The most comprehensive compilation of information on the status of
women in the world.

Latest items for LRW-PRACTICE-2

Nov. 16, 2024, 9:46 p.m.
Countries: Taiwan
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"On July 13, Taiwan’s cabinet proposed harsher penalties for perpetrators of sexual harassment and increased support for survivors under the three existing gender equality laws" (para 5). "'You’re overreacting.” “He doesn’t mean anything by it.” “Don’t be so full of yourself. You’re not even that hot.” “You should be grateful for the attention.” Or the best one: “He’s just being nice.” These and other familiar refrains — hopefully fading somewhat in the United States and other countries — are still common in Taiwan" (15).
Nov. 16, 2024, 4:24 p.m.
Countries: Iran
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"Accounts of sexual violence are difficult to verify because of the victims’ feelings of shame and fear, and CNN reported that the authorities sometimes film assaults to blackmail protesters into silence" (para 5). It is the police that are raping the victims (CEC - CODER COMMENT).
Nov. 16, 2024, 4:02 p.m.
Countries: India
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"It is the specific horror of gang rape that weighs most heavily on Indian women that I know. You may have heard of the many gruesome cases of women being gang-raped, disemboweled and left for dead" (Para 5)"In 2002 brutal violence between Hindus and Muslims swept through Gujarat State. Ms. Bano, then 19 and pregnant, was gang raped by an angry Hindu mob, which also killed 14 of her relatives, including her 3-year-old daughter. Critics accuse Mr. Modi — Gujarat’s top official at the time — of turning a blind eye to the riots. He has not lost an election since. Ms. Bano’s life took a different trajectory. She repeatedly...more
Nov. 16, 2024, 3:45 p.m.
Countries: Bolivia
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2, RISW-PRACTICE-1

"Brisa’s [survivor of sexual violence] intention in taking her case to the IACtHR was to request a significant and sustainable change in the laws and the criminal justice system, in education, and in the responsibility of the Bolivian State to prevent and address sexual violence so other survivors will not encounter the same injustices and revictimization that she experienced" (para 7). "It [the verdict in Brisa De Angulo Losada v. Bolivia] is a model decision guaranteeing non-repetition measures by establishing legal changes, implementation, training, and prevention through comprehensive sexual education, alongside other very concrete measures that Bolivia must comply with and implement" (para 9). "'This [the verdict in Brisa De...more
Nov. 12, 2024, 1:32 p.m.
Countries: Latvia
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-1, LRW-PRACTICE-2

"The Committee notes with concern...the inadequate handling of cases of gender-based violence against women, in particular sexual and domestic violence, by the police and investigating authorities, such as failure to interview victims and perpetrators separately, complete investigations or refer cases for criminal prosecution" (7).
Nov. 5, 2024, 12:46 p.m.
Countries: Ireland
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"It [report by the Independent Review Group of Ireland's armed forces] found that incidents of bullying and rape were covered up and that no sexual harassment cases were officially recorded through the formal complaints process between 2019 to 2021" (para 7). This implies strong taboos of reporting rape or assault in Ireland's armed forces (CEC - CODER COMMENT).
Nov. 5, 2024, 12:44 p.m.
Countries: Guatemala
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2, DV-PRACTICE-2

