Photo : Natalie Leung/CNN
22 January 2022, Saturday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #105
IN FOCUS
By Joeana Cera Matthews
Spain's Menstrual Leaves: Progressive or Regressive?
On 30 December 2021, The Guardian published an article on local administrations in Spain increasingly implementing menstrual leaves. There have been growing debates across Europe around the provision of menstrual leaves, especially since Italy tried to legislate a policy on the same in 2017.
Spain: Slow but steady steps
Following the approval of menstrual leaves in Spain’s Catalan city of Girona, the town’s Deputy Mayor said Maria Àngels Planas said: “Girona is known for many things and I think today we’re adding a new item to the list as we pioneer the approval of menstrual leave… We are eliminating the taboo that exists around menstruation and the pain that some women suffer – that we suffer – during menstruation.” Girona’s policy provides eight hours of menstrual leave a month for women, trans men and non-binary employees experiencing discomfort during periods. However, this time has to be recovered within three months. This was done in an attempt “to avoid any discrimination based on sex”. Other municipalities like Ripoll, Castellón de la Plana and Les Borges Blaques soon followed suit.
The Conflict
Menstrual leaves are highly debatable on multiple grounds; two are provided below.
First, the definitions. Differences exist in defining leaves as well as what constitutes “period pain”. Claims include those stating personal leaves should be provided to everyone, irrespective of gender. There remain concerns on whether sick leaves are inclusive of period leaves – why should there be a separate leave for periods? Meanwhile, women claim they are not “sick” when menstruating as it is a “normal, biological process,” and cannot be categorized under sick leaves.
Second, implications to women’s rights. Feminists remain disputed on the matter as they question whether the move is a step forward or backwards. They feel the concept is “insulting” as it “reaffirms that there is a biological determinism to the lives of women". A generational gap also exists as few older women refuse the period leaves saying, “if we suffered back then, women now should too”. Meanwhile, it is important to note that gender equality cannot be completely based on the principles of equality; equity has to come into play. Needs have to be analyzed on the basis of fundamental biological differences between genders.
Issues to be addressed
First, limited data. Given the amount of data available on menstrual leave policies worldwide, it is difficult to state whether they are a success or not. However, it is no secret that supporting employees and providing them with a safe space to discuss concerns leads to increased respect implying more productivity.
Second, the sectoral divisions. Even if period leaves were to be implemented, only those from the organized sector would benefit from it. The informal sector would be cut off from this primarily due to ignorance and lack of awareness.
Third, acknowledging the stigma. For an issue to become one, it has to be discussed. The taboo that surrounds the reality of menstruation has largely kept it far from the domain of public dialogue. Period leaves may or may not be the answer. Nonetheless, talking about it puts periods and the pain associated with it on the political agenda. Removal of shame and stigma is extremely important in creating a gender equality picture. As Rose George writes in The Guardian: “When the silence about period pain is still so loud, talking is a decent start.”
Fourth, overcoming the taboo. In Asian countries with menstrual policies enshrined in labour laws, women avoid using them as they fear being considered “weak”; they are hindered by the possibility of not being employed or promoted due to the implementation of such policies. In the West, there is a desire to achieve the ideal but the action towards the same is largely lost in debate and thus, absent. This can be attributed to the taboo prevalent regarding menstruation. The question that, thus, arises is whether the problem is women, their biological structure or the internalized stigma?
References:
Ashifa Kassam, “Spain's public sector trailblazers seek to lead way on menstrual leave,” The Guardian, 30 December 2021.
Julia Hollingsworth, “Should women be entitled to period leave? These countries think so,” CNN Business, 21 November 2020.
Tanika Godbole, “India: Zomato′s ′period leave′ sparks debate on gender, menstruation,” Deutsche Welle, 21 September 2020.
Rose George, “Menstrual leave: a workplace reform to finally banish the period taboo?,” The Guardian, 28 June 2018.
