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NEWS & LETTERS, January-February 2004Women Worldwideby Mary Jo Grey Women in two different states have won victories over anti-woman forces trying to whittle away our right to control our own bodies. On Dec. 29, a federal judge in New Hampshire declared unconstitutional a state law requiring that parents be notified before a minor can get an abortion. A short time later in Florida, a state appeals court panel, on Jan. 9, ruled against Gov. Jeb Bush’s demand that the state appoint a guardian for the fetus of a retarded rape victim, because he feared the mother’s guardian might consider an abortion. The American Civil Liberties Union said it was an attempt to create a situation with the mother and fetus having competing legal rights. They called it "a crusade to change the law, limit the rights of women and bring the Supreme Court something that would overturn or alter Roe v. Wade.” * * * Despite a recent peace agreement in the Democratic Republic of Congo, massacres, mutilation and mass rape continue. Within a ten-week period, more than 100 cases of rape, sexual abuse and torture were reported--often committed in front of the victims’ family members. Public gang rapes are used to terrorize women and girls suspected of "collaborating with the enemy.” High instances of HIV/AIDS compound the horror. Many girl children forced to serve as soldiers are used as sexual slaves by adult commanders. Worldwide support is being sought by Amnesty International to stop this violence. --Information from Women’s Human Rights Online Bulletin |
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