While every person across the globe is struggling their way to get the vaccine against deadly coronavirus, the situation in Shenandoah Valley is a little different.

The nurses' employer, Valley Health, the parent company of Winchester Medical Center had given the nurses an ultimatum: Get the shot or face termination.

To this, the women responded by standing on the corner of a busy four-way intersection at the entrance to Winchester Medical Center, protesting the hospital's recent coronavirus vaccine mandate.

Some were on a quasi-strike, skipping a day of work to stand on the side of the road in scorching heat, holding signs that demanded, "NO FORCED VACCINATION."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/woman-host-back-on-tolo-tv-breakfast-show-amid-chaos-in-afghanistan-410491">Also read |&nbsp;Woman host back on Tolo TV breakfast show amid chaos in Afghanistan</a>

The Valley Health announced a vaccine mandate for its 6,300 employees at its six locations on July 19, while offering religious and medical exemptions for eligible applicants.&nbsp;

For the majority of Valley Health employees, the policy was not a problem as 75 per cent are fully vaccinated, the company said.

However, in a region where vaccination rates are lower than they are statewide, Valley Health's mandate prompted a furious community debate, with numerous protests outside Valley Health's hospitals in Front Royal and Winchester.

There were pleas from unvaccinated people demanding the intervention from local government to stop the mandate.

In Winchester, 57 per cent of the adult population is fully vaccinated, compared with 66% statewide.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring rural Warren County only 46 per cent of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

Those who were standing outside the Winchester hospital said that they had weighed the risks, and despite more than 620,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the US, they still viewed the vaccine as riskier.&nbsp;

Some cited rare but serious side effects, including myocarditis tied to Pfizer-BioNTech's and Moderna's vaccines and blood clots tied to Johnson &amp; Johnson's.&nbsp;

People also pointed to misinformation about fertility issues.&nbsp;

Others said they were banking on natural immunity after contracting the virus last year.

Brittany Watson, a behavioural health nurse at the Winchester hospital, was quoted by The Washington Post as saying, "We are not 'anti-vax".

She added, "We've done all the vaccines that you get when you grow up - but those have been around for decades. But this one, there's so much propaganda around it. It doesn't make any sense."

While every person across the globe is struggling their way to get the vaccine against deadly coronavirus, the situation in Shenandoah Valley is a little different.

While every person across the globe is struggling their way to get the vaccine against deadly coronavirus, the situation in Shenandoah Valley is a little different. The nurses' employer, Valley Health, the parent company of Winchester Medical Center had given the nurses an ultimatum: Get the shot or face termination. To this, the women responded by standing on the corner of a busy four-way intersection at the entrance to Winchester Medical Center, protesting the hospital's recent coronavirus vaccine mandate. Some were on a quasi-strike, skipping a day of work to stand on the side of the road in scorching heat, holding signs that demanded, "NO FORCED VACCINATION." Also read | Woman host back on Tolo TV breakfast show amid chaos in Afghanistan The Valley Health announced a vaccine mandate for its 6,300 employees at its six locations on July 19, while offering religious and medical exemptions for eligible applicants. For the majority of Valley Health employees, the policy was not a problem as 75 per cent are fully vaccinated, the company said. However, in a region where vaccination rates are lower than they are statewide, Valley Health's mandate prompted a furious community debate, with numerous protests outside Valley Health's hospitals in Front Royal and Winchester. There were pleas from unvaccinated people demanding the intervention from local government to stop the mandate. In Winchester, 57 per cent of the adult population is fully vaccinated, compared with 66% statewide. Meanwhile, in neighbouring rural Warren County only 46 per cent of the adult population is fully vaccinated. Those who were standing outside the Winchester hospital said that they had weighed the risks, and despite more than 620,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the US, they still viewed the vaccine as riskier. Some cited rare but serious side effects, including myocarditis tied to Pfizer-BioNTech's and Moderna's vaccines and blood clots tied to Johnson & Johnson's. People also pointed to misinformation about fertility issues. Others said they were banking on natural immunity after contracting the virus last year. Brittany Watson, a behavioural health nurse at the Winchester hospital, was quoted by The Washington Post as saying, "We are not 'anti-vax". She added, "We've done all the vaccines that you get when you grow up - but those have been around for decades. But this one, there's so much propaganda around it. It doesn't make any sense."

Shenandoah Valley women choose to not get vaccinated, here is why

A female anchor from ToloNews interviewed a top Taliban official in the studio today, which was unimaginable when the Taliban governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

TOLONews, one of Afghanistan's leading news organisations, has re-started broadcasting with female anchors today.&nbsp;

The channel's head of news Miraqa Popal made the announcement in a tweet.

"Our female presenter is interviewing a Taliban media team member live in our studio," Tolo's head of news, Miraqa Popal, wrote on Twitter.

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Our female presenter is interviewing a Taliban media team member live in our studio <a href="https://twitter.com/TOLOnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TOLOnews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/G6qq1KWKOH">pic.twitter.com/G6qq1KWKOH</a>
— Miraqa Popal (@MiraqaPopal) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiraqaPopal/status/1427510763355246592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Earlier on, Popal said: "We resumed our broadcast with female anchors today. @TOLOnews #Afghanistan." Popal said, adding a photo of a female anchor presenting the news on the channel to his tweet.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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We resumed our broadcast with female anchors today.<a href="https://twitter.com/TOLOnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TOLOnews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/YLqtJEYceL">pic.twitter.com/YLqtJEYceL</a>
— Miraqa Popal (@MiraqaPopal) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiraqaPopal/status/1427497536219123712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Women journalists were also seen reporting live from Kabul's streets.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a>: A female Afghan journalist of <a href="https://twitter.com/TOLOnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TOLOnews</a> reporting live today from the streets of Kabul. <a href="https://t.co/dyRZM3m9bh">pic.twitter.com/dyRZM3m9bh</a>
— Ahmer Khan (@ahmermkhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ahmermkhan/status/1427533306124324866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Since the Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15, women have been conspicuously absent from all major Afghan news networks.&nbsp;

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TOLOnews and the Taliban making history again: Abdul Haq Hammad, senior Taliban rep, speaking to our (female) presenter Beheshta earlier this morning. Unthinkable two decades ago when they were last in charge ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/TOLOnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TOLOnews</a>⁩ <a href="https://t.co/XzREQ6ZJ1a">pic.twitter.com/XzREQ6ZJ1a</a>
— Saad Mohseni (@saadmohseni) <a href="https://twitter.com/saadmohseni/status/1427531355538272269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)

A female anchor from ToloNews interviewed a top Taliban official in the studio today, which was unimaginable when the Taliban governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

A female anchor from ToloNews interviewed a top Taliban official in the studio today, which was unimaginable when the Taliban governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. TOLONews, one of Afghanistan's leading news organisations, has re-started broadcasting with female anchors today. The channel's head of news Miraqa Popal made the announcement in a tweet. "Our female presenter is interviewing a Taliban media team member live in our studio," Tolo's head of news, Miraqa Popal, wrote on Twitter. Our female presenter is interviewing a Taliban media team member live in our studio @TOLOnews #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/G6qq1KWKOH — Miraqa Popal (@MiraqaPopal) August 17, 2021 × Earlier on, Popal said: "We resumed our broadcast with female anchors today. @TOLOnews #Afghanistan." Popal said, adding a photo of a female anchor presenting the news on the channel to his tweet. We resumed our broadcast with female anchors today.@TOLOnews #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/YLqtJEYceL — Miraqa Popal (@MiraqaPopal) August 17, 2021 × Women journalists were also seen reporting live from Kabul's streets. #Afghanistan: A female Afghan journalist of @TOLOnews reporting live today from the streets of Kabul. pic.twitter.com/dyRZM3m9bh — Ahmer Khan (@ahmermkhan) August 17, 2021 × Since the Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15, women have been conspicuously absent from all major Afghan news networks. TOLOnews and the Taliban making history again: Abdul Haq Hammad, senior Taliban rep, speaking to our (female) presenter Beheshta earlier this morning. Unthinkable two decades ago when they were last in charge ⁦@TOLOnews⁩ pic.twitter.com/XzREQ6ZJ1a — Saad Mohseni (@saadmohseni) August 17, 2021 × (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan female TV anchors defy Taliban by continuing to present on news channel

What is Utopia? In other words, a highly perfect society? We have various definitions based on our own perspectives. Some would say it is about everyone having enough money to do whatever they want, others would drift towards having freedom of thought. But for those who have been robbed of their very basic social rights, it all boils down to whether they will be able to stay alive with dignity. Women in Afghanistan are battling with such dilemmas, now that Taliban have returned to power.

The group is known for its hardline stance against gender equality and women from all walks of life in Afghanistan are apprehensive that the progress of the last two decades will amount to nothing now that men with centuries-old thoughts are calling the shots.

The social media space is full of such sentiment. There is a touch of nostalgia to the fear. A longing for the days which appear to flit away.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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This is heart-breaking. Back in 2019, these beautiful Afghan women from Afghanistan's first and only female-only orchestra were full of hope. 
 
As the Taliban have invaded Afghanistan, women like them will be banned from singing. They'll be confined to their homes. <a href="https://t.co/OenYV0DcgE">pic.twitter.com/OenYV0DcgE</a>
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlinejadMasih/status/1426999324014174209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

What have girls like these done to Taliban to make them keep 'under control'? They perhaps were not even born when the ruthless regime was in power in late 90s.

In last two decades after Taliban's defeat in 2001, women could at least dream of something. Women politicians, journalists and even security personnel defined the changing social scene in Afghanistan.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Women anchors on <a href="https://twitter.com/TOLOnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TOLOnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/YcutkgRpcX">pic.twitter.com/YcutkgRpcX</a>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1427547511955214336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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A single day changed everything.

Taliban stormed into a defenceless Afghan capital without facing any resistance and ideas of a new Afghanistan appeared to be something that defined a bygone era.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Same country, same journalist, one day difference<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AfganistanWomen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AfganistanWomen</a> <a href="https://t.co/mvKQzE1sIr">pic.twitter.com/mvKQzE1sIr</a>
— Andrei Menshenin ✈️ (@A_Menshenin) <a href="https://twitter.com/A_Menshenin/status/1427286283135688706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The chaos at Kabul airport, the fear among even men, were just an indication of how bad things were.

On Monday, a blog written by an Afghan woman in The Guardian made waves&nbsp;online. She describes how women felt when Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday. The world appeared to assume tones distinctly different than before.

The unnamed woman was at the university when she heard about Taliban's entry in Kabul.

"We all wanted to get home, but we couldn’t use public transport. The drivers would not let us in their cars because they did not want to take responsibility for transporting a woman...," she writes as published by The Guardian.

"I worked for so many days and nights to become the person I am today, and this morning when I reached home, the very first thing my sisters and I did was hide our IDs, diplomas and certificates. It was devastating. Why should we hide the things that we should be proud of? In Afghanistan now we are not allowed to be known as the people we are," says the woman as mentioned in The Guardian.

You can read more <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-womans-impassioned-blog-makes-waves-online-406127">here</a>

The Taliban have attempted to sound conciliatory. On Tuesday, they even said that they <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-say-they-want-women-to-join-their-government-406258">wanted women to join their government</a>. But looking at Taliban's record, a more concrete declaration and practice is required to change the hearts and minds of Afghan women who only see darkness ahead.

What is Utopia? In other words, a highly perfect society? We have various definitions based on our own perspectives. Some would say it is about everyone having enough money to do whatever they want, others would drift towards having freedom of thought.

