France removes transsexuality from the listing of mental disorders
France: In February 2010, France became the first country in the world to remove transsexuality from its official list of mental disorders.
New Spanish Abortion Law
Spain: The Spanish Senate voted to ease the country’s restrictions on abortion, rejecting the opposition of the Catholic bishops and the Vatican over access to safe and legal abortion in that country.
US HIV/AIDS policy
USA: On December 18th 2009, the SPW website posted an article written by Natalie Wittlin about the retention of the ‘prostitution pledge’ in the new proposed US HIV/AIDS policy guidelines announced by the Obama Administration on November 23rd. On December 29th, the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de São Paulo published an article entitled The United States will provide funds to prostitutes, which the content contradicted SPW’s analysis of PEPFAR.
Mexico City have become the first in Latin America to legalise gay marriage
Mexico: In 2009, December 21, the Mexican capital became the first in Latin America to allow same-sex marriage with a groundbreaking law which could set a precedent for gay rights across the region.
Delhi High Court has struck down the Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code
India: The New Delhi High Court decriminalized homosexual intercourse between consenting adults, by striking down section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia
May 17th has become the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) since the WHO Assembly declared as invalid the code 302.0 of the International Diseased Classification, in 1990. Almost 20 years later, IDAHO was celebrated in a wide range of creative ways all over the globe. Some of the initiatives can be seen here.
Regional Highlights – News6
Afghanistan: Taliban shoot dead Afghan politician who championed women’s rights
Pink Chaddi Campaing, India
The Pink Chaddi Campaign in India has recruited more than 21 thousand people. Read more about the campaign here.
Relevant meetings – News 6
The UN Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, held in Geneva during April 2009, was a follow up to the Conference in Durban, South Africa, in 2001, and its Declaration and Plan of Action (DDPA).
Nigeria: Same Gender Marriage (Prohibition) Bill
Nigeria: Same Gender Marriage (Prohibition) Bill violates Constitution