• Maternal mortality under scrutiny
    Commentary
    May 4, 2012
    Since the 1990s South Africa has not reduced the number of women who die needlessly each year from preventable and treatable causes linked to pregnancy and childbirth.
  • Brazil: Supreme Court Abortion Ruling a Positive Step
    Press release
    Apr 19, 2012

    The ruling by Brazil’s highest court on April 12, 2012, expanding exceptions from criminal penalties for abortion is a positive step toward protecting women’s human rights.

  • A sick system abuses its refugees
    Commentary
    Mar 18, 2012

    South Africa's tourism website describes the country as the "land of good times and friendly people". Sadly, Araya Y, a pregnant Somali refugee living in Port Elizabeth, did not experience this side of the country. Instead, when she went to a government district hospital in July 2010 to give birth, she was abused by medical staff and denied care. 

  • Letter to UN Special Rapporteurs on Involuntary Sterilization of Women and Girls with Disabilities
    Letter
    Mar 9, 2012
    An alarming number of women and girls with disabilities have been, and continue to be, denied their rights to experience their sexuality, to have sexual relationships and to found and maintain families through the practice of forced sterilization.
  • Memorandum of Support for New York State Bill S.323/A.1008
    Memorandum
    Feb 27, 2012
    Human Rights Watch submits this memorandum in support of S.323/A.1008, which would change the current law by explicitly prohibiting the introduction of condoms as evidence of prostitution and prostitution-related offenses in certain criminal and civil proceedings. Amendment of the existing law is essential to promoting both public health and human rights.
  • Hope for BC at BC?
    Commentary
    Feb 8, 2012

    When I went to college, I chose a highly regarded university with a strong tradition as a Jesuit institution. I was pleased with my undergraduate education at Boston College, but I still lament that my alma mater denies students access to contraceptive services through its health system.  

  • Universal Periodic Review of South Africa
    Written statement
    Jan 20, 2012

    South Africa has failed to clarify its position on the 22 recommendations made during the first UPR cycle in 2008 – making the assessment of the implementation problematic.  South Africa should clearly communicate its responses and commitments on all recommendations made during its second UPR cycle. 

  • Written Testimony for Hearing on Prostitution-Free Zone Amendment Act of 2011
    Letter
    Jan 19, 2012
  • Sweden: Letter to the Prime Minister Regarding Transgender Law
    Letter
    Jan 14, 2012
  • Swedish Government Should Stay out of its Citizens’ Underwear
    Commentary
    Jan 10, 2012
    Swedish citizens would not want their government to mess around in their underwear. You would assume all hell would break loose if the government would tell them: you won’t get a new passport or other identification document unless you have become irreversibly infertile.