What is Utopia? In other words, a highly perfect society? We have various definitions based on our own perspectives. Some would say it is about everyone having enough money to do whatever they want, others would drift towards having freedom of thought. But for those who have been robbed of their very basic social rights, it all boils down to whether they will be able to stay alive with dignity. Women in Afghanistan are battling with such dilemmas, now that Taliban have returned to power. The group is known for its hardline stance against gender equality and women from all walks of life in Afghanistan are apprehensive that the progress of the last two decades will amount to nothing now that men with centuries-old thoughts are calling the shots. The social media space is full of such sentiment. There is a touch of nostalgia to the fear. A longing for the days which appear to flit away. This is heart-breaking. Back in 2019, these beautiful Afghan women from Afghanistan's first and only female-only orchestra were full of hope. As the Taliban have invaded Afghanistan, women like them will be banned from singing. They'll be confined to their homes. pic.twitter.com/OenYV0DcgE — Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) August 15, 2021 × What have girls like these done to Taliban to make them keep 'under control'? They perhaps were not even born when the ruthless regime was in power in late 90s. In last two decades after Taliban's defeat in 2001, women could at least dream of something. Women politicians, journalists and even security personnel defined the changing social scene in Afghanistan. Women anchors on @TOLOnews pic.twitter.com/YcutkgRpcX — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 17, 2021 × A single day changed everything. Taliban stormed into a defenceless Afghan capital without facing any resistance and ideas of a new Afghanistan appeared to be something that defined a bygone era. Same country, same journalist, one day difference#Afghanistan #AfganistanWomen pic.twitter.com/mvKQzE1sIr — Andrei Menshenin ✈️ (@A_Menshenin) August 16, 2021 × The chaos at Kabul airport, the fear among even men, were just an indication of how bad things were. On Monday, a blog written by an Afghan woman in The Guardian made waves online. She describes how women felt when Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday. The world appeared to assume tones distinctly different than before. The unnamed woman was at the university when she heard about Taliban's entry in Kabul. "We all wanted to get home, but we couldn’t use public transport. The drivers would not let us in their cars because they did not want to take responsibility for transporting a woman...," she writes as published by The Guardian. "I worked for so many days and nights to become the person I am today, and this morning when I reached home, the very first thing my sisters and I did was hide our IDs, diplomas and certificates. It was devastating. Why should we hide the things that we should be proud of? In Afghanistan now we are not allowed to be known as the people we are," says the woman as mentioned in The Guardian. You can read more here The Taliban have attempted to sound conciliatory. On Tuesday, they even said that they wanted women to join their government. But looking at Taliban's record, a more concrete declaration and practice is required to change the hearts and minds of Afghan women who only see darkness ahead.

Will such images of happy women in Afghanistan be a thing of the past?

Taliban on Tuesday declared amnesty across Afghanistan and said that they want women to join their government. These are one of the first comments on governance and Afghan women's participation in the country's political and social life.

The comment on women joining the newly emerging Afghan government came from Enamullah Samangani, as per AP news agency. Samangani is a member of Taliban's cultural commission. He said that the Islamic Emirate did not want women to be victims and they should be in the government structure according to Shariah law.

Previous rule by the Taliban in the late 1990s saw them adhering to the hardline stance towards women.

During that period, the Taliban imposed harsh, oppressive restrictions on women and brutally punished, even killed those who appeared to 'violate' their diktat by slightest of margins.

There is apprehension and fear among women who think that it will be a return to 'dark days' once Taliban solidify their grip on power.

There are expressions of these sentiments in the online space as well.

On Monday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-womans-impassioned-blog-makes-waves-online-406127">an impassioned blog</a> written by a 24-year-old unnamed Afghan woman made waves online.

Women politicians and journalists have voiced concern about their own safety as well.

Taliban on Tuesday declared amnesty across Afghanistan and said that they want women to join their government. These are one of the first comments on governance and Afghan women's participation in the country's political and social life.

Taliban on Tuesday declared amnesty across Afghanistan and said that they want women to join their government. These are one of the first comments on governance and Afghan women's participation in the country's political and social life. The comment on women joining the newly emerging Afghan government came from Enamullah Samangani, as per AP news agency. Samangani is a member of Taliban's cultural commission. He said that the Islamic Emirate did not want women to be victims and they should be in the government structure according to Shariah law. Previous rule by the Taliban in the late 1990s saw them adhering to the hardline stance towards women. During that period, the Taliban imposed harsh, oppressive restrictions on women and brutally punished, even killed those who appeared to 'violate' their diktat by slightest of margins. There is apprehension and fear among women who think that it will be a return to 'dark days' once Taliban solidify their grip on power. There are expressions of these sentiments in the online space as well. On Monday, an impassioned blog written by a 24-year-old unnamed Afghan woman made waves online. Women politicians and journalists have voiced concern about their own safety as well.

Taliban say they want women to join their government

The collapse of Afghanistan government and Taliban's return to power has sent shockwaves throughout the world. But the forcible change in government means a lot of things for Afghan people. There is a lot of apprehension about what will happen next within the country.

The Taliban are hardline Islamists who have extreme ideas about number of social matters like gender equality. During their previous reign in late 90s, Taliban had imposed harsh, oppressive restrictions on women and brutally punished, even killed those who appeared to 'violate' their diktat by slightest of margins.

Women journalists now fear retribution by the Taliban. They already have been receiving death threats from Taliban and those against gender equality. Now these women journalists are trying to destroy their online footprint as well as keep a low profile.

“In the last 24 hours, our lives have changed and we have been confined to our homes, and death threatens us at every moment...We see silence filled with fear of the Taliban around us,” The Guardian quoted a woman journalist as saying.

There are reports of Taliban already establishing harsh rule against women. There are also reports of women and girls forcibly being taken as wives or sexually exploited by Taliban fighters.

The collapse of Afghanistan government and Taliban's return to power has sent shockwaves throughout the world. But the forcible change in government means a lot of things for Afghan people.

The collapse of Afghanistan government and Taliban's return to power has sent shockwaves throughout the world. But the forcible change in government means a lot of things for Afghan people. There is a lot of apprehension about what will happen next within the country. The Taliban are hardline Islamists who have extreme ideas about number of social matters like gender equality. During their previous reign in late 90s, Taliban had imposed harsh, oppressive restrictions on women and brutally punished, even killed those who appeared to 'violate' their diktat by slightest of margins. Women journalists now fear retribution by the Taliban. They already have been receiving death threats from Taliban and those against gender equality. Now these women journalists are trying to destroy their online footprint as well as keep a low profile. “In the last 24 hours, our lives have changed and we have been confined to our homes, and death threatens us at every moment...We see silence filled with fear of the Taliban around us,” The Guardian quoted a woman journalist as saying. There are reports of Taliban already establishing harsh rule against women. There are also reports of women and girls forcibly being taken as wives or sexually exploited by Taliban fighters.

Women journalists fear for life in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

Afghan women are now fearing that they would have to live through those harrowing days of Taliban rule from 1996-2001. The time when women were forced to stay at home and forbidden to study or go to work.&nbsp;

The women were not allowed to step out of their homes without a male escort.&nbsp;

However, as of now, there are no confirmed reports of any such extreme measures being adopted by the Taliban.

An Associated Press report quoted families fleeing their homes and taking refuge on the sidewalks and parks in Kabul.&nbsp;

The girls riding home in a motorised rickshaw in the Takhar province in northern Afghanistan were stopped and lashed for wearing “revealing sandals”. This is the area that has been captured by the Taliban.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/in-address-to-nation-afghan-president-vows-to-prevent-further-instability-405337">Also read |&nbsp;In address to nation, Afghan President vows to prevent further instability</a>

For those, who have lived under the Taliban rule before 2001, diktats bring a flashback of the atrocious time.&nbsp;

Zarmina Kakar, a women's rights activist in Kabul, was a year old when the Taliban entered Kabul for the first time in 1996.&nbsp;

Her mother took her out to buy her ice cream and was whipped by a Taliban fighter for revealing her face for a few minutes.&nbsp; 
“Today again, I feel that if Taliban come to power, we will return back to the same dark days,” she said.

During that time, the Taliban carried out public executions, chopped off the hands of thieves and stoned women accused of adultery.

Associated Press interviewed Zahra (name changed) who has been working from home.

However, after the Taliban took over Herat, she is not being able to work and she does not know when she will be able to work again.&nbsp;

Also, she is apprehensive that she will not be able to play the guitar, and her brother will be able to play football.&nbsp;

She fears that the women community of the country will again be pushed back to the wall.

Afghan women are now fearing that they would have to live through those harrowing days of Taliban rule from 1996-2001. The time when women were forced to stay at home and forbidden to study or go to work.

Afghan women are now fearing that they would have to live through those harrowing days of Taliban rule from 1996-2001. The time when women were forced to stay at home and forbidden to study or go to work. The women were not allowed to step out of their homes without a male escort. However, as of now, there are no confirmed reports of any such extreme measures being adopted by the Taliban. An Associated Press report quoted families fleeing their homes and taking refuge on the sidewalks and parks in Kabul. The girls riding home in a motorised rickshaw in the Takhar province in northern Afghanistan were stopped and lashed for wearing “revealing sandals”. This is the area that has been captured by the Taliban. Also read | In address to nation, Afghan President vows to prevent further instability For those, who have lived under the Taliban rule before 2001, diktats bring a flashback of the atrocious time. Zarmina Kakar, a women's rights activist in Kabul, was a year old when the Taliban entered Kabul for the first time in 1996. Her mother took her out to buy her ice cream and was whipped by a Taliban fighter for revealing her face for a few minutes. “Today again, I feel that if Taliban come to power, we will return back to the same dark days,” she said. During that time, the Taliban carried out public executions, chopped off the hands of thieves and stoned women accused of adultery. Associated Press interviewed Zahra (name changed) who has been working from home. However, after the Taliban took over Herat, she is not being able to work and she does not know when she will be able to work again. Also, she is apprehensive that she will not be able to play the guitar, and her brother will be able to play football. She fears that the women community of the country will again be pushed back to the wall.

Back to harrowing times: Afghan women fear Taliban rule

Canada plans to resettle more than 20,000 vulnerable Afghans including women leaders, human rights workers and reporters to protect them from Taliban reprisals, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said on Friday. 
 
The effort is in addition to an earlier initiative to welcome thousands of Afghans, who worked for the Canadian government, such as interpreters, embassy workers and their families, he told a news conference. 
 
"As the Taliban continues to take over more of Afghanistan, many more Afghans' lives are under increasing threat," he said. He did not provide a timetable. 
 
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said some Canadian special forces were in Afghanistan taking part in the relocation effort but gave no details. 
 
"The challenges on the ground are quite immense," he said. 
 
Canada's new plan would focus on those who are particularly vulnerable, including women leaders, human rights defenders, reporters, persecuted religious minorities and members of the gay and lesbian community, Mendicino said. 
 
It covers both people who want to leave Afghanistan and those already in neighbouring countries. 
 
The Taliban have seized Afghanistan's second- and third-biggest cities as resistance from government forces crumbled. 
 
"We know the situation is dire. It's getting worse by the hour," said Mendicino.

Canada plans to resettle more than 20,000 vulnerable Afghans including women leaders, human rights workers and reporters to protect them from Taliban reprisals, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said on Friday.

Canada plans to resettle more than 20,000 vulnerable Afghans including women leaders, human rights workers and reporters to protect them from Taliban reprisals, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said on Friday. The effort is in addition to an earlier initiative to welcome thousands of Afghans, who worked for the Canadian government, such as interpreters, embassy workers and their families, he told a news conference. "As the Taliban continues to take over more of Afghanistan, many more Afghans' lives are under increasing threat," he said. He did not provide a timetable. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said some Canadian special forces were in Afghanistan taking part in the relocation effort but gave no details. "The challenges on the ground are quite immense," he said. Canada's new plan would focus on those who are particularly vulnerable, including women leaders, human rights defenders, reporters, persecuted religious minorities and members of the gay and lesbian community, Mendicino said. It covers both people who want to leave Afghanistan and those already in neighbouring countries. The Taliban have seized Afghanistan's second- and third-biggest cities as resistance from government forces crumbled. "We know the situation is dire. It's getting worse by the hour," said Mendicino.

Canada to accept 20,000 vulnerable Afghans such as women leaders, human rights workers

The man alleged to have wounded 10 people in a knife attack on a Tokyo commuter train late on Friday told police he became incensed when he saw women who "looked happy" and wanted to kill them, Japanese media reported on Saturday. 
 
Police arrested the 36-year-old man in another part of Tokyo after he slashed and stabbed people in the attack at about 8:40 pm (1140 GMT) on Friday on a train on the Odakyu Line in the western part of the city, media reported. 
 
