Tuesday, the European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to ISIS slavery survivors Nadia Murad and Lamya Haji Bashar. As the nominees voiced themselves, the EU must go beyond a prize and recognize the ongoing genocide of Yazidi and prosecute the perpetrators.

Wednesday, it was reported that women in Aleppo commit suicide to escape being raped by ISIS. The international community must act to stop ISIS from committing these non-killing crimes of genocide.

Wednesday, a study investigating the impact of having or being denied abortion on woman’s mental health was published. The study concluded that denying women abortion can affect the woman’s mental health negatively, and that abortion restrictions cannot be justified with the argument that it harms women’s health. Denying women safe abortion is in some cases can constitute torture and violate human rights.

Wednesday, the Obama administration finalized an amendment that protects Planned Parenthood and similar clinic’s federal funding. Abortion restrictions on US foreign funding has a huge influence on the humanitarian agenda, hindering women’s right to abortion around the world.

Wednesday, the Human Rights Council opened a special session discussing human rights issues, including gender-based violence such as rape, and the prevention of genocide in South Sudan. The international community must hold perpetrators of genocide to account and recognize gender components in genocide.

Photo: European Parliament