Category: Events

Australian mother of five stripped of citizenship, leaving two children potentially stateless

An Australian mother of five held in the deteriorating al-Hawl camp of northern Syria has been stripped of her citizenship – retroactive by three years – leaving two of her children potentially stateless and potentially permanently splitting her family.

Currently, there are 19 Australian women and 47 Australian children held in the al-Hawl camp. The Australian government is aware of their identities and the bona fides of their Australian citizenship or right to claim that citizenship.

They are family members of former foreign fighters who have been captured or killed. None of the Australian women in the camp were combatants, and many were coerced, forced or tricked into travelling to Syria.

The youngest child in the Australian group is less than two months old, born on 30 November last year.

Were the children and their mothers able to get to an Australian embassy or consulate, the Australian government would be legally obliged to provide them travel documents to return home.

Source: Australian mother of five stripped of citizenship, leaving two children potentially stateless | World news | The Guardian

‘Broken system’: Weinstein reaches $US25m settlement deal with more than 30 women

Time’s Up has declared Harvey Weinstein’s massive settlement on his civil cases proof of a “broken system that privileges powerful abusors.”

The disgraced movie mogul has reached a US$25 million settlement with a number of women who accused him of sexual misconduct, bringing to a close almost all civil lawsuits filed against him since 2017. He still faces a seperate criminal charges over multiple accusations of sexual assault, due to be heard in January.

The news has come from his attorneys, with a US Bankruptcy Court judge still yet to formally seal the deal. Under the terms of the deal, Weinstein won’t have to admit to any wrongdoing. Nor will he personally have to pay a cent, according to the New York Times which has reported the settlement.

Source: ‘Broken system’: Weinstein reaches $US25m settlement deal with more than 30 women

Finland picks world’s youngest PM to head women-led cabinet

HELSINKI (Reuters) – Finland’s new prime minister – about to become the world’s youngest serving premier – will have a finance minister two years her junior in a new women-led coalition cabinet, party officials said on Monday.

The new government, consisting of 12 female and 7 male ministers according to media reports, will be nominated on Tuesday.

Source: Finland picks world’s youngest PM to head women-led cabinet – Reuters

A Place To Call Home: National Conference of the National Older Women’s Network

Older women want to live in a society which recognises their
contribution and values them as an individual, regardless of their age.
Older women are the new face of poverty and the fastest growing
cohort amongst the homeless in Australia. Older women are also often
excluded from the statistics of violence against women, and therefore
remain hidden. Many older women are facing a future of economic
uncertainty. Join our conference and take part in the discussions
because Older Women also Refuse to be Invisible and Forgotten! We are
loud, feisty and ready to take up the new challenges ahead.
REGISTRATIONS: http://bit.ly/OWN2019Conf
(02) 9519 8044 or info@ownnsw.org.au

Panels include
Invisible & Unvalued: Let’s Fix Ageism
Jane Caro AO, Wendy Bacon, Layla Pope, Eva Cox AO
How Feminism Changes the Narrative on Violence vs Older Women
Jenna Price, Amani Haydar, Moo Baulch, Sharron Sillett
Affordable Housing: From Myth to Reality
Katherine McKernan, Karen Walsh, Debbie Georgopoulos,
Romola Hollywood, Annabelle Daniel
Ionic Room, SMC Conference Centre, 66 Goulburn St, Sydney
Join us in Sydney on the 17th and 18th October and be part of the
solution to secure the future of Older Women in Australia.
Also featuring performances by: SOS Choir, “Don’t Knock Your Granny”
by OWN Theatre Group, Mansplaining by “It’s Still Germaine”

Source: A Place To Call Home: National Conference of the National Older Women’s Network | Humanitix

A dark day for Malaysia

This is a dark day for Malaysia, says Sisters in Islam executive director Rozana Isa (photo, below) in response to a High Court decision which has upheld the fatwa against the organisation.

The judgement represents a dark day not only for SIS but also for Muslim women in Malaysia. For over three decades, SIS has been carrying the voices of women from the ground to decision-makers and policymakers. Despite the fatwa, SIS remain instrumental in informing laws and conducting programs that continue to improve the lives of millions of women in Malaysia.

SIS has helped over 10,000 women and men through our Telenisa service – a free legal helpline which remains the only non-judgemental and rights-based advisory service for Islamic Family and Syariah Laws in Malaysia today.

Among other issues championed by SIS include ending child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), promoting gender equality in Muslim marriages and Islamic Family Laws, and taking a stance against gender-based violence and moral policing.

Source: A dark day for Malaysia

Only two female world leaders on stage at Osaka G20 event aimed at empowering women

OSAKA – It was supposed to be an event showcasing Group of 20 leaders’ commitment to better empowering women in employment, economy and education. But only two of the world leaders on stage were women.

Titled the Special Event on Women’s Empowerment, the only female world leaders in attendance were outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Source: Only two female world leaders on stage at Osaka G20 event aimed at empowering women | The Japan Times