Around The World In 5
Around the World in 5 is an ongoing series that highlights news related to women in five countries, updated every week. This week's post covers September 23 to September 30.
France
On Wednesday, a French public prosecutor announced that out of the six women rescued from the back of a lorry in France, four of them are required to leave the country within 30 days.
Among the group, there were four Vietnamese and two Iraqi women who had entered the lorry, believing it was en route to the United Kingdom. Notably, one of these women managed to communicate with a BBC journalist from inside the vehicle, who subsequently alerted the French police.
The specific identities of the four women facing deportation remain uncertain. Meanwhile, the other two individuals have been granted permission to remain in France while their asylum requests are being processed, as stated by the prosecutor.
These women had boarded the Irish-registered vehicle with the expectation that it would transport them to England, as detailed by Laetitia Francart, the public prosecutor at the judicial court of Villefranche-sur-Saône.
Mexico
More and more American women residing in Southern states are now seeking surgical abortions in Mexico and resorting to the delivery of medication abortion drugs from across the border. Prior to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Mexican activists had established an underground network to send abortion pills northward and assist women in travelling south for the procedure.
Presently, more than twenty states in the United States have imposed outright bans or restrictions on abortion access. Consequently, there has been a noticeable increase in women from states such as Texas, Louisiana, and Arizona looking for abortion services elsewhere. Abortion was previously heavily regulated in Mexico, but Mexico's Supreme Court recently decriminalized the procedure, making it legally accessible.
Afghanistan
Exiled Afghan female athletes have bravely taken part in the 2023 Asian Games, holding in Hangzhou, China, with the event concluding on October 8. Their participation serves as a powerful statement aimed at shedding light on the challenging circumstances faced by women in Afghanistan, who are currently denied the opportunity to engage in any sports activities within their homeland.
Many of these athletes fled Afghanistan following the rise of the Taliban to power, which occurred shortly after the conclusion of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Their departure was prompted by a deep-seated fear of persecution under a government that has effectively banned women's involvement in sports.
Having found themselves with limited prospects of returning home, these determined individuals have sought to rebuild their lives in countries such as Pakistan, Iran, and elsewhere, all while continuing to pursue their passion for sports. Their commitment to their chosen sports has meant living in a state of effective exile.
The Taliban administration has maintained that they respect women's rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan traditions. They have also proclaimed a "general amnesty" for individuals who were associated with the previous foreign-backed government, signalling a willingness to reconcile with their former adversaries.
Syria
Activists reported that in the southern city of Sweida, hundreds of Syrians came out to protest on Friday, with women increasingly playing a prominent role in the ongoing anti-government demonstrations that have been ongoing in the province for over a month.
Sweida province, which is the heartland of the country's Druze minority, has been witnessing peaceful protests since President Bashar Assad's regime terminated fuel subsidies last month. This decision has had a severe impact on Syrians already grappling with more than a decade of war and economic hardships.
According to an activist and an eyewitness, Friday's protests saw the participation of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 people. Some of the demonstrators were heard chanting anti-regime slogans and waving Druze flags.
Sudan
A recent report from UN Women has revealed a concerning surge in incidents of sexual and gender-based violence in Sudan since the onset of the conflict. The report, titled the "Initial Rapid Gender Assessment," specifically focused on Southern and Central Darfur, White Nile, and Khartoum regions in Sudan.
This assessment aimed to gather information about the distinct needs, capabilities, and coping strategies of women, girls, boys, and men in Sudan. It categorized these needs into two groups: those necessitating immediate attention and those requiring mid-term interventions.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan on April 15, 2023, which involves the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), humanitarian requirements have surged significantly, rising from 16 million to a staggering 24.7 million people in need.