MARYLAND LAW PROTECTS TRANSGENDERED INDIVIDUALS FROM DISCRIMINATION

By: Lyndsey Kelly
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

ANNAPOLIS, United States – After a Maryland senate vote of 32-15 on 4 March 2014 in favor of a bill preventing discrimination against people who are transgender, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed the bill into law on Thursday, 15 May 2014. The bill’s sponsor Sen. Richard Madaleno along with 31 Democrats and one Republican supported the passing of the bill. Sen. Madaleno who fought for eight years to convince his colleagues to pass the bill states that the bill “provides important protections for people who are just trying to live their lives”

Maryland Governor signs bill to stop discrimination against transgendered people

The law set to take effect on 1 October 2014 will prohibit discrimination against transgendered people on matters relating to housing, employment, credit, and the use of public restrooms. Governor O’Malley called the measure an “important step to protect the dignity and equal rights of all Marylanders.”

Opponents of the bill have labeled the measure a “bathroom bill”, as it protects a transgendered person’s right to use the restroom for the gender with which the individual identifies.  Kathy Szeliga, a Republican member of Maryland’s House of Delegates, has spoken outwardly about her opposition to the bill. Szeliga has expressed her concern that the measure will allow predators into opposite sex restrooms. Szeliga said, “this is just not right”, she has also stated that the law will have unintended consequences.

Opponents hope to collect 18,579 signatures by 31 May 2014 and a total of 55,736 signatures by 30 June 2014 in order to get a referendum on the ballot for November’s election. This would ensure that voters get the last say regarding the measure.

Approval of the bill makes Maryland the 18th U.S. state to pass a law protecting transgendered individuals from discrimination. The measure will alter Maryland’s laws to conform to the changing attitudes of United States citizens regarding transgendered people. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel agrees with the shifting views regarding transgendered individuals and stated on Sunday, 11 May 2014 that the military should review its ban on transgendered people serving in its ranks.

The measure is in line with the Maryland Governor’s liberal policies which have been passed during O’Malley’s eight years as Governor. In 2012, O’Malley passed The Dream Act, legalized same-sex marriage, repealed the death penalty, and passed tougher gun laws. Governor O’Malley says that the law prohibiting discrimination against transgendered people will help create an “open, respectful, inclusive world that we want for all of our children.”

 

For further information, please see:

ABC NEWS – Maryland Bill To Stop Transgender Discrimination Signed – 16 May 2014

ABC NEWS – Maryland Senate Oks Bill To Stop Transgender Discrimination – 16 May 2014

THE BALTIMORE SUN – O’Malley Signs Maryland Transgender Rights Bill – 16 May 2014

REUTERS – New Maryland Law Makes Transgender Discrimination Illegal – 16 May 2014

1.38 Million Children have been vaccinated in Syria during the Fifth Round

 

Polio Control Task Force announced that 1,386,719 children have been vaccinated during 6 days within the fifth round of the mobile polio campaign in Syria, which covers the liberated areas in seven governorates: Aleppo, Idleb, Hama, Deir al Zour, Lattakia, Raqqa and Hasaka.

polio in Syria

The fifth round commenced on May 3rd 2014 and lasted till May 8th 2014 through which the team faced many difficulties, the most important of which was inhabitant’s migration from one area to another or refuging to neighboring countries in addition to shelling Aleppo and its countryside.

Abdulkader Andalu, member of Polio team, martyred of an explosive barrel in Sheikh Fares-Aleppo. In addition, there were security difficulties and armed clashes in Raqqa and Deir al Zour, which affected the number of vaccinated children in these areas In comparison with the previous round.

Muthana Shaher, member of Polio team, martyred after being shot during performing duties in vaccinating children in Basirah- Deir al Zour.  The number of vaccinated children as per Governorates was 576,797 in Aleppo, 253,996 in Idleb, 206,362 in Raqqa, 266,162 in Deir al Zour, 38,375 in Hasaka 40,161 in Hama and 4,866 in Lattakia.

The Team had started the House to House vaccination campaign in the beginning of 2014 to covers the areas out of the control of the Assad regime in seven governorates after discovering polio outbreak; the campaign was of six consecutive rounds, out of which five were accomplished. In the first round, 1,25 million children had been vaccinated; 1,4 million had been vaccinated in the second round; 1,41 million children had been vaccinated in the third round; 1,44 million children had been vaccinated in the fourth round; 1,38 million children in the fifth round . The Team intends to launch the sixth round on the end of this May.

Polio Control Task Force was established by combining the efforts of the ACU, Local Councils, Health departmants and a number of None Governmental Local and International Organizations, Polio Control Task Force started “END POLIO IN SYRIA” campaign with more than 8,000 volunteers including more than 200 physicians.

Qatar Announces Plans to Abolish Sponsorship System

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DOHA, Qatar – The Gulf State of Qatar, which will host the 2022 World Cup, has announced plans to reform its labor law after months of criticism from the international community that followed reports of human rights abuses of mirgrant works at construction sites ahead of the World Cup. The proposed changes are based on the recommendations made by the international law firm DLA Piper which Qatar hired last year to review workers’ conditions; however, the Gulf State has not set a timeline for the implementation.

Foreign construction workers in Doha, Qatar: Hundreds of workers were reportedly killed last year due to poor conditions. (Photo Courtesy of The Guardian)

Only about 10% of the country’s population actually have Qatari citizenship. The state’s economy depends on migrant workers. About 1.4 million migrant workers are now living in Qatar, the majority of whom are concentrated in the construction and services sectors. Qatar has been criticized for its failure to protect migrant workers and for the gross disparities that exist between Qatar’s native and migrant populations In a report issued by Amnesty International law November the organizations found that migrant works in Qatar “face a range of abuses at the hands of their employers”, some of which “amount to forced labor and human trafficking.

According to Amnesty International the labor law system used in Qatar and other gulf states known as the kefala, creates an “excessively unequal power relationship” between employers and workers, who are not allowed to change jobs or leave the country without their employers’ permission. DLA Piper’s report said the Qatar’s old policies could “result in a situation where migrant workers are ‘trapped’ in Qatar, with an abusive employer, and without means of exit or the ability to legally transfer to another employer for months.” The new laws will abolish this aspect of the kefala system.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association said it welcomes Qatar’s plans to improve labor conditions in the country. FIFA President Joseph Blatter said “this announcement is a significant step in the right direction for sustainable change in the workers’ welfare standards in Qatar. We look forward to seeing the implementation of these concrete actions over the next months. We will continue our close cooperation with Qatari authorities as well as dialogue with all key stakeholders.”

However, other organizations have criticized the government’s announcement saying that its propsed reforms do not go far enough to address labor rights in the country. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) called the proposals “cosmetic” and said that in Qatar “There is no freedom of association, no minimum wage, and no effective labour compliance system.” The organization also said “modern slavery will still exist in Qatar.”

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Qatar Announces Changes to Labour Law 15 May 2014

CNN International – FIFA Welcomes Workers’ Welfare Measures Announced Today By the State of Qatar – 15 May 2014

BBC News – Qatar: Foreign Worker Restrictions ‘To Be Eased’ – 14 May 2014

FIFA – FIFA Welcomes Workers’ Welfare Measures Announced Today By the State Of Qatar – 14 May 2014

The Guardian – Laws after Outcry over ‘World Cup Slaves’ – 14 May 2014