Tag: Europe

Stories about any of the 44 countries on the European continent.

Combating Terrorism and Misogyny Together

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In the grim landscape of global conflict, one element stands starkly at its core: the systematic oppression and subjugation of women. The narrative of international security and foreign policy ignores gender, overlooking the crucial role women play in the fabric of societal stability.

The war that begins with women’s bodies does not end there. To effectively counter the scourge of terrorism, we must reject the false dichotomy between human rights and national security. Instead, we must recognize that the protection and empowerment of women are not just moral imperatives but strategic necessities. 

Weekend Reading on Women’s Representation: Ranked-Choice Voting Victories in the Latest Election; The SAG-AFTRA Strike and Fran Drescher’s Leadership

Weekend Reading for Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation. 

This week: Four steps we must take to see more women running in future elections; St. Paul, Minn., which uses ranked-choice voting for local elections, is projected to elect its first women-majority city council; how Shirley Chisholm, the first Black congresswoman in the U.S., shifted political rival Alabama Governor George Wallace’s stance on racial segregation; and more.

Weekend Reading on Women’s Representation: Honoring Dianne Feinstein’s Legacy; India’s New Gender Quota Law Is a Win For Women

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Weekend Reading for Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation. 

This week: To honor Senator Feinstein’s legacy, let’s pave the way for a new generation of women leaders by addressing the barriers women face in politics as candidates and as elected officials; we need to adopt feminist foreign policies, as 16 countries have done around the world; India’s legislature has recently passed a new bill that will reserve one-third of the seats in parliament for women, but gender parity remains far out of reach for most countries; and more.

Dr. Katalin Karikó’s Hope in Messenger RNA Helped the World Recover from COVID-19

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Dr. Katalin Karikó’s 2021 discovery of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology led to the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Millions of people owe their health—if not their lives—to her perseverance. 

“Science is 99 percent challenge,” said Karikó. “You are doing things you have never done, or nobody has ever done. You don’t even know if it is possible.”

Maine Is the First U.S. State to Center Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Legal Reforms

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed two laws last month empathetic toward people who engage in prostitution, while expanding criminalization for sex buyers and those who sexually exploit vulnerable populations, including children and people with mental disabilities.

The two new laws in Maine were inspired by the movement against domestic violence—which aims to center victims, hold abusers accountable and eliminate victim-blaming.

Black Women Are Still Underrepresented in U.S. Politics. They Need Funding to Fairly Compete.

Weekend Reading for Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation. 

This week: Abortion remains a salient issue for primary voters; around the world, there is still a notable lack of women in leadership roles; Virginia’s state elections in November; “We need to stop sending women to a broken system,” says Melinda French Gates; Dutch finance minister stepping down to protect her family from threats against her; and more.

U.S. Clinicians Can Now Mail Abortion Pills to States Banning Abortion, Thanks to Shield Laws in Five States

Telemedicine abortion provider shield laws have led to significantly quicker shipping times for people living in restrictive states—from several weeks to several days—which is critical for this time-sensitive medical care.

Between mid-June and mid-July, seven Aid Access clinicians located across these five states mailed pills to 3,500 people located in states banning abortion. “It shows what people want,” said Julie F. Kaye, co-founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine Access

Anti-Abortion Politics Hinder Access to Important Fibroid Treatment: Mifepristone

Millions of U.S. women are debilitated each year by fibroids, which are noncancerous growths of the uterus that can cause heavy periods, severe pain, and difficulty conceiving. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, over 26 million in the U.S. have fibroids. Fibroids are often treated with invasive surgery to remove the fibroids or with hysterectomies.

Research has shown that mifepristone can significantly reduce fibroids. Yet, it is not available for that use in the United States.