One victim, a female university student, was seriously wounded, while the rest suffered less severe injuries. 
 
The Sankei newspaper reported that suspect told police: "I began feeling like I wanted to kill women who looked happy about six years ago. Anyone was fine, I just wanted to kill a lot of people." 
 
Other media, including broadcaster NHK, reported similar quotes from suspect. 
 
A police spokesman said they had nothing further to share on the details of case when asked about the media reports on Saturday. 
 
Violent crime is rare in Japan but there have been a spate of knife attacks by assailants unknown to the victims. 
 
In June 2008, a man in a light truck drove into a crowd in the popular Akihabara district and then jumped out of the vehicle and started stabbing pedestrians, leaving seven dead.

The man alleged to have wounded 10 people in a knife attack on a Tokyo commuter train late on Friday told police he became incensed when he saw women who "looked happy" and wanted to kill them, Japanese media reported on Saturday.

The man alleged to have wounded 10 people in a knife attack on a Tokyo commuter train late on Friday told police he became incensed when he saw women who "looked happy" and wanted to kill them, Japanese media reported on Saturday. Police arrested the 36-year-old man in another part of Tokyo after he slashed and stabbed people in the attack at about 8:40 pm (1140 GMT) on Friday on a train on the Odakyu Line in the western part of the city, media reported. One victim, a female university student, was seriously wounded, while the rest suffered less severe injuries. The Sankei newspaper reported that suspect told police: "I began feeling like I wanted to kill women who looked happy about six years ago. Anyone was fine, I just wanted to kill a lot of people." Other media, including broadcaster NHK, reported similar quotes from suspect. A police spokesman said they had nothing further to share on the details of case when asked about the media reports on Saturday. Violent crime is rare in Japan but there have been a spate of knife attacks by assailants unknown to the victims. In June 2008, a man in a light truck drove into a crowd in the popular Akihabara district and then jumped out of the vehicle and started stabbing pedestrians, leaving seven dead.

Knife attacker on Tokyo commuter train wanted to kill 'happy women': Report

A new study has revealed that there are extra barriers to recruiting women for cardiovascular research. This is even after more women die of heart disease than men.&nbsp;

As a part of the study, 740 cardiovascular clinical trials were reviewed between 2010 and 2017.&nbsp;

It was then found out that women account for 38 per cent of the total participants.&nbsp;

Dr Jeske van Diemen, of Amsterdam University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, and also, one of the study's co-authors said that changing this “is not as easy as it sounds”.

Van Diemen and her colleagues looked for evidence behind the motivators and said that it is still unclear as to why the women participation rate is so low.

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According to the paper published in the European Heart Journal, the researchers looked for barriers to trial participation. As a result, they found six studies, including a total of 846 men and 1,122 women,&nbsp;that fit their criteria.

The primary motivators for enrolment in trials were the possibility of better care, and the altruistic desire to promote science.

However, the barriers included time constraints and the potential for unfavourable outcomes were also highlighted by both sexes.

Women appeared to perceive a higher risk of harm from participation versus men.

Also, there were cited transport limitations as a reason for declining trial participation more often.

It is not clear why trial risk perceptions between the sexes differ, said Van Diemen, but “women more often have barriers which make it difficult to attend follow-up appointments, such as not holding a driving licence or caring for grandchildren”.

A new study has revealed that there are extra barriers to recruiting women for cardiovascular research. This is even after more women die of heart disease than men.

A new study has revealed that there are extra barriers to recruiting women for cardiovascular research. This is even after more women die of heart disease than men. As a part of the study, 740 cardiovascular clinical trials were reviewed between 2010 and 2017. It was then found out that women account for 38 per cent of the total participants. Dr Jeske van Diemen, of Amsterdam University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, and also, one of the study's co-authors said that changing this “is not as easy as it sounds”. Van Diemen and her colleagues looked for evidence behind the motivators and said that it is still unclear as to why the women participation rate is so low. Also read | End of an era for Bernadino sparkling wine, here is all you need to know According to the paper published in the European Heart Journal, the researchers looked for barriers to trial participation. As a result, they found six studies, including a total of 846 men and 1,122 women, that fit their criteria. The primary motivators for enrolment in trials were the possibility of better care, and the altruistic desire to promote science. However, the barriers included time constraints and the potential for unfavourable outcomes were also highlighted by both sexes. Women appeared to perceive a higher risk of harm from participation versus men. Also, there were cited transport limitations as a reason for declining trial participation more often. It is not clear why trial risk perceptions between the sexes differ, said Van Diemen, but “women more often have barriers which make it difficult to attend follow-up appointments, such as not holding a driving licence or caring for grandchildren”.

Study says recruiting women for cardiovascular research is harder

In what could be called a big win, Czech Republic President Miloš Zeman signed a bill into law this week. This law will help women, who were sterilised without their consent, get compensation.&nbsp;

The government has announced a compensation of around 300,000&nbsp;Czech Korunas&nbsp;(14,000 US dollars) for these women, most of whom were Roma. &nbsp;

Roma or Romani people, an ethnic minority in the Czech Republic, are believed to be originally migrated from India long time back.&nbsp;

Human rights activist Gwendolyn Albert, who was campaigning for the change, said, “This means the wrongdoing committed against all who have been sterilised without their informed consent is acknowledged and can be redressed.”&nbsp;

From 1966 to 2012, several women were forced to undergo the procedure due to coercion, a report by The Guardian said. Threats and incentives were used widely.&nbsp;

There is no specific data to suggest the exact number of affected women, but the campaigners believe there were several hundred victims of this forced sterilisation.&nbsp;

Although the programme ended with communist regime’s collapse in 1989, the women in labour were continued to be misled into signing consent forms before caesarean births. In some cases, they were not even told that they were being sterilised after the delivery. &nbsp;

The compensation claims will be administered by Czech health ministry. It is also yet to announce when the process will begin. The victims will also have to support their claims. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Elena Gorolová, a 51-year-old social worker from Ostrava, said, the move marks a historic win. She was sterilised at the age of 21.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In what could be called a big win, Czech Republic President Miloš Zeman signed a bill into law this week. This law will help women, who were sterilised without their consent, get compensation.

In what could be called a big win, Czech Republic President Miloš Zeman signed a bill into law this week. This law will help women, who were sterilised without their consent, get compensation. The government has announced a compensation of around 300,000 Czech Korunas (14,000 US dollars) for these women, most of whom were Roma. Roma or Romani people, an ethnic minority in the Czech Republic, are believed to be originally migrated from India long time back. Human rights activist Gwendolyn Albert, who was campaigning for the change, said, “This means the wrongdoing committed against all who have been sterilised without their informed consent is acknowledged and can be redressed.” From 1966 to 2012, several women were forced to undergo the procedure due to coercion, a report by The Guardian said. Threats and incentives were used widely. There is no specific data to suggest the exact number of affected women, but the campaigners believe there were several hundred victims of this forced sterilisation. Although the programme ended with communist regime’s collapse in 1989, the women in labour were continued to be misled into signing consent forms before caesarean births. In some cases, they were not even told that they were being sterilised after the delivery. The compensation claims will be administered by Czech health ministry. It is also yet to announce when the process will begin. The victims will also have to support their claims. Elena Gorolová, a 51-year-old social worker from Ostrava, said, the move marks a historic win. She was sterilised at the age of 21. (With inputs from agencies)

Women sterilised without consent in Czech Republic to get compensation 

In Pakistan’s National Assembly, around all women lawmakers, comprising both of treasury and opposition benches, unanimously demanded public hanging of rapists on Friday in a bid to keep a check on rising harassment cases and abuse of women and children in the country.&nbsp;

Women members of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) made the demand in the National Assembly.&nbsp;

PML-N lawmaker Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, said, “We 69 women MNAs demand quick judgement in rape cases and public hanging of rapists.” &nbsp;

These lawmakers also sought formation of a parliamentary committee for a review of rape cases happening in the country.&nbsp;

On the floor of the house, PTI lawmaker Asma Qadeer, broke into tears while sharing concern over the rising cases of rape of women and children. Qadeer said, “If Pakistan has to be run, then rapists and killers must be hanged in public. We will not let the country be run in the way it is being run.” &nbsp;

She also talked about the recent one in Islamabad where a woman, Noor Muqaddam, was slaughtered by her 'friend' Zahir Jaffer.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In Pakistan’s National Assembly, around all women lawmakers, comprising both of treasury and opposition benches, unanimously demanded public hanging of rapists on Friday in a bid to keep a check on rising harassment cases and abuse of women and children in the country.

In Pakistan’s National Assembly, around all women lawmakers, comprising both of treasury and opposition benches, unanimously demanded public hanging of rapists on Friday in a bid to keep a check on rising harassment cases and abuse of women and children in the country. Women members of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) made the demand in the National Assembly. PML-N lawmaker Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, said, “We 69 women MNAs demand quick judgement in rape cases and public hanging of rapists.” These lawmakers also sought formation of a parliamentary committee for a review of rape cases happening in the country. On the floor of the house, PTI lawmaker Asma Qadeer, broke into tears while sharing concern over the rising cases of rape of women and children. Qadeer said, “If Pakistan has to be run, then rapists and killers must be hanged in public. We will not let the country be run in the way it is being run.” She also talked about the recent one in Islamabad where a woman, Noor Muqaddam, was slaughtered by her 'friend' Zahir Jaffer. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistani women lawmakers stand up for rights, demand rapists’ public hanging  

In a study published in the Lancet, researchers found that despite gender-balanced delegates, female participation in medical and scientific conferences is low. However, changes in conference design significantly improved female participation.

Researchers completed this latest analysis based on the annual national conferences of the Society for Endocrinology. They found that conferences are vital to clinicians and academics' professional visibility.

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Despite women comprising roughly half of the medical students over the past few decades, they remain notably underrepresented in medical faculty positions. Lead author Dr Victoria Salem, an endocrinologist and Imperial College London senior research fellow, commented that the imbalance should have been addressed by now.

According to her, there's a lot of inertia that can be attributed to role models. If we don't have more women speaking and acting as spokespersons and experts, we're not going to inspire the next generation.

As part of their study, Salem and her colleagues examined questions and comments from multiple sessions held at the Society for Endocrinology's 2018 and 2017 conferences.

Each year, about 1,000 delegates attend the conference, with roughly half of them women.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-reveals-three-americans-create-enough-carbon-emissions-to-kill-one-person-401701">Study reveals three Americans create enough carbon emissions to kill one person</a>

Over the course of both conferences, men's questions lasted a combined two hours 54 minutes, while women's questions lasted 56 minutes.

Women asked fewer and shorter questions despite the even gender balance of conference delegates, only about one out of five questions or comments came from women.

It is still evident that there are differences in gender behaviour, whether the cause is social engineering or biology. We must address this issue and include it among the platforms we provide for equal access to science, said Salem.

Senior author Kevin Murphy, a professor of metabolism and endocrinology at Imperial College London points out that there's a lot of talk about how women should be more involved, but the reality is that an environment has been created in which participating might be difficult.

In 2018, the authors conducted interventions aimed at improving the participation of women in the conference. The researchers worked with the conference organizers to ensure that more women sat in chairs.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/researchers-develop-antibodies-for-neutralising-sars-cov-2-401678">Also read |&nbsp;Researchers develop antibodies for neutralising SARS-Cov-2</a>

They found that the number of female chairs did indeed result in a higher number of questions from female audience members. According to the paper, if a woman had been the first to ask a question, chances of subsequent participation by a woman increased several times.

According to the authors, small changes can have a big impact. Murphy says they are making adjustments to make conferences more accessible the whole time, adding that if we think diversity and equality are good things, then changes should be made to make it easier for diversity and equality to happen.

In a study published in the Lancet, researchers found that despite gender-balanced delegates, female participation in medical and scientific conferences is low. However, changes in conference design significantly improved female participation.

