Archives > February 2007
Junta Accused of 'State-Sanctioned' Sexual Crimes
The Irrawaddy News Magazine - Chiang Mai, Thailand, February 28, 2007
Two ethnic women - one a US citizen and another fighting for the cause from Mizoram - Tuesday urged the international community to save Burmese women from ‘state-sanctioned’ sexual crimes.
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Film About Homosexuality May Not be Screened at Siff
Channel News Asia - Singapore, February 28, 2007
Singapore director Kan Lume wants to "fire up" audiences with his new film, which may not be too difficult considering its theme.
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Pleasure ka funda goes Away
Times of India - New Delhi, India, February 27, 2007
The organizers of the All India Conference of Entertainment Workers (AICEW) are attempting to blur the lines between sex workers and showbiz people by projecting both the groups as ‘providers of entertainment’.
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Erotic Literature by Women in Indonesia
Daily Times - Lahore, Pakistan, February 26, 2007
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, is ground zero for a fledgling literary movement whose topic is sex and whose practitioners are women, says a report in the LA Times.
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Petition Filed Opposing Gender Testing
Hindustan Times - New Delhi, India, February 26, 2007
A petition was filed in the Bombay High Court on Monday opposing a plea by a couples seeking amendment of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (prohibition of Sex Selection) Rules 1996, so that they can go for sex selection and have a son since they already have two daughters.
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Action Plan Devised to Curb Sex Tourism: CM
Navhind Times - Panjim, India, February 25, 2007
Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day workshop on ‘Prevention and combating human trafficking with special focus on children and women’ at a South Goa resort, Mr Rane revealed that a Goa state action plan has been devised with a code of conduct for foreign tourists who visit the state to curb the growing menace of trafficking of women and children, which lead to prostitution and paedophilia.
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Sex Workers: Call Us Entertainment Workers
Kolkata Newsline - New Delhi, India, February 25, 2007
At the All-India Conference of Entertainment Workers 2007 that kicked off today, the struggle by the sex workers for gaining a specific identification for themselves was seen as a pivotal issue.
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Gender Imbalance Leaves Many Chinese Men Single
India eNews.com - Gurgaon, India, February 24, 2007
Chinese men born after the 1970s could find it difficult to find a spouse as many more boys were born than girls since the 1980s, says a report of the China Juvenile Research Centre (CJRC).
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All India Conference of Sex Workers Demand Rights
Hindustan Times - New Delhi, India, February 24, 2007
The first ever all India conference of sex workers is to be organised by the recently formed Binodini Sramik Union led by Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee. Sex workers and other entertainment workers from across the country are expected to take part in this conference with the prime focus of it being the demand for the right to be called ‘entertainment workers’.
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Country’s Rural Teenagers to Receive Sex Education Lessons
Viet Nam News - Hanoi, Vietnam, February 22, 2007
The number of teens having unprotected sex is higher in rural areas than in cities, according to a report from the Reproductive Health Project for Adolescents.
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Andhra Government Screens HIV in the Police Force
Desicritics.org - Bangalore, India, February 22, 2007
The Andhra Pradesh government changing the Police Manual so that HIV positive patients are now excluded from serving in the police force. This policy was set aside by the High Court, and when the matter reached the Supreme Court, it asked the central government for an opinion.
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Need to Look at MSM Beyond HIV/AIDS Stressed
KanglaOnline - India, February 22, 2007
With the HIV/AIDS angle added to it, the issue of Male having Sex with Male (MSM) has come to acquire a different manifestation leading to double stigma.
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Training Sex Educators to Empower Young Minds
Daily News & Analysis - Mumbai, India, February 21, 2007
As statistics on all forms of sexual abuse show an alarming increase, a non government organisation — the Heart to Heart Counselling Centre — has stepped in to help reduce the instances by imparting “sound and scientific” knowledge about human sexuality.
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Voices from the Street: Street Comics for Young Men on Sexuality
Business Wire India - New Delhi, India, February 20, 2007
A series of Street Comics to promote responsible sexual behaviour among young men of India was launched by Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar.
