Page 53 Ending Sex Discrimination in the Law EQUALITY NOW – BEIJING+25 ANNEX PROGRESS TO END SEX DISCRIMINATION IN THE LAW There has been progress in removing legal discrimination against women. Equality Now is pleased to report that more than half of the countries highlighted in all four previous reports have repealed or fully or partially amended the discriminatory laws indicated. Among these countries are: COUNTRIES LEGAL PROVISION REPEALED OR AMENDED SINCE 2000 MARITAL STATUS Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo Wife obedience is no longer mandated Colombia, Japan, Mexico, Romania, Turkey The minimum age of marriage for males and females are now the same Democratic Republic of Congo Husband no longer has the right to manage his wife’s property and the wife can appear in civil court without husband’s authorization Guinea Husband no longer has the right to determine place of residence; or to object to separate profession of his wife Nicaragua, Republic of Korea, Turkey Men are no longer designated as head of the family Mexico Women are no longer prohibited from remarrying for a specified time after divorce or widowhood PERSONAL STATUS Bangladesh, Kenya Women can now pass citizenship to their children on the same basis as men Iraq Women can now obtain a passport without having to get approval from a male guardian or a husband Kenya, Monaco, Venezuela Women can now pass their nationality to their foreign spouse on the same basis as men Kuwait Women now have the right to vote Pakistan Discriminatory evidentiary standards applied to proving rape under the Zina Ordinance have been removed Saudi Arabia Women now have the right to drive but as of October 2019, women’s rights activists who fought for this right were still in prison, and women can still be arrested for being “absent” from the home (taghayoub). United States of America Unmarried American fathers and mothers will have the same residency requirements in order to pass on citizenship to their children born abroad