Women accused of witchcraft in Nepal are often tortured and beaten by their own community, Al Jazeera reported in an online video May 19. It is thought that about four women are abused every month, having their heads shaved and being beaten and bound. Human rights activists have been trying to stop the persecution but they say current legislation is too weak and is not helping. 

Gunmen killed a senior female politician from a reformist party in Pakistan Saturday night, Reuters reported May 19. It is the latest violent incident in a bloody election campaign and one that set off a war of words between two major opposition parties. It was not immediately clear who killed Zohra Shahid Hussain, a senior member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. 

Conservative religious lawmakers in Afghanistan blocked legislation aimed at strengthening provisions for women's freedoms, arguing that parts of it violate Islamic principles and encourage disobedience, The Associated Press reported May 18. 

 

The Law on Elimination of Violence Against Women has been in effect since 2009, but only by presidential decree but has been brought before parliament to cement it with a parliamentary vote to prevent its potential reversal by any future president. 

 

The law criminalizes, among other things, child marriage and forced marriage, and bans "baad," the traditional practice of selling and buying women to settle disputes. It also makes domestic violence a crime punishable by up to three years in prison and specifies that rape victims should not face criminal charges for fornication or adultery.

 

 

Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg said in an interview published Saturday that it's ok for women to cry at work, share emotions and be honest about their femininity, Agence France Presse reported May 18. In an interview with India's Mint daily, the 43-year-old admitted: "I cry at work," adding women are not "one type of person Monday through Friday" and "then a different person in the nights and weekend." "I think we are all of us emotional beings and it's okay for us to share that emotion at work," said Sandberg.

 

 

President Obama nominated four women to serve on four different courts, The White House reported on its blog May 17. If confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, Judge Carolyn McHugh would be the first woman from Utah to serve on that court. Obama also appointed Pamela Reeves and Elizabeth Wolford to be the first women to serve as district court judges in the Eastern District of Tennessee and Western District of New York. They yet have to be confirmed.In the Northern District of Mississippi, Obama chose Debra Brown. If confirmed, she would be the first African-American court judge to serve in the district and in the entire state.