Womens-E-News Cheers And Jeers Of The Week

Cheers:

Chile announced it would offer emergency contraception pills free to women 14 years of age and older, LifeNews.com reported Sept. 6. This comes two weeks after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Plan B pills for over-the-counter sale to women 18 and older.

Missouri's Department of Health expanded a state program to ensure that at least 3,000 women will be able to receive cancer screenings and treatment.

Nigeria's senate will consider a bill to stop domestic violence.

Jeers:

Sex trafficking of women and girls is the third-largest form of international trade, following the sale of arms and drugs. Of the 600,000 to 800,000 people trafficked a year across international borders, 80 percent are women and girls.

The Women's Health and Wellness Act that bars discrimination against women seeking insurance coverage for contraception was challenged in the New York State Court of Appeals Wednesday by Catholic Charities, a social services network.

Sixty-eight parliamentarians in Pakistan threatened to walk out if the government amends the country's rape law that requires four witnesses be present to prosecute the crime. Under the existing law, a woman alleging rape who can't provide four witnesses can be convicted of adultery, which is punishable by death.

Noteworthy:

Katie Couric made her debut Tuesday as the first woman to take over as permanent anchor of a major U.S. broadcast station's evening news show. The CBS network broadcast attracted more than 13 million viewers, various news sources reported. This was the largest evening news audience since February 1998 when CBS aired the Winter Olympics in Nagano.