Japanese human rights groups have called for legislation banning discrimination against sexual minorities after Prime Minister Kishida Fumio dismissed a top aide for offensive comments on same-sex couples.

LGBT equality advocates call for ban on discrimination against sexual minorities

The ICCPR Act, modelled on an international human rights treaty meant to prohibit national, racial and religious hatred, has been distorted in Sri Lanka to punish blasphemy and target minorities

Himal South Asian

How a human rights law became a tool of repression in Sri Lanka

Public boards should reflect the diversity of society and welcome a range of skills and experience.

UK Government

UK encouraging diversity in public appointments

The 38% cut in funds for minorities in the Union Budget is a cold fact that BJP leaders can’t fudge

Deccan Herald

The real picture behind BJP’s outreach to minorities

As an education professional and a founder of a successful EdTech company, I have often encountered situations where a woman possesses the necessary skills to succeed but something holds her back from moving forward.

Forbes

How Inspiration Can Play A Key Role In Women’s Empowerment And Self-Confidence

Making it simpler for someone to legally change their gender is part of new proposals being unveiled by the Welsh government.

Wales aim to make it easier to change gender 

Reproductive diseases are linked to environmental contaminants such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals — parabens, plastics, xenoestrogens and pesticides all have hormone-disrupting compounds that can lead to health issues. Decades of research suggest links between these environmental toxins and diseases like endometriosis, PCOS, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.


National Observer 

Canadian women deserve tough environmental laws to protect them from dangerous toxic chemicals

As the protest against the planned judicial coup grows, so do the voices calling for compromises and concessions “from both sides.” Chief among them is President Isaac Herzog, pushing his outline for a compromise deal from his cozy perch straddling the proverbial fence. But to those who truly fear that Israeli democracy will lose the leftover crumbs of liberalism, so all that remains is the hollow shell of a majoritarian democracy.

Haaretz

Which Minority Will Suffer the Most From Israel's Judicial Overhaul?

he incident comes just months ahead of Japan hosting the Group of 7 of which it's the only country that doesn't recognize same-sex unions

Fox News

Japan fires aide for anti-LGBTQ comments: 'Outrageous'

Dublin seeks to modify constitutional article stipulating that domestic chores are a woman’s ‘life and duties’

Financial Times

A woman’s place is in the home? Why Ireland will vote on outdated law

The National Democratic Institute published its periodic poll. Much of the discussion focused on its findings related to Georgia’s foreign policy orientation and the rate of confidence in institutions and political parties. But the data is also interesting for unpacking the attitudes of the ethnic minority populations, gauging similarities and differences in their outlook towards national issues.

Civil Georgia

Close, yet far: What does the NDI poll tell us about ethnic minorities?

How Susan Faludi’s feminist classic predicted this moment.

The mounting, undeniable Me Too backlash

On 24 January, UNESCO dedicated the day to girls and women in Afghanistan who have been deprived of their right to education and has been calling for the immediate lifting of the ban restricting their access to school.

UNESCO

Three inspiring Afghan women call on the international community to urgently support girls’ and women's education

The long history of Black entrepreneurship in D.C. has led to a thriving Black business community, one that spans fashion, food, music, wellness, and other areas.

DCist

5 Local Black-Owned Businesses To Check Out This Black History Month (Or Anytime)

Utkarsh Saxena and Ananya Kotia's love story began just like any other college romance. Except no one else knew about the gay couple's relationship.



NPR 

In India, couples begin their legal battle for same-sex marriage

Their fight for diversity and inclusion in farming culture echoes the womyn’s land movement from the 60s and 70s



The Guardian

Radishes and rainbows: the LGBTQ growers reimagining the traditional family farm

LGBTQ+ activists have staged a defiant protest in Afghanistan to draw attention to the United States’ failure to offer protection from the Taliban.

Pink News

Brave Afghans risk their lives to stage powerful LGBTQ+ protest ‘under the noses of the Taliban

The report predicts that the region will experience more extreme weather conditions in the coming decades, which will have serious consequences for vulnerable and marginalized populations, including increased heatwaves and flash floods.

