Pakistan's Gender Gap Index Hits Rock Bottom, Second Worst Globally
New
Age Islam News Bureau
07
July 2024
• Pakistan's Gender Gap Index Hits Rock Bottom, Second
Worst Globally
• Female Saudi Shoura Council Members Participate In
The G20 Women’s Sessions
• Saudi Arabia Keen To Get More Women In The Workforce
• Ailing Renowned Climber Samina Baig Abandons K2
Expedition
• 105-Year-Old Woman Graduates From Stanford
University After 83-Year Hiatus
• Women Fight Tokyo Election In Male-Dominated Japan
• In Jerusalem, A Unique Hotel Offers Respite For
Women Who Have Experienced Stillbirth
• 2 Women Constables Missing From BSF Academy For A
Month In Gwalior, Agencies Launch Hunt
• Iran's new president gives hope to some women and
younger voters
• Iran take ninth position at 2024 Asian Women’s U20
Volleyball Championship
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
-----
Pakistan's gender gap index hits rock bottom, second
worst globally
Jul 07, 2024
According to the WEF report, Pakistan's recent drop in
the index primarily stems from setbacks in political empowerment, despite
slight improvements in educational attainment.
------------
Lahore [Pakistan]: In the latest Global Gender Gap
Index by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Pakistan finds itself near the bottom
of the list, with only Sudan ranked lower among 146 nations surveyed. This
marks a further decline from its 142nd position last year, reflecting a
worsening situation for women in the country, Dawn reported.
Women's rights activists have issued impassioned pleas
for both state and societal commitment to address gender disparities
effectively. They emphasise the need to redefine the roles prescribed to women
by Pakistsociety and the government.
The annual index evaluates gender parity across four
critical dimensions: economic participation and opportunity, educational
attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Leading nations in
gender parity include Iceland, Finland, Norway, New Zealand, and Sweden, as
reported by Dawn.
"This year's dismal ranking is not an anomaly;
Pakistan has consistently lagged in the index for over a decade," stated
Bushra Khaliq, Executive Director of Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE),
reflecting on Pakistan's persistent challenges in achieving gender equality.
Breaking down the rankings across sectors reveals
stark disparities. In economic participation and opportunity, Pakistan ranks
143rd, with Bangladesh at 146th. Educational attainment sees Pakistan at 139th,
trailing behind Bangladesh (125th). Political empowerment remains a challenge,
with Pakistan at 112th, significantly behind Bangladesh (7th).
According to the WEF report, Pakistan's recent drop in
the index primarily stems from setbacks in political empowerment, despite
slight improvements in educational attainment. Gender disparities persist
prominently in economic and political spheres, alongside gaps in educational
attainment and health outcomes.
Reflecting on political empowerment, Farah Zia,
Director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, highlighted challenges
faced by women in mainstream politics. "Recent political manoeuvres have
targeted women leaders and activists, undermining their role and impact,"
Zia lamented, citing incidents of targeted incarceration and legal obstacles.
Despite a 33 per cent quota for women in parliament,
Zia noted that genuine representation remains elusive for women not affiliated
with influential political families or urban centers.
Addressing economic roles, Bushra Khaliq acknowledged
some progress in sectors like textiles and fashion but highlighted pervasive
exploitation in the informal sector. "Women in Pakistan predominantly work
in precarious conditions, limiting their economic empowerment," Khaliq
remarked.
The health sector presents alarming statistics, with
high maternal mortality rates and inadequate reproductive health services
plaguing women across Pakistan. Educational barriers further compound gender
disparities, with approximately 25 million out-of-school children,
predominantly girls, lacking access to basic education, according to Dawn.
Farah Zia underscored the impact of unchecked
population growth on women's development, critiquing government policies that
prioritise population-linked incentives over sustainable human development.
"The lack of discourse on reproductive rights has profound implications
for women's health, education, and economic participation," Zia
emphasised.
Both Zia and Khaliq pointed to entrenched patriarchal
norms and societal resistance, exemplified by contentious reactions to events
like the Aurat March. "Society's resistance to women's rights exacerbates
gender disparities," Zia stated, calling for concerted efforts to challenge
and transform patriarchal mindsets.
In closing, activists urged robust commitments from
the state and society to redefine women's roles and ensure gender parity.