"On the night of 7 March 2017, the young residents [of a domestic violence shelter] started a riot to protest not only their poor living conditions, but also the sexual abuse and rapes they said they had endured at the state-run Virgen de la Asunción shelter in Guatemala City where they were forced to live. Over 100 girls escaped, but they were quickly apprehended by the police and returned to the residence. Fifty-six were then locked up in a classroom for the night, with no access to the bathroom. The next morning, desperate for someone to let them out, one of the teens set fire to a mattress. Nine minutes...more
Nov. 1, 2024, 9:38 a.m.
Countries: South Africa
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"Rape crisis centres and police facilities for victims to report sexual assault are under threat of closure" (para 7).
Oct. 17, 2024, 6:46 p.m.
Countries: United Kingdom
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"The chief executive of Salute Her UK, a charity organisation working to assist military women who have experienced sexual assault, Paula Edwards said that victims are being 'overdiagnosed or misdiagnosed' to get rid of the problem" (par. 4). "Notably, out of 393 referrals Salute UK received for assistance, 133 women under the age of 27 were misdiagnosed with personality disorders" (par. 8). If people are reporting, it is acceptable for them to report (IME - CODER COMMENT).
Oct. 17, 2024, 6:44 p.m.
Countries: United Kingdom
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"The ONS has indicated that CSEW figures are more complete than reported crime data – the number of offences actually reported to police – because not all of the victims make a complaint" (par.8). "The ONS said: 'The increases in police recorded sexual offences seen in recent years largely reflect improvements made by the police in how they record these crimes and an increased willingness of victims to come forward and report.' It added that high-profile incidents, media coverage and campaigns are 'likely to have affected people's willingness to report both recent and historical incidents'" (par. 10-11).
Oct. 16, 2024, 3:14 p.m.
Countries: India
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"It is the specific horror of gang rape that weighs most heavily on Indian women that I know. You may have heard of the many gruesome cases of women being gang-raped, disemboweled and left for dead" (Para 5)"In 2002 brutal violence between Hindus and Muslims swept through Gujarat State. Ms. Bano, then 19 and pregnant, was gang raped by an angry Hindu mob, which also killed 14 of her relatives, including her 3-year-old daughter. Critics accuse Mr. Modi — Gujarat’s top official at the time — of turning a blind eye to the riots. He has not lost an election since. Ms. Bano’s life took a different trajectory. She repeatedly...more
Oct. 16, 2024, 3:10 p.m.
Countries: Iran
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"Accounts of sexual violence are difficult to verify because of the victims’ feelings of shame and fear, and CNN reported that the authorities sometimes film assaults to blackmail protesters into silence" (para 5). It is the police that are raping the victims (CEC - CODER COMMENT).
Oct. 16, 2024, 11:31 a.m.
Countries: India
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"'Not every woman who is battered or abused will go to the station,' she [the Northeast Network's Assam project coordinator] said" (para 18).
Oct. 11, 2024, 5:16 p.m.
Countries: United Kingdom
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"There will be many occasions when a woman is particularly vulnerable, in fear, or otherwise under such stress and pressure, that she withdraws from interaction with the Police, but she has already named her perpetrator. In such cases, many perpetrators may be unaware that they have been named. Without fear of repercussion or accountability, they may continue further violent behaviour towards women...There are many reasons why women and girls withdraw their support from a criminal investigation On such occasions, the default position should not be that the case immediately stops. Women and girls are facing lengthy delays after they report their cases to Police. These delays can mean that victims...more
Oct. 10, 2024, 1:33 p.m.
Countries: D R Congo
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2, DV-PRACTICE-2