Modern Diplomacy

Women and Climate Change in South Asia

This group of tenacious women entrepreneurs and advocates is changing Sierra Leone’s business culture and economy


Quartz

A new Sierra Leone law finally allows women to get bank loans

The world is still full of danger zones for gay, lesbian transgender travellers, writes Des Houghton.

Sky News Australia

The safest - and most dangerous - travel destinations for LGBTQ+ tourists as Singapore decriminalises sex between men

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said “extreme caution” was needed in allowing same-sex marriage, blocking calls in parliament to give legal status to the unions that would bring Japan in line with Group of Seven peers as it prepares to host a summit in May.



Bloomberg

Japan’s Kishida Rebuffs Calls for Marriage Equality Ahead of G-7

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday unveiled the Union Budget for fiscal 2023-24 which aims to boost growth amid concerns about the impact of the global slowdown on the Indian economy.


CNBC

Budget's call-out for inclusive development, women empowerment a matter of pride, says Akasa Air CEO

Former New Zealand international Maia Jackman said Saudi sponsorship of the Women's World Cup would be in "complete opposition" to female empowerment and set back her work as an ambassador for the tournament.


Reuters

World Cup ambassador says Saudi sponsorship would be 'disempowering' for women

Women fishers and environmental activists thank the UK for its legislative support to protect the environment of Baja California Sur.

GOV.UK

The UK supports the protection of the environment in Mexico

A suburban Philadelphia school district has issued rules about what books can go in its libraries and what posters can be placed on classroom walls. Critics say the rules stigmatize LGBTQ students.



Encore: Suburban Philadelphia school district accused of stigmatizing LGBTQ students

Sky News host Paul Murray says the idea of protesting a funeral is “wrong” as an LGBTQ group plans to rally outside Cardinal George Pell’s funeral on Thursday over views he held.



‘Not the way we do things’: LGBTQ group plans protest for Cardinal Pell’s funeral

A coalition of leading public health organizations on Tuesday praised the administration’s response to the mpox outbreak but raised red flags about the nation’s continued “lack of readiness” to swiftly respond to health threats or emergencies.



The Hill

Public health, LGBTQ advocacy groups say nation remains unprepared for next outbreak

Sophie Walker is the host of the highly successful podcast, Australian Birth Stories, which interviews women about what it's really like to have a baby.
She's just co-written a book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, to help educate and empower women before they give birth.



ABC News Australia

New book aims to empower women before they give birth

Sanofi's study highlighted a lack of trust in the entire medical system across groups who have historically had bad experiences with health care providers.


Fortune

People are much less likely to trust the medical system if they are from an ethnic minority, have disabilities, or identify as LGBTQ+, according to a first-of-its-kind study by Sanofi

Women’s economic independence and gender inequality will be the two main topics of a meeting in June of women’s empowerment ministers from the Group of Seven major countries, Masanobu Ogura, state minister in charge of women’s empowerment, said Sunday.

The Japan News

Women’s Economic Independence to Be Discussed at G-7 Meeting in June

How are you going to ensure your messaging and actions actually move the needle for gender equality?



GreenBiz

What NOT to do on International Women’s Day

LGBTQ gamers who spoke with NBC News said the third episode of the series, focusing on a queer romance, gave them hope for the future of video games.


NBC News

HBO's 'The Last of Us' adaptation is a milestone for LGBTQ gamers

The Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) field has taken justifiable criticism in the past for token gestures and performance activism. Moving beyond this can tricky – in order to pave the way for general inclusion, you need to do some deliberate inclusion, which can feel forced or tread too close to positive discrimination, and lead to people thinking you aren’t acting authentically. 



Co-Production: How To Move Beyond Token Gestures For Diversity And Inclusion In 2023

This year’s event is themed on queer contributions to cinema, with screenings, museum tours, talks and exhibitions from Glasgow to Margate



February is LGBTQ+ history month: here are 10 of the best places to celebrate it

Ever since President Vladimir Putin signed into law new rules banning the promotion of "nontraditional" sexual relationships in December, books have been pulled from shelves and movies have been banned.



