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

Latest items for WAM-LAW-1

Dec. 12, 2024, 1:31 p.m.
Countries: Russia
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"It has been more than six months since the Russian playwright Svetlana Petriychuk and the theater director Zhenya Berkovich were arrested and jailed for their work on 'Finist, the Bright Falcon,' an acclaimed play sympathetic to women recruited by ISIS. The charge? 'Justifying terrorism.' The plaintiffs have appealed being held in pretrial detention three times; each time, the court has denied it. The prosecution, on the other hand, has asked the court three times to postpone the trial 'to interview important witnesses'; each time, the court has granted the request. Being a feminist is not against the law in Russia. But if Ms. Berkovich and Ms. Petriychuk are found guilty,...more
Nov. 22, 2024, 10:35 a.m.
Countries: Russia
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"If it passes, the legislation will ban 'childfree propaganda' on the internet and in the media, films and advertisements. There will be steep fines –about $4000 for individuals and $51,000 for organisations" (10).
Nov. 12, 2024, 1:32 p.m.
Countries: Latvia
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"The Committee recommends that the State party…[c]onsider adopting a policy on equal treatment and non-discrimination in the media and establishing a related monitoring mechanism" (7).
Jan. 4, 2024, 10:41 a.m.
Countries: Singapore
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)’s content codes for linear TV and radio services state that programmes should not encourage or in any way lead to discrimination against any section of the community on account of race, religion, gender, age, occupational status or disability" (15).
Aug. 25, 2023, 2:50 p.m.
Countries: China
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"The new Women’s Protection Law also provides stronger protection of women’s privacy and personal data. Article 28 states that: Media reports on incidents involving women should be objective and appropriate and should not infringe on women’s personal rights and interests. It is forbidden to demean women through mass media or other means. Women’s photos must not be used without consent in advertisements, trademarks, exhibition windows, newspapers, periodicals, books, audio-visual products, electronic publications, networks, etc."
April 1, 2023, 9:26 p.m.
Countries: Uzbekistan
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

[I]n 2017, the legislation adopted included: the Anti-Corruption Act of 3 January 2017; the Protection of Children from Information Harmful to Their Health Act of 8 September 2017…(3)(NF - CODER COMMENT - This act broadly states that children should be protected from sexual and labor exploitation, trafficking, along with exposure to violent, traumatic, and suicidal information. This law also bans the desimination of ideas including those that deny family values, promote debauchery and pornography, and inducing disrespect for parents and other family members.). "[I]n 2019 the legislation adopted included:...[T]he Patronage Act of 16 October 2019." (4).
Feb. 24, 2023, 12:54 p.m.
Countries: Nepal
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"The Federation of Nepal Journalist Associations ensures a minimum of three women in their 29-member Executive Board as a means to make the media genderfriendly and contributory to gender equality and the realization of women’s rights." (42).
Feb. 2, 2023, 2:39 p.m.
Countries: United States
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"Nearly all 50 states now have laws that outlaw nonconsensual pornography, or revenge porn. Most states make it a criminal offense to disseminate intimate images of someone if the defendant acted with intent to harm. In New York City, a law passed in 2017 goes even further, making it a crime to even threaten to send revenge porn. Victims can also go to family court and get a civil restraining order directing offenders to destroy the victims’ intimate images in their possession, or face arrest if they continue to distribute them" (para 7). "In the last decade, a handful of states including New York, Pennsylvania and Washington have also passed...more
Jan. 2, 2023, 2:15 a.m.
Countries: Afghanistan
Variables: RCDW-LAW-2, WAM-LAW-1

"[T]he Taliban ordered women to cover their faces in public, followed by a separate decree requiring women broadcast journalists to cover their faces when on the air" (para 2).
Dec. 8, 2022, 3:20 p.m.
Countries: Afghanistan
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have ordered television broadcasters to ensure that female presenters on local stations cover their faces when on air in the latest crackdown on women's rights" (para 1).
June 21, 2022, 8:35 a.m.
Countries: United Kingdom
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

