Around the World in 5
Around the World in 5 is an ongoing series that highlights news related to women in five countries, updated every week. This week's post covers February 4 - February 9.
Nigeria
Nigeria has secured qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking their second consecutive appearance at the prestigious event. They previously participated in Tokyo 2020.
Nigeria's D'Tigress experienced a disappointing outcome as they succumbed to a 100-46 defeat against the USA. Struggling in all four quarters, their closest moment to the Americans was in the first quarter, which ended 19-13 in favor of the USA.
However, a significant 25-point deficit in the second quarter created an insurmountable gap for the D'Tigress. The subsequent quarters concluded with scores of 32-7, 24-15, and 25-11 in favor of the USA.ost to the formidable opponent USA earlier in the day, a subsequent victory by Belgium over Senegal ensured the Nigerian team a ticket to Paris with a game to spare in Antwerp.
United States of America
Following a tragic school shooting, Jennifer Crumbley, aged 45, became the first American parent convicted of involuntary manslaughter for her child's involvement in a mass massacre. Her 17-year-old son, armed with a pistol, committed the devastating act at Oxford High School in Michigan on November 30, 2021, resulting in the loss of four classmates and injuring seven others. The prosecution argued that Jennifer was negligent in allowing her son access to the firearm and disregarding warning signs.
While Jennifer was found guilty, her husband James, facing similar charges, pleaded not guilty. Their son received a life sentence for his actions. The judge acknowledged the difficulty faced by the jurors, describing it as "probably the hardest thing you've ever done."
India
The Indian Armed Forces, as part of the government's initiatives for women's empowerment, participated in the World Defense Show in Riyadh and commended the progress in the Kingdom, particularly the inclusion of women in the Saudi defense forces.
Organized by Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Military Industries, the WDS took place from February 4th to 8th, serving as a platform for global discussions on innovation and technology across various sectors of the defense industry: air, land, sea, space, and security.
India sent a delegation comprising three women officers, each holding frontline roles in their respective forces, to participate in the event. Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth (air force), Col. Ponung Doming (army), and Lt. Cmdr. Annu Prakash (navy) represented the Indian armed forces in seminars during the WDS.
Myanmar
The junta in Myanmar is implementing a law that mandates the military to summon all men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 to serve for a minimum of two years. According to junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun, a "national military service system involving all people is essential because of the situation happening in our country," as stated in an audio message released by the information team.
Previously, under the former law, the age bracket for "skilled" men and women was 18-45 years and 18-35 years, respectively, although the definition of "skilled" remained ambiguous. Additionally, the previous law included a provision that during a state of emergency, the service terms could be extended up to five years, and individuals ignoring summons to serve could face imprisonment for the same duration.
Cameroon
Cameroon is currently experiencing a surge in the #MeToo movement following the emergence of over a thousand testimonies detailing instances of sexual harassment, assault, and various abuses shared on social media.
This resurgence was triggered by a whistleblower who anonymously disclosed allegations of sexual harassment against popular businessman Hervé Bopda. Subsequently, numerous similar accusations against Bopda surfaced, with many individuals recounting harrowing experiences of abduction, beatings, and threats.
In response to these revelations, lawyers are now actively supporting victims in their quest for justice. Kah Walla, a prominent Cameroonian rights activist and politician, described the situation as a genuine #MeToo moment, shedding light on a culture where influential men prey on vulnerable individuals, often exploited due to poverty and lack of social support.