"Progressive steps are essential for integrating women into the
socio-economic fabric of Pakistan," Zia asserted, advocating for
comprehensive policy reforms and grassroots empowerment initiatives.
Critically appraising governmental departments' roles,
Khaliq highlighted the need for improved data transparency and collaboration
with international organisations. "Accurate data reporting is crucial for
measuring progress and advocating for policy reforms," Khaliq emphasised,
urging greater accountability and transparency.
As the global community grapples with persistent
gender gaps, the WEF report underscores the imperative of inclusive economic
policies and structural reforms to empower women fully. "Economic gender
parity is not just a social justice issue but an economic imperative," the
report concluded, urging governments to prioritise gender equality as a
catalyst for sustainable development and innovation, Dawn reported.
Source: Economic Times
-----
Female Saudi Shoura Council members participate in the
G20 women’s sessions
ARAB NEWS
July 06, 2024
The Saudi Shoura Council delegation, represented by
Mona bint Abdullah Al-Mushait and Alia bint Mohammed Al-Dahlawi, took part in
the inaugural sessions of the G20 Women Parliamentarians held in Brazil. (SPA
-------------
RIYADH: The Saudi Shoura Council delegation,
represented by Mona bint Abdullah Al-Mushait and Alia bint Mohammed Al-Dahlawi,
took part in the inaugural sessions of the G20 Women Parliamentarians held in
Maceio, Brazil.
In an address, Al-Dahlawi highlighted the prominent
role of Saudi women, along with the significant policy and legislative shifts
that have reinforced their participation in national development.
She said in her speech: “The transformation journey
that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing, with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,
has effectively contributed to creating diverse job opportunities for all,
ensuring comprehensive economic growth and providing equal opportunities that
will contribute to and benefit from the prosperity of our country.”
She pointed out that empowering and enhancing women’s
economic roles has facilitated significant progress over the past few years,
with the participation of Saudi women in the labor market currently at 35.3
percent.
She stressed that, through great efforts in the
Kingdom, women have become partners in national development across various
fields, including commerce, engineering, sports, justice, technology, and many
others.
The session, held over two days within the framework
of Brazil’s presidency of the G20 for 2024, featured the participation of
female parliamentarians from the legislative assemblies of G20 member states,
along with representatives from international organizations and the
Inter-Parliamentary Union.
They addressed several key topics, including the role
of women in climate justice and sustainability, as well as initiatives aimed at
enhancing women’s participation and economic empowerment.
Source: Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2544651/saudi-arabia
-----
Saudi Arabia keen to get more women in the workforce
REEM WALID
July 06, 2024
RIYADH: Tourism and hospitality in Saudi Arabia are
experiencing a remarkable transformation driven by the increased participation
of women, thanks to inspirational leaders and strong government action.
This shift is significant considering that tourism is
one of the few global industries where women already constitute the majority of
the workforce.
Saudi Arabia is keen to get more women in the
workforce, and the Kingdom has already surpassed its Vision 2030 ambition of
achieving 30 percent female participation in the labor market.
Tourism and hospitality is seen as a sector where
women can thrive, and the Kingdom is working hard to create more opportunities
in this area.
According to EHL Insights, just five years ago, Saudi
females faced significant barriers when it came to working in hospitality
companies, and women had to go to great lengths to convince their families to
allow them to pursue education or employment opportunities in this industry.
This has changed thanks to the economic and cultural
shifts spearheaded by the Vision 2030 initiative, and according to data issued
by R Consultancy Group in March, 45 percent of the sector’s workforce now
comprises female professionals – 925,000 workers.
“There are several inspirational female leaders that
have helped to strategically shape both the Saudi tourism sector and the
regional tourism sector more broadly such as Princess Haifa bint Mohammed
Al-Saud, vice minister of tourism, and Basmah Al-Mayman, regional director of
the UN World Tourism Organization,” Anne-Laure Malauzat, partner at Bain &
Co. in the Middle East, told Arab News.
She went on to
stress that on the ground in Saudi Arabia, there is a massive presence of women
across different parts of the tourism and hospitality sectors, from the
architects designing the Kingdom’s key airports, passport control officers, and
cab drivers as well as hospitality leaders and tourist guides.
