By Women worldwide face a hostile environment when striving to reach executive-level positions in politics. In Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, history adds to these already muddy waters. Despite the complex situation, there is hope for female gender representation with the USSR in the rear-view mirror. Backslides in women’s rights
Hanging in the balance – Afghanistan’s women in fear as the country enters a new political era
ArmyAmber, Pixabay Wandering the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan in the 1960’s, one could have passed by women wearing miniskirts, walking alongside their male friends on their way to their university classes. Much has happened since then. The country has been in a state of conflict for nearly 40 years, and
Germany’s Super Election Year – What comes after Merkel?
Simon Varwell, Flickr The pandemic might have eclipsed some important upcoming political events, but with only six months left until the parliamentary elections to the German Bundestag, tension is mounting in Germany and amongst curious onlookers. The parliamentary elections on September 26th, 2021 will not only lead to a new
By UPF Webzine Activism/Articles/Asia/Economics/Economy And Trade/Gender Equality/International Relations/UPF/Women Fashion: Personal liberation in the west, a form of mass incarceration for the rest
Maruf_Rahman, Pixabay One year ago during March 2020, fashion retail giants including the likes of H&M, Primark and Zara decided to retroactively cancel orders of clothing without paying for them. This had disastrous consequences for ready-made garment (RMG) workers in Bangladesh as many live subsistence-based due to meagre wages. This
Women in Leadership – Barriers to female political representation
European Parliament, Flickr When you hear the word “political leader”, what comes to mind? A man in a suit? Despite significant gains in female representation in powerful roles, such as New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, women remain dramatically underrepresented in political leadership positions. Of the world’s heads of state
The Search for the Billion-dollar Industry: Saudi Arabian cinema
Ayman Zaid, Wikimedia Commons The fall and rise of Saudi Arabian cinema The tides might be turning in Saudi Arabia. Gender segregation at restaurants has been eased up, music concerts are becoming more accepted, women enjoying greater freedom on the job market, and a 35-year ban on cinemas has been
It’s a Woman’s World: Trailblazing Women in Politics
On 20 January 2021, Kamala Harris will make history. At noon on that day, she will become the first female Vice-President of the United States. The fact that she is a black woman of mixed heritage only adds to the momentousness of this moment. But Kamala Harris is not the
▶︎ The Istanbul Convention: A Feminist View
In this week’s episode we interviewed Kristina Lunz, co-Founder and co-Executive Director of the Center for Feminist Foreign Policy, who gave us her perspective on the Istanbul Convention and on the pushback that Europe has experienced in the last years. This pushback has been threatening to the security and well-being
Social media – the new frontier for gender-based violence?
For many, social media has become an essential part of everyday life providing unprecedented opportunities for interaction, engagement, and information. It is also, however, a breeding ground for online violence targeting young women. For the girls targeted these everyday spaces become inaccessible and unsafe. Plan International, an NGO promoting equality
One Ban To Rule Them All: A Wider Perspective On The Alabama Abortion Ban
Alabama’s recent decision to implement a near-total ban on abortion has sparked a worldwide reaction, bringing new life into the debate around female reproductive rights and abortion laws. The ban, passed on May 14th, effectively bans abortions outright. According to Amnesty International, access to abortion is one of the most