In a study published in the Lancet, researchers found that despite gender-balanced delegates, female participation in medical and scientific conferences is low. However, changes in conference design significantly improved female participation. Researchers completed this latest analysis based on the annual national conferences of the Society for Endocrinology. They found that conferences are vital to clinicians and academics' professional visibility. Also read | Clays can be a source of Mars 'lakes', here is all you need to know Despite women comprising roughly half of the medical students over the past few decades, they remain notably underrepresented in medical faculty positions. Lead author Dr Victoria Salem, an endocrinologist and Imperial College London senior research fellow, commented that the imbalance should have been addressed by now. According to her, there's a lot of inertia that can be attributed to role models. If we don't have more women speaking and acting as spokespersons and experts, we're not going to inspire the next generation. As part of their study, Salem and her colleagues examined questions and comments from multiple sessions held at the Society for Endocrinology's 2018 and 2017 conferences. Each year, about 1,000 delegates attend the conference, with roughly half of them women. Also read | Study reveals three Americans create enough carbon emissions to kill one person Over the course of both conferences, men's questions lasted a combined two hours 54 minutes, while women's questions lasted 56 minutes. Women asked fewer and shorter questions despite the even gender balance of conference delegates, only about one out of five questions or comments came from women. It is still evident that there are differences in gender behaviour, whether the cause is social engineering or biology. We must address this issue and include it among the platforms we provide for equal access to science, said Salem. Senior author Kevin Murphy, a professor of metabolism and endocrinology at Imperial College London points out that there's a lot of talk about how women should be more involved, but the reality is that an environment has been created in which participating might be difficult. In 2018, the authors conducted interventions aimed at improving the participation of women in the conference. The researchers worked with the conference organizers to ensure that more women sat in chairs. Also read | Researchers develop antibodies for neutralising SARS-Cov-2 They found that the number of female chairs did indeed result in a higher number of questions from female audience members. According to the paper, if a woman had been the first to ask a question, chances of subsequent participation by a woman increased several times. According to the authors, small changes can have a big impact. Murphy says they are making adjustments to make conferences more accessible the whole time, adding that if we think diversity and equality are good things, then changes should be made to make it easier for diversity and equality to happen.

Study shows despite gender balance at medical conferences, women participate less

The women of Pakistan are under attack. 7 killings have occurred across the country in just 1 week. The cases range from stabbing to beheading to being burnt alive. Is the toxic misogyny of Pakistan's clerics & politicians triggering such acts? Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Women under attack in Pakistan

The Tokyo Olympics 2020 is benefited from more gender diversity. India is one of the countries that have profited the most from the surge in female athletes.

In a historic event for India, the country has sent 56 female athletes to the Tokyo Olympics, making it the country's largest female contingent at the Summer Games.&nbsp;

There are 71 males of the 127 athletes who have qualified for the Olympics, while the remaining 56 are women.

In keeping with the Tokyo Olympics' 'gender balanced' Games theme, five major countries are sending more women athletes than men to the main event.

The United Kingdom, the United States, China, Australia, and Canada have all declared contingents with much more female representation.&nbsp;

Athletics will have the largest representation from India, with a total of 26 athletes qualifying for the Olympics thanks to their outstanding performance.

Shooting, on the other hand, will have the second-largest contingent in the country, with 15 qualified athletes.&nbsp;

India's Olympic team for Tokyo 2020 consists of 127 athletes from 18 sports, including two alternate players and one reserve goalkeeper from the men's and women's hockey teams, respectively.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Tokyo Olympics 2020 is benefited from more gender diversity. India is one of the countries that have profited the most from the surge in female athletes. In a historic event for India, the country has sent 56 female athletes to the Tokyo Olympics, making it the country's largest female contingent at the Summer Games.

The Tokyo Olympics 2020 is benefited from more gender diversity. India is one of the countries that have profited the most from the surge in female athletes. In a historic event for India, the country has sent 56 female athletes to the Tokyo Olympics, making it the country's largest female contingent at the Summer Games. There are 71 males of the 127 athletes who have qualified for the Olympics, while the remaining 56 are women. In keeping with the Tokyo Olympics' 'gender balanced' Games theme, five major countries are sending more women athletes than men to the main event. The United Kingdom, the United States, China, Australia, and Canada have all declared contingents with much more female representation. Athletics will have the largest representation from India, with a total of 26 athletes qualifying for the Olympics thanks to their outstanding performance. Shooting, on the other hand, will have the second-largest contingent in the country, with 15 qualified athletes. India's Olympic team for Tokyo 2020 consists of 127 athletes from 18 sports, including two alternate players and one reserve goalkeeper from the men's and women's hockey teams, respectively. (With inputs from agencies)

Tokyo Olympics 2020: India's highest-ever female participants

According to a report, the proportion of women on the board at 200 of Britain’s top financial firms has risen to nearly a third in the five years since the government launched an initiative to improve gender balance in the sector.

World Business Watch: Report says women make up nearly a third of financial service firm boards

In&nbsp;a&nbsp;chilling video, which has&nbsp;gone viral on social media,&nbsp;two women&nbsp;can be seen&nbsp;plunging off the top of a 6,300-feet-high&nbsp;cliff in Russia&nbsp;after the swing breaks in which they were&nbsp;riding.&nbsp;

One of the chains of the&nbsp;cliff swing snapped, sending the women down the cliff. The incident occurred at&nbsp;Sulak Canyon in Russia’s Dagestan region.&nbsp;

However, the women escaped with minor bruises and scratches,&nbsp;as their fall&nbsp;was&nbsp;interrupted by a wooden panel located just beyond the cliff edge,&nbsp;a Daily Mail report said.&nbsp;

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Moment two women fell off a 6000-Ft cliff swing over the Sulak Canyon in Dagestan, Russia. 
Both women landed on a narrow decking platform under the edge of the cliff &amp; miraculously survived with minor scratches. 
Police have launched an investigation. <a href="https://t.co/oIO9Cfk0Bx">pic.twitter.com/oIO9Cfk0Bx</a>
— UncleRandom (@Random_Uncle_UK) <a href="https://twitter.com/Random_Uncle_UK/status/1415209072090042372?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Prompt action by the onlookers and relatives in&nbsp;lifting&nbsp;the women up proved fruitful in saving their lives.&nbsp;The local police&nbsp;are&nbsp;also investigating the incident,&nbsp;as per media reports.&nbsp;

The local authorities are also looking to remove the swings, which were built and operated without proper safety standards.&nbsp;

The Sulak Canyon&nbsp;in Russia&nbsp;is around&nbsp;620 metres deeper than the Tara River Canyon in Europe and over&nbsp;63 meters deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United&nbsp;States.&nbsp;

In a chilling video, which has gone viral on social media, two women can be seen plunging off the top of a 6,300-feet-high cliff in Russia after the swing breaks in which they were riding.

In a chilling video, which has gone viral on social media, two women can be seen plunging off the top of a 6,300-feet-high cliff in Russia after the swing breaks in which they were riding. One of the chains of the cliff swing snapped, sending the women down the cliff. The incident occurred at Sulak Canyon in Russia’s Dagestan region. However, the women escaped with minor bruises and scratches, as their fall was interrupted by a wooden panel located just beyond the cliff edge, a Daily Mail report said. Moment two women fell off a 6000-Ft cliff swing over the Sulak Canyon in Dagestan, Russia. Both women landed on a narrow decking platform under the edge of the cliff & miraculously survived with minor scratches. Police have launched an investigation. pic.twitter.com/oIO9Cfk0Bx — UncleRandom (@Random_Uncle_UK) July 14, 2021 × Prompt action by the onlookers and relatives in lifting the women up proved fruitful in saving their lives. The local police are also investigating the incident, as per media reports. The local authorities are also looking to remove the swings, which were built and operated without proper safety standards. The Sulak Canyon in Russia is around 620 metres deeper than the Tara River Canyon in Europe and over 63 meters deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States.

Watch: Two women almost plunge 6,300 feet at Sulak Canyon as cliff’s swing breaks 

In a bid to make the US immigration system more "humane," the Biden administration announced on Friday, July 9, that it barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from detaining pregnant or nursing women, absent "exceptional circumstances."

Tae Johnson, the interim head of ICE, was quoted by CBS News saying, "Given the unique needs of this population, we will not detain individuals known to be pregnant, postpartum or nursing unless release is prohibited by law or exceptional circumstances exist. This reflects our commitment to treat all individuals with respect and dignity while still enforcing our nation's laws".

Johnson had earlier issued a directive to his deportation agents establishing the new restrictions. These are a part of the broader Biden administration effort to reverse sweeping Trump-era deportation policies.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-do-not-trust-the-taliban-biden-declares-august-31-as-final-date-to-end-us-military-mission-in-afghanistan-396836">Also read |&nbsp;'I do not trust the Taliban': Biden declares August 31 as final date to end US military mission in Afghanistan</a>

Johnson has also instructed ICE to focus on arresting immigrants with certain criminal convictions, recent border-crossers and foreigners who pose a national security threat.&nbsp;

Arrests of immigrants who fall outside these categories will now require supervisory approval.&nbsp;

This month's directive also requires detention officers to release pregnant or nursing women, unless any of the limited exceptions apply.&nbsp;

As per Johnson, if ICE decides to detain pregnant or nursing immigrants, they must should then be given adequate mental health and medical services.

In a bid to make the US immigration system more "humane," the Biden administration announced on Friday, July 9, that it barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from detaining pregnant or nursing women, absent "exceptional circumstances.

In a bid to make the US immigration system more "humane," the Biden administration announced on Friday, July 9, that it barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from detaining pregnant or nursing women, absent "exceptional circumstances." Tae Johnson, the interim head of ICE, was quoted by CBS News saying, "Given the unique needs of this population, we will not detain individuals known to be pregnant, postpartum or nursing unless release is prohibited by law or exceptional circumstances exist. This reflects our commitment to treat all individuals with respect and dignity while still enforcing our nation's laws". Johnson had earlier issued a directive to his deportation agents establishing the new restrictions. These are a part of the broader Biden administration effort to reverse sweeping Trump-era deportation policies. Also read | 'I do not trust the Taliban': Biden declares August 31 as final date to end US military mission in Afghanistan Johnson has also instructed ICE to focus on arresting immigrants with certain criminal convictions, recent border-crossers and foreigners who pose a national security threat. Arrests of immigrants who fall outside these categories will now require supervisory approval. This month's directive also requires detention officers to release pregnant or nursing women, unless any of the limited exceptions apply. As per Johnson, if ICE decides to detain pregnant or nursing immigrants, they must should then be given adequate mental health and medical services.

Biden administration bars ICE from detaining pregnant or nursing women

The women were either arrested for speaking out or had gone to the authorities to report a crime. In each case, they said, they were sexually abused by the officials sworn to protect them.

