Report: One-Third of Women Will Be Abused in Lifetime
The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) released its findings that one third of women will be beaten, raped, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. According to UNIFEM, there has not been a dramatic reduction in violence against women despite progress combating the problem.
According to the Director of UNIFEM, Noleen Heyzer, "the scale of the problem vastly exceeds the resources committed. Over the last decade, it is amazing how much has been achieved with so little investment. But it's no longer enough...it is critical that the international community- governments, foundations, the private sector - match the level of resources with the scale of the problem."
In addition, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund Thoraya Obaid is insisting on zero tolerance of gender-based violence because "as long as it exists, we can not claim to be making steady progress towards equality, development, and peace," reports The News in Monrovia. She is also calling for a massive and systematic response to the massive and systematic violations of women's human rights.
5/22/2013 Immigration Reform Bill Advances In Senate - Last night, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a sweeping immigration reform bill in a bipartisan vote of 13 to 5. . . .
5/22/2013 Afghan Women Arrested for 'Moral Crimes' Increases 50% - A new report by the Human Rights Watch shows that in the past 18 months the number of women in Afghanistan incarcerated for 'moral crimes' has increased from 400 to 600, a 50% growth.
Many of the women imprisoned for moral crimes were arrested running away from forced or abusive marriages and families, even though there is no law against leaving. . . .
5/22/2013 Army Commander Suspended for Adultery Amid Wave of Sexual Assaults - On Tuesday, Brigadier General Bryan T Roberts was suspended from his position as commander of the Fort Jackson, South Carolina training camp which trains approximately 60% of incoming female recruits pending an investigation into allegations of adultery.
Roberts was suspended following allegations of "adultery and a physical altercation." Colonel Christian Kubik, an Army spokesperson for the Training and Doctrine Command, told reporters "We don't have any evidence of any sexual assault. . . .
