AFGHANISTAN – FAMILY PLANNING LAW

Back in march, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan signed and passed the Shia Family Planning Law. (Under the Afghan constitution, Shias can have family law separate from the Sunni majority). The Shia Family Planning law follows traditional Shia jurisprudence which sanctions marital rape and places Taliban-era restrictions on the women. Following international outrage, the law was amended and in July resigned, although it has not yet been ratified by parliament. The impact of this law if passed as well as other issues facing Afghan women today, is discussed by Janine di Giovanni in an article of July 24th in the Guardian. 

DONATION ANYONE?

Recently I saw the film version of the autobiographical graphic novel called ‘Persepolis’. It’s about the life to adulthood of Marjane Satrapi (also the film’s writer and co-director) who is an Iranian and who was about four or five at the time of the Iranian revolution when the film begins. Because this film is an animation I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was thoroughly drawn into it and found it moving and very entertaining. I highly recommend it.

PS If any kindhearted person out there is reading this, we would love to have either the graphic novel or the DVD in our library. 

-Jo

Honour Killings

The BBC reported another example on Tuesday, 2 September 2008 of honour killings in Pakistan. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7593522.stm

Honour killings refer to crimes in which women die as a result of injury inflicted on them by husbands or male relatives who feel that those women have inflicted dishonour upon them in some way. Reasons have included: refusing to marry, being unfaithful [or being accused of being unfaithful], eloping, seeking a divorce etc.  Reference ‘Routledge International Encyclopaedia of Women : Global Women’s Issues and Knowledge’

Our reference wiki on honour killings has further information.

Thanks to Danielle for these sites.

Dr Catherine Hamlin, founder of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital

Last Wednesday in our discussion about women’s issues internationally, we spoke about Dr Catherine Hamlin who established the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital to operate on fistula patients in Ethiopia.  A fistula is a tear to the birth canal, bladder and rectum that arises in (usually very young) pregnant women in prolonged labour (often lasting up to six days) due to a lack of access to medical facilities. This condition occurs in impoverished women throughout the Third World.

 

ABC’s ‘Sunday Profile’

Sunday, 23 March  2008    Presenter: Monica Attard

Dr Catherine Hamlin, Founder of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital

Hamlin Fistula® Relief and Aid Fund

Hamlin Fistula Relief and Aid Fund

PO Box 965 Wahroonga NSW 2076

Phone +61 2 9449 6725
Fax + 61 9440 4764

fistulaltd@ozemail.com.au

 

The Fistula Foundation and Dr Catherine Hamlin