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Homosexuality May Exist in the Domain of Our Own Family, Friends
Pune Newsline - Pune, India, February 20, 2007
Writers, scholars and gay rights activists spoke their minds on the issue on the sidelines of the three-day international workshop on queer literature and cinema at the University of Pune.
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Gay Domestic Violence Rampant in China
The Advocate - Los Angeles, USA, February 17, 2007
A new Hong Kong study reveals that domestic abuse is especially prevalent in China's gay community. Gay men and lesbians in China are 60% more likely to abuse their partners than straight couples.
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Homosexuality in South Asia: Men and Masti
Blogcritics.org - Aurora, USA, February 16, 2007
Basically, it is a continuation of the subcontinental ‘don't ask, don't tell’ policy as regards to all matters sexual. As long as a man does not openly exhibit his bisexuality or homosexuality, the man is merely up to some mischief. As soon as he comes out of the closet, he is a pervert.
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Women Targeted as 'Brides,' Subjected to Physical and Sexual Attacks
WorldNetDaily - Grants Pass, USA, February 16, 2007
Thousands of North Korean women who fled famine in their homeland in recent years are believed to have been sold as ‘brides’ to Chinese men, who often put them to backbreaking labor and subject them to constant fear, physical assault, and sexual abuse.
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China’s Gays Hold Valentine’s Day Protest for Same-Sex Marriage
The Advocate - Los Angeles, USA, February 16, 2007
Gays and lesbians in Beijing used Valentine’s Day to make the first public appeal for the legalization of same-sex marriage in China. During a busy lunch hour in the capital’s central business district several protesters handed out red carnations wrapped in flyers calling for the public support of same-sex unions.
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Kolkata to Host Meet on Sexual Pleasure
Andhra Cafe - Hyderabad, India, February 16, 2007
The All India Conference of Entertainment Workers (AICEW) starting Feb 25 is billed as the biggest and first such meet of entertainment workers that blurs the line between sex workers and showbiz people as providers of entertainment.
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Thai Actress Dressed Down for Revealing Gown
Reuters India - Mumbai, India, February 16, 2007
A student and aspiring actress who appeared in a revealing dress at the Thai equivalent of the Oscars has been given two weeks community service by her university as punishment for undermining morality.
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Camera Conscious
Delhi Newsline - Delhi, India, February 15, 2007
’I don’t mind prefixes to my name,’ says photographer Sunil Gupta. ‘I’ve been called coloured, gay and HIV-positive. They are all a part of me and feed my work.”’
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Thai Ladyboy Band Hopes to Hit the High Notes
Reuters India - Mumbai, India, February 15, 2007
Five beauties, questionable singing abilities, great dance moves and the skimpiest of outfits: ‘Venus Flytrap’ fits the girl band cliché in every respect but one. These Thai girls used to be boys.
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Feature: War Never Ends for ‘Comfort Women’
Xinhua - Beijing, China, February 15, 2007
O'Herne, who now lives in Australia, was one of the three women sexually enslaved by the Japanese military during World War II and testified Thursday on the Capitol before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment, a subsidiary of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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Chinese Director Faces Blacklist with New Movie
Reuters Canada - Toronto, Canada, February 15, 2007
Li’s third movie, "Lost in Beijing," tells the story of two families, one rich and one poor, thrust together in harsh circumstances in China's booming capital. Shining a light on class conflict and modern sexuality, "Lost" rocked the state's notoriously prudish censors. Li submitted the 112-minute original five times only to have censors ban it.
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Domestic Abuse More Serious Among Gays Hong Kong Study Says
365Gay.com - USA, February 15, 2007
A new study on domestic abuse shows that gays and lesbians are 60 percent more likely to be battered by partners than people in opposite-sex relationships.
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Controversial Sexologist Backs Down Sex Talk
China Daily - China, February 14, 2007
Li Yinhe, a noted sexologist and professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), who is expected to propose for a fourth time that gay marriage be legalized in China at this year's Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), just wrote in her personal blog about her decision to refrain from interviews and talk about sex because of pressure from above.
