Autor: global-affair

Reacting to a vote by the French Senate to introduce a consent-based definition of rape in the penal code, Lola Schulmann, Gender Justice Advocacy Officer at Amnesty International France, said: 

“The adoption of this law is a historic step forward. It is a long-awaited victory for victims of rape and the culmination of years of tireless campaigning by activists, feminist organizations and survivors of sexual violence. 

“Amending the penal code will have a broad educational impact, which is essential for establishing a culture of consent in our society and in the training of those involved in the legal system. 

This is a long-awaited victory for victims of rape and the culmination of years of tireless campaigning by activists and survivors of sexual violence

“Taking this final step towards amending the outdated law and recognizing that non-consensual sex is rape, will help to prevent and combat sexual violence and improve access to justice for victims of sexual violence. 

“The adoption of the law will be crucial to change attitudes about rape but it is not a silver bullet. A true paradigm shift will require substantial financial resources and a truly intersectional perspective in its implementation to put an end to impunity for gender-based and sexual violence.”

Background 

The bill, adopted by the Senate today, was voted at the National Assembly on 23 October. 

Sixteen European Union member states have already introduced consent-based definitions of rape in their legislation: Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the UK also have similar definitions of rape in their legislation in line with international human rights law, including the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as “the Istanbul Convention”. 

The post France: ‘Historic victory’ as French law adopts consent-based definition of rape  appeared first on Amnesty International.

An Amnesty International delegation will join abortion providers and defenders from across the globe at two gatherings in Bogotá, Colombia, to review progress on expanding access to safe abortions and to discuss new strategies to counter rising threats to human rights.  

The delegation will take part in a number of panels at the Latin American Consortium Against Unsafe Abortion (CLACAI) (30 Oct – 1 Nov), and the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) (4-6 Nov).  

 “While many advances have been made towards ensuring life-saving abortion services are available and accessible, anti-abortion narratives and legislation are gaining ground around the world, posing new threats,” said Fernanda Doz Costa, Director of the Gender Justice, Racial Justice, Migrants and Refugees Programme at Amnesty International, who will take part in a number of panels. 

“Despite all the risks, brave activists and health professionals continue to work to protect the hard-earned right to access the essential healthcare that so many people’s lives depend on. These gatherings are a clear signal that the movement to protect gender equality is standing strong in the face of many challenges, and it is a source of inspiration.” 

These gatherings are a clear signal that the movement to protect gender equality is standing strong in the face of many challenges, and it is a source of inspiration.

Fernanda Doz Costa, Director of the Gender Justice, Racial Justice, Migrants and Refugees Programme at Amnesty International

Criminalization of abortion is the biggest contributing factor to the estimated 35 million unsafe abortions that occur every year. It means healthcare staff are constantly caught between their ethical and professional duty to provide the best available care and being criminally liable if they do not follow harmful laws. 

A report by Amnesty International found that, despite many advances, abortion providers and defenders are facing an increasing wave of attacks. In Bogotá, the organization and its partners will also continue promoting the Key Principles and actions to safeguard abortion care providers as human rights defenders and advocate for new narratives to advance reproductive justice through the new campaign “Latido Común.”  

The post Global: Amnesty delegation meets abortion defenders as backlash against human rights intensifies appeared first on Amnesty International.