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Women’s Equality Makes Our Planet Safe and Secure

by Narges Mohammadi October 6, 2022

“Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury is the Founder of the Global Movement for The Culture of Peace (GMCoP), Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN (1996-2001) and Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations (2002-2007).

The following is based on his inaugural keynote speech at the first “Exceptional Women of Peace” Awards Ceremony hosted by the Pathways To Peace (PTP) on 13 September 2022 (virtual)”

Happy 23rd anniversary of the consensus action by the General Assembly of the United Nations of its foundational documents on the culture of peace!

23 years ago, on 13 September 1999, the United Nations adopted the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, a monumental document that transcends boundaries, cultures, societies, and nations. It was an honor for me to Chair the nine-month long negotiations that led to the adoption of this historic norm-setting document by the United Nations General Assembly. That document asserts that inherent in the culture of peace is a set of values, modes of behaviour and ways of life.

A statement from the Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing in 1995 declared that “the dynamic movement towards a culture of peace derives inspiration and hope from women’s visions and actions”. It further underscored that full respect for the human rights of women; the release of women’s creative potential in all aspects of life; the equal participation of women in decision-making are all prerequisites to attaining the culture of peace.

The core message of this 1995 statement continues to be equally relevant today.

I am deeply moved by the honor bestowed on me to be the inaugural keynote speaker at the “Exceptional Women of Peace” Awards Ceremony today, that too on this very special day of 13 September.

Pathways To Peace, PTP, has been working for over 40 years locally and globally, inter-generationally and multi-culturally, to support peacebuilding and peacebuilders, and the initiatives to co-create the global culture of peace.

Executive Director of Pathways To Peace (PTP) Tezikiah (Tez) Gabriel asserted that “We see women, particularly young women using their voice and presence to create positive change and build lasting peace. Yet often these women are not known or recognized. Many are doing their work for peace in the most difficult circumstances. They are unsung “sheroes” nurturing peace in war-torn areas of our world, bringing hope and inspiring peace to those suffering in devasting poverty, hunger, and disease.”

She went on to emphasize that “The Exceptional Women of Peace Awards seek to honor those women – and ALL women. In the spirit of our beloved Avon Mattison, when we honor one, we honor all. All are needed to build the sustainable peace, to create the Culture of Peace in all our lives.”

Encouraged by the spirit of its Co-Founder, Avon Mattison, a dear and respected friend, PTP recognizes the exceptional leadership of women of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. To commemorate the inspirational legacy of Avon, this year on 8 March, International Women’s Day, PTP launched an award campaign, to honor “Exceptional Women of Peace.”

As PTP says “This award honors the inspiring work of women peacebuilders whose courage, leadership, and commitment to peace stand out as beacons of strength and hope.”

My life’s experience has taught me to value peace and equality as the essential components of our existence. They unleash the positive forces of good that are so needed for human progress. My initiatives at the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 on the Culture of Peace, in the Security Council in 2000 on equality of women’s participation and in leading the UN system’s prioritization of the needs of the world’s most vulnerable countries as their champion for six years – all show that when head and heart join together to do something meaningful and worthwhile for humanity, no obstacle is insurmountable.

My work has taken me to the farthest corners of the world. I have seen time and again the centrality of the culture of peace and women’s equality in our lives. This realization has now become more pertinent amid the ever-increasing militarism, militarization and weaponization that is destroying both our planet and our people.

One soul-stirring inspiration that I have experienced from my work for peace, development and human rights is that we should never forget that when women – half of world’s seven plus billion people – are marginalized, there is no chance for our world to get sustainable peace in the real sense. It is my strong belief that unless women are engaged in advancing the culture of peace at equal levels at all times with men, sustainable peace would continue to elude us.

Women bring a new breadth, quality, and balance of vision to a common effort of moving away from the cult of war towards the culture of peace. I believe wholeheartedly that women’s equality makes our planet safe and secure.

All of you are aware of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women and peace and security. It is very close to my intellectual existence and my very small contribution to a better world for each one of us. To trace back, more than 22 years ago, on the International Women’s Day in 2000, as the President of the Security Council, I initiated an agreed statement that formally brought to global attention the positive role and contribution of women.

The Security Council recognized in that statement that peace is inextricably linked with equality between women and men and affirmed the value of full and equal participation of women at all decision-making levels. That conceptual and political breakthrough finally resulted in the adoption of the Resolution 1325.

Adoption of 1325 opened a much-awaited door of opportunity for women who have shown time and again that they bring a qualitative improvement in structuring peace and in post-conflict architecture. When women participate in peace negotiations and in the crafting of a peace agreement, they have the broader and long-term interest of society in mind.

We recall that in choosing the three women laureates for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, the citation referred to 1325 saying that “It underlined the need for women to become participants on an equal footing with men in peace processes and in peace work in general.”

UNSCR 1325 is the only UN resolution so specifically noted in any citation of the Nobel Prize.

Much, nevertheless, remains to be done.

Empowering women’s political leadership will have ripple effects on every level of society. When politically empowered, women bring important and different skills and perspectives to the policy making table in comparison to their male counterparts. I underscore often that when women join politics, they want to DO something, when men join politics, they want to BE something.