" The Committee welcomes the research undertaken by the Advertising Standards Authority on the harmful effects of stereotypical imaging and the objectification of women in the media and in advertising and the publication of its report on that research in July 2017. It commends the introduction by the Committees of Advertising Practice of a new rule in the advertising codes proscribing gender stereotypes that are likely to cause harm or serious or widespread offence in advertisements, which will come into force in June 2019" (7).
March 19, 2022, 8:37 p.m.
Countries: Iran
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"New Iranian censorship rules have banned TV makers in the Islamic Republic from showing women eating pizza on screen, according to opposition sources" (para 1). "Also, drama makers have been warned that men should not be shown serving women tea in scenes involving a workplace, while women must not wear leather gloves. According to IranWire, government officials have issued the new guidelines to broadcasters and film makers following a recent audit" (para 2,3). "The website said Amir Hossein Shamshadi, the head of PR at the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, also ruled that women should not be shown on screen drinking any red-coloured beverages. Sandwiches are also on the list....more
March 15, 2022, 11:02 a.m.
Countries: Lithuania
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"It is illegal to publish material that is 'detrimental to minors’ bodies or thought processes' or that promotes the sexual abuse and harassment of minors, sexual relations among minors, or 'sexual relations.' Human rights observers continued to criticize this law..." (6). This was included because the domestic violence variables include abuse against children and this law discourages such abuse (JLR-CODER COMMENT).
Jan. 11, 2022, 12:20 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"No law addresses the unfettered availability of sexually explicit cartoons, comics, and video games, some of which depicted scenes of violent sexual abuse and the rape of children" (20).
Jan. 6, 2022, 12:09 p.m.
Countries: Somalia
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"There are no laws or government regulations concerning the depicition of women in the media or the presence of women in the media" (1).
Dec. 20, 2021, 11:19 a.m.
Countries: Belgium
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"The prohibition of Holocaust denial, defamation, sexist remarks, attitudes that target a specific individual, and incitement to hatred applies to print and broadcast media, books, and online newspapers and journals" (5).
Dec. 3, 2021, 9:11 a.m.
Countries: Venezuela
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"The law prohibits all media from disseminating messages that incite or promote hate or intolerance for religious, political, gender-related, racial, or xenophobic reasons; incite, promote, or condone criminal acts; constitute war propaganda; foment anxiety in the population or affect public order; do not recognize legitimate government authorities; incite homicide; or incite or promote disobedience of the established legal order. Penalties range from fines to the revocation of licenses. The threat of nonrenewal of operating licenses systematically led to self-censorship on the part of several media outlets" (14).
Oct. 19, 2021, 11 a.m.
Countries: Pakistan
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"While these female influencers are careful about their online safety, they also have to reckon with Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), which delegates powers to the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority 'to remove or block or issue directions for removal or blocking of access to 'content that violates or affects religious, cultural, ethnic sensitivities, of Pakistan.' The language used in this act is a cause for concern for these influencers. 'I have never shared my religious or political opinion in depth because I don’t feel safe to do so,' says Anam. 'As a creator, one should always be respectful and not offend people, but everyone should have...more
Aug. 28, 2021, 11:07 a.m.
Countries: Estonia
Variables: PRN-LAW-1, WAM-LAW-1

