March 14, 2018 – Bridge Agents

A Struggle for Dignity: Women’s Rights in Afghanistan

March 14, 2018 Bridge Agents

Afghanistan (GV) – As the #MeToo movement triggered heated debates about sexual harassment around the world, feminists in Afghanistan were largely confined to watching its impact from the sidelines. Gains for women’s rights in the country in recent years have been incremental and accompanied by regular setbacks. As such, an indigenous #MeToo-type moment looks a long way off in a republic where deeply ingrained social conservatism and political power act to reinforce each other. Towards the end of last year, for the first time, three women won seats at the Maidan…

Trump Nominees’ Troubling History on Torture

March 14, 2018 Bridge Agents

(HRW) – In response to President Donald Trump’s nomination of Mike Pompeo to be Secretary of State and Gina Haspel as CIA Director please find the following response from Sarah Margon, Washington Director at Human Rights Watch: “US President Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Mike Pompeo to be Secretary of State and Gina Haspel to succeed him as CIA Director is deeply troubling because of their past endorsements of torture. “During his CIA confirmation hearing on January 12, 2017, Pompeo failed to unequivocally disavow the US government’s use of torture…

Violence against women crossing the border

March 14, 2018 Bridge Agents

(Journalist’s Resource) – Every year, hundreds of thousands attempt to cross the southwestern border into the United States. These migrants, who largely come from Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala, face a journey fraught with violence and danger, especially for women. But those women who attempt to leave their native countries often face certain violence at home. The promise of the migrant trail beckons, even with its perils: Border crossing guides — otherwise known as coyotes — might make their help conditional on sexual favors. Women generally are outnumbered by men…

US Army Launches Video Game to Help Combat Sexual Harassment

March 14, 2018 Bridge Agents

United States (Sputnik) – The Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT) recently launched new training software in support of the US Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program. The software is designed to help train the US Army’s command teams in how to respond to and prevent sexual harassment and assault in the military. The newly-released software was developed by the ICT alongside the US Army Research Laboratory. It is part of the Emergent Leader Immersive Training Environment Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Command Team Trainer, or ELITE SHARP CTT. It will be used by the…

‘Pro-Torture Picks’: Human Rights Watch Slams Pompeo’s Appointment

March 14, 2018 Bridge Agents

(Sputnik) – “Given their histories, the potential for Pompeo and Haspel to endorse abusive practices and lend support for their use abroad should convince the Senate to reject both nominations,” the release said on Tuesday. President Donald Trump announced earlier in the day he was replacing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with current CIA Director Mike Pompeo. Gina Haspel, a CIA deputy director, was tapped to take Pompeo’s job. The advocacy group said Pompeo has not denounced the US government’s use of interrogation techniques and mass surveillance. Therefore, the Human Rights Watch warned Pompeo’s views would hurt the international community,…