Patriarchy and misogyny are humanity’s dual scourges pulling back the humanity away from our aspiration for a better world to live in freedom, equality, and justice. Gender inequality is an established, proven, and undisputed reality – it is all pervasive. It is a real threat to human progress!

On a somber note, let me alert that we are experiencing around the globe an organized, determined rollback of the gains made as well as new attacks on women equality and empowerment – yes, in all parts of the world and in all countries without exception.

That global reality is dramatically evidenced in the fact that the UN itself despite being the biggest champion of women’s equality has failed to elect a woman secretary-general yet to reverse the historical injustice of having the post occupied by men for its entire seven-decades of its existence.

Before closing, let me assert that feminism is a component of a modern view on global politics. It is about smart policy which includes whole populations, uses all potential and leaves no one behind.

Let me reiterate that I am proud to be a feminist. All of us need to be. That is how we make our planet a better place to live for all.

Congratulations to the first recipients of the Exceptional Women of Peace Award in 2022.

We should always remember that without peace, development is impossible, and without development, peace is not achievable, but without women, neither peace nor development is conceivable. [IDN-InDepthNews – 23 September 2022] Photo: Late Ms. Avon Mattison (left) with Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury at the inaugural High Level Forum on The Culture of Peace at the United Nations convened by the 66th President of the UN General Assembly on 14 September 2012.

October 6, 2022 1 comment

Central America Health

Women who are physically active may live longer, regardless of their genes

by Narges Mohammadi October 6, 2022

In the United States, the National Center for Health Statistics estimates the life expectancies of males and females are 74.5 years and 80.2 years, respectively. For healthy aging, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that physical activity is key.

To find out whether physical activity had an advantage over genetics in promoting longevity, researchers at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California San Diego and other institutions conducted a nationwide study.

After analyzing health data of more than 5,000 older postmenopausal women, the researchers found that higher levels of light, moderate, or vigorous physical activity correlated with a lower risk of all-cause deaths. The findings expanded on prior studies that have shown that more sedentary time carries greater health risks.

These associations persisted across varying levels of genetic potential for living longer.

“[The] findings support the importance of higher physical activity (PA) and lower sedentary time (ST) for reducing mortality risk in older women, regardless of [their] genetic predisposition for longevity,” the researchers wrote.

Their prospective study was recently published in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity.

OPACH women’s study

From 2012 to 2020, the UC San Diego researchers analyzed data on the physical activity of more than 5,000 ambulatory women ages 63 and older.

Lead author Alexander Posis, MPH, a doctoral student in the San Diego State University/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health, explained the significance of the OPACH study to Medical News Today:

“Our study used pre-existing data from the Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health (OPACH) study, which is part of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) that started in the early 1990s because women had not been included in many epidemiologic studies and clinical trials.”

– Alexander Posis, MPH, lead author of the study

The OPACH study focused on associations between physical activity, cardiovascular disease, and injury risks. The data generated allowed researchers to look at physical activity and the risk of mortality, cancers, cognitive decline, and physical disability as well.

Other research using the OPACH study found associations with physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and mortality during an average follow-up of 3 years. However, no one had explored any possible genetic influence on these associations.

The UC San Diego study aimed to use a follow-up of 6 years and adjust the results with a “weighted genetic risk score (GRS) for longevity.”

Activity and variants

OPACH participants wore an accelerometer 24 hours per day for 7 consecutive days.

The device measured the amount of time the women spent moving or being still and the intensity of any activity.

The researchers defined total PA “as movement resulting in energy expenditure.” They categorized PA intensity and ST minutes using predetermined cut points applied to the accelerometer counts.

The researchers’ conclusions

Of the 5,446 women in the present study’s sample, 1,022 passed away during follow-up.

The authors determined that 36% of the total population had a high GRS, 33.1% had a medium GRS, and 30.9% had a low GRS for longevity.

The researchers firstly found that physical activity, of light or moderate-to-vigorous intensity, was associated with a lower risk of death while higher ST was associated with a higher risk of death. Interestingly, these associations persisted regardless of one’s genetic predisposition for longevity.

Interestingly, the low-GRS individuals were younger, more active, and had higher physical functioning scores than the other GRS groups. Those with low GRS were also “more likely to be of Black race/ethnicity than the medium and high GRS groups.”

“Our study showed that, even if you aren’t likely to live long based on your genes, you can still extend your lifespan by engaging in positive lifestyle behaviors such as regular exercise and sitting less,” Aladdin H. Shadyab, PhD, the study’s senior author and assistant professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, said in a news release.

October 6, 2022 0 comment

Asia Politics

Afghan women protest school attack as Taliban cracks down

by Narges Mohammadi October 6, 2022

Women demonstrated across various cities in Afghanistan after dozens of mostly young women were killed in an attack on a school last week.

Dressed in a long black abaya with her face mask secured, university professor Zahra Mosawi walked the streets of the ancient Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif to denounce incessant attacks on the Shia Muslim minority.

