The New York Times, March 5, 2005

Editorial

At a moment when the United States should be leading the world on advancing women's equality, the Bush administration chose instead to alienate government ministers and 6,000 other delegates at an important United Nations conference on that issue with a burst of anti-abortion zealotry this week.

>>Available from WWHR's website

Summary: WWHR Booklet (Published byWomen for Women's Human Rights-New Ways, February 2005). Includes thestories and results of two successful campaigns by the women's movementin Turkey: The Campaign on the Reform of the Penal Code from a GenderPerspective (2002-2004) and the civil code reform campaign (2000-2001).It also offers a concise description the legal status of women inTurkey, reflecting new laws in both private and public spheres. Thebooklet provides an excellent resource for advocacy and research onwomen's human rights (68 pages).

>>Available in PDF from WWHR's website

Summary: By Dr. Sherifa Zuhur (publishedby Women for Women's Human Rights-New Ways, February 2005). Examinesthe common aspects of criminal laws in the Middle East and North Africarelated to sexuality and provides a historical perspective on theamalgamation of tribal, religious, colonial laws and their impact onmodern codes. Providing a thematic comparative study of constructs ofhonor, adultery, honor crimes, rape, sexual abuse, abortion, maritalrape, homosexuality, sex work, FGM and similar issues, the articleexplores how human rights violations in the domain of sexuality arelegitimized by law in the region and how oppression of sexuality inperpetrated by the existing penal systems. The article is both a uniqueresource and a powerful advocacy tool for ongoing reform initiatives inthe region (76 pages).