Netflix inspired Taiwan's #MeToo moment

In this issue, I applaud Ghana for abolishing the death penalty for almost all crimes, and Taiwan's women leading the #MeToo moment. I do not, however, applaud Argentina's government for the way it is (not) keeping count of its missing children. Plus: a coup in Niger, officially no more speaking French in Mali, a South African comedy series that might push too many boundaries all at the same time, Egypt pardoning two government critics, a relatively new archaeology tool to discover forgotten Mayan cities, a meme video about Japan's most stupid work rules, and two (yes, two) funny news, and so much more.

Ghana officially abolished the death penalty for almost all crimes

What happened:
The Parliament of Ghana voted to formally abolish the death penalty.

Why this matters:
Ghana is the 124th country to abolish the death penalty; 41 other countries are considered to have de facto bans, as they have not carried out an execution for more than 10 years. However, at least 883 executions across 20 countries were recorded last year -- a 53% rise since 2021. There is no conclusive evidence that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than other punishments. Plus, no judicial system is perfect, and there is always a risk of wrongful conviction.

Tell me more:
Ghana's parliament voted to amend the criminal offenses act, removing capital punishment for crimes including murder, genocide, piracy, and smuggling. However, the death sentence can still be given for acts of high treason. The 176 prisoners currently on death row will now have their sentences changed to life imprisonment. The country's president, Nana Akufo-Addo, needs to sign the bill into law for it to take effect.

Did you know that Ghana has not carried out an execution since 1993? Courts, however, have continued to issue death sentences.

Why now?
"There has long been evidence that Ghana might be ready to abolish the death penalty," says Francis-Xavier Sosu in this interview with The Death Penalty Project. Sosu is the Ghanaian member of parliament whose private member's Bills abolished the death penalty. There were attempts in 1992, 2010, 2012. "I was sworn in as an MP in January 2021, and for me, once I had been given this chance, trying to abolish the death penalty was an overriding priority. I came into politics because I wanted to be an agent of change, and this was the change I wanted to achieve most of all. I sensed I was pushing at an open door." At the end, he was able to build consensus and majority support through consistent lobbying and engagement with colleagues, civil society organizations, and international bodies such as Amnesty International Ghana and The Death Penalty Project.

What's it like being sentenced to death?
Sosu explains, "On death row, prisoners woke up thinking this could be their last day on earth. They were like the living dead: psychologically, they had ceased to be humans. Overcrowding was endemic: a space meant for about 23 inmates could host over 150 prisoners. Most mornings, the inmates would sing religious or gospel songs, a ritual that helped them cope with the fear that this was the day that would mark the end of their lives. They were then made to perform various tasks in deplorable conditions, and served with meals which most of us would find inedible. They were isolated from their loved ones, and convinced that even if they were not executed, they would die in prison. I would say that overall, their lives amounted to torture. Condemned cells had poor sanitary facilities, and they lacked adequate access to medical care. Many died from avoidable and treatable illnesses before their death sentences were commuted."

What are people in Ghana saying?
Human rights activists have hailed the decision, but they caution that the death penalty has not been entirely abolished and that the country's constitution would need to change for a complete removal of the penalty.

Taiwan is going through a #MeToo moment right now -- thanks to Netflix

What happened:
In the past two months, Taiwan has seen a sudden increase in sexual abuse accusations, with over 100 cases in the last two months. The catalyst? A Netflix drama, Wave Makers.

Why this matters:
Taiwan is often considered as Asia's most gender-equal country (don't hate, China). However, sexual harassment is very common in Taiwan, and covering it up and blaming victims is too. The recent #MeToo moment is exposing Taiwan's highly patriarchal culture. For many women, the moment is long overdue.

Tell me more:
The Netflix drama Wave Makers plays a big role in starting the recent #MeToo movement in Taiwan. Drawing inspiration from real-life political events in Taiwan, the series revolves around a team of campaign staffers during a presidential election and delves into the issue of problematic handling of sexual harassment cases. After the show's release in May, the first real-world accusation came from a former employee of Taiwan's ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who said her boss ignored her complaints of workplace harassment. Weeks later, more accusations followed, many people in the DPP resigned, Taiwan's President (the island's first female one) Tsai Ing-wen even apologized publically (don't overstate this because Taiwan is also gearing up for a presidential election next January). In the meantime, the #MeToo wave circulated to other sectors, with prominent activists, writers and TV stars being called out. Some of the most high-profile men accused include Tiananmen protest leader Wang Dan, exiled poet Bei Ling and Polish diplomat Bartosz Ryś.

Did you know that Chien Li-ying, one of the writers behind Wave Makers, said she was assaulted by the poet Bei Ling when she was at university?

Is it really that bad in Taiwan?
The Reporter, a Taiwanese investigative news media, looked at data from the Ministry of Labour and found that last year, 80 percent of people who faced sexual misconduct at work chose not to speak up. Experts attribute this to Taiwan's historical habit of covering up sexual harassment complaints, which they believe is due to victim-blaming and chauvinism (male dominance) in both politics and workplaces. The #MeToo movement in Taiwan is now exposing a long-standing culture where victims are...