Mosawi, 28, carried with her a large yellow placard with the word “Azadi” – or freedom – scrawled across it as she joined more than 50 other colleagues and students in a demonstration on Monday against the recent attack on a learning center in Kabul that killed 53 students, mostly young women.

It was just the latest horrific act of violence on a facility attended by Afghanistan’s ethnic Hazaras, who have historically faced persecution. No group claimed responsibility.

“After Friday’s attack on innocent girls in the Kaj education center, we said we have had enough,” Mosawi said, referring to the institute in Kabul’s Dasht-e-Barchi area where a suicide bomber opened fire and then blew himself up.

In WhatsApp groups and on social media, Mosawi and other academics and activists mobilized to condemn the unrelenting violence on the Hazara as well as restrictions on women and minorities. “We have to raise our voices and organize ourselves. This genocide against Hazara has to end,” she added.

The protesters also demanded the reopening of girls’ high schools in Afghanistan, which have been closed since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last year. “We raise our voices for justice and equality. We want the right to work, to education, and the freedom of all women,” Mosawi said. Similar demonstrations took place in Kabul, Herat and Bamiyan over the weekend, largely led by women from Afghanistan’s academia.

“We talked about the attack on Kaj centre in our classrooms on Saturday, and how Afghan girls are being prevented from education. These girls were killed because they wanted to learn,” said Soraya Alizada, 25, a student who joined the protests in central Bamiyan province.

She and her classmates led a demonstration demanding an end to the violence against the Hazara and the reopening of schools for girls. “Because of these attacks, many families don’t allow their daughters to take part in the university entrance exam. In which part of the world are girls and boys killed for the crime of seeking education?” Alizada asked.

‘Beat the girls’

The peaceful demonstrations were met with a Taliban backlash. Witnesses told Al Jazeera that security forces fired warning shots, and video on social media from Herat and Kabul showed them violently dispersing protesters.

In Bamiyan, Alizada said the Taliban “beat the girls who were demonstrating, broke their phones, and called them ‘bitches’”. “One Taliban pointed his gun at one girl threatening to shoot her, but we all stopped him from doing this”, she said.

In Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, demonstrators had it rough right from the start as Taliban members locked them up inside their campus, Mosawi said.

“The Taliban surrounded Balkh University [in Mazar-i-Sharif] from five directions and did not allow students to leave to participate in the protests,” she said, adding some eventually broke out and freed their classmates to join the demonstration.

Some protesters were also beaten, Mosawi said. “Because the journalists were not present, the protesting girls were themselves filming the protests,” she said. “But the Taliban first beat these girls and then broke their cell phones.”

Heather Barr, associate director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, noted “how incredibly dangerous” it is to protest.

“The Taliban’s response has, predictably, been brutal, including new abusive strategies such as locking students in their hostels. The Taliban seem to have no tolerance at all for protests by women and girls, even when the protest is not specifically about their abuses,” said Barr.

Recent research found the Taliban has done little to protect or assist targeted communities when they face attack, she added. The Taliban government defended the handling of the demonstrations.

“When they plan to protest they should have informed us in advance about the time, place and about the topic so we could prepare for possible threats. But unfortunately in Kabul, a number of our sisters started protesting without informing us, so the security forces tried to prevent them,” said Abdul Nafee Takoor, a spokesman for the interior ministry.

“A similar thing happened in Balkh today although the security forces there were informed prior to the protest. But the protesters refused to demonstrate at the place the security forces allocated for them. Instead they wanted to go to another location, and that is why security forces tried to stop them,” he told Al Jazeera.

Despite the Taliban crackdown on the demonstrations, Mosawi said she was encouraged by the large turnout, which included Afghan men. “This is the first time that men stood by the women, although only a limited number joined. But I am happy it might inspire other men also stand with the women of their provinces,” she said.

“I have a message for those Afghan men who sit at home and just watch women on the streets,” Mosawi said. “How long will you remain silent in front of all these crimes and persecution against women? If today you choose to remain silent, tomorrow you may be faced with the same persecution.”

October 6, 2022 0 comment

Asia Politics

Iran’s top authorities’ words regarding #MahsaAmini’s tragic death:©

by Narges Mohammadi October 4, 2022

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei_ Iran’s Leader: “The incident where a young women (Mahsa Amini) died was a bitter incident. It was also heart-wrenching to us. But reaction without investigation, undermining security, causing unrest & riot against people, setting fire on Quran, mosques, banks was not normal but planned.”

Mr. Ibrahim Raisi _ Iran’s President: In a phone call with Mahsa Amini’s family he said: “ Your daughter is like my own daughter and I feel that this incident happened to one of my own loved ones. Consider me a partner in your hardness and a sympathizer of your sorrow. I give you my word that I will punish anyone who has caused the least bit negligence in this matter.”

Mr. Mohammad Bagher Qhalibaf _ Iran’s Parliament Speaker: “Structures & method of morality police should be modified in a way that such incidents (Mahsa Amini) do not happen again. I’ll follow up on this within my jurisdiction & I hope prudent & effective decisions to be made in coordination w related officials.”