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Advocacy Group Steps Up Campaign for Contraceptive Self-Reliance
Philippine Information Agency - Philippines, February 14, 2007
To anticipate the adverse effects after the foreign supplies of contraceptives will be totally phased out by the end of this year, the Samar Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (SRHAN) will step up its advocacy campaign of contraceptive self-reliance to the local government.
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Chinese State Media Report Bogus Viagra Factory Raided by Police
Canada.com - Hamilton, Canada, February 14, 2007
Beijing police have raided an underground factory making fake Viagra pills, the anti-impotence drug, state media reported Wednesday.
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Teens and Risky Behaviour
Financial Express.bd - Bangladesh, February 12, 2007
Nowadays HIV-AIDS is a complex problem in the world. It is spreading faster among teenagers than any other group and a global strategy is essential aiming at fighting the pandemic among the teenagers.
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Increasing Number of Women in India Serving as Surrogate Mothers
Kaiser network.org - Washington, USA, February 6, 2007
There are no official figures on the number of surrogate births in India, but it estimated that about 100 to 150 occur annually in India, with the number of failed surrogacy attempts estimated to be much higher.
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Life Lived Well
Kolkata Newsline - New Delhi, India
In Kolkata, Leila Seth talks about being the first woman chief justice in a High Court, her dilemma in revealing family tit bits, son Vikram’s coming out of the closet and on writing her autobiography, On Balance.
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Sex Workers Clean Kerala's Streets
CNN-IBN - New Delhi, India, February 11, 2007
The Kerala State AIDS Control Society in a study in 2004-05 says around 5500 women and 3400 men are engaged in sex work in different parts of the state.
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Lady Chatterley Affair Still Potent, Says Director
Reuters India - Mumbai, India, February 11, 2007
According to the French film-director Pascale Ferran, ‘it is almost 80 years since D.H. Lawrence wrote "Lady Chatterley's Lover", but its celebration of erotic self-awakening still resonates today’. Pascale Ferran has filmed the English classic.
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Gender Identity Disorder Cases on Rise in Bihar
Hindustan Times - New Delhi, India, February 10, 2007
Cases of gender identity disorder (GID) are on the increase in Bihar, reveal top andrologists of the country Dr Suresh Kotwal and Dr Vijay Kulkari.
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Opting For Poor Lifestyles, Mumbai Lies Low by Impotence
Daily News & Analysis - Mumbai, India, February 10, 2007
An estimated 90 million Indian men are impotent. Erectile dysfunction — which occurs when blood vessels harden, hampering the flow of blood to the penis — affects men of all age groups, across societies, communities and races.
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Women’s Group Proposes Stricter Rape Laws
The Hankyoreh - South Korea, February 9, 2007
A women’s organization has suggested rewriting a sex crime-related law in order to punish a broader number of those who ‘induce sexual acts without consent.’
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India Sex Museum Makes HIV Lessons Fun
Reuters India - Mumbai, India, February 9, 2007
A rare sex museum in Mumbai, the country's teeming financial capital, is drawing hundreds of prostitutes and their regular clients who say they learn more about HIV/AIDS from its graphic exhibits than staid lectures on safe sex.
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Sex Workers Fight for Rights
Hindustan Times - New Delhi, India, February 9, 2007
With the desire to be an industrial strong work force, Binodini Sramik Union (BSU) or the Union of Entertainment Workers of India was formally launched in the city on Tuesday.
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Ulema’s Role Sought in Promoting Awareness of Family Planning
The News - International - Pakistan, February 9, 2007
Speakers at a seminar on Thursday emphasised the role of Ulema in promoting correct knowledge on reproductive health and encouraging people to adopt birth spacing for healthier families.
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Buddhist Monk Embraces Condoms
오마이뉴스 - South Korea, February 7, 2007
Religion is usually the last frontline that provides security and spiritual guidance to help both individuals and communities to deal with disasters and problems such as HIV and AIDS.