“Examples of these success stories include Sarah Gasim,
senior vice president — head of KSA Hotels and Hospitality at JLL — who managed
hotel complexes in the past. (She) is a published author and lectured on
hospitality, helping to shape future generations in the sector,” Malauzat said.
From Red Sea Global’s point of view, spokesperson
Zainab Hamidaddin Al-Hanoof Al-Hazzani told Arab News that women bring unique
perspectives, skills, and insights to roles such as hospitality management,
customer service, marketing, and event planning, which significantly enhance
the overall quality of service and customer satisfaction.
Al-Hazzani claimed that women are actively shaping the
future of the tourism and hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia, adding: “This
is particularly true at RSG where women play a pivotal role in elevating guest
experiences, fostering cultural diversity, and contributing to the overarching
success of our projects.
For example, our Elite Graduate Program has provided
employment opportunities for 250 individuals, with 30 women advancing to
management positions.”
The tourism and hospitality sector in Saudi Arabia is
undergoing a significant transformation, with a growing focus on cultural
tourism, luxury experiences, and heritage preservation which presents a wealth
of opportunities for women.
Laila Kuznezov, director, Implementation Practice at
management consulting firm Oliver Wyman told Arab News that from leadership
roles in hotel management to careers in event planning, cultural tourism
experiences, and hospitality education, women can leverage their “unique skills
and perspectives” to shape the future of Saudi tourism.
“By empowering women in tourism and hospitality, they
are not only creating a more inclusive workforce, but also sending a powerful
message to the world. With a diverse pool of talent contributing to the
industry, they can create a world-class visitor experience that reflects the
Kingdom’s rich heritage, culture tapestry, and forward-thinking vision for the
future,” Kuznezov added.
Speaking on the key constraints women face in entering
the labor force and securing employment, Kuznezov shed light on how many of the
barriers in Saudi Arabia are similar to those faced globally.
By empowering women in tourism and hospitality, they
are not only creating a more inclusive workforce, but also sending a powerful
message to the world.
“A gender wage gap persists, and women at certain
education levels, particularly those with only a secondary school leaver’s
certificate, have much lower participation rates than men. A huge opportunity
lies in capitalizing on the highly skilled female workforce in Saudi Arabia,”
she explained.
The director also noted that: “We need to see more
women as CEOs, CFOs, and senior managers across all industries, particularly in
highly productive sectors driven by technology and knowledge. Encouraging
female entrepreneurship is also crucial. The talent and ambition are there –
it’s about providing continued support and fostering a culture that actively
supports and promotes women in transformative roles.”
She continued to clarify that the recent rise in
female labor force participation is a positive indicator, but the next step is
ensuring these women secure high-quality jobs that leverage their full
capabilities.
“It is also important to support gains for women at
all levels and geographic areas. A key focus in Saudi Arabia is ensuring access
to the training and childcare options needed for success, especially for women
who have been out of the workforce for long periods of time, are first-time job
holders, or have lower education levels,” Kuznezov emphasized.
“Since Saudi women tend to stay closer to their
hometowns, geographically dispersed training programs and readily available
childcare are crucial to expanding regional employment opportunities,” the
director further said.
According to Kuznezov, Saudi Arabia is embracing a
progressive approach by developing and enabling regulations to promote new
forms of work, such as freelancing, part-time work, platform and gig economy
work, and remote working.
“These models offer women increased flexibility and
more channels to enter and participate in the workforce, which should
contribute to continuing the positive trends of increased participation and
reduced unemployment for women,” she said.
Female participation in the tourism and hospitality
sector has helped support the Vision 2030 agenda on multiple fronts, believes
Bain & Co.’s Malauzat.
“From a talent perspective, enabling the sector
transformation through their leadership, skills, and contribution across all
parts of the tourism and hospitality lifecycle,” she said.
In Saudi Arabia, there is a massive presence of women
across different parts of the tourism and hospitality sectors, from the
architects designing the Kingdom’s key airports, passport control officers, and
cab drivers as well as hospitality leaders and tourist guides.
“From a consumer understanding perspective, women
globally take an estimated 80 percent of consumer-related decisions so having
women represented in the sector is critical to ensure a real understanding of
consumers in this space,” the partner affirmed.
She concluded: “From a gender equity perspective, this
has been an important contributing factor to helping the Kingdom achieve its
overall aspirations for female participation in the labor market nationally.”