The women were either arrested for speaking out or had gone to the authorities to report a crime. In each case, they said, they were sexually abused by the officials sworn to protect them. Whether they are victims of crimes, witnesses or the accused, women who encounter Egypt’s criminal justice system risk being taken aside and stripped, groped, prodded and violated. This treatment is illegal, but in this authoritarian and patriarchal country, there is almost nothing they can do about it. These women, in interviews with The New York Times, described sexual violations that they said were committed in police stations, prisons and hospitals. Some occurred during routine searches by the police or prison guards, the women said. Others were carried out by state-employed doctors ordered to conduct invasive physical exams, including so-called virginity tests. Also read | Boy Scouts reach $850 million settlement with sex abuse victims There is no public data on the number of these incidents, which rights groups say may amount to torture and sexual assault. And women in Egypt rarely report them because sexual assault victims are often shunned and disparaged. But civil society groups, experts, lawyers and therapists say there is enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that it happens frequently. The New York Times found a dozen women who recounted similar experiences. Most spoke anonymously, fearing arrest and worried about stigmatizing their families. Government officials have generally dismissed and denied accounts of systemic abuse, insisting that they are conducting standard searches that are lawful and necessary in investigations or to keep contraband out of prisons. Officials at the Ministry of the Interior, which oversees the police and prisons, and the Public Prosecutor’s office did not respond to requests for comment. One police officer, however, who worked for years in a police precinct and a prison, said that sexual abuse of women by legal authorities was “everywhere.” Speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was afraid of retribution, he said that the aim was not to gather evidence or search for contraband but to “humiliate your humanity.” Search as Punishment Asmaa Abdel Hamid, 29, was arrested in Cairo for protesting an increase in subway fares. She said she was subjected to invasive searches three times. The first was in police custody, when a female inspector forced her to strip, grabbed her breasts and watched her urinate. The second was in a public hospital, in front of a male doctor, with the curtain half drawn, exposing her naked body to a group of officers. The doctor told her to bend down and pull apart her buttocks. He then made her lie down and he looked between her legs. He said he was investigating whether she was a virgin. The third time was in prison, during intake. A guard penetrated Abdel Hamid anally using her finger wrapped in a plastic bag that she picked up off the floor. Arrested in 2018 for raising a sign objecting to the new ticket prices, Abdel Hamid was charged with joining a terrorist organization, disrupting the constitution and interrupting public transportation. Rights groups say these searches constitute cruel and inhumane treatment that is prohibited under international law. “Women are essentially describing being violated and being assaulted,” said Rothna Begum, a senior women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Strip searching can be considered OK in certain contexts as part of security measures but the intention here seems to be to degrade them.” In Abdel Hamid’s case, the intention also seems to be to quash dissent, even about an issue as minor as subway fares. Egypt has deployed sexual violence to intimidate political opposition before. After the military detained at least 18 women at a protest in 2011, strip-searched them and subjected them to virginity tests, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who was then the head of military intelligence, said he recognized the “need to change the culture of the security forces” and promised to “protect detainees against ill-treatment.” A decade later, and seven years into his presidency, that promise has yet to be fulfilled. She Was Seeking Justice Invasive searches are not limited to criminal suspects or activists. The Times spoke to two women and the lawyer for a third who said they came to the justice system as victims of sexual assault and were violated by state medical doctors. One woman said she had been raped. When the prosecution ordered her to go to the Forensic Medicine Authority, the office responsible for medical exams in criminal cases, she complied. It was a scorching summer day, and the door kept swinging open as more medical personnel joined the small crowd slowly forming around the lower half of her body. The bedsheet offered as a cover was filthy, so she opted to lie naked instead. The doctor, she said, asked her detailed questions about her sex life. Without explanation, she said, instruments were inserted into her vagina and then she was made to turn over, get on her knees and hug the bed while an invasive anal examination was conducted. By the time the exam ended, she was sweating profusely. She struggled to pull her pants up over her clammy skin. But just as she was set to leave, a new doctor walked in and told her to undress again. The inspection, they said, was inconclusive. They started over. Women in Egypt often avoid reporting sexual assault out of fear that they will be blamed. The justice system gives them another reason: that they will be violated again. There are valid reasons for forensic medical exams to search for evidence of assault. According to accepted protocols, they should be conducted by specialists trained to minimize trauma and with the sustained consent of the victim. But in Egypt, lawyers and experts say, forensic professionals are not sufficiently trained to deal with sexual assault victims, relying instead on discredited practices like virginity exams. Virginity tests involve examining a woman’s hymen to determine her sexual history, and are considered scientifically baseless. The World Health Organization condemns the practice, stating that the “appearance of a hymen is not a reliable indicator of intercourse.” But forensic doctors working under Egypt’s Justice Ministry operate under the assumption that it is. An Egyptian court ruled in 2011 that forced virginity tests “constitute a violation of women’s bodies and an assault on their human dignity.” But in August, Human Rights Watch reported that forced virginity tests were still in use. “Egypt is a party to all international agreements for human rights and women’s rights and we have brilliant constitutional articles and laws, but they’re all locked up in a drawer somewhere and the violations are of every color and stripe,” said Magda Adly, director of El Nadeem Center, an Egyptian organization that supports victims of torture. A senior doctor at the Forensic Medicine Authority, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give an interview, said the exams were carried out even in cases when a crime may have taken place months or years earlier and there was unlikely to be any physical evidence. But obtaining evidence of a crime is not always the point. “The point is to establish whether a girl was raped or if she was used habitually,” said Mostafa Foda, a former director of the Forensic Medicine Authority. “Used habitually” is the agency’s term for a woman who is sexually active. If the victim is sexually active, he said, the case will likely not be prosecuted. “Then she will get nothing,” he said. “How do you differentiate a woman like that from a prostitute?” Foda defended virginity testing but acknowledged that the agency’s staff lacked the training and resources to deal with victims of sexual assault. He also said that the system’s “conservative” and “Eastern” culture explained why forensic doctors may treat sexual assault victims with contempt. “They’re disgusted by them,” he said. Determining Her Sex Malak Elkashif was arrested in 2019 for protesting government negligence after a deadly train crash. Elkashif, an outspoken transgender woman, took to the street that day among dozens of other protesters. She was detained in a police station for two weeks, she said, as security officials tried to determine whether she should be held in a men’s or women’s prison. They sent her to a public hospital, handcuffed to a uniformed police officer, who insisted on attending the medical exam. She was told to undress, her private parts were inspected, and she was subjected to an invasive anal exam. Minutes later, as the same officer escorted her back to a police station, she said, he grabbed her thigh and quietly declared to her that he was aroused. Human rights experts say that there is no question that forced anal exams violate human rights and medical ethics. The practise, which often involves a doctor inserting his fingers or other objects into a person’s anus to try to determine whether the person regularly engaged in anal intercourse, is often used in cases of debauchery — a charge used to prosecute gay people. The practise has been condemned by the United Nations, Human Rights Watch and professional groups like the World Medical Association and Physicians for Human Rights. The consensus is that it has no scientific basis and could constitute torture and, in some cases, rape. “Our state is blind to justice and is motivated instead by a vendetta,” said Khaled Fahmy, an Egyptian professor of Middle East history at Cambridge University. “They use bodies to get at human souls.” In Elkashif’s case, because she had undergone hormone therapy and had begun transition surgery, the exam was deemed inconclusive. The prosecution sent her to the Forensic Medicine Authority for a second opinion and another exam. Finally, they resolved the problem by locking her in a solitary room in a men’s prison. “It was supposed to protect her,” said Hoda Nasralla, Elkashif’s lawyer. “But in reality they made her spend five months in solitary confinement.” Nasralla said she had represented at least two other clients who had undergone similar exams to determine their gender and sexual orientation. Silencing a Journalist One woman, an activist-turned-journalist, was working freelance for Al-Jazeera, a Qatari-owned TV channel. The Egyptian government considers the network a pulpit for the Muslim Brotherhood, a political group that has been banned and designated a terrorist organization. Anyone said to be affiliated with the group faces the possibility of arrest. In her case, she had broadcast reports of sporadic unrest in Egypt. One rainy April evening in 2018, with her laptop and camera tucked away in her backpack, she was stopped by two plainclothes officers. They drove her away blindfolded, she said and took her to a secure facility where she was interrogated. She was accused of joining a terrorist organization and spreading false news. During the first 24 hours of interrogation, she said, she was groped by a man whom she believed to be an officer (she was still blindfolded). She said she was groped a second time when she entered prison, where she spent about a year without trial. She complained to prison authorities. But nothing changed until 2019, when another prisoner in the same prison — Al Qanater, on the outskirts of Cairo — filed a complaint with the public prosecutor’s office that she had been sexually assaulted. The second woman’s account drew public attention to the problem and appears to have pushed the prison to introduce changes. A new corrections officer was assigned to search inmates, according to several former prisoners. And a hand-held scanner was introduced that precluded the need for physical contact. It is not clear, however, if the new procedure is always followed. In January, another inmate at Al Qanater said that she had been stripped and sexually violated during a search after refusing to cooperate with an interrogation. The Interior Ministry denied her account, saying on its Facebook page that the accusations were “devoid of any truth.” After about a year in prison, she was released, but banned from traveling. So she fled illegally, smuggling herself out across Egypt’s southern border. Two months later, she arrived in Turkey, where she now lives. She seems relieved and convinced that she had no choice but to abandon a country that she says had abandoned her.

Stripped, groped and violated: Egyptian women describe abuse by the state

Biden administration is considering an expedited visa path for vulnerable Afghans including women journalists, activists and politicians who may be targetted by the Taliban, Reuters cited US officials as saying.

Rights groups have been asking the State Department and White House to add up to 2,000 visas specifically for vulnerable women and women's advocates to a developing policy plan to evacuate thousands Afghans after the U.S. military pullout this month. The current plan includes translators who worked with foreign forces.

One of the officials said that US government was not only looking at women under threat but also men and minorities in high risk professions

Women who made gains during the two-decade U.S. occupation, and their supporters and advocates, should be part of any expedited list, rights groups have argued to the White House and State Department.

"Lives are at risk,” said Teresa Casale, advocacy director for Mina’s List, which advocates for women’s representation in governments around the world. "Women leaders are being actively targeted and killed by Taliban forces. They receive threats against their lives and safety every day."

The group and others are recommending these visas be added to an expedited activation process for Afghan people most at risk, by creating a fast track program in State Department, and that U.S. officials actively pursue diplomacy to other countries as well to secure them.

The White House has declined to comment.

Women police officers, media workers, judges and medical workers have been assassinated in Afghanistan as foreign military left the country.

Women who appear on television and radio faced particular threats, Human Rights Watch wrote in April. "Female reporters may be targeted not only for issues they cover but also for challenging perceived social norms prohibiting women from being in a public role and working outside the home."

Under the Taliban, women were barred from education or work, required to fully cover their bodies, and could not leave home without a male relative. "Moral offenses" were punished by flogging and stoning.

(With agency inputs)

Biden administration is considering an expedited visa path for vulnerable Afghans including women journalists, activists and politicians who may be targetted by the Taliban, Reuters cited US officials as saying.

Biden administration is considering an expedited visa path for vulnerable Afghans including women journalists, activists and politicians who may be targetted by the Taliban, Reuters cited US officials as saying. Rights groups have been asking the State Department and White House to add up to 2,000 visas specifically for vulnerable women and women's advocates to a developing policy plan to evacuate thousands Afghans after the U.S. military pullout this month. The current plan includes translators who worked with foreign forces. One of the officials said that US government was not only looking at women under threat but also men and minorities in high risk professions Women who made gains during the two-decade U.S. occupation, and their supporters and advocates, should be part of any expedited list, rights groups have argued to the White House and State Department. "Lives are at risk,” said Teresa Casale, advocacy director for Mina’s List, which advocates for women’s representation in governments around the world. "Women leaders are being actively targeted and killed by Taliban forces. They receive threats against their lives and safety every day." The group and others are recommending these visas be added to an expedited activation process for Afghan people most at risk, by creating a fast track program in State Department, and that U.S. officials actively pursue diplomacy to other countries as well to secure them. The White House has declined to comment. Women police officers, media workers, judges and medical workers have been assassinated in Afghanistan as foreign military left the country. Women who appear on television and radio faced particular threats, Human Rights Watch wrote in April. "Female reporters may be targeted not only for issues they cover but also for challenging perceived social norms prohibiting women from being in a public role and working outside the home." Under the Taliban, women were barred from education or work, required to fully cover their bodies, and could not leave home without a male relative. "Moral offenses" were punished by flogging and stoning. (With agency inputs)

US mulls visas for vulnerable Afghan women after military exit

Thousands of women protested Turkey's decision of formally withdrawing from the international treaty to combat violence against women, a move that has drawn strong criticism from Western allies.

Protests in Turkey as it withdraws from treaty to prevent violence against women

Thousands of women protested Turkey's decision of formally withdrawing from the international treaty against domestic violence.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's move has drawn condemnation from Turks and Western allies. Erdogan however is stressing that this is not a step backwards.

"Some circles are trying to portray our withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention as a step backwards in our battle with violence against women," he said during a speech in Ankara to present an alternative action plan.

"Our battle did not start with the Istanbul Convention and it will not end with our withdrawal from the treaty," he said.

The Istanbul Convention, signed in 2011, committed its signatories to prevent and prosecute domestic violence and promote equality. Erdogan announced the withdrawal in March in favour of local laws to protect women's rights.

