The global fashion industry has been in the spotlight following disasters in factories in Bangladesh in 2013 and beyond. Two years after the Rana Plaza collapse, garment workers in Bangladesh still face poor working conditions and anti-union tactics, a new Human Rights Watch report reveals. DW looks back on the history of working conditions for textile workers and examines current problems.

You will probably not believe this. It was hard for me to digest as well, but this police officer repeatedly said that girls should properly cover themselves to avoid being raped. He told this to a female journalist while sitting in a police station.

After widespread criticism on social media, Bangladesh government has changed its plan to lower the marriage age. The minimum legal age of marriage will remain 18 for girls and 21 for boys, according to local media.

Norge stoppet bryllupet til Thea! http://t.co/SMyv5WBzzn #stoppbryllupet pic.twitter.com/irOXdbX7Sh

— Plan Norge (@PlanNorge) October 11, 2014

 

Thea from Norway is barely a teenager, yet her parents have decided to marry her off to 37-year-old Geir. Thea’s written a blog, documenting all her experiences up to the wedding day.

©facto

Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from marrying foreigners from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Chad. The administration says that the number of expats from these communities has exceeded the government’s limit of 500,000. But for one Pakistani woman, this is a blessing in disguise!

Copyright: Amina Hassani

Talking about women’s rights in South Asia need not be a serious matter all the time. Here is a selection of websites which tackle women’s themes with a personal touch.

The Islamist militia Boko Haram has been launching attacks throughout the country, and the government and military have not been able to stop them so far. Read more on women’s news that have made it to the headlines.