What’s Current: Dominican Republic outlaws child marriage

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  • The Dominican Republic officially bans child marriage as lawmakers approve a bill that will criminalize the practice in the country, which previously allowed girls over 15 to marry.
  • The Daily Mail reports thousands of women are being exploited in the emerging “sex for rent” market during the COVID-19 pandemic, where predators take advantage of young women by offering “free” lodging in exchange for sex acts.
  • Nine Pakistani women are being charged with criminal defamation for accusing a popular actor of sexual harassment in the country’s most high-profile #MeToo case. Lawyers say the case exposes how Pakistani cyber defamation laws passed under the guise of protecting women are instead being used to silence sexual assault victims.
  • Transgender activist Jessica Yaniv is wanted by BC police for two counts of mischief and uttering threats after an incident in October.
Meghan McCarty

Meghan McCarty is an undergraduate student and aspiring journalist living in the United States.