Dr. Gisele Ndaya Luseba, former Minister of Gender, Family, and Children, established a center for women who have experienced domestic and sexual violence where they can receive help. There are four steps to helping these women: psychological help, judicial help (they go after their aggressors), medical help, and reintegration back into society. The first step is psychological help. Because the women who have been raped or experienced sexual violence are very traumatized, they don’t respond when they see a man. They scream and run and try to hide. Thus, in Kinshasa and in the provinces, the center has a psychologist there to help them. The next step is judicial help....more
Oct. 9, 2024, 7:59 p.m.
Countries: Belize
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"Between 2010–2012, a project entitled 'Increasing Access to Justice, Psycho-social and Rehabilitative Services for Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Domestic Abuse' was implemented. It was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Human Development, the Women’s Department, Youth Enhancement Services (YES), Haven House and WIN-Belize with funding from the U.S. Embassy. It focused on interagency collaboration and support for victims of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. A total of 68 victims and family members received psycho-social care and legal support" (27).
Oct. 9, 2024, 7:35 p.m.
Countries: Belize
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"Three comprehensive Gender-based violence Action Plans were developed during the reporting period to guide the national multi-sectoral response. The first was the 2010–2013 National Gender-based violence Plan of Action (NGBVAP) supported by UNIFEM/UNWOMEN. Its framework was informed by findings from two assessments conducted in 2009, the 'National Assessment of Actions on Ending Violence Against Women' and 'Strengthening State Accountability in Policing and Prosecuting Sexual Assaults' " (10). "In 2010 and 2011, the department held two sexual violence forums, created public education materials and sexual violence information session. In 2012, countrywide sessions on sexual violence focused on rural women participants" (11). "Between 2007–2012, the Women’s Department developed handbooks for training purposes...more
Oct. 9, 2024, 7:32 p.m.
Countries: Belize
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"In 2017, the Evidence Act was amended for consistency with the Civil Procedure Rules 2005, Section 64(1)(b)(iii) and Section 64(c).6 These changes allowed for video and virtual communication to be as part of court procedures and for oral evidence to be collected electronically. This amendment provided greater protection for witnesses, such as victims of sexual crimes and children, particularly those unable or unwilling to be physically present in court to provide oral testimony during trial proceedings" (4). This indicates both the presence of taboos against reporting sexual crimes, given that some are unwilling to present in court to provide oral testimony, and indicates the presence of government action that is...more
July 18, 2024, 6:38 p.m.
Countries: Guatemala
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"In 2019, the 2019–2029 Public Policy against Sexual Violence in Guatemala was adopted. Its aim is to reduce the incidence of sexual violence. In addition, the Committee on the Prevention of Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons was established as one of the technical and political bodies that comprise the Special Social Development Cabinet. The Committee has coordinated campaigns, training courses, research proposals and information management" (12-13). "The Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons conducted campaigns to prevent sexual violence, exploitation and trafficking and encourage the public to report incidents during lockdown. In conjunction with the National Civil Police of the Ministry of the Interior and...more
July 18, 2024, 3:16 p.m.
Countries: Guatemala
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"In 2019, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare updated the protocol for the provision of care to victims of sexual violence. This protocol is applied at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of health care. The Ministry also runs regional training sessions for the personnel of the national network of hospitals. There are 44 dedicated clinics for victims of sexual violence and pregnant girls under 14 years of age in the 40 hospitals that comprise the national network. In addition, under the comprehensive care model for children and adolescents, a medical clinic was established whose multidisciplinary teams provide care to victims and refer cases to the Public Prosecution Service,...more
July 18, 2024, 3:15 p.m.
Countries: Guatemala
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the System for the Provision of Comprehensive Care to Victims has followed up by conducting single-party virtual hearings for the purpose of granting, extending or expanding protective measures in cases of violence against women, in order to protect the victim and provide information and guidance" (3). "With regard to the prevention of violence, the Ministry of the Interior conducted campaigns on preventing violence against women during lockdown. The Presidential Secretariat for Women conducted a communications campaign on the prevention of violence against women and other crimes in order to raise awareness, provide information and foster a culture of reporting cases of violence against women"...more
April 19, 2024, 3:06 p.m.
Countries: Serbia
