The Global Gender Gap Report is an annual study compiled by the World Economic Forum. This report includes 130 countries (which represents over 93% of the world’s population). It uses a series of economic, political, and social criteria to assess a nation’s ability to provide equal opportunities to both men and women. The four areas of focus in this report are economic opportunity, educational attainment, health, and political empowerment. According the 2012 Global Gender Gap Report New Zealand ranked sixth.
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Twenty years ago South Africa hosted its first post-Apartheid election. On April 27, 1994 the African National Congress (ANC) won 62.65% of the national vote. Nearly twenty million South Africans voted in that historic election. The ANC won seven of South Africa’s nine provinces. This day celebrates the struggle for clean elections, human rights, and democracy. Freedom Day also marks the beginning of Nelson Mandela’s Presidency. President Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) because he believed in a person’s right to political self-determination. He had the courage to question authority and build an international condemnation against Apartheid. Although he spent twenty-seven years in prison, he managed to become the President of South Africa. President Mandela played an influential role in shaping public policy. His dedication to advancing the well-being of humanity sets a paradigm for other leaders to follow. During his career he championed for universal education, affordable housing, and clean elections.
Federal elections in Australia are scheduled for next month. As the campaign season comes to an end, I can say that I am very disappointed at how the Australian Labor Party (ALP) has reached out to voters.
The Progressive Alliance formed on May 22, 2013 by political parties currently and formerly affiliated with Socialist International. This organization aims to promote progressive values and stresses the importance of democracy, freedom, transparency, and justice. The organization started shortly after the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP) refused to pay their membership dues to Socialist International. SDP Chairman Sigmar Gabriel refused to pay Socialist International any money until the organization expelled political tyrants from Africa and the Middle East. In recent years Socialist International has received criticism for admitting political parties connected to corruption. For instance, the Pakistan People's Party is still a member of Socialist International despite being accused of past human rights violations. Socialist International houses corrupt political parties such the Alliance for Democracy in Mali and Yemeni Socialist Party. Gabriel has been critical of Socialist International's admittance and continuing inclusion of undemocratic “despotic” political movements.
In 1979 the United Nations adopted an international treaty to stop discrimination against women. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was intended to serve as an international bill of rights for women. Key provisions include: rejection of violence against women, equality of men and women under the law, and to ensure that women participate in decision-making (at all levels). This treaty came into force on September 3, 1981. As of July 2011, 187 countries have ratified or acceded to this treaty.
On June 30, 2009 North Carolina became the sixth state to enact a comprehensive anti-bullying law. Governor Beverly Perdue signed the School Violence Prevention Act (SB 526) which protected LGBT students from being bullied in public schools. SB 526 was landmark legislation because it was the first gay rights bill to pass the North Carolina legislature in over thirty years. Since SB 526 was passed, the number of states with anti-bullying laws has tripled. Today at least 18 states have enacted legislation similar to the School Violence Prevention Act. Below is a map of states with anti-bullying laws. The states shaded in dark blue are the states that protect LGBT students from being bullied.
I'm very disappointed at the United States Supreme Court because their ruling(s) on same-sex marriage did not go far enough. In 2006 South Africa became the fifth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. In Minister of Home Affairs v. Fourie the Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled 8-1 that Parliament must enact same-sex marriage legislation within a twelve month period.
Australia is the only developed country in the world to not incorporate a Bill of Rights or Human Rights Act into their constitution. For over a hundred years politicians in Australia have debated human rights legislation, however each time this issue has been debated it has never been met with success. The National Human Rights Consultation process lasted for several months. During this period, political leaders met with citizens to discuss the Human Rights Act. Over 10,000 Australians sent submissions to the government regarding this issue. According to Amnesty International, more than 80% of those submissions were in favor of passing a Human Rights Act. Despite overwhelming support, the Australian Labor Party shelved a proposal to add a Human Rights Act into their Constitution in 2010.
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Gabriel FilerThis blog started as a place to dump my thoughts as I tried to wade through the complexity of this world. It also serves as a platform to put my ideas out into the ethers. Archives
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