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WOMEN'S FUND OF MISSISSIPPI UPDATE
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E-News for the Week of August 5, 2010
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Human Trafficking in the U.S.: One Woman's Story (NPR)
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According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, human trafficking is one of the most hidden crimes in the U.S. The State Department won't give an estimate of how many victims there are right now in the U.S. but we do know that about 300 people last year received a visa specifically designated for human trafficking victims. Human trafficking victims do more than just sex work. In fact, the majority work as forced laborers in all kinds of industries, from construction to agriculture or housekeeping.
Seven years ago, Washington became the first state in the nation to make human trafficking a crime on the state level. Now 44 states have a similar law and - just in the past few years - there's been a flurry of legislative activity all across the country to address the issue. Dozens of new laws increase criminal penalties for traffickers and require better help for victims of coercion and force.
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Afghan Women Fear Loss of Modest Gains (New York Times)
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As Afghan and Western governments explore reconciliation with the Taliban, women fear that the peace they long for may come at the price of rights that have improved since the Taliban government was overthrown in 2001. "Women do not want war, but none of them want the Taliban of 1996 again; no one wants to be imprisoned in the yards of their houses," said Rahima Zarifi, the Women's Ministry representative from the northern Baghlan Province. In the Pashtun-dominated district of Taghob, east of Kabul, girls' schools have been closed and any teaching is done at home, the provincial education director said. "If the Taliban come back, by law women will be restricted and not allowed to leave their homes," she said.
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16 Ways to Reduce Maternal Mortality (Ms. Magazine)
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This article lists 16 evidence-based strategies for reducing maternal mortality worldwide, which include:
- Educate and empower women and girls about maternal health issues. Educated and empowered women can lead healthy lives and can lift their families out of disease. They usually marry later, and have fewer and healthier children who are more likely to attend school.
- Empower women's groups so they can deliver political success and tangible health outcomes.
- Implement streamlined and evidence-based maternal health interventions and strategies to increase utilization of maternal health-care service.
- Make child and maternal survival a core national and global health concern.
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Women Taking Control of Money, Lack Confidence: Poll (Reuters)
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More than 95 percent of women are involved in financial decisions, with one-fourth acting as primary decision-makers, but their financial confidence has failed to improve and was further weakened by the U.S. recession, a recent survey has found. More than six in 10 women rely on family and friends for financial advice, but 70 percent would like more sound advice. The online survey of 1,250 women, conducted from February 10 to 26, found 38 percent did not understand stocks, 43 percent did not understand mutual funds and 53 percent did not understand annuities.
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Landmark Law Protects American Indian and Alaska Native Women from Sexual Violence (Change.Org)
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Recently passed by the House and Senate, the Tribal Law and Order Act provides landmark protection to American Indian and Alaska Native women. Disproportionately affected by sexual violence, indigenous women have long lacked specific legal protection due to confusion between federal and local governments and tribal authority.
Non-Native men often escape punishment for sexually violent crimes because of the complicated maze of federal, local, and tribal jurisdiction, while Native men who are tried are given extremely lenient sentences. This Tribal Law and Order Act will restore the power of tribal governments to hand down more suitable punishments, hopefully deter sexual predators, and may encourage more women to begin to come forward and report when they've been attacked and assaulted. When you know you're more likely to be protected and your accuser to be punished, you're more likely to come forward.
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Our Mission:
The Women's Fund of Mississippi
is dedicated to improving
the lives of women and girls
by promoting social change and
economic self-sufficiency through
advocacy and strategic grantmaking. |
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