All articles tagged with #law reform
French survivor Gisèle Pelicot learns her husband drugged and raped her for years, and exploited others online; her case sparked reforms in French law and became a global symbol of resilience and accountability.
Protests across Ukraine have intensified against a new law perceived to undermine anti-corruption agencies, prompting President Zelenskyy to propose a vague new bill aimed at addressing public concerns and preserving agency independence, though details remain unclear and skepticism persists among protesters and opposition lawmakers.
The UK government plans to ban the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence victims of workplace sexual misconduct or discrimination, aligning with practices in Ireland, the US, and parts of Canada, to better protect victims and promote transparency. The amendment to the Employment Rights Bill is expected to become law later this year after parliamentary debate.
The UK Parliament has approved a bill to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales, marking a significant social shift comparable to historic reforms, with the law likely to be enacted by the end of the decade after passing through the House of Lords. Public support is high, and the change reflects broader liberal trends, though debates over the terminology and the role of the unelected Lords continue.
A task force in Louisiana is considering revising the state's law criminalizing HIV exposure, which currently carries penalties of up to 10 years in prison and 15 years on the sex offender registry. Advocates argue that the law is overly broad, discourages HIV testing, and relies on outdated science. Proponents of the law argue that it protects people from HIV transmission. The task force, consisting of legislators and health care professionals, will study the issue and may recommend changes to the law.
Women's rights groups, politicians, and medics are calling on the UK government to reform abortion laws after a woman was jailed for taking pills to end her pregnancy after the 24-week limit. The 44-year-old mother of three was sent the medicine by post during a COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, a scheme that was introduced during the pandemic because many in-person services were closed due to social distancing measures. The woman was sentenced to 28 months in prison after admitting to terminating her pregnancy when she was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant. Abortions in Britain are legal before 24 weeks and must be carried out in clinics after 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Jesse McFadden, a convicted rapist, was released from prison in Oklahoma in 2020 despite facing new sex crime charges allegedly committed while behind bars. He is believed to have killed his wife and five teenagers on his rural property before dying by suicide. Victims' families and state lawmakers are questioning why McFadden was released and if the deaths could have been prevented. State Rep. Scott Fetgatter hopes to introduce a bill that would halt the release of inmates before they complete their sentences if they are accused of committing certain sex crimes while incarcerated.