From RSG’s lens, according to Al-Hazzani, by actively
promoting gender diversity in the workforce within the tourism and hospitality
sector, the firm is taking significant strides towards realizing the vision
outlined in Vision 2030.
“This initiative aligns seamlessly with the broader
objective of cultivating a vibrant and inclusive economy that harnesses the
full spectrum of talent and capabilities within the nation,” Al-Hazzani said.
“Recognized as a fundamental driver of economic
diversification, the tourism and hospitality sector in particular benefits
immensely from the integration of female talent. Their presence not only fuels
the sector’s growth but also enhances its competitive edge and long-term
viability through delivering an enriched tourism experience and driving
innovation,” she added.
The spokesperson justified that by prioritizing gender
diversity in the tourism and hospitality workforce, RSG is not only embracing
Vision 2030’s ideals but also paving the way for other sectors to do the same.
“Our dedication to inclusivity not only strengthens
our economy but also reaffirms our collective commitment of creating a more
prosperous and equitable society,” Al-Hazzani concluded.
Source: Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2544801/business-economy
-----
Ailing Renowned Climber Samina BaigAbandons K2
Expedition
Jamil Nagri
July 7, 2024
GILGIT: Renowned climber Samina Baig, who was on an
expedition to summit the world’s second highest peak K2, was evacuated from the
base camp after she fell ill, on Saturday.
Mehboob Ali, brother of Samina Baig, told Dawn that
the team members were acclimatising themselves at the base camp when she fell
seriously ill, adding that she developed severe breathing problems.
Subsequently, he said, the expedition organisers
requested the army aviation officials to provide a helicopter to evacuate her
to Skardu as there is a one-week trek from the base camp to Skardu.
“We waited for the helicopter evacuation for three
days, but despite completing all the requirements for evacuation Askari
Aviation [the only service provider available in Pakistan] could not carry out
the rescue operation citing weather conditions,” he claimed.
“Usually it takes one week to reach Skardu,” he said,
adding that the team was walking day and night to ensure Ms Baig received the
medical attention as early as possible.
Source: Dawn.Com
https://www.dawn.com/news/1844355/ailing-samina-baig-abandons-k2-expedition
-----
105-year-old woman graduates from Stanford University
after 83-year hiatus
Jul 7, 2024
Virginia Hislop, a 105-year-old woman, recently
returned to Stanford University after an 83-year hiatus to receive her master's
degree in education. She first enrolled at Stanford in 1936 as an undergraduate
student. Hislop continued her studies at Stanford to pursue a graduate degree
while teaching, but her plans were interrupted when her future husband was
called to serve during World War II in 1941, Fox news reported.
She left campus before graduating to get married and
moved around the country as an Army wife before settling in Yakima, Washington,
with her family.
Although Hislop did not return to teaching, she
utilized her teaching certificate to serve on committees and boards, striving
to enhance educational opportunities whenever possible. She became a member of
the local school board when she was dissatisfied with the suggestion of a home
economics course for her daughter Anne instead of advanced English.
Hislop went on to serve as a founding board member for
Yakima Valley Community College and helped raise funds for Heritage University
in Toppenish, Washington. In 2017, she even established the Virginia Hislop
Emergency Fund scholarship at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences.
During the recent graduation ceremony, Daniel
Schwartz, dean of Stanford's Graduate School of Education, praised Hislop as a
"fierce advocate for equality" and expressed his pride in conferring
her Master of Arts in education degree. Schwartz revealed that Hislop's
participation in the ceremony might not have been possible without her
son-in-law's inquiry about bestowing her with an honorary degree. Upon
discovering Hislop's original transcripts from 1941, Schwartz realized that her
completed coursework satisfied the current requirements for a master's degree,
making an honorary degree unnecessary.
The moment Hislop received her degree was cherished by
her, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as she remarked,
"I've waited a long time for this."
Since her graduation, people online have been
expressing their admiration for her achievements, praising her sharp mind at
her age and offering congratulations and blessings for many more years to come.
Source: Times Of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowprint/111548001.cms
-----
Women Fight Tokyo Election In Male-Dominated Japan
Jul 7, 2024
TOKYO: Polls opened Sunday to elect a new Tokyo
governor with incumbent Yuriko Koike challenged by opposition figure Renho, two
prominent women in Japan's male-dominated political sphere.
