The News

IN THE NEWS

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-India-

The Women’s Wall

Violence against female worshippers of Kerala’s Sabarimala temple triggered one of the largest congregations of women in India on 1 January, as 5 million women formed a line across the southern Indian state to uphold their rights to equality of worship. Until recently, the popular Hindu pilgrimage site forbade entry to females of menstruating age. The ban was lifted by the supreme court in September 2018, but angry traditionalists and some male devotees have strongly opposed the motion. Many have protested outside government offices and even attacked women who tried to enter the temple.

-Hong Kong-

Better Sex Education

A survey released by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) in January revealed that one in four Hong Kong university students has been sexually harassed – but fewer than 3 per cent came forward about it. The first citywide survey of its kind polled 14,442 university students, with respondents citing the most common form of harassment as casual sexual comments or jokes. The EOC called for better sex education for students of all levels. “Awareness is the key but our study found a lot of students don’t know what sexual harassment is,” said Ferrick Chu, the EOC’s acting chief operation officer.

-Hong Kong-

The Big Delay

A report released in March by RainLily, a Hong Kong-based antisexual violence resource centre, revealed that victims under the age of 16 took an average of 13.2 years to seek support from the centre. Adults, by comparison, took an average of 1.2 years. The report analysed 3,611 cases of sexual crimes received between 2000 and June 2018. RainLily’s Executive Director Linda Wong Sau-yung attributes the delay in reporting to shame and Hong Kong's conservative culture which, she says, often blames victims rather than providing support.

-US-

More Trump Stunts

At the end of January, the United States Supreme Court voted 5-4 to grant a Trump administration request to lift injunctions blocking the policy that prohibits “transgender persons who require or have undergone gender transition” from joining the military. Requested to avoid “tremendous medical costs and disruption,” the ruling reverses an Obama administration policy that allowed transgender Americans to serve openly in the military and obtain funding for gender reassignment surgery. Though not mandated, the military has an option to enforce the ban. Army veterans from the transgender community have called the ruling “a hateful and cowardly policy.”

-Vatican-

The Pope’s Confession

During a tour of the Middle East in early February, Pope Francis openly acknowledged that Catholic clerics have sexually abused nuns. In one case, he revealed, his predecessor Pope Benedict dissolved an entire female congregation because the women had been conscripted into slavery, including sex slavery. The pope admitted that the problem is “still going on” but the Catholic Church is taking steps to address it.

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-Nigeria-

Sold into Slavery

Nigeria’s anti-trafficking agency NAPTIP reports that roughly 20,000 Nigerian girls have been forced into prostitution in Mali. According to intelligence, the girls were lured by human traffickers who promised employment in five-star restaurants in Malaysia, but were later sold to prostitution rings in Mali. While many of the girls became sex workers in hotels and nightclubs, some were sold as sex slaves to gold mining camps in northern parts of Mali. So far, the agency has rescued 104 girls from three brothels.

-Brunei-

Death by Stoning

On 3 April, Brunei implemented a law that will begin punishing residents who engage in homosexual sex or commit adultery with death by stoning. Based on Sharia law, the country's penal code also punishes thieves by amputating a hand or a foot. Despite widespread international criticism, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah said in a statement that the implementation was “a great achievement.”

-Portugal-

Mourning in March

Portugal declared 7 March a day of mourning for victims of domestic violence following a series of murders in early 2019. In January and February alone, Portugal documented 11 deaths – the highest number in a decade. In addition, more than 126 men were arrested for domestic violence in 2018. Activists also called for more severe punishments against the attackers.

-Global-

Out of the Shadows

An index released by the Economist Intelligence Unit in January warned that 21 of 40 countries examined lacked legal protections for boys within their child rape laws. Titled Out of the Shadows: Shining light on the response to child sexual abuse and exploitation, the study also found that only 5 out of 40 countries collect prevalence data for boys related to child sexual exploitation. Countries such as Britain, Sweden and Canada provide the best environment for children in terms of legal protection, government commitment and social engagement; while China, Vietnam and Pakistan ranked lowest.

CANCER IN FOCUS

The latest news on cancer in Hong Kong and Macao.

MONEY MATTERS

Hong Kong’s struggling public health care sector recently received a funding injection as part of the 2019–2020 budget. During an announcement in February,Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan earmarked HK$5 billion in funding for investing in new technologies and upgrading critical medical equipment, such asPET scan devices. In addition, the government increased the Hospital Authority’s annual budget from HK$71.2 billion in 2018–2019 to HK$80.6 billion in 2019–2020 – an uptick of more than 10 per cent. The announcement met criticism from medical practitioners who believed that the new equipment would not tackle the root of the problem: a severe manpower shortage.

TACKLING TUMOURS

Optune, a non-invasive electrical therapy that treats glioblastoma multiforme (an aggressive form of brain cancer) has been introduced in Hong Kong. A portable wearable device, Optune creates an electric field around brain tumours that aims to disrupt the growth of cancer cells. Yielding promising results in patients in the US and elsewhere, the groundbreaking therapy has been used to treat four patients in Hong Kong since September last year.

THE BIG SCREEN

In Macao, the government announced plans to introduce a lung cancer screening pilot programme for residents later this year. According to Kuok Cheong U,deputy director of the Health Bureau, the programme will use CT scans as the chosen method of detection.

ARIANA 2019