Thousands were set on Thursday to protest the decision across Turkey, where femicide has surged. A court appeal to halt the withdrawal was rejected this week.

(With inputs from agencies)

Thousands of women protested Turkey's decision of formally withdrawing from the international treaty against domestic violence. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's move has drawn condemnation from Turks and Western allies.

Thousands of women protested Turkey's decision of formally withdrawing from the international treaty against domestic violence. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's move has drawn condemnation from Turks and Western allies. Erdogan however is stressing that this is not a step backwards. "Some circles are trying to portray our withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention as a step backwards in our battle with violence against women," he said during a speech in Ankara to present an alternative action plan. "Our battle did not start with the Istanbul Convention and it will not end with our withdrawal from the treaty," he said. The Istanbul Convention, signed in 2011, committed its signatories to prevent and prosecute domestic violence and promote equality. Erdogan announced the withdrawal in March in favour of local laws to protect women's rights. Thousands were set on Thursday to protest the decision across Turkey, where femicide has surged. A court appeal to halt the withdrawal was rejected this week. (With inputs from agencies)

Protests in Turkey as it withdraws from treaty against domestic violence

A&nbsp;proposal, which is considering allowing women to have multiple husbands, has sparked&nbsp;intense debate in South Africa.&nbsp;This is&nbsp;just one of several proposals in a wide-ranging document.&nbsp;

According to a CNN report, the proposal, which looks&nbsp;to allow polyandry, has been included in a green paper from South Africa's Department of Home Affairs.&nbsp;

It&nbsp;hopes to make marriages more inclusive even as polygamy, where men marry multiple wives, is legal in the country.&nbsp;

The paper says,&nbsp;"South Africa inherited a marriage regime that was based on the Calvinist Christian and Western traditions.&nbsp;The current marriage laws are not informed by an overarching policy that is based on constitutional values and the understanding of modern society dynamics.”&nbsp;

It also states&nbsp;the current law allows the marriage of minors and does not account for couples, who seek to&nbsp;change their sex and want to remain married without going through a divorce, among other flaws.&nbsp;

With the aim to&nbsp;make marriage policy stronger, the department has also&nbsp;consulted with traditional leaders, human rights activists and other groups on important&nbsp;issues.&nbsp;

As per the&nbsp;human rights activists,&nbsp;equality demands polyandry to be legally&nbsp;recognised&nbsp;as a form of marriage.&nbsp;

In the whole exercise, the need&nbsp;to&nbsp;draw up a 'gender neutral' marriage scheme&nbsp;has come to the fore.&nbsp;

As per the&nbsp;suggestion,&nbsp;South Africa could do away with&nbsp;categorising&nbsp;marriages along lines of race, religion,&nbsp;sexual orientation and culture.&nbsp;

These suggestions&nbsp;seem&nbsp;to have not gone down well with&nbsp;some people in the country.&nbsp;"The thinking is foreign,"&nbsp;Musa&nbsp;Mseleku, a reality TV star, who has four wives,&nbsp;said.&nbsp;

Until June 30,&nbsp;the South African government is consulting on the paper and have invited comments on all the proposals involved.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A proposal, which is considering allowing women to have multiple husbands, has sparked intense debate in South Africa. This is just one of several proposals in a wide-ranging document.

A proposal, which is considering allowing women to have multiple husbands, has sparked intense debate in South Africa. This is just one of several proposals in a wide-ranging document. According to a CNN report, the proposal, which looks to allow polyandry, has been included in a green paper from South Africa's Department of Home Affairs. It hopes to make marriages more inclusive even as polygamy, where men marry multiple wives, is legal in the country. The paper says, "South Africa inherited a marriage regime that was based on the Calvinist Christian and Western traditions. The current marriage laws are not informed by an overarching policy that is based on constitutional values and the understanding of modern society dynamics.” It also states the current law allows the marriage of minors and does not account for couples, who seek to change their sex and want to remain married without going through a divorce, among other flaws. With the aim to make marriage policy stronger, the department has also consulted with traditional leaders, human rights activists and other groups on important issues. As per the human rights activists, equality demands polyandry to be legally recognised as a form of marriage. In the whole exercise, the need to draw up a 'gender neutral' marriage scheme has come to the fore. As per the suggestion, South Africa could do away with categorising marriages along lines of race, religion, sexual orientation and culture. These suggestions seem to have not gone down well with some people in the country. "The thinking is foreign," Musa Mseleku, a reality TV star, who has four wives, said. Until June 30, the South African government is consulting on the paper and have invited comments on all the proposals involved. (With inputs from agencies)

South Africa may let women have multiple husbands. Debate ensues on polyandry

The position of women in the armed forces, which is described as a male-dominated establishment generally, offers a limited window for any kind of change in the role of women in occupational and bureaucratic structures. However, breaking the glass ceiling, two women officers have been selected to train as helicopter pilots at Combat Army Training School, Nashik. Till now, women officers were only limited to performing ground duties in the Army Aviation Corps.

In today’s times, women are walking shoulder to shoulder with men in all occupations.&nbsp;However, gender equality is still a paramount challenge in the armed forces. The Supreme Court last year ruled that women could serve as army commanders further granting permanent commission and promotions equal to their male counterparts.&nbsp;

The decisions stood in stark contrast to the Centre’s opinion, which belonged to the school of thought that women were not suitable for commanding posts in the army because male troops were not yet ready to accept their orders. However, women officers of the Indian Army are of the opinion that the trained soldiers should focus on the rank of the officer and not the gender. They further reiterate that performance should be criteria to decide, who rises in the ranks.

Since time, immemorial women have proved their mettle and performed extremely well in peace locations and in hostile zones. The role of women in the Indian Army began in 1888 when the ‘Indian Military Nursing Service’ was formed during the British Raj but it was only in 1992 that the organisation opened doors and started inducting women in non-medical roles. In 2015, India also opened new combat air force roles for women as fighter pilots. However, despite all these developments, the women in the Indian armed forces that constitute 3% of the Indian army are still not allowed to be a part of the active combat.

Active combat also known as the fighting arms of the armed forces is predominantly defined as individuals or groups fighting in a war and the causalities suffered in combat.&nbsp;

Employment of women in combat forces has become a paramount issue in the present day, there are two schools of thoughts emerging, the first professing that women officers are on a par with the male officers while performing the job on the other hand, the supporters of latter claim that it is the exploitation of women to deploy them in combat areas since they are not physically and psychologically fit to perform the job.

However, if we trace back in history, women have contributed their bit in the armed forces by working in the defence industry during the world wars. There were huge influxes of women in munitions, the work that was done by men previously. About a million women worked in munitions factories during the First World War making guns, shells and explosives.

The whole assumption that women lack resolution along with how fragility and delicacy are synonym to a women’s character has just erupted in the contemporary era because history is the testimony of the fact that women have always shown courage and valour.

The pivotal questions that lies here is that why is war a man’s business? The main reason quoted by the generals of the Indian Army and the people, who follow the latter school of thought is that, they are concerned over women’s vulnerability if captured and over their physical and mental ability to cope with the frontline deployments. Under such circumstances, the constant question being, whether women should serve in combat roles? The liberals argue that women should get access to the same military jobs as men; they are of the opinion that through this woman would also gain a greater political power. The conservatives reject the notion of women in combat. In the current status quo, women have been fighting for their right to equality in all spheres of occupation, they are demanding equal opportunity at workplace, hence, making the Indian army no exception to this wave of equality. The relevant question being that does the military need to change with the changing times?

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

The position of women in the armed forces, which is described as a male-dominated establishment generally, offers a limited window for any kind of change in the role of women in occupational and bureaucratic structures.

The position of women in the armed forces, which is described as a male-dominated establishment generally, offers a limited window for any kind of change in the role of women in occupational and bureaucratic structures. However, breaking the glass ceiling, two women officers have been selected to train as helicopter pilots at Combat Army Training School, Nashik. Till now, women officers were only limited to performing ground duties in the Army Aviation Corps. In today’s times, women are walking shoulder to shoulder with men in all occupations. However, gender equality is still a paramount challenge in the armed forces. The Supreme Court last year ruled that women could serve as army commanders further granting permanent commission and promotions equal to their male counterparts. The decisions stood in stark contrast to the Centre’s opinion, which belonged to the school of thought that women were not suitable for commanding posts in the army because male troops were not yet ready to accept their orders. However, women officers of the Indian Army are of the opinion that the trained soldiers should focus on the rank of the officer and not the gender. They further reiterate that performance should be criteria to decide, who rises in the ranks. Since time, immemorial women have proved their mettle and performed extremely well in peace locations and in hostile zones. The role of women in the Indian Army began in 1888 when the ‘Indian Military Nursing Service’ was formed during the British Raj but it was only in 1992 that the organisation opened doors and started inducting women in non-medical roles. In 2015, India also opened new combat air force roles for women as fighter pilots. However, despite all these developments, the women in the Indian armed forces that constitute 3% of the Indian army are still not allowed to be a part of the active combat. Active combat also known as the fighting arms of the armed forces is predominantly defined as individuals or groups fighting in a war and the causalities suffered in combat. Employment of women in combat forces has become a paramount issue in the present day, there are two schools of thoughts emerging, the first professing that women officers are on a par with the male officers while performing the job on the other hand, the supporters of latter claim that it is the exploitation of women to deploy them in combat areas since they are not physically and psychologically fit to perform the job. However, if we trace back in history, women have contributed their bit in the armed forces by working in the defence industry during the world wars. There were huge influxes of women in munitions, the work that was done by men previously. About a million women worked in munitions factories during the First World War making guns, shells and explosives. The whole assumption that women lack resolution along with how fragility and delicacy are synonym to a women’s character has just erupted in the contemporary era because history is the testimony of the fact that women have always shown courage and valour. The pivotal questions that lies here is that why is war a man’s business? The main reason quoted by the generals of the Indian Army and the people, who follow the latter school of thought is that, they are concerned over women’s vulnerability if captured and over their physical and mental ability to cope with the frontline deployments. Under such circumstances, the constant question being, whether women should serve in combat roles? The liberals argue that women should get access to the same military jobs as men; they are of the opinion that through this woman would also gain a greater political power. The conservatives reject the notion of women in combat. In the current status quo, women have been fighting for their right to equality in all spheres of occupation, they are demanding equal opportunity at workplace, hence, making the Indian army no exception to this wave of equality. The relevant question being that does the military need to change with the changing times? (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion: Changing role of women in the Indian armed forces

In a historic move, the Army has selected two women officers to train as combat helicopter pilots for its aviation wing, officials said on Wednesday.

The selection came six months after Army Chief General MM Naravane cleared a proposal to induct women as pilots.

As of now, women are allowed in air traffic control and ground duties in the Army aviation wing.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/equal-roles-for-women-in-indian-armed-forces-the-road-ahead-291798">Equal roles for women in Indian Armed Forces: The road ahead</a>

The two women officers will undergo training at the Combat Army Aviation Training School at Nashik in Maharashtra, the officials said.

Fifteen women officers volunteered to join the Army aviation wing. However, only two have qualified through the stringent selection process, the officials said.

The two women officers will join flying duties by July next year on successful completion of the training period, they added.

In 2018, Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi of the Indian Air Force scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to fly a fighter aircraft solo. She flew a MiG-21 bison in her first solo flight.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/first-batch-of-83-women-soldiers-inducted-into-indian-army-383752">First batch of 83 women soldiers inducted into Indian Army</a>

Chaturvedi was part of a three-member women team commissioned as flying officers in July 2016, less than a year after the government decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis.

Last year, the Navy announced deploying its first batch of women pilots on the Dornier maritime aircraft.

In a significant move, the Army in 2019 began the process of inducting women into the military police.

The role of the military police includes policing cantonments and army establishments, preventing breach of rules and regulations by soldiers, maintaining movement of soldiers as well as logistics during peace and war, and extending aid to the civil police, whenever required.

In a historic move, the Army has selected two women officers to train as combat helicopter pilots for its aviation wing, officials said on Wednesday. The selection came six months after Army Chief General MM Naravane cleared a proposal to induct women as pilots.