Japan has never had a woman prime minister and a large
majority of lawmakers are men, but Tokyo, accounting for a tenth of the
national population and a fifth of the economy, has been run since 2016 by
former television anchor Koike, 71.
While few now tout the former defence and environment
minister as a possible future prime minister, as many once did, polls suggest
that the media-savvy conservative will win a third straight term in the
metropolis of 14 million people.
This will be some relief ahead of national elections
due by late 2025 to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of deeply unpopular
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida which backs Koike, even though she broke away from
the LDP in 2017.
Kishida, whose public support rate has been dwindling
to around 20 per cent, partly due to a political funds scandal revealed late
last year, will also face the LDP leadership election later this year.
The Tokyo vote comes after new government data showed
the birth rate hit a record low of 1.20 last year, with Tokyo's figure 0.99 --
the first Japan region to fall below one.
Both Koike and her nearest rival Renho, who goes by
one name, have pledged to expand support for parenting, with Koike promising
subsidised epidurals.
"After having their first child, I hear people
say they don't want to experience that pain again," Koike said, according
to local media.
"I want people to see childbirth and raising
children as a happiness, not a risk," said the incumbent, who has
campaigned with an AI version of herself.
A dark horse in the race could be independent
candidate Shinji Ishimaru, 41, a former mayor of Akitakata in western Japan,
recent polls also suggested, with some swing voters preferring him over Koike
and Renho.
"If you look away, interest-based politics and
pork-barrel projects will rear their ugly heads," he said in a speech
Saturday, stressing his financial expertise as a former banker.
A record 56 people are standing in the election, not
all of them serious, with one dressing as "The Joker" and calling for
polygamy to be legalised. Others are campaigning for more golf, and poker or
just to advertise their premises in the red-light district.
Local media speculate that the turnout may be up given
that early votes cast through July 5 reached 1.65 million, up 20 per cent from
1.38 million in 2020.
Source: Times Of India
-----
In Jerusalem, a unique hotel offers respite for women
who have experienced stillbirth
By DEBORAH DANAN
07-07-2024
(JTA) — MorielYamin was six months pregnant with her
first child when Hamas terrorists overran the police station opposite her home
in Sderot on October 7, killing 35 people. Yamin’s husband, a soldier in the
IDF reserves, was called up. Like most residents of Sderot, Yamin was evacuated
to a safer part of the country.
In November, Yamin suffered excruciating contractions
and was hospitalized for two weeks before being given the all-clear. But during
a routine checkup a month later, she was told the baby was in distress and that
she needed to have an emergency cesarean section.
Three days after Shira Chaya was born, the infant
died. For three hours, Yamin sobbed and held her dead daughter in her arms,
refusing to hand her over to medical personnel.
“The doctor told me, ‘Death won’t make her more
beautiful,’ but I kept thinking, ‘How can I let them take her from me?’” she
recalled.
Yamin was still reeling in mid-January when she and
her husband took an unusual step, checking into a new center in Jerusalem for
women and couples coping with stillbirth and perinatal loss. There, the couple
had access to full-board dining, spa amenities, physical and emotional support
services and workshops and access to mental health professionals — all designed
to help them adjust to their loss in a space set apart from their regular
lives.
Although stillbirth is only officially recognized by
Israeli authorities from 22 weeks of pregnancy, the center allows women to come
as early as 20 weeks and up to four months after birth. Some, like Yamin, were
anticipating becoming mothers for the first time. Others have large families
already — common in Israel, which has the highest birth rate among all
developed countries.
“It doesn’t matter how many children you have, you
never, ever get over the experience,” said Dr. Chana Katan, an American-Israeli
gynecologist who volunteers as the center’s medical authority. “We aim to give
these women hope and support in their recovery while they try to process what
happened to them.”
The center is operated by Yad Sarah, Israel’s largest
volunteer organization, and housed on the sixth floor of its Yirmiyahu 33
Rehabilitation and Wellness Hotel at the entrance to Jerusalem, the country’s
only fully accessible hotel for people with disabilities. Nightly stays are
heavily subsidized and couples pay 350 NIS ($93) per night, which they can then
claim back from their health insurance for up to four nights. Since its opening
last July, the center has hosted 470 couples, most of whom suffered
stillbirths.