Mr. Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i _ Chief Justice of Iran: “In recent days, this 22-year-old girl passed away, although the matter of her death is under investigation, and sympathy was extended to the family of this deceased. The follow-up of this case continues. The duty of the judiciary and some other officials is to seriously follow up on what happened and why this lady died. I assure the family of Mrs. Amini that the case will be followed up quickly and carefully and the result of the investigation will be announced based on the right and standards, also we will not have any considerations on anyone who had a part regarding this case”.

Source: Jahanbanou English News

October 4, 2022 0 comment

Central America Society

The Mary Kay Ash Foundation Continues Its Support of the Annual Conference on Crimes Against Women

by Narges Mohammadi September 28, 2022

The Mary Kay Ash Foundation, a philanthropic leader with a mission to end gender-based and domestic violence, announced today its continued sponsorship of the 17th annual Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW). Taking place from May 23–26 2023 in Dallas, CCAW is the only national conference that addresses crimes against women with a multi-disciplinary focus that encourages a coordinated community response.

Reflecting the importance of an effective and coordinated multisectoral response to gender-based violence, participation at CCAW included first responders, prosecutors, law enforcement, advocates, nurses, campus personnel, and others, each bringing a unique perspective and best practices for responding to violence against women. 2,500 participants from seven countries and all 50 states joined the Conference. Over the course of the four-days, 129 scholarships were awarded, 192 education-packed workshops were held, and 222 speakers shared practical expert knowledge on effective response and protection efforts.

“It is unacceptable that one in three women worldwide has directly experienced violence,” said Ryan Rogers, Chief Investment Officer for Mary Kay Inc. and Vice President of the Mary Kay Ash Foundation Board of Directors. “We need to address the root causes of gender-based violence, and we must ensure that our response efforts meet the needs of victims. The Conference on Crimes Against Women is leading the way highlighting what is needed – education and training to ensure a multi-sectoral approach to equip first responders and community stakeholders on best practices regarding identification, investigation and prosecution of crimes against women.”

CCAW was created as a partnership between the Dallas Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support. CCAW convenes leading experts from across the country to educate and train those who work with victims of crime offering workshops, case presentations and hands-on computer labs. Attendees are taught by local and national experts who delve into the complexities of crimes committed against women. The conference provides the most cutting edge, relevant and creative tools that attendees can immediately apply to their vital work.

“The Mary Kay Ash Foundation has been a committed sponsor of the Conference on Crimes Against Women since 2006,” said Jan Langbein, Chief Executive Officer of CCAW and Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support. “As a result of the Foundation’s continued support, survivors of gender-based violence crimes receive the help they need and deserve. Furthermore, the conference is able to continue to bring about the systemic change needed to prevent and respond to these crimes by improving the way victims are treated throughout the criminal justice system. We commend and thank the Mary Kay Ash Foundation for their unwavering commitment to making a lasting difference to the lives of women.”

The Mary Kay Ash Foundation has a long-standing commitment to support CCAW and women’s shelters in the U.S and globally through its partnerships with the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and CARE. Since 2000, 3,300 organizations advocating for the eradication of gender-based violence have received grants from the Mary Kay Ash Foundation, totaling over $58 million. The Foundation has supported over six million women and girls seeking shelter and services from abuse.

About the Mary Kay Ash Foundation

Guided by Mary Kay Ash’s dream to enrich the lives of women everywhere, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation^SM raises and distributes funds to end gender-based violence and invest in breakthrough cancer research to find a cure for women-related cancers. Since 1996, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation^SM has contributed more than $88 million to organizations aligned with its two-fold mission. In addition, the Foundation supports awareness initiatives, community outreach programs, and advocates for legislation to ensure women are healthy and safe. Together, we can make the world better for women.

About the Conference on Crimes Against Women

The mission of the Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW) is to provide a national forum to disseminate the highest level of training, information and strategies to professionals who are responders and advocates to victims of the many and varied forms of crimes against women including domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault and strangulation. CCAW is the national clearinghouse of best practices for law enforcement, prosecuting attorneys, advocates, medical personnel, emergency telecommunicators, probation and parole officers and others who work in the area of crimes against women. Recognizing that these crimes are unique in nature, CCAW provides the most up-to-date, relevant, and effective training and techniques that exist to battle this epidemic.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220824005116/en/The-Mary-Kay-Ash-Foundation-Continues-Its-Support-of-the-Annual-Conference-on-Crimes-Against-Women

September 28, 2022 1 comment

Europe Society

Woman awarded €42,000 by WRC over treatment by language school

by Narges Mohammadi September 24, 2022

A Colombian woman who worked at an English-language college in Dublin has been awarded more than €42,000 after she complained of victimization, racial discrimination and unpaid commissions.

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) decided in favor of Melissa Angarita Cardenas in an action against her former employer, SEDA College.

Among the findings by the adjudicating officer, Marie Flynn, was that Ms. Cardenas was treated less favorably than two other staff members who shared Brazilian and Venezuelan nationality with members of management.

“It is clear from the evidence adduced by the complainant that [two named women], who were the same nationality as members of management continued to work during the lockdown, whereas the complainant, who was of a different nationality, did not,” Ms. Flynn said.

