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Regional News
Should women be entitled to period leave? These countries think so
(CNN, 21 November 2020) Sachimi Mochizuki has worked in Japan for two decades, but she's never taken a day off for her period.
Lee Hyo-jae, Champion of Women’s Rights in South Korea, Dies at 95
(The New York Times, 14 November 2020) Ms. Lee was a prominent activist and a founder of women’s studies programs. She also stood up to the country’s dictators.
Same sex couples marry in mass military wedding — a first for Taiwan’s armed forces
(CNN, 1 November 2020) Two women became the first military officers to marry their same-sex civilian partners at a mass military wedding in Taiwan on Friday, marking another landmark for LGBTQ+ rights in Asia.
South Korea Partially Recognizes Reproductive Rights
(Human Rights Watch, 12 October 2020) South Korea’s government last week announced new draft legislation that would permit abortion up until 14 weeks and, in some circumstances, up to 24 weeks, but falls short of full decriminalization.
In Japan’s Post-Abe Era, Addressing Political Gender Inequality is Essential
(The Diplomat, 17 September 2020) A more uncertain and competitive political climate could lead to urgently needed quota legislation for female politicians.
Taiwan’s First Female President Starts Talking Gender Equality
(Radio Free Asia, 16 October 2020) While Taiwan's Oct. 10 National Day celebrations were being punctuated by incursions from Chinese military jets, the democratic island's president Tsai Ing-wen was busy giving shout-outs to the nation's women.
S. Korea reckons with ‘slap on the wrist’ punishment for online predators
(Yonhap News, 14 October 2020) Earlier this week, the prosecution demanded life imprisonment for an alleged online predator, a penalty that came as such a surprise that local news outlets sent urgent breaking news alerts.
COVID-19 underscores need to deliver on promise of landmark women’s rights conference
(The UN News, 1 October 2020) António Guterres issued the charge in a speech to a UN General Assembly high-level meeting to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China.
Card News
Thai Women Lead Democratic Protests
Young women are at the forefront of the pro-democracy protests in Thailand demanding reform of the country’s monarchy.⠀ ⠀ Our intern Yejin Son takes a look at the role of women and female students in these events and explores how the protests are being used to call for greater gender equality in Thailand.
A True Champion of Gender Equality- Ruth Bader Ginsburg
USA Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18, 2020 at the age of 87. See the card news below for more information.
Seoul Mayor Accused of Sexual Harassment Found Dead
On 10 July 2020, Seoul mayor Park Won-soon - who had been accused only the day before of sexual harassment - was found dead. He had been one of South Korea's most influential leaders and seen as a possible presidential candidate. Yet after his former secretary accused him of sexually harassing her for four years, his body and a suicide...
Female Migrant Domestic Workers in Hong Kong
Did you know that there are over 385,000 migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong? The mostly female migrant workforce in Hong Kong is employed largely in childcare and housekeeping. They added a staggering $12.6 billion to the economy in 2018. Our intern, Jeeeon Lee, explores some of the human rights issues for female migrant domestic workers living in Hong Kong...
Digital Sex Crime in South Korea: Nth Room
South Korea has been reeling from a number of shocking digital sex crimes in the last few months. Sentences for convicted perpetrators remain questionably short.⠀ ⠀ These incidents demonstrate the importance of constant attention and advocacy on gender issues and sex crimes. To explore more on this topic, check out "Dreaming of a Society Free from Digital Sex Crimes" by Hyeonjeong...
Business and the Economy: Women in East Asia
The Wage Gap & Work-Life Balance for Women in East Asia
Gender & Coronavirus
Generations of progress for women and girls could be lost to COVID pandemic, UN chief warns
(UN, August 13) In an address to a virtual town hall with young women from civil society organizations, the Secretary-General said that the global pandemic has already reversed decades of limited and fragile progress on gender equality and women’s rights.
‘I faced miscarriage alone – my partner had to wait in the car park’
(BBC, September 4) Pregnant women are often now attending hospital appointments on their own. Covid-19 safety measures in hospitals mean loved ones must sit in the car or pace outside. It means some are being given the heartbreaking news of miscarriages on their own. Four women tell their stories of miscarriage during the coronavirus pandemic.
[Ilda] In the Era of COVID-19, Inquiring after Sexual Minorities
*Human Asia received permission from the affiliated organisation to post the below translation (1/09/2020). Author: Juyeon Park Original article: http://ildaro.com/8727 Translator: Jiyun Kim I feel more and more that we cannot go back to the days before COVID-19. We are becoming more fragmented in a society today that demands that people avoid one another. In this status quo, the most vulnerable groups are...
Millions of women lose contraceptives, abortions in COVID-19
[AP, 19 August 2020] Millions of women and girls globally have lost access to contraceptives and abortion services because of the coronavirus pandemic. Now the first widespread measure of the toll says India with its abrupt, months-long lockdown has been hit especially hard.
Covid-19 crisis exacerbating mental health issues in LGBT community – study
[Hong Kong Free Press, 12 August 2020] A lack of social connections within Hong Kong’s LGBT community during the Covid-19 pandemic is exacerbating existing mental health problems and worsening family conflicts, a study has found.
Pandemic leaves Hong Kong women stressed by caregiving, household chores and husbands who say ‘that’s your job, not mine’,
[South China Morning Post, 4 July 2020] Housewife Amy Leung, 38, has found herself overwhelmed during the Covid-19 pandemic, taking care of two young children, cooking, cleaning and disinfecting.
‘Digital gender divide’ is getting wider
(Bangkok Post, 11 May 2020) Asean member states have a unique opportunity to address the digital gender divide through emerging Covid-19 recovery plans. Early indications from Covid-19 research, as well as evidence from past epidemics, suggest that women, on average, are likely to suffer greater economic and social impact during the crisis caused by the pandemic.
Demand for counselling services spikes in Palestine amid COVID-19 lockdown
(United Nations Population Fund, 2 June 2020) “Sometimes I feel that this is a nightmare that I will eventually wake up from, but the nightmare is never-ending and I do not know how much longer I can handle this,” T.C.* told UNFPA.