Practice of banishing women to small outbuildings during periods claims further victims despite country declaring practice illegal. Micheal Safi for The Guardian A woman and her two sons have suffocated to death in a windowless shed to which they were banished in the latest tragedy linked to the illegal practice of chhaupadi, whereby women in Nepal are…
“We did not bring criminal law into alignment with the [equality provisions of the] Constitution” Vrinda Grover, Supreme Court Advocate Johannesburg: I’m walking through the lobby of a smart Johannesburg airport hotel with the South African Deputy Minister of Justice, John Jeffery. It’s early in the morning but he’s buzzing after giving the opening speech…
“It is vital that when women and girls come forward to report a crime they have full confidence in the system. It is the least they deserve, but the statistics released today bring that into question.” Sarah Champion, Labour MP Written by Lizzie Deardon for The Independent The number of people being charged with rape has fallen…
“We will not keep quiet. Women should get justice.” SFC Community Paralegal, Bihar, India Sisters For Change recognises that marginalised rural women often do not turn to the formal criminal justice system when they suffer crimes of violence or abuse. This may be because they cannot access formal justice authorities due to distance, cost or…
“If people are punished, then physical and sexual harassment of women workers might come under control.” Women garment worker and SFC-trained Community Paralegal, Karnataka, India When Sisters For Change began a legal empowerment program for women garment workers in Bangalore, India, our partners in Munnade selected Saraswati (not her real name) to be trained as…
“What is most important is that we no longer consider violence against women and girls as a shame to be kept hidden.” SFC-trained Community Paralegal, Bantul, Indonesia Child sexual abuse remains a largely hidden crime and in the villages of rural Indonesia and is rarely spoken about publicly, despite an alarming increase in reported cases…
“A Community Paralegal is a bridge…a problem solver for women…someone who is committed to provide assistance and to fight for justice in society.” SFC-trained Community Paralegal, Bihar, India Many women do not report cases of violence due to shame and fear of social stigma and further abuse. Many women suffer in silence and deal with…
