Libyan woman Eman al-Obeidy walked into a hotel in Tripoli, Libya, populated by foreign journalists in order to let the world know that Col. Moammar Qaddafi’s military forces had beaten and raped her. What followed was a violent scuffle, as al-Obeidy was forcibly removed by Qaddafi’s men, despite the protests and protections of international media. It was a violent and graphic reminder that women and girls often face specific and harrowing abuse in times of war and conflict.

According to reports, al-Obeidy burst into the breakfast room  at the Rixos Hotel, where journalists had stayed at…

The “Woman’s Right to Know Act” sounds so innocuous, doesn’t it? Of course women have a right to know! Alas, when it comes to restricting abortion access, it’s never innocuous.

The “woman’s right to know law,” passed by a subcommittee of the Florida House on Tuesday would require  women  to view an ultrasound of the fetus before an abortion, or sign paperwork saying she had been offered an ultrasound, but refused to see him. Rape and incest victims  would have to provide  proof  that a crime has  been committed against them  if they  wanted  to retire. Because, you know, make…

Student dress codes are a controversial topic, but there is no justification at all for blaming a rape victim for the way she was dressed. While arguing in favor of a dress code for Florida students, Republican State Representative Kathleen Passidomo referenced the 11-year-old Cleveland, Texas, girl who was gang raped by 18 men in November and whose ordeal was recently reported in The New York Times. Passidomo said:

“There was an article about an 11-year-old girl who was gang raped in Texas by 18 young men because she was dressed like a 21-year-old…