Welcome to the 118th edition of The Pixel Project’s e-News Digest on Violence Against Women.
This month several countries have taken huge steps in denouncing and eliminating violence against women. Germany has broadened the definition of rap, Canada aims to fight cyber violence against women, Tanzania tightens laws against child marriage and Gambia has made child marriage a crime.
This month also saw attention drawn to honour killing in Pakistan as social media star Qandeel Baloch was murdered by her brother. In Afghanistan, a child bride was burned to death and a link between mass murderers and misogynistic violence has been identified in the United States. Despite the high profile of these events, they are not isolated and are part of the extent of violence against women around the world.
Women continue to seize headlines, claim the discourse about violence against women, and raise awareness. In Russia and Ukraine women are using social media to speak about sexual assault publicly, changing the climate of conservatism in the region.
Every contribution matters. If you have any news you’d like to share about violence against women, please email The Pixel Project at info@thepixelproject.net. If you prefer to receive up-to-the-minute news concerning violence against women, follow us on Twitter.
It’s time to stop violence against women. Together.
Best regards,
The Pixel Project Team
General Violence Against Women
- AFGHANISTAN: Over 5000 cases of violence against women recorded in Afghanistan
- EAST AFRICA: Commonwealth launches legal resource on violence against women
- AUSTRALIA: Violence against women – WA figures reveal increase in female assault victims
- CANADA: Federal strategy will aim to fight cyber violence against women
- INDIA: Violence against women on the rise in Guwahati state
- MEXICO: Mexican singer arrested over video depicting violence against women
- PERU: Femicide – victim total reaches 54 this year
- UNITED KINGDOM: Women’s Equality Party launches campaign calling on U.K. PM May to act
- UNITED STATES: Violence against women – common thread in summer of mass shootings
- ZAMBIA: Zambians denounce rise in violence against women
Domestic Violence
- AUSTRALIA: Domestic violence reporting up 40 per cent on Gold Coast since police taskforce established
- CANADA: Ontario helping northern, rural and remote communities address violence against women
- CHINA: As China passes first law against domestic violence, a long road lies ahead
- FIJI: Contestant takes strong stand against domestic violence
- FINLAND: Too few domestic violence shelters — 1,200 victims denied placement last year
- MALAYSIA: Domestic violence cases on the rise (trigger warning: illustration)
- MALTA: Domestic violence overhaul widens definition of rape (trigger warning: image for illustration)
- SOUTH AFRICA: Oscar Pistorius receives six-year prison sentence for murder of Reeva Steenkamp
- TURKEY: Euro Court fines Turkey 65,000 euros in domestic violence murder case
- UNITED STATES: Carrie Underwood takes another domestic violence song to number 1
Rape and Sexual Assault
- CHINA: Chinese women use social media to challenge sexual assault taboo
- EGYPT: Between 91 to 200 incidents of reported sexual harassment documented during Eid holiday
- GERMANY: ‘No means no’ – Germany broadens definition of rape under new law
- KOSOVO: Kosovo war rape verifications hit by delays
- IRAQ: Islamic State tightens grip on captives held as sex slaves
- MEXICO: Sexual violence routinely used as torture used to secure ‘confessions’ from women
- SPAIN: Thousands protest sex assaults at bull rain in Pamplona, Spain
- SOMALIA: Somalia’s uphill battle to criminalize sexual violence
- UNITED KINGDOM: Schools tackling sexual violence should focus on boys, MPs told
- UNITED STATES: Bartenders in D.C. are learning how to stop sexual assault and so far, it’s working
Sex Trafficking
- WORLD: In Asia, U.S. country rankings on human trafficking raise eyebrows
- ASIA PACIFIC: Human trafficking rankings in Asia Pacific spark a flurry of disagreement
- CAYMAN ISLANDS and CANADA: Caymanian charged with sex trafficking in Canada
- INDIA: International sex syndicate busted in Delhi, army officials among top clients
- THE PHILIPPINES: Philippines upgraded to Tier 1ranking in Trafficking in Persons report
- THE MARSHALL ISLANDS: Marshalls demands US re-think on trafficking listing
- MYANMAR: U.S. criticises Myanmar over human trafficking
- SOUTH AFRICA: Opinion – Decriminalising prostitution in South Africa – a recipe to extinguish the legacy of Sara Baartman
- UNITED KINGDOM: Foreign embassy staff accused of human trafficking and child sex offences
- UNITED STATES: Snapping a picture of your hotel room can help fight human trafficking
Female Genital Mutilation
- WORLD: More men than women oppose female genital mutilation in these countries
- WORLD: UN population fund designates female genital mutilation as ‘child abuse’
- WORLD: Majority oppose female genital mutilation in countries where practice persists
- AUSTRALIA: Parliamentary figures shed light on female genital mutilation in New South Wales
- EGYPT: Local Egyptian heroine aims to end ‘huge’ suffering caused by FGM
- GAMBIA: Three witnesses testify in Sankandi FGM case
- NIGERIA: Ebonyi proposes 5-year jail term for female genital mutilation
- SIERRA LEONE: This female genital mutilation survivor teaches victims how to enjoy sex
- TANZANIA: Government implored to engage elders in female genital mutilation
- UNITED KINGDOM: Young people march through Bristol to campaign for an end to FGM
Forced Marriage and Honour Killing
- AFGHANISTAN: Clash of values emerges as Afghan child bride burns to death
- CANADA: Canada supports campaign to end child marriage
- CHINA: Woman’s ordeal sound alarm on ongoing trade with child brides
- GAMBIA: Gambia ban on child marriage could spark backlash, activist fears
- LEBANON: The kids trying to end child marriage
- MALAYSIA: Youth from 22 countries adopt Melaka declaration to end child marriage
- PAKISTAN: Qandeel Baloch’s brother confesses to ‘honour killing’
- TANZANIA: High Court judgment in Tanzania rules age of marriage laws discriminatory and unconstitutional
- UNITED KINGDOM: Cumbria police support ‘honour killing’ memorial day
- UNITED STATES: Why 13-year olds can no longer marry in Virginia
Activism
- AZERBAIJAN: Azerbaijani women watch #IAmNotAfraidtoSpeak from the sidelines
- INDIA: From child bride to an entrepreneur
- KENYA: These Nairobi youths are using motorbikes to escort pregnant women to the hospital
- MALAYSIA: ‘Running’ to change perceptions of domestic violence
- MALTA: ‘One Too Many’ deaths: citizens protest violence against women
- MEXICO: Whistles distributed in Mexico City’s metro in hopes of curbing sexual harassment
- RUSSIA and UKRAINE: Russian and Ukrainian women’s sexual abuse stories go viral
- SAMOA: Samoa Rugby partners with UN to end violence against women
- UNITED KINGDOM: FGM campaigner Fahma Mohamed to receive honorary doctorate
- UNITED STATES: Stop Street Harassment and Defend Yourself are partnering with RAINN to launch a gender-based street harassment national hotline on 19 July