In a historic move, the Army has selected two women officers to train as combat helicopter pilots for its aviation wing, officials said on Wednesday. The selection came six months after Army Chief General MM Naravane cleared a proposal to induct women as pilots. As of now, women are allowed in air traffic control and ground duties in the Army aviation wing. Also read | Equal roles for women in Indian Armed Forces: The road ahead The two women officers will undergo training at the Combat Army Aviation Training School at Nashik in Maharashtra, the officials said. Fifteen women officers volunteered to join the Army aviation wing. However, only two have qualified through the stringent selection process, the officials said. The two women officers will join flying duties by July next year on successful completion of the training period, they added. In 2018, Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi of the Indian Air Force scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to fly a fighter aircraft solo. She flew a MiG-21 bison in her first solo flight. Also read | First batch of 83 women soldiers inducted into Indian Army Chaturvedi was part of a three-member women team commissioned as flying officers in July 2016, less than a year after the government decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis. Last year, the Navy announced deploying its first batch of women pilots on the Dornier maritime aircraft. In a significant move, the Army in 2019 began the process of inducting women into the military police. The role of the military police includes policing cantonments and army establishments, preventing breach of rules and regulations by soldiers, maintaining movement of soldiers as well as logistics during peace and war, and extending aid to the civil police, whenever required.

Two women Army officers selected to train as combat helicopter  pilots

France on Wednesday appointed Laurence des Cars, known for promoting social issues through art, as the new head of the&nbsp;Louvre, the first time a woman will be in charge of the world's biggest&nbsp;museum&nbsp;more than two centuries after it first opened.

Des Cars currently runs the Musee d'Orsay, the Paris landmark&nbsp;museum&nbsp;dedicated to 19th-century art, where she is already the first-ever woman boss.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-louis-vuitton-journeys-to-fashion-antiquity-at-the-louvre-369599">Louis Vuitton journeys to fashion antiquity at the Louvre</a>

Her legacy there includes boosting young visitor numbers and giving art and visitors more physical space.

During her four years at the Orsay, the 54-year old art historian has taken a stance on some controversial topics, including by coming out in favour of restituting works looted by Nazis.

"A great&nbsp;museum&nbsp;must face history, including by looking back at the history of our owns institutions," she told AFP in an interview in April.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-france-to-return-klimt-painting-looted-by-nazis-to-holocaust-victim-371134">France to return Klimt painting looted by Nazis to Holocaust victim</a>

She was instrumental in the French government's decision for the Orsay to hand back a Gustav Klimt painting, "Roses", to the heirs of its previous owner Nora Stiasny. The Nazis had stolen it from her in Vienna in 1938.

Under Des Cars's leadership, the&nbsp;museum's 2019 exhibition "Black Models: From Gericault to Matisse" explored racial and social issues through the representation of black figures in visual arts.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/pariss-louvre-museum-closes-over-staff-coronavirus-fears-283741">Paris's Louvre museum closes over staff coronavirus fears</a>

A&nbsp;museum's shows should reflect "the big issues in society, and thus attract new generations" of visitors "of all ages and from all social-cultural backgrounds", she told AFP.

Des Cars, who comes from a family of writers and journalists, will in September succeed Jean-Luc Martinez, the current&nbsp;Louvre&nbsp;chief who is credited with making the&nbsp;museum&nbsp;more accessible and less elitist.

He was rewarded by a record annual visitor number of over 10 million in 2019 before COVID-19 restrictions reduced visits to a trickle.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-paris-louvre-museum-visitors-fell-by-three-quarters-in-2020-due-to-covid-crisis-355862">Paris' Louvre museum visitors fell by three quarters in 2020 due to COVID crisis</a>

The&nbsp;Louvre, best known as the home of the Mona Lisa, is the world's largest art&nbsp;museum.

It opened in 1793 in the aftermath of the French Revolution, with an exhibition of just over 500 paintings.

It now owns hundreds of thousands of pieces of art, with less than 10 per cent of the total on permanent display.

France on Wednesday appointed Laurence des Cars, known for promoting social issues through art, as the new head of the Louvre, the first time a woman will be in charge of the world's biggest museum more than two centuries after it first opened.

France on Wednesday appointed Laurence des Cars, known for promoting social issues through art, as the new head of the Louvre, the first time a woman will be in charge of the world's biggest museum more than two centuries after it first opened. Des Cars currently runs the Musee d'Orsay, the Paris landmark museum dedicated to 19th-century art, where she is already the first-ever woman boss. Also Read | Louis Vuitton journeys to fashion antiquity at the Louvre Her legacy there includes boosting young visitor numbers and giving art and visitors more physical space. During her four years at the Orsay, the 54-year old art historian has taken a stance on some controversial topics, including by coming out in favour of restituting works looted by Nazis. "A great museum must face history, including by looking back at the history of our owns institutions," she told AFP in an interview in April. Also Read | France to return Klimt painting looted by Nazis to Holocaust victim She was instrumental in the French government's decision for the Orsay to hand back a Gustav Klimt painting, "Roses", to the heirs of its previous owner Nora Stiasny. The Nazis had stolen it from her in Vienna in 1938. Under Des Cars's leadership, the museum's 2019 exhibition "Black Models: From Gericault to Matisse" explored racial and social issues through the representation of black figures in visual arts. Also Read | Paris's Louvre museum closes over staff coronavirus fears A museum's shows should reflect "the big issues in society, and thus attract new generations" of visitors "of all ages and from all social-cultural backgrounds", she told AFP. Des Cars, who comes from a family of writers and journalists, will in September succeed Jean-Luc Martinez, the current Louvre chief who is credited with making the museum more accessible and less elitist. He was rewarded by a record annual visitor number of over 10 million in 2019 before COVID-19 restrictions reduced visits to a trickle. Also Read | Paris' Louvre museum visitors fell by three quarters in 2020 due to COVID crisis The Louvre, best known as the home of the Mona Lisa, is the world's largest art museum. It opened in 1793 in the aftermath of the French Revolution, with an exhibition of just over 500 paintings. It now owns hundreds of thousands of pieces of art, with less than 10 per cent of the total on permanent display.

Laurence des Cars: World's biggest museum Louvre to have woman boss for first time in its history

The pandemic has forced working women to double up as full-time caregivers. It has also forced them to choose between career and family. Most working women are burned out, many are being forced to quit their jobs. WION’s Palki Sharma has the grim details.

Gravitas: Pandemic takes a toll on women professionals

Australia's conservative government will increase childcare subsidies, officials said on Sunday, in a pre-budget announcement that pledges A$1.7 billion ($1.31 billion) to boost female participation in the workplace.&nbsp;

The promised spending comes ahead of a federal election expected in the next 12 months and follows polls showing Prime Minister Scott Morrison's approval ratings have sunk, amid growing anger over allegations of sexual abuse, discrimination against women and misconduct in parliament.&nbsp;

The spending targets families with more than one child in daycare, boosting subsidies for those with two or more children aged up to five-years-old to a maximum 95% subsidy for their second and subsequent children.&nbsp;

"Today's measures... are targeted, and they are an investment in making our economy stronger and boosting female working participation," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told reporters in Canberra.&nbsp;

Parents who "want to work an extra couple of days. Right now, they have all of that additional income from their wage eaten up in additional childcare cost. This will remove that disincentive," he said.&nbsp;

Before the coronavirus pandemic pushed Australia's A$2 trillion economy into recession, Morrison's government had pledged to bring the budget to black.&nbsp;

But on Thursday, the government provided a foretaste of its spending plans due to be announced in its yearly Budget on May 11, abandoning its 'debt and deficit disaster' rhetoric for a focus on jobs.&nbsp;

Treasury estimates the additional spending will encourage up to 300,000 in additional work hours a week - equivalent to 40,000 people working an extra day a week and boost Australia's economic output by about A$1.5 billion a year, Frydenberg said.&nbsp;

Australia's government has struggled to placate public anger over claims of sexual abuse, discrimination against women and misconduct in Canberra. &nbsp;

In another move designed to regain voter support, it promoted a record seven female lawmakers to Cabinet in March.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

Australia's conservative government will increase childcare subsidies, officials said on Sunday, in a pre-budget announcement that pledges A$1.7 billion ($1.31 billion) to boost female participation in the workplace.

Australia's conservative government will increase childcare subsidies, officials said on Sunday, in a pre-budget announcement that pledges A$1.7 billion ($1.31 billion) to boost female participation in the workplace. The promised spending comes ahead of a federal election expected in the next 12 months and follows polls showing Prime Minister Scott Morrison's approval ratings have sunk, amid growing anger over allegations of sexual abuse, discrimination against women and misconduct in parliament. The spending targets families with more than one child in daycare, boosting subsidies for those with two or more children aged up to five-years-old to a maximum 95% subsidy for their second and subsequent children. "Today's measures... are targeted, and they are an investment in making our economy stronger and boosting female working participation," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told reporters in Canberra. Parents who "want to work an extra couple of days. Right now, they have all of that additional income from their wage eaten up in additional childcare cost. This will remove that disincentive," he said. Before the coronavirus pandemic pushed Australia's A$2 trillion economy into recession, Morrison's government had pledged to bring the budget to black. But on Thursday, the government provided a foretaste of its spending plans due to be announced in its yearly Budget on May 11, abandoning its 'debt and deficit disaster' rhetoric for a focus on jobs. Treasury estimates the additional spending will encourage up to 300,000 in additional work hours a week - equivalent to 40,000 people working an extra day a week and boost Australia's economic output by about A$1.5 billion a year, Frydenberg said. Australia's government has struggled to placate public anger over claims of sexual abuse, discrimination against women and misconduct in Canberra. In another move designed to regain voter support, it promoted a record seven female lawmakers to Cabinet in March. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia to spend $1.3 billion on childcare, enticing women back to work 

The coronavirus pandemic has badly affected people all over the world and has led to the fall of economies in various countries. However, women, as per data, have suffered major financial loss in the pandemic.

Women, globally, have lost more than 64 million jobs this year and have suffered at least $800 billion in lost income last year — which is equivalent to a combined GDP of 98 countries.

As per Oxfam, the pandemic has had a harsher impact on women who have suffered a 5 per cent loss of jobs, which is more than men who have suffered a 3.9 per cent loss.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-un-agency-laments-aid-fund-cuts-uk-pm-boris-johnson-pleads-people-to-understand-381407" hreflang="en">As UN agency laments aid fund cuts, UK PM Boris Johnson pleads people to 'understand'</a>

"Economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is having a harsher impact on women, who are disproportionately represented in sectors offering low wages, few benefits and the least secure jobs. Instead of righting that wrong, governments treated women’s jobs as dispensable —and that has come at a cost of at least $800 billion in lost wages for those in formal employment,"&nbsp;said Gabriela Bucher, Executive Director of Oxfam International.&nbsp;

However, the real number is assumed to be much higher than this as this study does not include numbers of the women who worked in non-registered sectors and in South Asian countries. The report has not been able to register women who are overrepresented in low-paid and precarious sectors such as tourism, retail, and hospitality, which have been the worst-hit sectors globally.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/switzerland-to-hold-referendum-on-legal-status-of-same-sex-marriages-381397" hreflang="en">Switzerland to hold referendum on legal status of same-sex marriages</a>

"This conservative estimate doesn’t even include wages lost by the millions of women working in the informal economy —domestic workers, market vendors and garment workers— who have been sent home or whose hours and wages have been drastically cut. COVID-19 has dealt a striking blow to recent gains for women in the workforce," Bucher said.

Oxfam also highlighted how women had to face the brunt of the economic crisis all over the world while owners of tech giants such as Amazon thrived, even in the pandemic.

"Amazon gained $700 billion in market capitalization in 2020. The $800 billion in income lost by women worldwide also just tops the $721.5 billion that the US government spent in 2020 on the world's largest defense budget," Oxfam said in the press release.

While women were already suffering due to violence and discriminatory policies such as the wage gap, the pandemic has worsened an already existing crisis.

"For women in every country on every continent, along with losing income, unpaid care work has exploded. As care needs have spiked during the pandemic, women —the shock absorbers of our societies— have stepped in to fill the gap, an expectation so often imposed by sexist social norms,"&nbsp;Bucher said.