“The complainant has demonstrated that she was treated less favorably than [the two women] had been when they were in a comparable situation to the complainant within the meaning of the Acts. The only difference between the complainant and the comparators was that the comparators were of a different race.”

Ms. Cardenas was awarded a total of €42,849 for what the commission said were eight “well-founded” complaints, that were opposed by a “work of fiction” from her employers regarding one unpaid commission.

Ms. Cardenas worked in a number of roles at the college including reception, marketing, and student support from 3 October, 2016, until she resigned on 21 July, 2021.

Regarding the largest award of €20,000 for her victimization complaint, the commission decided that SEDA had been notified of her complaint to the WRC while she was on sick-leave.

Ms. Cardenas alleged she was afterward repeatedly victimized from February 2020 when she re-commenced work.

The WRC had heard that Ms. Cardenas returned to find her email account blocked and that it remained blocked until she resigned.

circle from different hands (vector eps 10 + transparency effects used)

She had submitted that this was a way for college management to obstruct her case to the WRC and that this impacted negatively on her ability to prepare for her hearing.

In outlining Ms. Cardenas’ complaint in her written decision, Adjudicating Officer Marie Flynn said: “On the same day, while she [Ms. Cardenas] was alone at the reception desk, the HR Director, Stephen Murphy and the CEO, Tiago Mascarenhas, approached her when she had finished printing some documents and had put them in her personal bag, as she did not have a locker at her workplace.”

“The complainant submits that they both approached her in a very intimidating and threatening manner.” “The CEO stood very close to her, blocking her only exit. The HR Director asked her if she had printed documentation that belonged to the respondent.”

“The complainant replied that she was printing documentation for a meeting on 18 February, 2020, which would assist her in responding to the allegations against her and that she would be able to prove that no disruption was caused during her sick leave because her colleagues and other departments had the same access to the IT system and shared data as she had.”

Ms. Cardenas submitted to the WRC that the HR Director informed her in a “hostile manner” that she was not allowed to print any data from the respondent organization and remove it from the building.

She also submitted that the HR Director and the CEO threatened her saying that she would be penalized as she was committing a crime under GDPR legislation.

The Respondent submitted that it was entitled to investigate the sending of information, in particular, sensitive data for the purpose of the Data Protection Act and GDPR and/or printing of same by the Complainant.

The Complainant was suspended with pay and there was no detriment as alleged. Ms. Cardenas submitted that she was subjected to “adverse treatment” by the college, which left her feeling “stressed and intimidated” because she had submitted a complaint of discrimination to the WRC.

Ms. Flynn said: “In the absence of any persuasive evidence from the respondent, it is not possible for me to determine if there was another reason for the adverse treatment other than the reason proposed by the complainant. Accordingly, I find that there is a causal connection between the submission of the complaint referral form to the WRC by the complainant and the alleged adverse treatment.”

“I find that this complaint of victimization is well-founded and I direct the respondent to pay the complainant €20,000,” she said.

In relation to the complaint that Ms. Cardenas was treated less favorably than others due to her race, Ms. Flynn awarded her €10,000.

In her decision, Ms. Flynn also wrote that the respondent had submitted a “work of fiction” in attempting to prove that Ms. Cardenas had been paid the entirety of the money owed to her.

“At the hearing on 13 June 2022, the respondent submitted a spreadsheet which purported to show the amount of commission due to the complainant and the dates on which it was paid. In my opinion, which I shared with the Respondent at the hearing, this spreadsheet is a complete work of fiction,” she wrote.

“Amongst the errors that are apparent from even the most cursory appraisal are the following: the spreadsheet shows entries in relation to the years 1900, 1902 and 1904; there is no consistency between the column headings and the data contained within the columns; and there are handwritten entries on the spreadsheets.”

Ms. Cardenas was then further awarded an additional €12,849 regarding her separate complaints of unpaid commission, terms of contract change, a later lack of a contract and of penalization, which, in all, ended up in an award of €42,849.

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2022/0817/1316330-woman-awarded-42-000-over-treatment-by-language-school/

September 24, 2022 0 comment

Central America Society

Increasing Alabama women’s pay and gender equity would make the state rich!!!

by Narges Mohammadi September 24, 2022

Closing the gender pay gap in Alabama would increase state income by $15.4 billion and grow the state economy by $22 billion in one year, as well as create 59,000 new jobs, according to research presented at the inaugural Alabama Workforce and Wage Gap Task Force meeting Tuesday.

“That’s roughly equal to all the growth we’ve seen in Alabama’s economy since 2004,” said Peregrine Strategies Principal Allen Freyer of the potential state economic growth following a wage gap elimination. “This could be the single largest economic development tool that is on the table,”

The 11-member group, chaired by Melanie Bridgeforth of the Women’s Foundation of Alabama, will meet each month to hear from experts before putting together legislative recommendations and releasing a report in December. The 2023 legislative session will begin in March.

Bridgeforth said that closing the gender wage gap would reduce poverty in the state by half and pointed out that, at the current rate of average pay increases, women in Alabama would not receive equal pay until 2089. Alabama was the 49th state to pass equal pay legislation in 2019, and Bridgeforth said it holds the eighth-largest wage gap in the country.