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Increasing Number of Women in India Serving as Surrogate Mothers
Kaiser network.org - Washington, USA, February 6, 2007
There are no official figures on the number of surrogate births in India, but it estimated that about 100 to 150 occur annually in India, with the number of failed surrogacy attempts estimated to be much higher.
Read more..
Pfizer Loses Ground in Hard Fight Over Viagra Rights
Business Report - Johannesburg, South Africa, February 5, 2007
According to a court employee US drug maker Pfizer has lost a round in its legal battles with Chinese rivals over rights to names for its popular anti-impotence drug Viagra.
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Shedding Inhibitions Over Condom
Daily News & Analysis - Mumbai, India, February 5, 2007
Findings from a survey conducted by Synovate India across north Indian cities showed that two out of every five men cited embarrassment in buying condoms as a reason for not using them.
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IIU Pro-Homosexuality Female Professor Sparks Protests
The News - International – Pakistan, February 5, 2007
Higher Education Commission has hired a pioneer supporter of Muslim lesbians and gays as associate professor in none other than Asuluddin (Islamic jurisprudence) faculty in women campus of International Islamic University (IIU).
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States, UTs Yet to Give Response on HIV/AIDS Draft Bill
Hindu - Chennai, India, February 5, 2007
For people facing stigma and discrimination due to their HIV status, relief seems a bit far off as the National AIDS Control Organisation's letter seeking comments on the HIV/AIDS draft Bill from all the States, UTs and two key Ministries have hardly got any response.
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Nepal Gives Legal Status to Transgender for the First Time
Zee News - Noida, India, February 4, 2007
In a first for Nepal, a transgender person has been given a citizenship certificate which gives special recognition to the gender.
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Anti-HIV Specialists Disappointed Over Calling Off Human Trial
Hindu - Chennai, India, February 4, 2007
Reproductive biologists and specialists working on prevention of HIV/AIDS were disappointed over reproductive health research organisation CONRAD's decision to call off human trial on microbicide cellulose sulphate.
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Trans-Gender Obtains Citizenship
Kantipur Online - Kathmandu, Nepal, February 4, 2007
For the first time in Nepal, a transgender person has been provided citizenship and legal status as a transgender, in Nepalgunj one week back.
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A Raghu Rai Eye Is No Eye
Tehelka - India, Feb 3, 2007
Raghu Rai talks about his take on sensuality, passion and Indian women in his new exhibition, ‘Just by the Way’, opening in New Delhi on February.
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First National AIDS Policy Draft Approved
Daily Times - Lahore, Pakistan, February 3, 2007
The Health Ministry of Pakistan approved on Friday the first ever National HIV/AIDS Policy draft to provide and maintain prevention and care services in the country.
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Feature: Sex Education Winter Workshop Asks Sensitive Questions
People's Daily Online - Beijing, China, February 3, 2007
A winter sex education workshop for primary school pupils and their parents opened in Chaoyang district of Beijing on Thursday.
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China's Film Furor Draws Attention to Changing Mores
Christian Science Monitor - Boston, USA, February 2, 2007
When Chinese director Zhang Yimou's latest blockbuster hit theaters here last month, it sparked just one topic of conversation, and a great deal of controversy.
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Pakistan: Sex Workers Face HIV Threat
Reuters AlertNet - London, UK, February 2, 2007
In a 2006 update on the AIDS epidemic in Pakistan, the World Bank noted most sex workers lacked the power to negotiate condom use with the clients on whom they depend.
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Once Taboo, Youth Spreads Sex-Education
VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi, Vietnam, February 1, 2007
Vietnamese youth are no longer shy but have been active to learn about sexual and reproductive health issues, said specialist at a workshop in Hanoi on Tuesday assessing the implementation of the Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia.
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Microbicide Trials Halted in Africa, India Because of Possible
Kaiser network.org - Washington, USA, February 1, 2007
Arlington, Va.-based Conrad on Wednesday announced that it has halted Phase III trials of the microbicide in Africa and India after an independent scientific committee during a routine check found an increased risk of HIV transmission among women who used cellulose sulfate compared with women who used a placebo gel.
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