China Abandons One Child Policy

China has scrapped its longstanding one-child policy, after numerous relaxations in recent years. Couples across the country will now be allowed to have two children; it is hoped this will increase the birth rate and address demographic issues, chiefly an ageing population and a projected rise in the dependency ratio, that the one-child policy produced. The change has been cautiously welcomed, although there are concerns over whether the reforms go far enough. Demographers question the impact the policy will have on fertility rates, warning that it could be too little too late. Critics of the policy, meanwhile, argue there should be no limit on the number of children a couple can have.

Sam Robinson

 

Guantanamo Bay Detainee Released

U.S. officials have released the last British detainee from Guantanamo Bay last Friday. Shaker Aamer, 46, from Saudi Arabia is a British resident with a wife and four children who live in London. He was seized in Afghanistan and handed over to US forces in December 2001 on suspicion of working for Al-Qaeda. Aamer had been kept in custody for over 13 years in Guantanamo Bay. Aamer landed at Biggin Hill Airport in Kent last Friday. Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, located in Southeast Cuba, was built by the U.S. Military in 2002 to hold suspects related to terrorism. In 2009, President Obama pledged to abolish the detention camp, however it has remained open due to objections from the U.S. Congress.

Nao Takahashi

 

Transgender Woman Wins Appeal

Tara Hudson, a transgender woman, was jailed and placed in an all-male HMP Bristol jail for 12 weeks after admitting assault. Due to prison rules, prisoners should be placed according to their gender “as recognised by UK law” – usually stated on their birth certificate. Hudson has lived a woman all of her adult life, and undergone six years of gender reconstructive surgery, yet is still legally a man according to her birth certificate. Her case prompted a campaign to have her moved to an all-female prison, with a petition with 125,000 signatures attached. On Friday afternoon, the decision was made to move her to Eastwood Park, a prison housing 360 women. This is following Hudson’s complaints that she was being harassed by male inmates.

James Hicks

 

DUP Block Same Sex Marriage Legislation

A motion to allow gay marriage in Northern Ireland has been blocked despite a majority of Assembly members voting in favour for the first time. The motion was blocked after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) presented a petition of concern to the Assembly. A petition of concern is designed as a way to protect minority rights. It means that any motion requires cross-community support. Despite 53 members voting in favour of gay marriage and 52 against, it could not pass as it was only approved by four unionists. Caitriona Ruane, MLA for Sinn Fein, said in a statement: “This is a historic day but the campaign for marriage equality is not over and will not be until we have equality enshrined in legislation”. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where gay marriage is not legal. This is the fifth time that a vote on gay marriage has been brought to the Assembly.

Shamima Noor

 

(Image: Jackie Brooklyn)