Women's Agenda

A woman from the Philippines who was sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Indonesia and was nearly executed by a firing squad has been released and arrived home to Manila on Wednesday. Mary Jane Veloso’s release follows a deal between Indonesia and the Philippines and comes after widespread public sympathy for Veloso, who has always maintained her innocence. Veloso says she had been duped into carrying a suitcase containing drugs as she travelled to a new job abroad.

While anyone can experience loneliness, there are certain groups within the community who face more barriers in creating social connections. Women with disabilities are one such group, with their rates of loneliness often driven by the social isolation that they are more likely to experience. “Women with disabilities are significantly more likely to experience loneliness and social isolation than women without disabilities,” says Sophie Cusworth, CEO of Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA). The latest Medibank Loneliness Population Index shows that 42 per cent of people with a disability surveyed scored high on the UCLA Loneliness Scale in 2024 – a figure that should concern all of us.

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Cara Dignum has been appointed Managing Director at Lundbeck, a global pharmaceutical company specialising in brain diseases. 👏 “12 years ago when I walked into Lundbeck, I never imagined the company would deliver such a rewarding career here and abroad. Excited to be leading the incredible organization that is Lundbeck Australia,” Dignum said.

Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney has been elected to lead the Townsville local government area, after months of political instability in the north Queensland regional city. She is Townsville City’s third Mayor in as many weeks.

Like all of us at this time of year, Serena Williams, has a case of Mondayitis. Who else can relate?

Should we boycott Elf on the Shelf? It’s one thing to take on the responsibility of orchestrating festivities with Pinterest-worthy charm, mindful gifts and the biggest feast you can cook in a non-industrial kitchen. But this somewhat creepy little dude in a red jumpsuit and a dubious sense of humour is the mental load hill I will no longer die on: https://lnkd.in/gEfdpyMQ

Check out these great #womenshealth wins from 2024 👏 👏 👏

Fox Cricket commentator Isa Guha has publicly apologised for the comments she made about cricketer Jasprit Bumrah, where she referred to him as India’s “most valuable primate” during the first session of play. Interpreted by many as a racial slur, the 39-year old popular commentator who is of Indian descent made an apology on live TV as a storm erupted online.

Sherele Moody starts her day at 4am to search for evidence of something she doesn’t want to find: women and children killed by violence. When she does find such evidence, she starts looking for more answers to update the platforms she runs, including Australian Femicide Watch and the ‘She Matters’ Project, as well as The Red Heart Campaign. Moody’s goal is to record the stories of women and children killed by violence, including while overseas. She puts names to those killed, where she can. She shares more on who they were and their stories, hopes and dreams, and the family and friends who have lost a sister, mother, daughter, auntie, friend, and colleague. Moody spoke to Angela Priestley for the Women’s Agenda podcast to ask about the work, the process she goes through to make it happen.