Female voices rang out loud and clear during massive protests that brought down the authoritarian rule of Tunisian President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. Women in Tunisia are unique in the Arab world for enjoying near equality with men. And they are anxious to maintain their status. In Tunis, old ladies, young girls and women [...]

The Burmese government is set to table new legislation that could allow workers to establish trade unions. The proposal has been welcomed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which says it’s working with the Burmese government to improve workers’ rights in the impoverished nation. The ILO’s representative in Burma, Steve Marshall, says it’s a significant [...]

Gul Bibi pulls back her light blue scarf to reveal faded tribal tattoos and sad, almond eyes. She has not seen any of her three children, or any other family members, in the five months she has languished in prison. Her “crime”: running away from a husband who viciously beat her throughout their nine-year marriage, [...]

Worldwide Urgent Appeal: Beijing: Nationwide Massive Cracking Down of China Human Rights Defenders surrounding the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony for Liu Xiaobo (Anybody can feel free to use the following information freely. Contact info for further verification is provided in the end.) Democratic Party of China, of which many members exiled outside of China, issued [...]

Presented by Vernie Yocogan-Diano, on behalf of Innabuyog, an alliance of indigenous women’s organizations in the Cordillera, Philippines,  on 9 December 2010 during the Gawad Tanggol Karapatan or Awards for Cordillera human rights defenders by the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance in observance of the International Human Rights Day. Ina (mother) or Alapo (grandmother) Endena Cogasi [...]

In many ways, Lan Yimin represents the new generation of Chinese factory workers. She wants fair working conditions. Time off to socialize. And a job that pays enough so she can open a milk tea business one day. Lan, 22, is one of millions of migrant workers powering the electronics, furniture and toy factories in [...]

Trade unions from across Asia and Europe, gathered in Brussels for the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Leaders’ Summit, are calling on ASEM Leaders to take action on Burma, including demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and the ending of attacks on the civilian population, particularly ethnic communities and democracy supporters, according to [...]

Fifteen months after the end of fighting between Sri Lankan government forces and the Tamil Tigers, women in the north are taking up a new and challenging role as breadwinners – with more and more becoming day labourers to support their families, said IRIN Asia. A survey conducted by the Jaffna-based Center for Women and Development, [...]

The testimonies of women workers confirm the Israeli employment offices policy to systematically cut the income and unemployment benefits of Arab women by listing them as refusals to work. Report published by Sawt el Amel- Laborers Voice – Nazareth – September 2010 During the past years Sawt el Amel has received and registered hundreds of [...]

She may have been detained, silenced and barred from all political activity in Burma, but Aung San Suu Kyi’s struggle for democracy was recognized on Monday when she received en absentia an honorary individual membership title from the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), according to the Irrawaddy News. CALD is a regional alliance [...]