The Yamins’ case was unusual not only because they had
suffered a neonatal death and not a stillbirth, but also because they were
evacuees. This extended their stay at the hotel from the typical four nights to
two months.
Another Israeli organization, Keren Ohr, operates
guesthouses where couples experiencing stillbirth and fertility challenges can
retreat. Outside the country, the oldest Jewish fertility nonprofit, Atime,
owns homes in Monroe, New York, and London where couples can go for respite.
And outside the Jewish world, a range of nonprofits offer support or
conferences for families that have experienced stillbirth. But Yad Sarah
believes the Jerusalem center, which has 10 dedicated suites and the option to
turn 11 more should the need arise, is the first of its kind in the world.
“There’s a gap between what the woman is experiencing,
the tremendous grief and sense of loss, and the expectation of society to move
on quickly,” Calderon-Margalit said. “But it is changing and there is more
awareness today.”
Aimee Baron, the founder and executive director of the
Jewish fertility support organization I Was Supposed to Have a Baby, said she
was not aware of another center offering the breadth and depth of services that
Yad Sarah’s hotel provides. In the United States, she said, much of Jewish
communal support around fertility challenges is devoted to helping people cover
the steep cost of IVF, or in vitro fertilization, when they are unable to
conceive on their own. In Israel, where IVF is free in most cases, different needs
can be addressed.
“We know anecdotally that people carry this pain with
them for the rest of their lives,” Baron said. “And so the fact that these
respite centers now exist I think is an absolutely incredible thing, because
it’s bringing attention to the fore that this kind of support is necessary.”
Katan, who headed and founded the IVF unit at Israel’s
Laniado Hospital, must approve all women who wish to stay there. She herself
suffered a stillbirth, as did two of her daughters, one of whom recently went
through the ordeal alone in her ninth month of pregnancy while her husband was
fighting in Gaza. Her daughter, a mother to nine other children, stayed at the
center.
Katan said that while there is no supporting evidence
yet, she has anecdotally observed an increase in women suffering stillbirths
and miscarriages since the war broke out on October 7 when Hamas-led terrorists
invaded southern Israel, murdering 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 to the Gaza
Strip.
Yirmiyahu 33 has 216 suites altogether, and in the
months following October 7, it became one of many hotels to turn into
semi-permanent accommodations for displaced Israelis — mostly disabled or
elderly — from Israel’s north and south. Though the stillbirth center occupies
a dedicated floor separate from other hotel guests, the war has led to more
frequent intermingling.
Rivka Benedict, administrative coordinator at the
center, noted a poignant connection between these two groups who had
experienced loss — those who lost homes, and those who lost children.
“I’d find old Moroccan grandmothers and their foreign
[home health] workers chatting away to some of the guests from our center. They
really bonded, it was beautiful to see,” Benedict said.
According to Benedict, Yad Sarah founder and president
Uri Lupolianski — who is also a former mayor of Jerusalem — was asked to open
the center by ShlomoPappenheim, the founder of a maternity convalescent home in
Telz-Stone on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
“Rabbi Pappenheim told Rabbi Lupolianski that it just
wasn’t possible to have these women [who had stillbirths] come to his facility
and be surrounded by new mothers and crying babies,” Benedict said.
Katan cautions against arriving at the center directly
from the hospital and in many cases will not approve such requests. Often, the
women may want to avoid going home so as not to face difficult scenes,
including telling their other children the bad news or coming home to
congratulatory balloons from neighbors on the doorstep.
“But these women still need their bodies to heal —
some of them have had very invasive medical procedures and unfortunately in
some cases, the hospitals let them go earlier than ideal, because there’s no
baby involved,” Katan said. “I can’t take on that responsibility.”
“We welcome any woman who wants to come,” Benedict
said. “But we’ve had secular couples cancel when they realize, for example,
that there are separate swimming hours for women and men.”
One Haredi woman, Shifra, who declined to give her
last name, was told at week 27 that her pregnancy wasn’t viable. It took
another three weeks until she underwent a procedure to remove the fetus. During
that time, Shifra said she and her husband consulted their rabbi multiple
times.
Shifra recounted coming home from the hospital and
meeting an acquaintance who wished her mazel tov. “She didn’t stop to think,
‘How come she has no belly but no stroller either?’” she recalled. “It’s not
her fault, because people just don’t know. But it was embarrassing for both of
us. She didn’t know what to say.”