Freyer also said that women earn less than men in every Alabama county except Greene County and noted there are disparities even within the wage gap between white women and women of color, who still typically earn less than their white female counterparts.

Freyer, whose company Peregrine Strategies is a research partner of the Women’s Foundation of Alabama, presented “big-picture strategies” for maximizing women’s participation in Alabama’s workforce, including closing the gender pay gap, removing barriers to labor force participation, and ending occupational segregation.

The first strategy – closing the wage gap – could include strengthening the Clarke-Figures Equal Pay Act, requiring businesses to post salaries in job advertisements, and prohibiting businesses to require applicants to reveal prior wages or salaries or retaliate against employees who discussed pay in the workplace.

Barriers to childcare appeared as a frequent issue regarding women’s workforce participation.

In the Status of Women in Alabama report, data showed that 74% of women in the state were “breadwinners,” or someone who earns 40% or more of the total income.

Of that 74%, 60% were single mothers, said Rachel Bunning, the vice president of external affairs at the Women’s Foundation of Alabama.

Committee member Rep. Joe Lovvorn (R-Auburn) said that he is aware of efforts in the legislature to find childcare solutions for working parents.

Similarly, to the predicted impact of closing the wage gap, closing the labor force participation gap would increase the number of women in the labor force by roughly 209,700 and boost average earnings in the state by $7.1 billion. One of the predicted ripple effects would be the creation of more than 32,700 new jobs, which Freyer compared to the population of Gadsden.

“We could add a whole new city to Alabama’s workforce, effectively,” Freyer said. In addition to legislative suggestions, committee member Amanda Foster, who is a certified financial planner and the co-president of the Huntsville chapter of the American Association of University Women, said she would like to see an increase in STEM camps and guidance for middle school girls.

“Obviously, legislation is probably meant to address things more quickly, but I would love to see some sort of crafting of, you know, whatever bill we come up with, that gives incentive to host these STEM camps,” said Foster, who added that she fell in love with her job in middle school.

During Freyer’s presentation, he said that women in Alabama work in minimum wage jobs at three times the rate of their male counterparts.

“Women, especially women of color, are disproportionately working in the lowest wage occupations. Examples are personal care assistants, office support, food service, while men are typically on average over-represented in the highest wage occupations,” Freyer said. “They’re architects, they’re working in tech, they’re working in management occupations, which means that women are typically working in these jobs to pay a whole lot less.”

Alabama doesn’t have a state minimum wage, meaning that it mirrors the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25.

Freyer added that because women in Alabama are disproportionately represented in minimum wage jobs, a minimum wage increase could be significantly impactful, though it raises concerns about “benefits cliffs,” or a direct cutoff from government benefits, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, because of additional income.

Committee member Kelly Woodward, associate dean and professor of management at the University of South Alabama, said that it would be beneficial to have a labor economist look into the potential benefits and pitfalls of raising the minimum wage.

“We can say we’re going to raise the minimum wage, but we know that there are dominoes that it helps and it hurts,” she said. “Somebody who has that labor economics background that can help provide additional information on both the pros and the cons, and ways of doing it that have the highest positive impacts with the lowest negative impacts.”

Bunning said that the committee will hold a meeting each month until the December report, and that they hope to focus primarily on learning from experts on the front end and begin brainstorming legislative solutions by October or November.

https://www.al.com/news/2022/08/task-force-increasing-alabama-womens-pay-gender-equity-would-bring-22-billion-to-state.html

September 24, 2022 0 comment

Central America Health

Worse anxiety, and depression symptoms in pregnant women with epilepsy

by Narges Mohammadi September 24, 2022

Women with epilepsy experience more anxiety and depression symptoms during and after pregnancy than other women, according to a new study led by researchers at Stanford Medicine.

The study was published online on Aug. 17 in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study, which tracked more than 300 women with epilepsy during and after their pregnancies, expanded researchers’ knowledge of how epilepsy interacts with mental health conditions. Scientists already figured out that having epilepsy puts people at greater risk for depression, and vice versa, more likely to happen because of the overlap in the brain networks involved in the two disorders. Pregnancy and the postpartum period are also well-known triggers of depression and anxiety. But the intersection of all three states — pregnancy, epilepsy, and mood disorders — were poorly understood.

“We found that women with epilepsy have increased risk for mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy,” said Kimford Meador, MD, professor of neurology at the Stanford School of Medicine. “This makes it more important to monitor their well-being while they are pregnant.”

Meador shares lead authorship of the study with Zachary Stowe, MD, of the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

It is said that the metabolism of anti-seizure drugs speeds up during pregnancy, which can leave patients with much less medication circulating in their blood than usual. Dosage adjustments are needed to prevent breakthrough seizures — and the new study adds protection to patients’ mental health, to some reason, this is prudent since more seizures were found, and having more seizures was linked to the risk for experiencing major depression during pregnancy.

