May 04 North Carolina House approves bill tightening abortion limits By Gary D. Robertson, Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press North Carolina's House has approved a Republican package of abortion restrictions that would tighten the state's ban on the procedure from after 20 weeks to 12 weeks. Continue reading
Apr 26 Pope Francis grants women right to vote at upcoming bishops' meeting By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press The unprecedented change reflects Francis' hopes to give women greater decision-making responsibilities and laypeople more say in the life of the Catholic Church. Continue reading
Apr 11 Watch 5:36 Abortion pill ruling opens door to more political pressure on medical regulators By Amna Nawaz, Dorothy Hastings The country is closely watching how the battle over abortion medication unfolds in federal courts. It follows a Texas judge’s decision to overturn FDA approval of the mifepristone. But there’s also growing concern over what that ruling could mean for… Continue watching
Apr 08 Afghan religious scholars criticize Taliban's ban on education for girls, women By Associated Press Afghan religious scholars Saturday criticized a ban on female education, as a key Taliban minister warned clerics not to rebel against the government on the controversial issue. Continue reading
Mar 08 U.S. sanctions Iranian officials over women's rights abuses By Fatima Hussein, Associated Press The U.S. is adding more sanctions on Iranian state officials who are accused of violating women's rights, amid nationwide anti-government protests over the treatment of young women and girls. Continue reading
Feb 04 Amid rampant violence in South Sudan, Pope Francis warns treatment of women is key for peace By Nicole Winfield, Deng Machol, Trisha Thomas, Associated Press Pope Francis called for women and girls to be respected, protected and honored during a meeting in the South Sudanese capital Juba with some of the 2 million people who have been forced by fighting and flooding to flee their… Continue reading
Jan 01 UN official meets Taliban deputy premier over women's rights in Afghanistan By Associated Press A senior U.N. official in Afghanistan met on Sunday the deputy prime minister of the Taliban-led government to discuss a ban on women working for non-governmental groups that Afghan authorities have announced in a series of measures rolling back women's… Continue reading
Dec 24 Taliban bans women from working for domestic, foreign NGOs in Afghanistan By Riazat Butt, Associated Press The Taliban government on Saturday ordered all foreign and domestic non-governmental groups in Afghanistan to suspend employing women, allegedly because some female employees didn't wear the Islamic headscarf correctly. Continue reading
Dec 22 Taliban's higher education minister defends ban on women from universities By Associated Press The minister of higher education in the Taliban government on Thursday defended his decision to ban women from universities — a decree that had triggered a global backlash. Continue reading
Dec 21 Afghan women weep over university ban as Taliban begin enforcement By Associated Press The country's Taliban rulers a day earlier ordered women nationwide to stop attending private and public universities effective immediately and until further notice. Continue reading