Opposition leader blocked in bid as Samoa s first female premier Pacific islands struggle with female political participation Samoa s gender quota rules under fire after April s tight poll
By Michael Taylor
May 25 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - An impasse between Samoa s incumbent prime minister and female opposition leader could see a backlash against gender quota rules in the small Pacific island nation and stop other women from entering politics across the region, analysts warned.
April s tightly-contested election gave the FAST opposition party led by Fiame Naomi Mata afa - who was bidding to become Samoa s first female premier - a one-seat parliamentary majority until poll authorities gave the ruling party an extra lawmaker to meet a 10% female representation rule.
Drones to digital: Asia, Africa find ways to plug COVID health gaps msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Lin Taylor
LONDON, May 2 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Caitlyn Jenner, a former Olympic gold medal winner and transgender activist, said on Sunday she did not support trans girls competing in female school sports as world sporting bodies debate whether trans women hold an unfair advantage.
Jenner, 71, said trans girls should not be allowed to compete in sports with other girls as it just isn t unfair . This is a question of fairness. That s why I oppose biological boys who are trans competing in girls sports in school. It just isn t fair, Jenner told entertainment media outlet TMZ.
Her comments came as dozens of U.S. states propose to ban transgender women and girls from competing in women s sports, in a move at odds with President Joe Biden s push for greater LGBT+ inclusion.
By Nita Bhalla, Thomson Reuters Foundation
4 Min Read
NAIROBI, April 28 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Twitter Inc’s decision to open its first African office in Ghana, citing it as a champion of democracy, is “a slap in the face” for sexual minorities in the country who suffer abuse and persecution, LGBT+ rights campaigners said on Wednesday.
The social media giant announced earlier this month that the West African nation was selected because it was a supporter of free speech, online freedom and the Open Internet - values which Twitter said it also advocated for.
But LGBT+ rights groups criticised the move, accusing the company of disregarding the plight of LGBT+ people in Ghana, where persecution is widespread and gay sex is punishable with up to three years in jail.