Tracking mental health

Here is how the process was done:

The study, conducted at 20 epilepsy centers across the United States, included 331 women with epilepsy who were recruited during the first half of pregnancy and followed until nine months after birth. Researchers also recruited two control groups: 102 healthy pregnant women, and 102 non-pregnant women with epilepsy who took part in the study for the same length of time.

Participants completed questionnaires assessing their symptoms of depression and anxiety six times, once every three months during pregnancy and the first nine postpartum months. Those with high scores on depression questionnaires were assessed for a current major depressive episode using a more detailed, structured interview.

Participants reported their age, marital status, education level, household income, whether their pregnancy was planned, whether they had ever been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder, and whether they were using antidepressant medication. Women with epilepsy also reported the anti-seizure medication(s) that they were using and the frequency and severity of their seizures.

Although the proportion of women who met formal criteria for major depression did not differ between groups, pregnant women with epilepsy had more and worse depression symptoms. This was true when they were compared with non-pregnant women with epilepsy throughout the study.

Pregnant women with epilepsy also had worse postpartum depression symptoms than healthy pregnant women. Among pregnant women with epilepsy, taking multiple anti-seizure medications at once and having more than one seizure every 90 days — both indications of more severe epilepsy — as well as having a lifetime history of mood disorders and having an unplanned pregnancy were all linked to greater risk for a major depressive episode during the study.

Pregnant women with epilepsy also had worse anxiety symptoms than both control groups at all time points within the study. In both groups of pregnant women, anxiety symptoms decreased after giving birth. Higher anxiety scores and lifetime history of a mood disorder were also linked to greater risk of suicidal ideation, although suicidal ideation was infrequent in all groups and did not differ significantly between groups of participants.

The findings emphasize the need for mental-health screening and care throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. However, women with epilepsy should feel reassured that with the right care, they can have successful pregnancies, Meador said, adding that medical knowledge regarding epilepsy and pregnancy has improved significantly since the first half of the 20th century, when women with epilepsy were discouraged from becoming pregnant.

Ideally, women with epilepsy can work with their doctors before becoming pregnant to ensure they are taking an anti-seizure medication that is safe for pregnancy, and can receive care for anxiety or depression if needed via such treatments as cognitive behavioral therapy or antidepressant medications. A few antidepressants, such as bupropion, marketed as Wellbutrin, are poor options in epilepsy because they lower the seizure threshold, Meador noted, but most antidepressants can be taken safely by people with epilepsy.

“Women with epilepsy are at some increased risk for problems during pregnancy,” Meador said. “But with good health care, the large majority will have a normal pregnancy and a normal child.”

Meador is a member of Stanford Bio-X, the Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, and the Stanford Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (grant U01-NS038455).

Scientists from Emmes Company, the University of Southern California, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Northwestern University, Minnesota Epilepsy Group, Emory University, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Pittsburgh also contributed to the research.

What needs to be done is to take pregnancy seriously and certain authorities have to provide the services needed in order for a woman to be mentally and physically healthy during and after her pregnancy.

https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2022/08/depression-epilepsy-pregnancy.html

September 24, 2022 0 comment

Asia Politics

In a first, UP Assembly sets aside one day for women MLAs to speak about women issues

by Narges Mohammadi September 20, 2022

Decision taken as part of an initiative launched by the Speaker to interact with MLAs grouped as per their professional degrees, gender and legislative stints.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, September 22nd, has been set aside for women legislators to speak and raise women-centric issues in the House, which convenes on Monday for the five-day monsoon session.

This was decided at the all-party and business advisory committee meetings on Sunday. The move comes at a time when the Opposition is all set to raise the issue of women’s security in the state in the backdrop of the recent incident of alleged rape and murder of two Dalit sisters in Lakhimpur Kheri.

“On September 22, we will give an opportunity to the women MLAs to speak. This is something which no other legislative assembly in the country has done… The time after the Question Hour will be reserved for discussion by the women MLAs,” Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana told media persons on Sunday.

There are only 47 women MLAs in the 403-member UP Legislative Assembly, and out of which 22 are first-timers.

The concern that women legislators are hesitant to speak in the male-dominated Assembly was raised by them during their interaction with the Speaker as part of an initiative to “develop a better rapport” with the MLAs and for “better functioning” of the House.

About a month and a half ago, Speaker Mahana had launched an exercise wherein he would interact with group legislators according to their professional degrees, gender and legislative stints for exchanging ideas and experiences without the constraint of party whips and ideologies.

“When I met women MLAs and listened to their issues, I realized that some of them become uncomfortable when male members start speaking. I had then assured them to set aside a day for women legislators to speak,” Mahana added.

According to a senior official, the Question Hour would be taken up as usual on September 22 since the questions are set aside for each day. “After the Question Hour, the remaining of the day’s proceedings will be for women legislators and women issues… In future too, one day could be dedicated to one group of MLAs or issues in this manner,” the official added.

Welcoming the decision, women MLAs said they were eager to see the response of their male counterparts and how they react when they raise issues.

“It is a constructive step towards women empowerment… While Assembly is a place to raise issues of our constituencies, many women MLAs raise the issues, while some could not. Therefore, this arrangement will give an opportunity to all women MLAs, who are small in numbers in this huge House, to raise the issues of their constituencies,” Minister of State (Higher Education) Rajni Tiwari, who is a BJP MLA from Shahbad constituency in Hardoi, said.