IN BRIEF
By Padmashree Anandhan and Ashwin Dhanabalan
AUSTRIA
Austria warns to take legal steps against labelling of nuclear energy as green
On 21 January, Austria is considering taking legal steps to fight against the labelling of nuclear energy as “green.” In the recent announcement by the EU, it stated its taxonomy plans, where it aims to direct investments into sustainable energies. Under the plan, the EU proposed to label nuclear energy as green to ease states and the private sector to invest money into the nuclear sector. It has created a divide amongst the EU as half of its member states have opposed the proposal. The Austrian Climate and Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler has warned that if the European Commission goes ahead with the proposal, then Austria will opt for legal steps. Along with Austria, Luxembourg, Spain, and Denmark have joined the appeal and have urged Germany to join the same. (“Austria, Luxembourg eye legal steps in EU nuclear energy row,” Deutsche Welle, 21 January 2022)
GERMANY
Berlin denies to permit to Estonia in exporting weapons to Ukraine
On 21 January, in the news conference, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany government will not support the export of lethal weapons. Similarly, Berlin has taken the same stance in blocking Estonia from exporting German origin weapons to Ukraine. Recently, to support Ukraine in the ongoing crisis with Russia, the allies of the NATO, the UK and Poland have agreed to directly export weapons to Ukraine. While Berlin has denied as it fears delivery of weapons can escalate the conflict situation, the Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have announced to supply the US-made stinger missiles to Ukraine. (“Germany blocks Estonian arms exports to Ukraine: report,” Deutsche Welle, 21 January 2022)
GENDER
Pope Francis pledges justice for victims abused during Benedict XVI papacy
On 21 January, Pope Francis promised justice to the victims who suffered sexual abuse in the Catholic Church that occurred between 1970 and 1980. The report highlighted sexual abuse in the Munich diocese that criticized his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI's handling of several abuse cases when he was archbishop. Pope Francis said: "The church, with God's help, is carrying out the commitment with firm determination to do justice to the victims of abuse by its members, applying with particular attention and rigor to the canonical legislation envisaged." The report's authors suggested that the cardinal's mishandling of the cases amounted to misconduct, and the prosecutors in Munich are now examining 42 cases to determine if there was wrongdoing by the church. A spokesperson for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the report "clearly and shockingly shows once again the scale of the abuse and the breaches of duty by church dignitaries". ("Pope Francis pledges justice for abuse victims after report faults Benedict XVI," Euronews, 21 January 2022)
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cyberattack on Red Cross leaves almost half a million vulnerable
On 19 January, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva announced that they had been hacked and the hackers gained access to information about 515,000 people. ICRC's Director General Robert Mardini said: "An attack on the data of people ICRCwho are missing makes the anguish and suffering for families even more difficult to endure…We are all appalled and perplexed that this humanitarian information would be targeted and compromised." His comments came after the hackers accessed sensitive information on people who had fled conflicts, migrated, were missing, or in detention. ICRC's spokesperson Crystal Wells issued an appeal, saying: "Your actions could potentially cause yet more harm and pain to those who have already endured untold suffering…Please do the right thing. Do not share, sell, leak, or otherwise use this data." ("Red Cross' cyber attack exposes data of 515,000 vulnerable people," Euronews, 21 January 2022; "Hacking attack on Red Cross exposes data of 515,000 vulnerable people," The Guardian, 19 January 2022)
INTERNATIONAL
US along with NATO to hold maritime exercise in the Mediterranean Sea
On 22 January, the United States and the NATO partners announced to conduct a 12-day maritime exercise called as “Neptune Strike 22” in the Mediterranean Sea from 24 January. The naval drills aim to test the maritime capabilities of the NATO, as Russia announced its plans to exercise in January and February from the Pacific to the Atlantic Sea. According to the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the decision to conduct the exercise is to reassure Europeans as tensions grow with Russia. (“NATO to hold major naval drills in the Mediterranean Sea,” Deutsche Welle, 22 January 2022)
Blinken meets Lavrov in Geneva; calls talks "constructive and useful"
On 21 January, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva. Although there were no significant breakthroughs in the discussion, they called the talks useful and agreed to maintain dialogue to resolve the crisis. Blinken said: "It can choose the path of diplomacy that can lead to peace and security, or the path that will lead only to conflict, severe consequences and international condemnation." Meanwhile, Lavrov said: "I can't tell you if we're on the right track or the wrong track. We'll understand this when we receive the American response on paper to all the points in our proposal." Blinken said the US agreed to: "to meet again after Russia has had an opportunity to look at this paper and then we'll see where we go from there."("US to respond to Russia's NATO demands' next week', Lavrov says after Geneva talks," Euronews, 21 January 2022; Simon Lewis, "US and Russia agree to keep talking after meeting on Ukraine," Reuters, 21 January 2022)
Iran: Benjamin Brière's case to go on trial soon
On 20 January, as reported by BBC, the French citizen Benjamin Brière’s lawyer Saeid Dehghan said: “A French tourist who has been held in Iran since 2020 charged with espionage has gone on trial.” Brière was arrested in 2020 for flying a drone near the Iran-Turkmenistan border and was charged with spying and acting against the Islamic Republic. If he is convicted, Brière will be sentenced to prison or be included in a prisoner exchange. Dehghan said: "The trial was held behind closed doors at branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad city." Rights groups worldwide have accused Iran of using such prisoners to extract concessions from other countries. His trials are happening when the US, Iran, and France discuss the restoration of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal, which was abandoned in 2018. ("French tourist Benjamin Briere goes on trial in Iran for espionage," BBC, 21 January 2022; "Verdict in Iran's trial of jailed French tourist likely within days - lawyer," Reuters, 20 January 2022)