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"[C]ases involving all forms of violence against women, including rape, are [not] properly investigated… [V]ictims are [not] protected against revictimization [or] have access to effective reparations, including compensation" (8). "[There is not] an anonymous emergency helpline to be operated by personnel experienced in working with victims of violence" (8).
April 9, 2024, 10:09 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"In practice, regional ordinances banning 'lewd' acts with minors are sometimes seen as effectively raising the age of consent to 18 in many parts of Japan. But they come with significantly lighter penalties than rape charges and deem sex with children merely 'unethical' conduct, 'completely discounting its forced nature', Kazuna Kanajiri, an activist fighting pornography and sexual exploitation, told AFP. This leaves room for perpetrators to 'shift blame to the victims, and argue that sex was initiated or enjoyed by the children', said Kanajiri, who heads Tokyo-based group PAPS and welcomes plans to raise the age of consent to 16" (para 11-13). "And in 2019, a string of acquittals in...more
April 9, 2024, 9:31 p.m.
Countries: Cuba
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"January has once again raised the dust and sadness of the pending debts on gender-based violence in Cuba. The discussion, at least on social networks, has brought back the issue of a comprehensive law against gender-based violence, shelters, the level of severity in sentences, impunity, the invisibility of disappeared women, the lack of accompaniment of the institutions involved and the scant coverage in the press" (para 1). "Re-victimization and lack of gender sensitivity on the part of legal operators, investigators and medical and medical-legal personnel are considered among the main obstacles for victims to come to denounce in the first place and, second, when they do, the complaints prosper or...more
March 30, 2024, 2:46 p.m.
Countries: Lithuania
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"[T]he law on amendments to the Law on Conciliatory Mediation in Civil Disputes may revictimize women and girls who are survivors of gender-based violence... [C]ases of gender-based violence against women, in particular sexual and domestic violence, [are inadequately handled] by the investigating authorities, such as failure to complete the investigation or to move to criminal prosecution… [There is a] lack of enforcement or monitoring of compliance with protection orders, which leaves women who are victims of such violence at risk of further violence" (7).
March 15, 2024, 2:30 p.m.
Countries: Gabon
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"Each establishment has its own provisions (set out in the school regulations) that prohibit, inter alia, acts of sexual violence" (15).
Feb. 20, 2024, 6:27 p.m.
Countries: D R Congo
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"[T]he fear of stigma and reprisals for reporting cases of sexual violence, prevent victims from seeking reparations" (3). "[V]ictims [of sexual and gender-based violence] and their family members [do not] have effective access to justice and remedies and receive adequate reparations… [There is not] a comprehensive national policy to provide reparations to victims of sexual crimes and ensur[e] the availability of funding for its implementation" (4). "[T]here is no specific law to protect victims and witnesses" (5). "[No] measures [are being taken] to protect women and girls working in artisanal mines from sexual violence and forced prostitution and [to] prosecute and sanction the perpetrators" (16).
Feb. 20, 2024, 6:09 p.m.
Countries: D R Congo
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"[A] budget line on compensation for damage caused by the State and its agents may be temporarily dedicated to providing compensation to victims of sexual violence, for a period of two to five years" (8). This is seen as a fund to help victims of sexual violence (MV-coder comment). "[There is] the lack of shelters, counselling and rehabilitation services for [victims of sexual violence]" (8). "[E]ffective procedures [are not established] to investigate cases of the sexual abuse and harassment of girls in school environments, prosecute perpetrators, especially teachers and school administrators, and provide victims with medical care, psychosocial counselling and rehabilitation" (11).
Feb. 20, 2024, 9:55 a.m.
Countries: Qatar
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"The testimonies of women interviewed for this piece, as well as those of experts who have worked extensively with female hospitality workers in Qatar, suggest few feel able to report sexual harassment should it occur" (para 11). "Women simply won’t be able to speak up" (para 13). "'I don’t think we’ve seen any evidence that hotels are doing anything, frankly, [to support women],' she says. 'And [the women] simply won’t be able to speak up'" (para 18). "Qatar representatives said the five women’s stories were extreme cases which were not the reality for millions of female workers. Fifa said it took any allegations of misconduct extremely seriously and had a...more
Feb. 16, 2024, 4:44 p.m.
Countries: Honduras
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2

"'We feminists are angry, we are upset, because we don’t want more of the same,' said Jinna Rosales, adding that this small measure would leave the existing ban for most women, as only a tiny percentage of rape survivors seek out medical attention...'All issues are priorities, but there are some commitments that are easier to carry out, and [lifting the ban] is the simplest, because it doesn’t even require a budget or generate an economic cost,' said Rosales" (para 8-10). "One, designed to increase the government’s capacity to prevent violence against women and improve the attention given to survivors by the justice system, was expected to meet resistance in a...more