DW News

Russia bans LGBTQ-friendly content under new law

The New York Rangers celebrated their seventh annual Pride Night Friday, but there was something noticeably missing from the celebration.
After previously advertising that the team would wear pride-themed jerseys and use rainbow tape in warmups, players did neither.



Rangers bail on wearing LGBTQ-themed warmup jerseys on Pride Night

Head of Anglican church in South Sudan said archbishop of Canterbury was ‘failing to defend biblical truth’



Pope and Justin Welby to visit South Sudan amid tensions over LGBTQ+ rights

The cycle of police violence and protest in America has so often been told as a story of white officers shooting Black men that three words — “Black lives matter” — stand as global shorthand.



Los Angeles Times

What Tyre Nichols’ death at the hands of Black officers says about race in policing

The German parliament for the first time on Friday focused its annual Holocaust memorial commemorations on people persecuted and killed over their sexual or gender identity during World War II.

German parliament officially commemorates LGBTQ victims of Nazi regime for first time

The organization says needs assessment will help inform future programming and events


Windsor-Essex Pride Fest looking to hear from LGBTQ community in new survey

Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chairman Ieuan Evans is to be questioned in the Senedd amid accusations of sexism, racism and misogyny at the governing body.



WRU chairman to face Senedd committee over sexism scandal

Meta and other technology companies long have struggled to recruit a diverse workforce.

The Washington Post

Women, minorities lose ground in tech layoffs

When Oscar winner Mahershala Ali and his producing partners made the rounds last year, pitching an adaptation of Jean Hanff Korelitz’s bestselling novel “The Plot,” it sparked a bidding war.



With ‘1619,’ ‘Summer of Soul’ and ‘The Plot,’ Disney’s diverse storytelling brand is making waves

The sudden media interest in Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old man who died earlier this month after being viciously beaten by Memphis Police officers less than 100 yards from his home, feels in many ways inevitable.




Politico

‘Diversity alone won’t change policing’

A Non-Profit Organisation, NGO, Female in WASH, FEMinWASH, on Thursday, called on the Federal Government, FG, to as a matter of urgency include women across Nigeria in water supplies, as part of ways to facilitate the process of sustainable water development in the country.



Vanguard

Stakeholders urged to address marginalization of women in sustainable water devt

Dr David Bell, former staff governor at the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust, on its Gender Identity Development Service

Gender identity treatment needs greater caution

Professional hockey claims to want greater diversity but won’t stand up to criticism.



The Atlantic

The NHL Is Gutless

Zara owner Inditex has pledged to a workforce of more diverse abilities within two years.

Zara Boss Pledges To Double Disabled Workforce Within Two Years

National LGBT Chamber of Commerce Teams Up with Grubhub For Another Year of Grants to Aid in Growth and Development



PR Newswire

$1.5 Million in New Grants Will Support LGBTQ+-Owned and Allied Restaurants

This article highlights four ways that anti-blackness shows up in the DEI space

4 Ways Anti-Blackness Shows Up In DEI

Social Responsibility | Diversity & Inclusion

Italy has become the latest country to join the U.S.-led Mineral Security Partnership that promotes ethical mining.

Italy Joins US-Led Mineral Security Partnership for Ethical Mining

In an important opinion, Vice Chancellor Laster denied a motion to dismiss a derivative lawsuit alleging that the former head of human resources for global fast food company McDonald’s breached his fiduciary duties by 
(i) consciously ignoring red flags regarding sexual harassment and misconduct at the company and 
(ii) personally engaging in sexual harassment.

Harvard Law School

Corporate Officers, Not Just Directors, Can Be Liable for Duty of Oversight Violations

The European Union increasingly relies on regional cooperation to govern climate change outside its borders. But what explains the EU’s engagement in climate governance in the European neighbourhood?

Managing climate cooperation in the EU’s neighbourhood

There’s a growing urgency for cities and counties to go green.

American City and County

Residents ask government leaders to show measurable sustainability results and triumphs

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are facing increasing pressure to demonstrate their commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.

