Progress for equality during the past year

In October 2019, abortion was decriminalized in Northern Ireland. Before that, the procedure was only allowed if there was a danger to the pregnant woman's life or mental health. In March 2020, the guidelines for the new abortion care must be clear and approved. Until then, health care is obliged to inform women about where to go for abortion in England, and they have the right to get health care and travel paid.

In the same vein, a new reform was voted through that made same-sex marriage legal as of January 2020.

The Swedish teenager and climate activist Greta Thunberg went from a lone school strike outside the parliament to becoming the face of a worldwide climate movement, holding speeches in the UN and being appointed person of the year by Time Magazine. She is the fifth woman in the order to be appointed.

In November 2019, the Sudanese government abolished a controversial law that stipulated that women could be punished for "immoral and indecent" behavior. Thousands of women have been fined, imprisoned or whipped as a result of breaking the law, which, among other things, restricted how women were allowed to dress.

Swedish-American Jessica Meir became the first Swedish woman in space. In addition, she and austronate colleague Christina Koch became historic when conducting the first full-female spacewalk in 2019. The mission was to replace the space station's batteries - a heavy and demanding effort that took five and a half hours to complete.

2019 was the first year since 1981 that women in Iran were allowed to attend a football match. 3,500 women could follow the match between Iran and Cambodia at the venue. However, it was criticized that many women were denied entry, even though many places were empty. Women and men were also not allowed to sit together.

In February 2020, Scotland voted in favor of a new law which means that all women in the country should have access to free menswear. The investment is expected to cost around £ 24.1 million, about SEK 300 million a year, and the free period protection will be distributed at, among other places, pharmacies and youth clinics. Scotland may become the first country in the world to introduce free human protection for women.

In February 2020, Hollywood profile Harvey Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual abuse. The charges against him became the starting point for the entire metoo movement with a report published in the New York Times 2017. Around 80 women have since gone out and said that Weinstein subjected them to various sexual assaults. Harvey Weinstein was convicted of his denial and faces up to 25 years in prison. However, he was released from the most serious charges that could have resulted in a life sentence.

Saudi Arabian women's freedom increased as a result of several reforms implemented in the country in August 2019. Women aged 21 should, among other things, be allowed to apply for a passport, travel without a male guardian and become custodian of minor children. Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman has been driving several reforms that have improved the conditions for women in the country, including the right to drive. At the same time, critical voices are raised that the refomas are primarily cosmetic and that the Saudi state was betrayed under the crown prince's rule.