19 h. ago Taliban insist Afghan women’s rights are protected despite ban on education

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, they have banned education for women and girls beyond sixth grade and most employment

Politics

28 h. ago Taliban insist Afghan women’s rights are protected despite ongoing ban on education

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, they have barred education for women and girls beyond sixth grade, most employment, and many public spaces

Politics

2 d. ago Afghan women forced to make do with AI friends ‘to give yourself fake hope’ under oppressive Taliban rule

More than three years after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, women say daily life is difficult

Politics

3 d. ago US DoJ to investigate University of California over alleged antisemitism

Justice department to determine whether UC violated Civil Rights Act of 1964 amid pro-Palestinian campus protestsThe US Department of Justice is investigating the University of California system for possible antisemitic discrimination after demonstrations against Israel’s war in Gaza took place on campuses last year.“This Department of Justice will always defend Jewish Americans, protect civil rights, and leverage our resources to eradicate institutional Antisemitism in our nation’s universities,” read a statement by Pamela Bondi, the attorney general, released Wednesday. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Iowa's governor signs a bill removing gender identity protections from the state’s civil rights code

Iowa has became the first U.S. state to remove gender identity protections from its civil rights code

Politics

1 week ago Scotland's education secretary faces fresh demands for national ban on mobile phones in schools

Jenny Gilruth was asked to enforce a blanket ban on phones by Pam Gosal MSP - saying new guidance handing the decision to individual schools was “failing” pupils.

Politics

1 week ago Vote expected on Iowa bill that would remove gender identity protections from civil rights code

Iowa lawmakers are expected to vote on an unprecedented bill that would remove protections based on gender identity from the state civil rights code

Politics

1 week ago Moving the Goalposts | How can women’s football hold on to its unique selling point amid rising abuse?

This week’s newsletter wonders if we can still find the balance between access to players as well as providing them with the protection that ensures their safety?When did we stop seeing those in the limelight – be it athletes, musicians, film stars or anyone else – as human? At what point did it become acceptable for some to feel that they have ownership over aspects of their lives or that they have the right to hurl abuse behind the protection of a screen? And how, in women’s football in particular and women’s sport more generally, can we find the balance between access and providing players with the protection that ensures their safety?These have been just some of the questions I have been mulling over in the last few weeks, sparked by a litany of events within the women’s game and beyond. Most recently, the stalking incident that Emma Raducanu had to endure at the Dubai Tennis Championships was an eye-opener into some of the things that are going on overtly and in the shadows. Co...

Events

2 w. ago UK Government pushing for Afghan women’s right to play cricket, Nandy says

All female sport has been effectively outlawed, leaving the majority of Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team living in exile.

Politics

2 w. ago Even Trump can be cajoled into doing the right thing – you just have to know which buttons to press | Kenneth Roth

In decades spent convincing world leaders to protect human rights, I’ve learned a thing or two about working with his typeKenneth Roth is a former executive director of Human Rights Watch and author of Righting WrongsThe common wisdom is that Donald Trump’s foreign policy will be a disaster for human rights. Certainly his penchant for embracing autocrats and breaching norms bodes poorly, such as his outrageous proposal to force two million Palestinians out of Gaza – which would be a blatant war crime – or his suggestion that Ukraine is to blame for Russia’s invasion. But Trump also likes to cut a deal, as shown by his paradoxically positive role in securing the current (precarious) Gaza ceasefire. If Trump the dealmaker can be nudged in the right direction, he might, against all odds, be brought to play a productive role for human rights.As executive director of Human Rights Watch, I spent more than three decades devising strategies to pressure or cajole leaders to better respect ri...

Politics

2 w. ago Off air: One by one, the Taliban are removing women’s voices from Afghan radio

As one of the last female-run stations in the country is silenced, a former broadcaster gives an inside view of the crackdown on women working in the mediaWhen the Taliban began marching towards cities across Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, Alia*, a 22-year-old Afghan journalist, found herself doing some of the most important work of her short life and career.In the weeks leading up to the Taliban takeover in August, Alia’s voice on the radio became familiar to many in northern Afghanistan. She reported on the withdrawal of foreign troops, the siege of government offices and on the detention of former officials in her province. Above all, Alia reported on the situation for women and their fears and concerns – emotions she was experiencing herself. As the Taliban gradually began imposing restrictions on them, Alia was documenting history repeating itself. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Senior Afghan Taliban officials in Japan for talks with Japanese officials

Japanese officials say senior Afghan Taliban officials are in Japan for talks, as part of Tokyo’s efforts to help Afghanistan build a more inclusive political system and protect human rights

Politics