Global Banking & Finance Reveiw

SMEs weather the economic storm: How ESGs can help build resilience

The financial regulator pressured banks to improve corporate governance and raise transparency.

Korea JoongAng Daily

FSS pressures banks to improve corporate governance, raise transparency

New research on ESG metrics reveals the five factors that organizations should focus on that show real impact.

Fast Company

ESG investors have good intentions, but there's a better way to measure corporate impact and helath

Climate quitting is a movement with inspired by a growing awareness of the climate crisis and a global need to make sweeping and immediate societal changes.

CeoWorld 

Employers Need to Understand Climate Quitting

Mainstream private-equity funds need to ramp up data gathering to demonstrate how ESG issues are integrated in their investment processes

South China Morning Post

ESG reporting: Asian private-equity firms must pull up socks amid mounting regulatory and investor scrutiny

In the Amazon and elsewhere, nature’s last best hope is a hodgepodge of forces.

Foreign Policy

Who Shapes Environmental Policy Worldwide?

Human element of public management becomes a cause for the synergy between the ends and means of development as well as for restoring the capacity of societies to shape economic institutions in consistent with the social and cultural priorities of peoples.

Telegraph Nepal

Nepal: Public Sector Management, Governance and Sustainable Human Development

Sustainability and sustainable development are familiar concepts in the corporate world. Sustainable development involves creating goals relating to humanity's environmental, social and economic challenges.

How The Outsourcing Industry Can Help In The Push For Sustainable Development

This edition of the Democracy Index examines the state of global democracy in 2022.

Economist Intelligence Unit

Frontline democracy and the battle for Ukraine

There are a variety of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”)-related regulations applicable to federally and provincially incorporated companies; however, the focus of this chapter will be on public companies that qualify as “reporting issuers”

JD Supra

Environmental, Social & Governance Law 2023 - Canada

This episode of the Governance Matters podcast looks at academic research revealing how women can negotiate traditional social expectations to have more influence in the boardroom

Governance Matters

How women directors can navigate a ‘double bind’

“Abysmal” roads and political fear-mongering about co-governance are two of the key issues Far North Mayor Moko Tepania plans to raise with national leaders as they descend on Waitangi this weekend.

NZ Herald

‘Abysmal’ roads, co-governance ‘fear-mongering’ hot topics for Far North Mayor at Waitangi

When, in December 2022, the Chinese carmaker BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s biggest seller of electric cars, the news resounded round the world like thunder in a clear sky. The performance was coupled with price cuts of almost 20% that Tesla had to concede to stay in the Chinese market. Clearly, not a single company, even those acclaimed as tech stars of the Silicon Valley, seems to be able to stand in the way of Chinese ventures.

How Chinese Strategy Ate Western Strategy For Breakfast

Members of the Lords will discuss the main principles and purpose of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill during second reading

Lords debates Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill

Turkish CEOs discuss how they are working to solve one of the biggest challenges facing humanity.

Bain & Company

ESG Is Not a Solo Game in Türkiye

New research shows that 25% of directors say their next board member hire would need to fill a skills gap at the table

Business Wire

75% Of Corporate Directors Say Their Roles and Responsibilities Are Expanding,

In the Deloitte Global Boardroom Program’s latest Frontier survey, both board members and executives agree trust is important and think it’s their responsibility. But few include stakeholder trust-building in their corporate governance strategy. What’s stopping them?

Deloitte

How boards are nurturing and measuring stakeholder trust

We are honored to recognize and thank the most-read experts and change-makers who are shaping the ESG debate on illuminem.com.

illuminem Voices

How Companies Can Create Value That Truly Lasts

The 9th edition of the Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa’s (IIASA) Corporate Governance Index (CGI) report has revealed that in the past two years, organisations have been directing efforts to improve corporate governance ratings, as part of their strategic priority objectives.

Corporate Governance Index shows improvement but new areas of concern are emerging

Since the Department of Labor released its environmental, social, and governance guidance in November, investors have been asking when they will see conscientious choices in their 401(k)s.

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