The most comprehensive compilation of information on the status of
women in the world.

Latest items for DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

Feb. 11, 2024, 3:55 p.m.
Countries: Afghanistan
Variables: IIP-PRACTICE-1, DSFMF-PRACTICE-2, DSFMF-PRACTICE-3, DSFMF-LAW-1

"Women accused of adultery have been publicly lashed by the Taliban as the Islamist group rolls out sharia law across Afghanistan. Ten men and nine women were each whipped 39 times in the city of Taloqan for alleged adultery and theft, a senior Taliban official said" (para 1-2).
Oct. 10, 2023, 12:34 p.m.
Countries: Honduras
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"She said she was falsely accused of having sex with married men and spreading the disease to their wives. She lay there crying with her baby, she said, not understanding why they were saying these things" (para 22).
Feb. 27, 2023, 8:27 a.m.
Countries: Bulgaria
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

“There were numerous accounts shared by interviewees on verbal insults against Romani mothers, in many cases, during labour and delivery. Some interviewees were subjected to insults regarding their sexuality in general: 'The only thing you, the gypsies, know is how to fuck and give birth' (Pazardzhik); 'You do not know when you are expected to give birth, but you know how to open your legs up' (Velingrad)” (16). “Some others were insulted because of alleged sexual promiscuity: 'Who knows with how many men you have slept in order get pregnant with this baby' (Velingrad); 'You, the Gypsy women, you have children from god knows what kind of men' (Velingrad); 'While...more
Dec. 9, 2022, 4 p.m.
Countries: Cote D'Ivoire
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

" 'There is no such thing as polygamy in Ivory Coast. There are men who have several mistresses,' [former solidarity and women's rights minister Constance Yai] said in a press conference organized by the Ivorian League of Women's Rights" (para 16). "Women's rights activists have pointed out a double standard, as the bill proposes to legalize polygyny only and not polyandry. 'Male polygamy is not the only form of union possible. But would we be capable of assuming female polygamy as well, to abide by the principle of equal rights for women and men?' asked Constance Yai during a...press conference, prompting applause from the event's organizers" (para 21-22).more
March 25, 2022, 8:54 p.m.
Countries: United Arab Emirates
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"...In February a British woman was fined 10,000 AED ($2,722) and ordered deported by the Criminal Court of Ajman on defamation charges when she insulted her former husband on WhatsApp and Facebook years prior" (16).
March 19, 2022, 8:16 p.m.
Countries: Bolivia
Variables: MURDER-PRACTICE-1, DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes against Life and Personal Integrity on Monday announced that 70 femicides have been registered in Bolivia this year and pointed out that among the 'causes or motives' are 'alcohol consumption' and 'jealousy' on the part of the aggressors. For Novillo 'violence against women is a consequence of a male chauvinist structure, the underlying cause relates to a range of behaviors that are accepted by men in a male chauvinist society.' Part of this 'is related to a feeling of ownership, which some feminists mention, with men believing that they are the owners of women’s lives,' she explained." (para 4-6)
Jan. 6, 2022, 12:09 p.m.
Countries: Somalia
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"Culturally if a man commits infidelity he will give the woman something called "maser-tir" (remove jealousy). He will buy her gold as a sign of apology. She has a choice to accept this gold or not, and her choice has meaning" (1).
Aug. 3, 2021, 2:44 p.m.
Countries: France
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"François Mitterrand famously maintained an extra- marital relationship with Anne Pingeot, which began when she was 20 and he was 47 and continued throughout his presidency. They had a daughter, with whom Pingeot lived in a grand apartment paid for by the state. She remained his mistress until his death in 1996. Indeed, during the entire 20th century, apparently only one French president – Georges Pompidou – was known to have been faithful to his wife. How the other wives felt about this remains undocumented; the stereotype of the Parisian woman is that she is as discreet as she is chic" (para 3).
July 28, 2020, noon
Countries: Argentina
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"We celebrate the approveal of the Law 26.150, sanctioned in October 4, 2006, that created the National Integral Sexual Education Program under the Miinistry of Education. This ministry already had the legal mandate to advance the startup og content and teachers' capacitation in order to teach secual education, following 2003' Law 25.673, under which the National Sexual Health and Responsible Procreation Program was created. Nonetheless, this law is not applied in the national territory yet (...) The Program faces difficulties in its correct implementatiom due to discontinuity in the distribution of contraceptives and the lack of professional and adequate counceling for the execution of the program. In addition, healthworkers lack...more
June 5, 2020, 1:19 p.m.
Countries: Papua New Guinea
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"Only 1% of all women reported having two or more sexual partners in the past 12 months. Of those with more than one partner in the last 12 months, 7% reported using a condom during their last sexual intercourse. In the 12 months before the survey, 5% of women had sex with a non-marital/non-cohabitating partner (a person who neither was their husband nor lived with them), and only 18% of those women reported using a condom during their last sexual intercourse with such a partner. On average, women have had 1.7 lifetime sexual partners (Table 13.6.1). Eight percent of men reported having two or more sexual partners in the past...more
March 16, 2020, 4:12 p.m.
Countries: Afghanistan
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"There is a need to expand the ruling on abolishing “running away” to also include “attempted zina”. While there has been a decrease in “running away” charges, research done by Human Rights Watch (in 2016) showed that arrest, conviction and prosecution is done under the classification of “attempted zina”, a charge deemed justified by judges, prosecutors, and police. The law should provide for state accountability for investigating, prosecuting, and convicting victims of rape for zina and entitle women to remedies as a result of the same. The State should also be held accountable for committing acts which denigrate the women and failing to take adequate steps to avoid 're-victimization'" (8).more
July 8, 2019, 1:19 p.m.
Countries: Uganda
Variables: CWC-DATA-2, IW-PRACTICE-1, IW-LAW-1, ATDW-PRACTICE-2, CUST-LAW-1, IAW-PRACTICE-1, IAD-PRACTICE-1, DSFMF-PRACTICE-2, PW-LAW-1