A few weeks later, after Passover, Shifra and her
husband arrived at the hotel. “It was lovely to be in such a gorgeous, new
environment and it was very comforting to be around other women who understood
what you’ve gone through.”
Baron said her organization frequently heard from
women who felt alienated from their Jewish communities after experiencing
insensitivity from others.
“People will say, ‘Just get over it. Don’t worry,
you’ll have another baby. Why are you grieving? Why are you still sad?’” she
said. “The fact that there is now this attention placed on the experience that
people are having [after stillbirth] will mean that people will feel more
comfortable in community and not have to feel like they have to retreat into
themselves, or leave in order to feel like they’re supported. So I think this
is an incredible step forward.”
“Bringing Shira Chaya’s soul into this world was the
greatest privilege of my life,” she said. “During those three days, the amount
of people — strangers — who prayed for her and took [mitzvot, or commandments]
on in her name gave me infinite strength. It doesn’t make her death hurt any
less but it makes it more meaningful.”
“He’s an idealist, he lives for Am Yisrael,” she said,
using the Hebrew phrase for the people of Israel. “I often ask myself if I can
put aside my own private trial for that of our nation. What’s the right thing
to do? Am I important or is Am Yisrael? They need him but then so do I.”
Source: Times Of Israel
-----
2 women constables missing from BSF academy for a
month in Gwalior, agencies launch hunt
Jul 7, 2024
BHOPAL: A multi-agency search is underway for the two
women constables who have been missing from BSF's academy in Tekanpur, Gwalior,
for over a month. BSF units on the international borders have been alerted.
AkankshaNikhar, a native of Jabalpur, and Shahana
Khatoon, originally from Murshidabad in Bengal, were trainers at the academy
since 2021. They went missing on June 6, 2024.
According to sources, the investigation has taken an
unexpected turn after authorities traced "suspicious activity" on the
constables' phones. Records indicate their phones' locations pinged in Delhi,
Howrah, and Behrampore in West Bengal, close to Murshidabad.
Authorities are trying to analyse phone records and
CCTV footage from several locations, investigate the reason behind their travel
across different states, and determine if there is any connection between the
constables and Shahana's family in West Bengal.
CCTV footage from Beacon Hospital in Behrampore
confirms their presence on June 7. This is the last confirmed sighting of the
constables. Their phones have been switched off since leaving the hospital.
Akanksha's mother, Urmila Nikhar, has expressed
concern during a public hearing with Gwalior police. She told officers about a
conversation with Akanksha on June 5, where her daughter seemed 'hesitant'.
Nikhar alleges Gwalior police didn't investigate the
disappearance despite a missing person's report being filed at Bilua police
station (100km from Gwalior) on June 6. Shahana's family in Bengal has not
provided any information to Nikhar, deepening the mystery.
Following her complaint, Gwalior police have
constituted a special investigation team and are collaborating with state and
central agencies, including their counterparts in Bengal, to trace the
constables' and establish contact with the women.
Source: Times Of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowprint/111544032.cms
-----
Iran's new president gives hope to some women and
younger voters
By KasraNaji
07-07-2027
A relatively moderate member of the Iranian
parliament, Masoud Pezeshkian, has been declared the next president of Iran
after beating his hardline conservative rival by a decisive margin in Friday’s
run-off presidential elections.
Dr Pezeshkian’s mostly young supporters took to the
streets of the capital, Tehran, and other cities to celebrate - even before the
final results were declared, singing, dancing and waving his campaign's
signature green flags.
He has given some of the nation's younger generation
hope at a time when many were despondent about their future. Some were even
planning to leave the country to seek a better life elsewhere.
In the 1990s, he lost his wife and one of his children
in a car accident. He never remarried and raised his other three children - two
sons and a daughter - alone.
His win has upset the plans of the Islamic hardliners,
who hoped to install another conservative to replace Raisi and - alongside
supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - control all of Iran's levers of power.
At a polling station in Tehran, 48-year-old Fatemeh
told the AFP news agency she had voted for the moderate as his "priorities
include women and young people's rights".
Afarin, 37, who owns a beauty salon in Isfahan, told
Reuters: "I know Pezeshkian will be a lame-duck president, but still he is
better than a hardliner."
