Monday April 3, 2017: Bangladeshi Constitutional Lawyer Sara Hossein

Sara Hossain, a leading human rights and constitutional lawyer in Bangladesh, who helped to craft her country's first comprehensive legislation on violence against women.

Sara Hossain is a lawyer at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and an honorary executive director of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST). She was one of the recipients of the 2016 International Women of Courage Award awarded by the US Secretary of State. Hossain played a key role in drafting Bangladesh's first comprehensive legislation on violence against women, which went on to become law in 2010. She is known for her role in challenging fatwa violence, where fatwas are issued to mete out degrading and violent punishments to women and girls. She also opposed the two-finger test in rape and sexual assault cases, and forced veiling. Hossain co-edited 'Honour': Crimes, Paradigms and Violence Against Women with Lynn Welchman.

Listen now or Get MP3. 21:50 min

Click here to listen to entire show. 59:50 min

Also on today's show:
Author Lucy Jane Bledsoe
Film producer Donna C. Roberts

June 17, 2013: Bangladesh, Barbara Brenner and the NJ4

Out in Dhaka: Tinku Ishtiaq, cofounder of Trikone South Asian LGBT Network and former cochair of the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission, discusses the recent labor disasters as well as the militant uprising of Islamist youth in Bangladesh. While Bangladesh has very little personal violence, he says, as a gay man living more or less openly he worries about the possible ramifications of increased Islamist influence in politics.


Get MP3 (26:37)

Barbara Brenner, long-time director of Breast Cancer Action, died recently of ALS. We look back at her life and work and discuss her legacy with coworker Angela Wall.
Get MP3 (18:09)

Finally, the New Jersey 7 are young African American lesbians from Newark who were arrested in New York City after defending themselves from a misogynist and homophobic assault.  After being tarred in the media as a "lesbian wolf pack," four of the seven received prison sentences ranging from 2 to 11 years.  Patreese Johnson, who got the longest sentence, is scheduled for release this summer.  Bay NJ4 Solidarity Committee is raising money for ongoing legal expenses and to help with Patreese's reentry.  Click here to find out how to contribute.

Listen to this short interview with Io Sunwoo of Bay Area Solidarity.


Get MP3 (9:57)