Bulletin #96: From Argentina to Palestine, the battle for health and justice continues
This fortnight
Thousands of Palestinian political prisoners continue to endure torture and abuse in Israeli prisons. We spoke with recently released prisoner Mohammad al-Mallah and Helmi al-Araj from the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees to understand the dire health conditions prisoners face—while Israeli occupation forces escalate attacks across Palestine.
In Argentina, a broad coalition of health workers, patients, and people’s movements has mobilized against the devastating healthcare cuts introduced by Javier Milei’s administration.
Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State has announced new measures targeting Cuba’s international medical program, threatening sanctions against those who employ Cuban doctors. While the US pursues attacks on global health, Cuba has reaffirmed its commitment to solidarity by continuing to offer medical education to Palestinian students.
Healthcare services are under assault in the US as well, after Republicans in the House of Representatives pushed a budget that extends tax cuts for the super-rich. Medicaid, the country’s largest public health insurance program, is now at risk of major cuts to fund these benefits.
As International Working Women’s Day approaches amid rising militarization and threats to women’s rights worldwide, activists have launched the Stop the Pushback On Women’s Rights campaign—uniting grassroots movements and UN-based advocates in a counteroffensive against the attacks.
Featured articles
“We are here to kill you”: Released Palestinian prisoner exposes torture and medical neglect in Israeli prisons
Reports of systematic abuse and denial of essential healthcare in Israeli prisons continue to mount as survivors are released
Health workers, patients, and activists unite against Milei’s healthcare cuts
More than 100 health groups in Argentina organized a country-wide mobilization against President Javier Milei’s policies, which have triggered drug shortages and staff crises
Destroying Cuba’s international medical missions: Marco Rubio’s new goal
The US Secretary of State promised sanctions to all those who collaborate with the program that has provided high quality healthcare to millions of impoverished people around the world
Republicans passed a budget that could result in cuts to Medicaid—the largest public health insurance program in the US
In order to pay for the drastic losses to the national budget due to new tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, the new House budget resolution could entail major cuts to public health insurance
Stop the Pushback: defending women’s rights in multilateral spaces
The global “Stop the Pushback” campaign warns of rollbacks on women’s rights in multilateral spaces
From People's Health Dispatch archives: Women, health and resistance
Feminists for a People’s Vaccine: challenging barriers to equitable access
A newly launched campaign by the Third World Network and Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era highlights the questions of gender-based differences in access to Covid-19 vaccines, medicines, therapeutics and equipment
Colombia decriminalizes elective abortion in milestone ruling
With the decision, Colombia has become the third country in Latin America, following Argentina and Mexico, to expand the sexual and reproductive rights of women in recent years
Ghanaian activists reject high taxes on menstrual products in struggle to “bleed with dignity”
On June 22, 2023, Ghanaian activists will take to the streets for the “Don’t Tax My Period” march which is being organized by the women’s wing of the Socialist Movement of Ghana and allied organizations. The mobilization takes place as anger builds over the heavy taxation of menstrual hygiene products
Women in Gaza remain among the most impacted by war
Women and girls in the Gaza Strip are facing a disproportionate effect of Israeli attacks amid lack of sanitary materials, food, and women’s health services