"New Advertising Act that entered into force in 2008 included several new regulations concerning gender equality. According to the act, an adver tisement may not contain denigration or discrimination on the grounds of sex, disregard the principle of gender equality, derogate either sex or depict either sex as a dominating or subordinate. Additionally, it prohibits advertising that depict persons as sexual objects, contain inappropriate nudity, use expressions or images with a sexual undertone or contain visual or audible presentation of a sexual act. It also prohibits advertising works with pornographic content and advertising services provided for satisfaction of sexual desire, including advertising prostitution, and advertisements referring to such services or...more
Aug. 27, 2021, 2:39 p.m.
Countries: Iran
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"Female cartoon characters shown on Iranian television must now wear a hijab, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled. Khamenei said that whilst it is not necessary for the women in cartoons and anime films to have their hair covered, it is 'required' because of the consequences of not wearing a hijab" (para 1-2). "Khamenei was asked by pro-regime Tasnim News Agency whether he believed it was 'necessary to observe hijab for the characters of animated films'. He responded: 'Although wearing hijab in such a hypothetical situation is not required per se, observing hijab in animation is required due to the consequences of not wearing hijab'" (para 4-5). "Iran...more
Aug. 20, 2021, 1:37 p.m.
Countries: Cambodia
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"The Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs implemented a code of conduct for media reporting on violence against women, which bans publication of a survivor’s personal identifiable information, photographs of victims, depictions of a woman’s death or injury, depictions of nudity, and the use of certain offensive or disparaging words against women" (22).
July 8, 2021, 5:15 p.m.
Countries: Iran
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"The Shahrvand daily newspaper in Iran reported that FATA had recently implemented a 'healthifying project' to enforce Islamic law on social media which has been a platform used widely for women's rights activists"(para 4)."The rise of social media in Iran, where there is 24 million Instagram users, has led to clashes with FATA.In July last year[2018], the organisation arrested three young girls who became famous on Instagram after posting videos of themselves dancing. One of them, Maedeh Hojabri, recorded herself in her bedroom belly dancing without a hijab. She then appeared on national television in what was believed to be a forced confession"(para 16-18)."Seven young Iranians seen dancing to Pharrel...more
June 9, 2021, 8:43 p.m.
Countries: Poland
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"Pursuant to article 18(1) of the Broadcasting Act of 29 December 1992, programmes or other broadcasts may not propagate actions contrary to law and Polish raison d’etat or propagate attitudes and beliefs contrary to moral values and social interest. In particular, they may not include contents inciting to hatred or discriminating on grounds of race, disability, gender, religion or nationality. This means that broadcasters are obligated to eliminate all contents that may discriminate against certain people, also on grounds of gender...Broadcasters of television programmes are obliged to identify programmes or other broadcasts permitted from the age of 18 by way of displaying an appropriate graphic symbol throughout their duration, in...more
Feb. 27, 2021, 10:55 a.m.
Countries: Ukraine
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"the Law on Advertising prohibits any contents of discriminatory beliefs based on gender" (29).
Dec. 31, 2020, 2:32 p.m.
Countries: Iran
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"In July last year the semi-official Fars news agency quoted the head of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Mousa Ghazanfarabadi, as saying that 'those who film themselves or others while removing the hijab and send photos to this woman ... will be sentenced to between one and 10 years in prison" (para 13).
Dec. 24, 2020, 9:39 a.m.
Countries: United States
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"Another measure seeks to shut down online sexual service advertisements by amending current United States laws in a way that does not run afoul of the First Amendment, something that has stymied similar legislation in states" (para 4). It should be noted that this is just proposed legislation; it is not a law yet (CAT - CODER COMMENT).
Aug. 13, 2020, 8:52 p.m.
Countries: Australia, France, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"In addition to making public transport safer, several European cities – Geneva (Switzerland), Paris (France), Stockholm (Sweden), London (UK) and Melbourne (Australia) – are demonstrating the importance of tackling the root causes of gender-based harassment in public transport and spaces by banning sexist advertising, recognising that demeaning and degrading images of women, or adverts that reinforce negative gender stereotypes, have serious and harmful effects and can lead to violence against women" (17).
Aug. 10, 2020, 3:09 p.m.
Countries: Saudi Arabia
Variables: WAM-PRACTICE-1, WAM-LAW-1

“Two weeks ago, Wajeha Al-Huweidar and Fawzia Al-Oyouni, two Saudi activists, were sentenced to 10 months in prison and a two-year travel restriction for ‘corrupting’ Nathalie Morin, a Canadian national who has been trying to leave Saudi Arabia, for the past several years. Al-Huweidar and al-Oyouni gained, along with others, international visibility when they openly violated their country’s ban against women driving in 2011. Huweidar’s personal experience attests to the driving ban’s real and daily impact. When her mother developed a heart condition, Huweidar had to wait during critically important hours until a man could drive her to the city where her mother lived. A prominent and tireless activist, she...more
Aug. 9, 2020, 8:25 p.m.
Countries: Iceland
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"Sic of media, treating women as sex objects? That doesn't fly in Iceland, where a law bans gender discriminatory advertising" (para 1). "The law states: 'educational materials and textbooks shall be designed in such a way as not to discriminate against either sex'" (para 20). "This applies to public advertising too. No ad may belittle any gender or go against the country's fierce mission to achieve gender equality" (para 25).
Feb. 14, 2020, 12:34 p.m.
Countries: Lebanon
Variables: WAM-LAW-1

"In May the Ministry of Economy banned the movie Wonder Woman because the lead actress was Israeli" (15).