
Solomon IsIands – New Report Finds Traditions which Emphasise Difference Must be Challenged to Address Inequality
A new report published by the Equal Rights Trust exposes the extent of discrimination and inequality experienced by groups including women; persons with disabilities; lesbian, gay and bisexual persons; and persons living with HIV in Solomon Islands.

First LGBT member of Guatemala Congress takes office
The first openly LGBT person elected to Guatemala’s Congress took office last week. Sandra Morán, a lesbian woman who is a member of Convergencia, a left-leaning political movement that advocates on behalf of indigenous Guatemalans and other underrepresented groups in the Central American country, was sworn in on Jan. 14.

Equality to brutality: global trends in LGBT rights
Horrifying images posted on social media for all the world to see show men accused of homosexuality thrown off high buildings, stoned to death, or shot in the head by extremist groups, including the Islamic State (known as ISIS) in Iraq, Syria and Libya.

Chilean Ministry of Health issues instructions stopping “normalising” interventions on intersex children
The Chilean Ministry of Health has issued instructions to its national health sector to stop “normalising” medical interventions on intersex infants and children. This guidance is a global first: the first time that a health ministry has shown leadership in taking this step without legislation or legal action.

Peru compensates woman in historic UN Human Rights abortion case
Originally published by the UN on 18/01/2016. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/stories/2016/01/peru-compensates-woman-historic-un-human-rights-abortion-case In 2001, a 17-year-old Peruvian girl, named K.L., was 14 weeks pregnant when doctors at

With Sex Workers Too, Rape Is Still Rape
In the last several months, there have been a number of rape allegations involving sex workers in the news. Most recently, a number of sex workers accused porn star James Deen of rape. Several websites have since dropped Deen, including Kink.com. Also, Jonathan “War Machine” Koppenhaver is facing 34 counts of rape, kidnapping, and attempted murder (among others) against his ex-girlfriend and porn star Christy Mack, which reportedly left her with 18 broken bones and a ruptured liver, and her friend, Corey Thomas.

Campaigning for the right to safe abortion – Highlights from 2015
International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe Abortion’s roundup from 2015.

Slovenian voters reject same-sex marriage law
Originally published by Michael K Lavers on 20/12/2015 on Washington Blade. Available at: https://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/12/20/slovenian-voters-reject-same-sex-marriage-law/ Slovenian voters on Sunday rejected a law that extended marriage rights
Remembering Fatema Mernissi
This tribute is to Fatema Mernissi: mentor, insightful teacher, organic intellectual, incisive feminist, powerful voice, charismatic presence, craftswoman, generous host, and friend.

Palestine’s Abortion Problem
Around 40 percent of women in the West Bank have had abortions, though the procedure remains illegal in Palestine. So guess where they go.
