Chilean lawmakers have approved a bill that would legalize abortion in limited circumstances and end the socially conservative country’s status as the last in South America with a blanket ban on the procedure. The measure approved late Wednesday allows abortions when a woman’s life is in danger, when a fetus is not viable and in cases of rape. President Michelle Bachelet, a physician and former head of U.N. Women, backs the bill and has said she will sign it into law. It must still be approved by the Constitutional Tribunal, however, and opposition senators argue that the measure violates the Constitution. Chile legalized abortion for medical reasons in 1931, but the procedure was then banned under all circumstances during the 1973-1990 dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. The bill’s passage comes as views continue to shift on social issues once considered taboo in the heavily Roman Catholic nation. Chile only began…

July 25 marks the International Afro-Latin American and Afro-Caribbean Women’s Day to unite against racism, sexism, and oppression of women of African descent. At least 300 women took to streets recently in Brazil’s capital, Sao Paulo in a march of Black Women, under the banner, “Black and Indigenous Women for Us, for All of Us, for Our Well-Being,” EFE reported. Journalist Luciana Araujo, one of the organizers of the march, explained that participants were members of an independent collective that was formed in 2014. She stressed that their ranks are comprised of a diverse group of women. “We marched in Sao Paulo for the first time last year,” she explained, adding that “3,000 women participated. This year we hope not to only repeat ourselves, but to also maximize our mobilization.” A public statement released by the group reads that “Brazil is going through a terrible political…

Tunisia’s parliament has recently passed a bill designed to “end all violence against women“, strengthening protection and help for victims in a move welcomed by rights groups. “It’s a very moving moment and we are proud in Tunisia to have been able to gather around a historical project,” said women’s minister Naziha Laabidi. The new law which is expected to enter into force next year recognises “physical, moral and sexual” violence, lawmaker Bochra Belhaj Hmida told AFP after the vote. It will provide for judicial and psychological assistance for victims of domestic violence and removes a controversial article that allows men to escape punishment for rape if they marry their victim. Tunisia is seen as a pioneer of women’s rights in the Arab world but rights groups say women are still discriminated against, and around half say they have been subject to at least one form…

The lead singer of a Lebanese rock band, Hamed Sinno, has called men to champion women’s rights in the Middle East. He also called for more women in politics and for discriminatory laws to be repealed. “No one is saying that we should arbitrarily just get rid of all men in power and substitute them with women, but there is a question about … why it is that we still have this many issues with women’s representation, with women in government and other rights,” he said. The Mashrou’ Leila band which is on a world tour, has made headlines for singing about subjects that are largely taboo in the Arabic pop scene, including politics, religion, social justice, and sexual freedom. The group has garnered a loyal following in the Middle East but has also received death threats on social media and was banned from playing in Jordan last…

The deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, Nadezhda Savchenko, has said that she would take part in the presidential elections in Ukraine and intends to hold representatives of her own party in the parliament following her party registration a week ago. “To participate in the presidential campaign, in fact, you need a little – 2.5 million USD to register. The fund is being opened, and it is honestly said: I am collecting money for the presidency. I will take part, but as it will be seen later”. Savchenko said in response to a question on her intention to run for the presidency of Ukraine. Earlier, on July 19, Savchenko registered her party in the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine – The Social and Political Platform of Nadezhda Savchenko. She stressed that the party is not a specially created “political force” for it, but “aims to change the political system…

South Korea plans to establish a national memorial day to remember the country’s “comfort women,” victims of sex crimes committed by Japan during the Second World War, according to a state policy blueprint. The government said it has approved a plan by the State Affairs Planning Advisory Committee to designate an official Remembrance Day for the country’s hundreds of thousands of women forced to work in front-line brothels for Japanese soldiers during the war. It is expected to fall on Aug. 14, the anniversary of when Kim Hak-sun, former comfort women, first publicly testified in 1991 about Japan operating an organized military brothel program during World War II. International Memorial Day for Comfort Women, introduced in 2013, also falls on Aug. 14, the eve of South Korea’s Independence Day. Korea was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910-45. The announcement is in line with President Moon Jae-in’s pledge…

The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has vowed to take a stronger stance on gender stereotypes in ads. After releasing the ‘Depictions, Perceptions and Harm’ report, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) argues that gender stereotyping in commercials is harmful and will begin enforcing new restrictions and standards in 2018. Responding to evidence in the report, ASA’s sister body, the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), will develop new ad standards to address these gender stereotypes. ‘Depictions, Perceptions and Harm’ found that gender stereotyping in ads can restrict the choices, aspirations and opportunities of children, young people and adults, as well as playing a part in the economic and social effects of unequal gender outcomes. According to the ASA’s release, examples of ad content that will be considered problematic under the new rules include: Ads depicting an entire family creating household mess while a woman has sole responsibility of…