The coronavirus pandemic has badly affected people all over the world and has led to the fall of economies in various countries. However, women, as per data, have suffered major financial loss in the pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic has badly affected people all over the world and has led to the fall of economies in various countries. However, women, as per data, have suffered major financial loss in the pandemic. Women, globally, have lost more than 64 million jobs this year and have suffered at least $800 billion in lost income last year — which is equivalent to a combined GDP of 98 countries. As per Oxfam, the pandemic has had a harsher impact on women who have suffered a 5 per cent loss of jobs, which is more than men who have suffered a 3.9 per cent loss. Also read | As UN agency laments aid fund cuts, UK PM Boris Johnson pleads people to 'understand' "Economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is having a harsher impact on women, who are disproportionately represented in sectors offering low wages, few benefits and the least secure jobs. Instead of righting that wrong, governments treated women’s jobs as dispensable —and that has come at a cost of at least $800 billion in lost wages for those in formal employment," said Gabriela Bucher, Executive Director of Oxfam International. However, the real number is assumed to be much higher than this as this study does not include numbers of the women who worked in non-registered sectors and in South Asian countries. The report has not been able to register women who are overrepresented in low-paid and precarious sectors such as tourism, retail, and hospitality, which have been the worst-hit sectors globally. Also read | Switzerland to hold referendum on legal status of same-sex marriages "This conservative estimate doesn’t even include wages lost by the millions of women working in the informal economy —domestic workers, market vendors and garment workers— who have been sent home or whose hours and wages have been drastically cut. COVID-19 has dealt a striking blow to recent gains for women in the workforce," Bucher said. Oxfam also highlighted how women had to face the brunt of the economic crisis all over the world while owners of tech giants such as Amazon thrived, even in the pandemic. "Amazon gained $700 billion in market capitalization in 2020. The $800 billion in income lost by women worldwide also just tops the $721.5 billion that the US government spent in 2020 on the world's largest defense budget," Oxfam said in the press release. While women were already suffering due to violence and discriminatory policies such as the wage gap, the pandemic has worsened an already existing crisis. "For women in every country on every continent, along with losing income, unpaid care work has exploded. As care needs have spiked during the pandemic, women —the shock absorbers of our societies— have stepped in to fill the gap, an expectation so often imposed by sexist social norms," Bucher said.

Women lost nearly $800 billion in income due to coronavirus pandemic

UN Women, a United Nations entity for gender equality and women`s empowerment, on Friday said that the 2021 Tokyo Olympics will have close to equal representation of women and men competing for the first time in its history. 
 
The Tokyo Games, which are three months away, will see the percentage of women competing&nbsp;touch 48.8 per cent for the first time in the history of modern Olympics. They will compete in 46 disciplines - one more than men - in the quadrennial event. 
 
"For comparison, only 22 women (2.2 per cent) out of 997 athletes competed in the modern @Olympics for the first time in 1900. The Tokyo2020 Olympics will have close to equal representation of women and men competing for the first time in its history," tweeted the global organisation. 
 
They also posted a GIF, tracing the history of the growth of women athletes - and disciplines - over a period of 124 years of the Olympic movement. 
 
For the record, the first modern Olympics, hosted by Athens in 1896, had 280 male participants from 13 nations. 
 
The Games truly became global in 1924 Paris when 3,089 athletes competed, of which 135 were women. 
 
According to UN Women, the 1900 Paris Olympics had 2.2 per cent participation by women; it came down to 0.9 per cent in 1904 and by the 1932 Games in Los Angeles, the percentage had risen to nine. 
 
By the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, the percentage of women had gone up to 26, and of the 8,400-odd athletes, about 2,200 were women. 
 
Discipline-wise too, while only four were designated for women, compared to men`s 21 in 1904, it had risen to 40 in 2008 Beijing as compared to men, who competed in 41 events. 
 
Women competed in more disciplines at the 2016 Rio Olympics -- 41 as compared to men in 40 disciplines - with their percentage standing at 45. 
 
The Tokyo Olympics will see nearly half of the athletes -- 48.8 per cent - being women competing in 46 disciplines as compared to men who will take part in 45.

UN Women, a United Nations entity for gender equality and women`s empowerment, on Friday said that the 2021 Tokyo Olympics will have close to equal representation of women and men competing for the first time in its history.

UN Women, a United Nations entity for gender equality and women`s empowerment, on Friday said that the 2021 Tokyo Olympics will have close to equal representation of women and men competing for the first time in its history. The Tokyo Games, which are three months away, will see the percentage of women competing touch 48.8 per cent for the first time in the history of modern Olympics. They will compete in 46 disciplines - one more than men - in the quadrennial event. "For comparison, only 22 women (2.2 per cent) out of 997 athletes competed in the modern @Olympics for the first time in 1900. The Tokyo2020 Olympics will have close to equal representation of women and men competing for the first time in its history," tweeted the global organisation. They also posted a GIF, tracing the history of the growth of women athletes - and disciplines - over a period of 124 years of the Olympic movement. For the record, the first modern Olympics, hosted by Athens in 1896, had 280 male participants from 13 nations. The Games truly became global in 1924 Paris when 3,089 athletes competed, of which 135 were women. According to UN Women, the 1900 Paris Olympics had 2.2 per cent participation by women; it came down to 0.9 per cent in 1904 and by the 1932 Games in Los Angeles, the percentage had risen to nine. By the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, the percentage of women had gone up to 26, and of the 8,400-odd athletes, about 2,200 were women. Discipline-wise too, while only four were designated for women, compared to men`s 21 in 1904, it had risen to 40 in 2008 Beijing as compared to men, who competed in 41 events. Women competed in more disciplines at the 2016 Rio Olympics -- 41 as compared to men in 40 disciplines - with their percentage standing at 45. The Tokyo Olympics will see nearly half of the athletes -- 48.8 per cent - being women competing in 46 disciplines as compared to men who will take part in 45.

Women to set new benchmarks at Tokyo Olympics

New Zealand has become the second country after India to extend bereavement allowance measures to women following a miscarriage or still birth.

The country’s parliament passed the legislation giving women and their partners the right to paid leave in case of a miscarriage.

The bereavement allowance was passed in the parliament late on March 24. Now, employees can avail three days leave if a pregnancy ends with a stillbirth or miscarriage. These offs will be different from the sick leaves available to employees.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/deeply-sorry-new-zealands-catholic-church-apologises-to-victims-of-abuse-373314" hreflang="en">'Deeply sorry': New Zealand's Catholic Church apologises to victims of abuse</a>

"The grief that comes with miscarriage is not a sickness Mr Speaker, it is a loss, and that loss takes time. Time to recover physically and time to recover mentally. Time to recover with a partner, because often Mr Speaker the mother is not alone in her grief. The grief of a partner is the shared grief, and I am so pleased that the provisions in this bill extend to both mothers and partners. Couples need time to work through their grief together without the pressure of loss of income or using up sick leave",&nbsp;Labour Party MP Ginny Andersen said in the parliament.

The leave provisions are valid on mothers, their partners, as well as parents planning to have a child through surrogacy or adoption. Labour Party MP Ginny Andersen, who initiated the bill said that one in four women in New Zealand undergo a miscarriage.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/new-zealand-grants-automatic-paid-leave-after-miscarriage-373055" hreflang="en">New Zealand grants automatic paid leave after miscarriage</a>

New Zealand is seen as the pioneer in terms of women rights and corresponding issues. In fact, New Zealand was the first country in the world to give voting rights to women.

The current Labour government is led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, perceived as a global leader for women. Last year, New Zealand passed a historic law which decriminalised abortion. India is the only other country in the world to offer similar provisions to women.

New Zealand has become the second country after India to extend bereavement allowance measures to women following a miscarriage or still birth. The country’s parliament passed the legislation giving women and their partners the right to paid leave in case of a miscarriage.

New Zealand has become the second country after India to extend bereavement allowance measures to women following a miscarriage or still birth. The country’s parliament passed the legislation giving women and their partners the right to paid leave in case of a miscarriage. The bereavement allowance was passed in the parliament late on March 24. Now, employees can avail three days leave if a pregnancy ends with a stillbirth or miscarriage. These offs will be different from the sick leaves available to employees. Also read: 'Deeply sorry': New Zealand's Catholic Church apologises to victims of abuse "The grief that comes with miscarriage is not a sickness Mr Speaker, it is a loss, and that loss takes time. Time to recover physically and time to recover mentally. Time to recover with a partner, because often Mr Speaker the mother is not alone in her grief. The grief of a partner is the shared grief, and I am so pleased that the provisions in this bill extend to both mothers and partners. Couples need time to work through their grief together without the pressure of loss of income or using up sick leave", Labour Party MP Ginny Andersen said in the parliament. The leave provisions are valid on mothers, their partners, as well as parents planning to have a child through surrogacy or adoption. Labour Party MP Ginny Andersen, who initiated the bill said that one in four women in New Zealand undergo a miscarriage. Also read: New Zealand grants automatic paid leave after miscarriage New Zealand is seen as the pioneer in terms of women rights and corresponding issues. In fact, New Zealand was the first country in the world to give voting rights to women. The current Labour government is led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, perceived as a global leader for women. Last year, New Zealand passed a historic law which decriminalised abortion. India is the only other country in the world to offer similar provisions to women.

New Zealand becomes second country to give women bereavement leaves after miscarriage

There was domestic and international outrage directed at Turkey after its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took the country out of a treaty designed to prevent violence against women. The decision to withdraw from the treaty was announced on Saturday. This step is being considered to be a victory for conservatives in Erdogan's party who had argued the treated damaged family unity.

Council of Europe, a top rights body, denounced Turkey's decision to withdraw from a treaty it sponsored.

"This move is a huge setback to these efforts and all the more deplorable because it compromises the protection of women in Turkey, across Europe and beyond," Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buricshe said.

The treaty "is widely regarded as the gold standard in international efforts to protect women and girls from the violence that they face every day in our societies," she added.

The 2011 Istanbul Convention, signed by 45 countries and the European Union, requires governments to adopt legislation prosecuting domestic violence and similar abuse as well as marital rape and female genital mutilation.&nbsp;

'Evil'

The publication of the decree in the official gazette early Saturday immediately sparked anger among Turkish rights groups and calls for protests in Istanbul.&nbsp; 
Gokce Gokcen, deputy chairperson of the main opposition CHP party, said abandoning the treaty meant "keeping women second-class citizens and letting them be killed."

"Despite you and your evil, we will stay alive and bring back the convention," she said on Twitter.

Turkey had been debating a possible departure after an official in Erdogan's party raised dropping the treaty last year.

(With Reuters inputs)

There was domestic and international outrage directed at Turkey after its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took the country out of a treaty designed to prevent violence against women.

There was domestic and international outrage directed at Turkey after its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took the country out of a treaty designed to prevent violence against women. The decision to withdraw from the treaty was announced on Saturday. This step is being considered to be a victory for conservatives in Erdogan's party who had argued the treated damaged family unity. Council of Europe, a top rights body, denounced Turkey's decision to withdraw from a treaty it sponsored. "This move is a huge setback to these efforts and all the more deplorable because it compromises the protection of women in Turkey, across Europe and beyond," Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buricshe said. The treaty "is widely regarded as the gold standard in international efforts to protect women and girls from the violence that they face every day in our societies," she added. The 2011 Istanbul Convention, signed by 45 countries and the European Union, requires governments to adopt legislation prosecuting domestic violence and similar abuse as well as marital rape and female genital mutilation. 'Evil' The publication of the decree in the official gazette early Saturday immediately sparked anger among Turkish rights groups and calls for protests in Istanbul. Gokce Gokcen, deputy chairperson of the main opposition CHP party, said abandoning the treaty meant "keeping women second-class citizens and letting them be killed." "Despite you and your evil, we will stay alive and bring back the convention," she said on Twitter. Turkey had been debating a possible departure after an official in Erdogan's party raised dropping the treaty last year. (With Reuters inputs)

Turkey criticised after withdrawing from treaty preventing violence against women

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