"The law provides women with the same legal status and rights as men. Discrimination against women, however, was widespread, especially in rural areas. Many customary laws discriminate against women in adoption, marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Under local customary law in many areas, women may not own or inherit property or retain custody of their children. Traditional divorce law in many areas requires women to meet stricter evidentiary standards than men to prove adultery. Polygyny is legal under both customary and Islamic law. In some ethnic groups, men may “inherit” the widows of their deceased brothers" (Pg 29).
June 20, 2019, 11:09 a.m.
Countries: Afghanistan
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"Afghan law makes zina a crime punishable by up to 15 in years in prison, and women who are believed by police and prosecutors to have participated extramarital sexual relations are often prosecuted under this law, worse yet often without regard to whether sexual relations were consensual. Even when women and girls allege rape, they are often not believed or are treated as deserving of blame of committing zina because of actions that are seen as having led to the rape (for example leaving the home without permission, or voluntarily being in a location that is not secure)" (3).
June 17, 2019, 10:41 a.m.
Countries: Saudi Arabia
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"Babies born out of wedlock are abandoned on the streets in Saudi Arabia as women fear retribution and punishment for having a child outside of marriage, campaigners have warned" (para 1)."Abortion is illegal in the Middle Eastern country unless a woman’s health is at risk and sexual relations outside of marriage are criminalised – with unmarried women faced with prosecution and even jail if they are found to be pregnant" (para 2). "She said sometimes people place infants outside of mosques, orphanages or hospitals due to not being able to hand them in themselves due to fear of other people asking about where the baby came from. But she said...more
May 16, 2019, 3:43 p.m.
Countries: United Kingdom
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"Accepting his guidance she married the man only to discover he was subjecting her to polygamy and was already married to two other women and had four children who she was expected to look after whilst he travelled." (para. 20). " Her husband was bringing a woman to their house so she sought religious divorce, explaining what was happening. Still they insisted she should not leave him. She protested saying he was committing Zina (sin)." (para. 28). "Another Afghan client had an abusive and controlling husband who sought advice from a religious arbitrator, accusing his wife of ‘being loose’. The husband then presented a piece of paper to her from...more
April 9, 2019, 12:57 p.m.
Countries: Iran
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"Women sometimes received disproportionate punishment for crimes such as adultery, including death sentences" (35).
March 21, 2019, 11:12 p.m.
Countries: Syria
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"According to the media and eyewitnesses, these abuses [perpetrated by the Da'esh] included mass executions; stonings of women and men accused of adultery; crucifixions of civilians; public executions of foreign journalists, aid workers, and those suspected of being gay'"(para 9).
March 8, 2019, 6:09 a.m.
Countries: Afghanistan
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-1, DSFMF-PRACTICE-2, DSFMF-PRACTICE-3

"According to a 2016 Human Rights Watch report, almost half of all women incarcerated in Afghanistan – and 95% of girls in juvenile detention – are there for “moral crimes” such as sex before marriage" (para. 13).
March 7, 2019, 11:23 a.m.
Countries: Mauritania
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-3, DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"Human rights activists and lawyers reported that rape victims were stigmatized, persecuted, and even imprisoned. Since rape is often associated with the concept of adultery, judges could, in theory, accuse the victim of fornication under sharia, hold the victim responsible for the rape, and imprison her. There were no reports that this provision or interpretation of the law was enforced" (page 16-17).
Feb. 15, 2019, 11:45 a.m.
Countries: United Kingdom
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"Accepting his guidance she married the man only to discover he was subjecting her to polygamy and was already married to two other women and had four children who she was expected to look after whilst he travelled." (para. 20). " Her husband was bringing a woman to their house so she sought religious divorce, explaining what was happening. Still they insisted she should not leave him. She protested saying he was committing Zina (sin)." (para. 28). "Another Afghan client had an abusive and controlling husband who sought advice from a religious arbitrator, accusing his wife of ‘being loose’. The husband then presented a piece of paper to her from...more
Jan. 11, 2019, 12:27 p.m.
Countries: Saudi Arabia
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2, GEW-PRACTICE-2