According to Jahanbanou, Dr. Surabhi of Apna Dal, an alliance partner of the ruling BJP, said: “I feel, this is a great opportunity and will set a precedent for other state Assemblies to follow. I have decided to raise the issues of my constituency’s women. While the government is taking several steps for women’s security, I have a vision to set up electronic and digital classrooms at Kasturba Vidhayalas for girls and strengthen other women-centric institutions.”

“There is a desire to up the bar for a healthy debate, which others might follow,” she added.

Congress MLA Aradhana Mishra, who had also interacted with the Speaker during the group meeting, said: “We welcome the step. We are going to raise the issue of women’s security so that incidents like what happened in Lakhimpur Kheri or Banda are not ignored as they raise a serious question mark on the claims of the BJP government about women’s security.”

Later in the day, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told BJP legislators that the “unique step” to set aside a day for women members should be emulated in the Legislative Council and asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna to make a woman member the “presiding officer” in both the Houses during the special session.

He also asked women legislators to speak on the steps taken by the government on empowering women, especially under “Mission Shakti”.

https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/up-assembly-one-day-mlas-speak-women-issues-8158959/

September 20, 2022 0 comment

North America Society

Women Entrepreneurs Face Unique Challenges. Here’s How to Thrive in the Face of Adversity

by Narges Mohammadi September 20, 2022

Here are a few tips for women who are tackling the unique challenges that come along during their entrepreneurial journeys.

It is no secret that women face many more obstacles than their male counterparts regarding entrepreneurship. Some obvious issues include gender biases and discrimination. The less evident barriers include a lack of governmental support and a limited amount of funding and advisors. According to a report from CrunchBase, only about 20% of funded companies have female founders.

Still, with the number of women-owned companies having grown to nearly 13 million in 2019, women are finally seeing some well-deserved credit in the entrepreneurial world. In fact, according to a report from American Express, “the number of women-owned businesses increased 21%, while all businesses increased only 9%. Total employment by women-owned businesses rose 8%, while for all businesses, the increase was 1.8%.”

The highest levels of Corporate America have also experienced positive change: A new record of female CEOs at Fortune 500 companies was reported in 2022 (74 to be exact, up from 41 in June 2021). This number is still far from where it should be, but it is progress nonetheless.

While many of the previously shared statistics are encouraging and show that change is trending in the right direction, there is still quite a bit to do to offer true equality to female entrepreneurs. Additionally, these numbers I’ve shared drop drastically if you are a minority; these imbalances lie in societal issues that are far from being resolved.

As a minority female, I have been in plenty of meetings or events where I felt others (predominantly men) would not listen whenever I spoke. As I began SnapNurse, the largest tech-forward healthcare staffing platform in the U.S., I heard the word “no” constantly. People (again, mostly men) were unwilling to invest in the business I knew would succeed. While this isn’t always the case, I believe much of their hesitancy was due to the fact that I was a minority woman creating a technology platform (a notoriously male-dominated industry) to help the field of nursing and healthcare (an industry made up of about 80% women, with fewer than 20% holding key leadership positions).

Despite the challenges, I have now achieved success as a minority female entrepreneur and have learned so much while creating my business. So, here are some tips that I hope will help you become a successful female entrepreneur, too.

1. Set yourself up for success

In my opinion, the best thing you can do is to surround yourself with a solid team of experts — especially in the areas where you might be lacking (for example, technology development, human resources, accounting or others that are essential to a successful company). Know what your strengths and weaknesses are. Build a solid support system of people with different skill sets.

I also suggest hiring strong middle managers to free up your time and calendar from “death by meetings” and enable you to focus on growing your business. When something comes up that needs your attention, you will be alerted and can get involved when necessary.

2. Work hard

You most likely have the necessary ambition and dedication required to succeed if you want to open your own business. But I would advise you to prepare yourself for the amount of work and hours it will take to see your vision come to life. Be ready to work long hours, and know ahead of time that you will have to make sacrifices. However, I think it is worth it in the long run to see the idea you have come to fruition.

On the flip side of that, you also need to be able to take time away from work — and not feel any guilt. You have to be able to find a balance between work, family, friends, hobbies, interests and more; otherwise, burnout is inevitable. Though finding balance can be challenging at the beginning, the more you grow, the more you will enjoy taking well-deserved time away from your work.

3. Make yourself heard

As I’ve mentioned, women and minorities in business are often overlooked and passed over. We must ensure that our voices are heard and confidently present ourselves, our expertise and our companies. Follow your gut, share your thoughts and opinions, and offer a solution to every problem.

4. Continue learning and growing

There is always something to learn when running a business. There are countless resources on any topic you could possibly imagine, often for free. When you don’t know something or could use more training, take the time to learn it. Nowadays, you should always be able to find the answer to almost any question. Set aside time to learn about different aspects of your business daily — you’ll become a more decisive and effective business leader as a result.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/431803

September 20, 2022 0 comment

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