Many voters boycotted the first round of voting last
week, angry at repression at home and international confrontation which have
brought Iran increased sanctions and expanding poverty.
They were also frustrated by the lack of choice in the
elections. Of the six candidates who were allowed to run, five were hardline
Islamists.
And there was a sense of despair that - with Ayatollah
Khamenei having final say over government policy - there is little chance of
real change.
One of those who refused to cast a ballot was Azad, a
35-year-old HR manager and activist in Tehran who has been jailed twice for
criticising the Iranian government.
Azad, whose name has been changed for her own safety,
says she is still traumatised from being kept in solitary confinement and
enduring exhausting interrogations.
“The reformists have had 45 years and they have made
no effort to reform the political structure,” she said, referring to the time
since the Islamic Revolution.
Getty Images Iranian reformist candidate Masoud
Pezeshkian reacts after casting his ballot during the presidential runoff
elections in SharehQods, west of Tehran on July 5, 2024.Getty Images
Masoud Pezeshkian's win has given hope to voters who
wanted to avoid a hardline president, but he is still bound by the final say of
supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei
But in the run-off election on Friday, some seem to
have changed their mind and turned out at polling stations, many voting
tactically for Dr Pezeshkian in order to block victory for Mr Jalili.
He would have reaffirmed many policies that have been
the subject of both domestic and international discontent, such as Iran's
controversial morality police patrols.
Mr Jalili took an anti-Western stance during his
campaign and criticised the 2015 deal that saw Iran curb its nuclear programme
in exchange for eased sanctions. Voters were concerned that if he won, his
presidency could have antagonised the US and its regional allies - and worsened
Iran's economic situation.
By comparison, Dr Pezeshkian has called for
"constructive relations" with Western nations, and to revive the
nuclear deal to "get Iran out of its isolation". He has said that
Iran’s economy cannot function with the crippling sanctions currently placed on
it.
A win for Mr Jalili would have also signalled a shift
to a potentially harsher domestic policy, reinforcing the requirement for women
to wear a headscarf.
He has previously lamented the death in police custody
of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who had been arrested for an alleged violation of
the law. Her death sparked massive nationwide protests, unlike any the country
had ever seen.
The president-elect is expected to take the reins of
power in a matter of days to fill the void in government left by Raisi's sudden
death.
As well as pushing to revive the nuclear deal and ease
sanctions, Dr Pezeshkian has promised to see Iran join international banking
conventions. Conservatives have been reluctant to do so, depriving Iran of
normal banking relations with other nations.
He will have to "work across the
conservative-dominated Iranian system to try and build support" for his
more moderate agenda, said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East & North
Africa Programme at Chatham House in London.
"He won’t have too much independent room for
manoeuvre except on the economic portfolio that sits squarely with the
president," Dr Vakil told the BBC, adding that even there,
"meaningful progress can only be achieved through negotiations with the US
to obtain sanctions relief".
Source: Bbc.Com
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv2g1m5eev4o
-----
Iran take ninth position at 2024 Asian Women’s U20
Volleyball Championship
July 7, 2024
TEHRAN – Iran beat New Zealand 3-1 (25-15, 25-27,
25-13, 25-16) in 9th Place Playoff match of 2024 Asian Women’s U20 Volleyball
Championship at the Jiangmen Sports Center Gymnasium on Sunday.
Outside hitter ShaghayeghHassankhani delivered 15
points from 12 kills and 3 aces for Iran, while opposite SepinoodDastbarjan and
middle blocker PariaHajatmand contributed 11 points apiece. Opposite Charlie
Vail scored 13 points including 6 attacks from 14 attempts on the New Zealand’s
loss.
“I think we had a good start in this match against New
Zealand, but then we lost our focus in the second set. They could gain
composure back and had a very good start in the third set. In the fourth set, I
think the players played very well, not as expected, but the problem was that
we started from a very difficult group and we were very disappointed because we
thought that we could be in the round of last 8. All in all, it’s a good
experience for young players and I hope they can perform better in the near
future,” Bolourizadeh said.
Iran finished a well-earned sixth place at the
previous edition in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan two years ago, but this time, they
returned with the ninth position.
A total of 12 teams will vie for top honor and four
berths at stake for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship.
Source: Tehran Times
-----
URL: