Fact: Commissioner for Gender Equality Josie Christodoulou highlighted the benefits that women bring to diplomacy and emphasized the importance of gender mainstreaming in foreign policy to influence global affairs.
Progressive and economic groups are urging Congress to use the expiration of .6 trillion in tax cuts next year as an opportunity to revamp the U.S. tax system.
The 3rd Festival for the Promotion of Gender Equality, Femme Fest Cyprus, will take place on 18 and 19 May at the Nicosia Municipal Garden. The festival aims to raise awareness on gender equality, promote discussion of gender issues, and give a platform to women from different sectors to share their stories. The event will include discussions on various topics such as women’s reproductive rights, gender-based violence, and workshops on gender stereotypes. Over 50 organizations will participate, and there will be cultural performances, workshops for children, and food and drinks available. Admission and participation in all activities are free of charge.
Gender equality will take 300 years to achieve worldwide according to the UN’s women’s organization. The 3rd Femme Fest Cyprus will be held on May 18 and 19 in Nicosia, aiming to address gender issues and provide a platform for women from all walks of life. The festival will include discussions, workshops, events, and kiosks on women’s issues, with a focus on women’s reproductive rights, gender violence, gender stereotypes, and femicide. The event will also feature activities such as Women Who Inspire Us and thematic centers highlighting the history of women’s rights.
An Israeli former Hamas hostage from the October 7 attack spoke out about the sexual violence and torture she endured. A UN report confirmed Israel’s allegations of ongoing sexual violence by Hamas. The victims of the attack are in the process of healing and dealing with their trauma. The Israeli government developed programmes to help survivors of the attack. Feminist organizations worldwide did not provide sufficient support to Israeli women who were victims of sexual violence. Israeli women did not receive necessary international support due to antisemitism and ignorance. It is crucial for women to stand united and demand justice for sexual violence in wartime. The Israeli army has been accused of sexual assaults against Palestinian women, but there is no evidence to justify the allegations. Hostages still in Hamas’s hands are subjected to sexual assaults, isolation, and poor living conditions.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump expressed support for a 15-week national ban on abortion with exceptions for rape, incest, and saving the life of the mother, citing the importance of winning elections. This stance was shared during a call-in radio interview on the “Sid & Friends in the Morning” show on WABC. Trump’s three appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court played a key role in overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022. He has not committed to signing a national ban into law but indicated a consensus around the 15-week mark. The Biden campaign has criticized Republican restrictions on reproductive rights, particularly after the Supreme Court’s decision, which led to restrictive abortion laws in nearly two dozen states. Trump mentioned he would discuss his views on a 16-week abortion ban soon, following a report by The New York Times about his private support for such a ban.