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By khw • 15 years ago

Good news from Bogota on Sexual and Reproductive Rights

Sorry if this is rather long, but while I am waiting for the election results, I thought I’d post something to give you all hope regarding the state of reproductive rights here in Colombia– I promise a happy ending! Honest!

Approximately two years ago the Constitutional Court decriminalised the voluntary interruption of pregnancy (ie abortion) in the three cases we are all familiar with – malformations of the foetus, danger to health of the mother and where unlawful carnal access (ie rape) had been deemed to occur.  It is fair to say that in terms of women’s rights, the sentence C-355 de 2006 was groundbreaking largely as Colombia is, in many respects, a conservative country.  Notwithstanding, it has had ...

Sorry if this is rather long, but while I am waiting for the election results, I thought I’d post something to give you all hope regarding the state of reproductive rights here in Colombia– I promise a ...
By khw • 15 years ago

Family planning in the community

From the centre of Bogota, it is a good fifty minute drive, heading south along the Autopista Sur and, at a determined point, turning left onto a dirt-paved road alongside fields filled with diminutive ‘social interest’ houses and cows.  When we arrived at our final destination – Barrio la Esperanza in Soacha – one of the poorer parts of Bogota, even if it’s not officially part of the city.

The aim of the trip was to observe one of Profamilia’s brigadas in action.  This is a project run by the NGO that involves sending out a nurse and a psychologist to visit with socially excluded women, perform cervical smear tests and speak about sexual and reproductive rights.  When ...

From the centre of Bogota, it is a good fifty minute drive, heading south along the Autopista Sur and, at a determined point, turning left onto a dirt-paved road alongside fields filled with diminutive ‘social interest’ houses ...
By khw • 15 years ago

Rape compensation cut for drunk victims in U.K.

What the bejaysus?

According to the London Independent, compensation for rape victims has been reduced if "they asked for it" in any way.  (link:  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/rape-compensation-cut-for-drunk-victims-891816.html ).  This is in a country where successful rape prosecutions have actually gone own since the seventies, which is a bit of a head-wrecker.  Somehow the protestations by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) that this is just a misunderstanding contradicts a previous statement in the article:

"In the past year, 14 rape victims – 1 per cent of rape-related applications – were told they would receive lower levels of compensation due to alcohol consumption, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) told the Guardian newspaper."

Thankfully, there is an appeals procedure.  ...

What the bejaysus?

According to the London Independent, compensation for rape victims has been reduced if "they asked for it" in any way.  (link:  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/rape-compensation-cut-for-drunk-victims-891816.html ).  This is in a country where successful rape ...