentin is due to meet with Danny Cohen, who is the new BBC1 controller, to discuss the matter and hopes that things will change.

“’I'm really hoping that he’s going to say something that makes me feel better about the future for women on television,” she said.

By Bethan Hâf Marsh

[Image courtesy of Wikimedia commons]

Online Petition Against Facebook Pages Promoting Sexual Violence

Go to  Change.org to sign the petition!!

Over 135,000 people join a campaign to help ban pages promoting sexual violence against women on social networking site Facebook.

‘Demand Facebook Remove Pages That Promote Sexual Violence is a petition on Change.org that aims to force Facebook to remove pages from the site which may encourage sexual violence.

In San Francisco, California on Monday September 19, Director of Organizing for Women’s Rights, Shelby Knox, released a press statement stating that the campaign had already gained over 135,000 signatures for the petition in 77 countries.

There are a number of Facebook groups which seem to advocate the use of sexually violent language. One such group is called: “Raping your mate’s girlfriend to see if she can put up a fight.” Whilst it may be argued that the language used in these group pages comes under freedom of speech, campaigners have said that these groups are cases of hate speech, and under the site’s terms of service, Facebook states that: “Hate speech and incitements to violence are prohibited and will be banned.”

Activist John Raines launched the campaign three months ago, and hit 100,000 signatures by the 73rd day. Mr Raines and other activists following in his example are planning to further the campaign by asking supporters to post links on their Facebook profiles in order to promote the petition.

Mr Raines claims that he decided to launch the campaign because he has seen the “scars of physical and mental violence” and many pages demonstrate a lack of consideration for women.

“I started this campaign because a friend once told me there is a big difference between free speech and hate speech. Hate speech is never free – it comes at a heavy price for its victims, said Mr Raines.

The campaign on Change.org allows members to sign the petition, and express their own thoughts on the ban. One member stated that these groups should be banned and that “allowing it is complicity in felony”.

The organisers of the petition hope that with enough signatures and support, Facebook will send out a message that any pages or groups created which appear to promote sexual violence will not be tolerated on the social networking site.

Regina Yau is the founder and president of the Pixel Project, a non profit organisation that uses online strategies to raise awareness of violence against women. Ms Yau told The Fresh Outlook, that as far as they are aware, Facebook has not yet responded to the petition and believes that they will not respond until the petition has caused “too big a commotion for them to continue ignoring it”.

“Realistically speaking, Facebook can’t prevent such groups and pages from being created in the first place,” Ms Yau said. “Facebook has previously said that hate speech and inciting violence will be banned. Now is the time to show that they will put their money where their mouth is.”

By Bethan Hâf Marsh

[Image courtesy of Sean Mac Entee]

French Burqa Ban: “Gross Attack” On Muslim Women

Due to be confirmed this week!!

Five months since the burqa ban hit Muslim women living in France, those who oppose may receive fines this week.

It has been five months since France banned Muslim women from wearing burqas in public places, and it will be decided on Thursday whether women will face fines or prison stays for opposing the ban.

Since the ban in April this year, many women have been attacked for wearing the burqa on the streets of France.

Politicians favouring the ban said in April that they wanted to “protect women”, but reports have shown that this has not been the case, as some Muslim women have had their burqa physically ripped off them in the street. Another politician suggested that it was “provocative” for women to wear their burqa in public.

Some public transport drivers refuse to allow Muslim women wearing the burqa to travel, as Muslim women are banned from wearing the burqa in public areas. However, no fines have been issued as of yet.

French property developer and founder of Don’t Touch My Constitution, Rachid Nekkaz, protested against the burqa ban. Rachid Nekkaz pledged to pay the fine for any woman convicted of wearing a burqa in public, and is due to commit 2 million euros to the campaign.

Don’t Touch My Constitution are planning to protest this Thursday September 22, and Rachid Nekkaz agreed that the burqa should be banned in parliament buildings but that a ban women wearing a burqa in public is “a gross attack” against Muslim women.

“The perverse effect of this law is that women in the niqab are effectively under house arrest,” said Rachid Nekkaz, revealing that Muslim women had contacted him claiming that they were too afraid to leave the house.

Judges in Paris will determine on Thursday whether or not to fine Muslim women who oppose the ban.

Two Muslim women were stopped outside Meaux City Hall for wearing their burqas, and told officials that they believed the ban had created a “mood of anti Muslim discrimination” within French society.

Muslim women and human rights groups have said that if fines are implemented they will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, where the ban could be lifted.

By Bethan Hâf Marsh

[Image courtesy of Charles Fred]

Colombian women are treated as "trophies of war"

I cannot believe this is happening in Colombia, think the report "This is what we demand. Justice! Impunity for sexual violence against women in Colombia’s armed conflict"  by Amnesty , and reports how awful these girls and women are being treated!! 