"The Ministry sources said the woman was married and having children in Sri Lanka, when she had convicted for adultery with a Sri Lankan youth employed in Saudi Arabia. After she was produced before the Riyad Court, the woman had pleaded guilty and she was sentenced to be stoned to death according to Saudi Arabian law. The youth who had having the affair with Lankan woman had been given 100 lashes as punishment, Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Athukorala’s Media Secretary Nalin Rajapaksha said" (para 2-4).
Jan. 9, 2019, 8:43 p.m.
Countries: Nigeria
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2, NGOFW-DATA-1

"Women students occasionally contested male control of the fellowship groups and the sexual double-standard. Those residing in one of the co-ed halls, in a proactive move, joined a non-governmental organisation, War against Rape and Sexual Harassment (WARSH) to fight cases of rape and sexual harassment, and secured the support of male residents" (para 19).
Jan. 7, 2019, 11:47 a.m.
Countries: Mali
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

“'The Islamists dug two holes where they put the man and the woman who lived maritally without being married,' said a local official. 'They were stoned to death'" (para 3) Both the man and women were put to death for infidelity (AMG-CODER COMMENT).
Nov. 15, 2018, 3:19 p.m.
Countries: Pakistan
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"A 24-year-old Pakistani man was mutilated in a so-called honor killing, police said. Allah Ditta was stabbed multiple times by five men Tuesday in Pakistan's Dera Ghazi Khan district, authorities said. The men attacked Ditta as he went to meet a woman with whom he was having an affair, police Officer Ali Muhammad said. The victim and the woman were married to other people...So-called honor killings in Pakistan have gained notoriety worldwide, but cases of men killed in such attacks are rare. Many of these killings involve relatives slaying young women accused of dishonoring the family" (para 1, 2, 3...6, 7).
Nov. 15, 2018, 12:07 p.m.
Countries: Mexico
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2, CONST-LAW-1

"However, it is concerned that the different levels of authority and competences within the State party’s federal structure result in a differentiated application of the law depending on whether or not appropriate harmonization of the relevant legislation has been conducted at the state level, such as with respect to the principle of non-discrimination and equality between men and women. The Committee notes with concern that this situation results in discriminatory provisions against women or to different definitions and sanctions related to, inter alia, rape, abortion, forced disappearances, trafficking, injuries and homicide for reasons of so-called honour, as well as on adultery across the 32 states of the State party" (3).more
Nov. 7, 2018, 2:15 p.m.
Countries: Tajikistan
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"Speaking to Radio Free Europe, Khurshed's family - who arranged the coupling - said their daughter told them on her deathbed that she had felt under massive pressure to accept Pirov's demands for a second wife and 'couldn't take it any longer'" (para. 3). "As of 2015, it is compulsory for both men and women to undergo medical check-ups before a wedding, but for women this often includes a test of 'purity'" (para. 11).
Sept. 26, 2018, 10:04 a.m.
Countries: Sudan
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"So, upon the advice of her lawyers, Saadia explained to the court that her husband had been absent for more than one year and on that basis pleaded not guilty to adultery. The judge (Altaher Khalifa) summoned Saadia’s husband, who had filed the adultery charges against her, and encouraged the couple to enter into an informal settlement. The man subsequently admitted that he had abandoned her for a year and withdrew his complaint" (para 4). A husband's absence for at least one year is base for divorce according to Islamic jurisprudence. Nonetheless, this shows that, despite the absence, women are expected to maintain fidelity even if the husband is away...more
Aug. 25, 2018, 10:05 a.m.
Countries: Brunei
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2, DSFMF-PRACTICE-3, DSFMF-PRACTICE-4

"While stoning is a method of punishment to be applied to both women and men, the victims in reported cases of stoning are overwhelmingly women. This stems from the fact that stoning is primarily used for crimes of adultery or other crimes related to moral or sexual conduct. Patriarchal and misogynist interpretations of religious laws – aimed at controlling women’s basic freedoms of movement and expression and control over their bodies – underlie judicial codes governing sexual relationships and the family" (Para 3).
March 23, 2018, 1:50 p.m.
Countries: Burundi
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2

"The Committee had « reiterate[d] its recommendation that the State party take the necessary steps to bring discriminatory laws, inter alia, the Code of the Person and the Family and the Penal Code, into line with the Convention. It strongly recommends amendment of the provisions that...establish discrimination with regard to adultery (article 3 of the Penal Code)" (9-10). This discrimination could possibly indicate a double standard regarding adultery and marriage fidelity (CODER COMMENT-BCT).
March 14, 2018, 6:54 p.m.
Countries: Senegal
Variables: DSFMF-PRACTICE-2, DTCP-LAW-1

"The Committee is concerned about: (a) The very long delay in revising discriminatory provisions of the Family Code; (b) The existence in the Family Code of numerous discriminatory provisions, including provisions relating to the different minimum age of marriage for girls and boys; the husband being the head of the household; the choice of the family’s place of residence being made by the husband; the father’s name being granted to the child; polygamy; discrimination in the consequences of breach of marriage; and discrimination against Muslim women with regard to their right to inheritance; (c) The persistent practices of polygamy, child and early marriages and levirate marriages, and the lack of...more