Colombian Women Treated as “Trophies of War” by Warring Parties

Amnesty International reported that government authorities are failing to recognise sexual abuse towards women in Colombia, committed by warring parties.

“This is what we demand. Justice! Impunity for sexual violence against women in Colombia’s armed conflict” is a new report by Amnesty International, highlighting the justice needed for women in Colombia suffering from sexual abuse.

Guerrilla and parliamentary groups are continuing to commit war crimes, including hostage taking and unlawful killings. “Social cleansing” attacks are also happening, as gay and bisexual people are also targeted.

The Director at Amnesty International, Susan Lee, said that women and girls are described as “trophies of war” due to the horrific abuse they face.

“Women are raped and sexually abused by all the warring parties as a way to silence and punish them,” said Ms Lee. “The government has made clear commitments to tackle the human rights crisis but we have yet to see real improvements in bringing to justice those responsible for human rights abuses, such as sexual violence against women.”

The report is full of harrowing true stories from sexually abused survivors and how the non-governmental organisation offered to submit their cases in court, promising them protection.

Parliament officers would abuse them in their homes, believing many of them were hiding information when each one was innocent and most attending secondary school at such a young age.

Many young girls under the age of 18 were sexually abused, resulting in unwanted pregnancies and cases of HIV/AIDS.

A community leader and survivor of a sexual abusive attack spoke out to Amnesty about the trauma girls and women face on a daily basis.

“It doesn’t matter if we are careful, or if we are at risk, or how we dress, they [take us] just because we are women…they made me feel that they had the power to do what they wanted to anyone they wanted,” the anonymous sauce said.

The report recommends that the International Criminal Court needs to date what crimes have taken place, where, and what investigations have been opened for war or humanity crimes, and what their current status is at the moment.

By Bethan Hâf Marsh

[Image courtesy of vasagritarwow]

Maine: Deborah Morton Society Pledges to pass on life Experience to new Graduates

The Deborah Morton Society celebrated 50 years of awarding “exceptional women” on September 20, and pledged support for new graduates.

Celebrating 50 years of awarding “exceptional women”, on Tuesday September 20 the Deborah Morton society pledged to support recent graduates, as one honouree asked those attending to remember how “naive” they were leaving university at 21 years old.

The annual awards ceremony took place in Portland, Maine, headed by the chairwoman of the University of New England’s Deborah Morton Society, Bridget Healy. The University of New England has been named one of best regional universities in America by US News And World Report.

Honourees included Mayor Gail Kelly, known for her fundraising efforts for MS research and Vietnam veteran Donna Loring, for helping to pass a law regarding teaching Native American history and culture in Maine Schools.

The awards are named after teacher and historian Deborah Morton, valedictorian of the class of 1879 in Westbrook College, which later merged with the University of New England in Maine.

She worked at Westbrook College for more than 60 years, and the award honours women like her who have achieved “high distinction” in their careers and public service, and their work is “exceptional”.

The first award was given in 1961 and since then 185 women have been honoured. In 1973 Westbrook College gained gender equality status after being an all-female college for 48 years.

Lynn Kraemer Goldfarb was the first woman to be Vice President at Central Maine Power Co, and was among the honourees at the ceremony for her work at NYSE and voluntary work with the American Heart Association.

Ms Goldfarb spoke to the women at the ceremony, urging them to help recent graduates to “pass our life experiences on to today’s young people”, as their knowledge could help them to pursue successful careers.

By Bethan Hâf Marsh

[Image courtesy of University of New England]

Savage Beauty

Savage Beauty: Art sensation Or Art Criticism?

Alexander Mc Queen was a British Fashion icon, not afraid to cross the line to create an extreme, raw and controversial fashion line. His tragic death in 2010 left fans worldwide devastated, but determined to carry on his legacy.

 Alexander’s Art Exhibition “Savage Beauty” has been described as a “Button Pushing Marvel”, being separated into six galleries including his first ever Collection titled “Jack the Ripper stalks his victims”.

 Yes, it is controversial, and yes some might say he took Fashion too far, but if he didn’t, the World of Fashion would stay merely in-between the lines.

New York City hosted the “Savage Beauty” exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and ran for four months from May this year. The popularity of the Exhibition showed great admiration for the late fashion designer, continuing his great legacy in the Fashion World.

As different as some of his pieces were, he still managed to win “British Designer of the Year” four times and was proud of his pieces.

British, as well as American fans should have the opportunity to marvel at this Exhibition and feel a sense of accomplishment form one of Britain’s highly rated Designers in the last decade.

As controversial and as extreme McQueen’s work was, he was one of the few who broke the rules, and has influenced up and coming designers to create their own Unique, Individual style.

By Bethan Hâf Marsh