While the contribution of women to the economies of developing countries is critical, women rarely find employment in the regulated unionized sectors of these countries, and are found instead in overwhelming numbers in the sector that is variously termed ‘unorganized’, ‘unprotected’, ‘unregistered’ or ‘informal’. Although producers’ groups and collectives have been considered a way forward in promoting gender empowerment in the informal sector, the process to organize and develop these grass-root initiatives are challenging in a variety of ways, some of the impediments arising from women’s lack of bargaining power with outsiders and lack of internal inclusiveness of its own members. The purpose of this article is to advance discussion on women’s narratives of empowerment by exploring the case of Gram Mooligai Company Limited (GMCL). GMCL is the first female community enterprise in India active in the herbal sector, entirely formed and managed by untouchables. The findings show that GMCL enhances women’s productive capabilities, leadership skills and to some extent social learning abilities, but falls short to confronting marginalization resulting from issues of caste embedded in established patriarchal norms and practices. This case study points to the significance to adopt a more holistic approach, which conceives empowerment as a dynamic, socio-culturally constructed process.

Aunque existen variados estudios de sitios tardíos en la zona Central de Chile, no hay consenso sobre cómo se habría dado la interacción entre las poblaciones locales Aconcagua y el Inka en esta zona fronteriza del Collasuyu. A partir de la variabilidad alfarera en la zona, se ha propuesto diferentes niveles de interacción. Sin embargo, faltan estudios comparativos sistemáticos que permitan adentrarnos en esta problemática. El presente trabajo busca contribuir en esta línea con el análisis de piezas alfareras provenientes de 17 sitios funerarios de la cuenca Maipo-Mapocho, identificando la emergencia de un nuevo tipo cerámico local y la presencia de vasijas de estilo inkaico que parecieran ser producidas localmente. Al interior de la cuenca, entre las áreas de Chacabuco, Mapocho y Maipo, se reconoce un comportamiento diferencial, lo que podría estar dando cuenta de los distintos niveles de interacción entre las poblaciones locales y el Tawantinsuyu.

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A recent study undertaken by the authors (Oxman-Martinez and Martinez 2000) examined the Canadian government’s response to the traffic of human beings. Information from twenty-one government and ngo informants and a thorough review of state agency policies and international conventions revealed that trafficking and refugee movements have many links. The question raised by the Metropolis Project—Is clandestine entry to Canada a crime or a new form of migration?—is important, given that trafficking may be the only option available to legitimate refugees waiting to escape dangerous or oppressive situations. Rather than seeking to ease the migration of refugees or addressing the structural causes of trafficking or its social implications, however, Canada’s response is focused on the prevention of “irregular movements” (through immigration and border control) and prosecution of the few traffickers successfully apprehended. Preliminary evidence suggests that border control will fail to adequately address the exploitation of women, children, and men—often refugees— within our frontiers. The temporarily defunct Bill c- 31 (with its measures to control the borders and restrict immigration) threatens the rights of refugees while doing little to prevent human trafficking, protect its victims, or prosecute those who profit from trafficking.

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an autosomal dominant disorder of heme biosynthesis in the liver that is caused by the accumulation of toxic heme metabolites aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG) due to a deficiency in the enzyme hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS). The prevalence of AIP is found to commonly affect females of reproductive age (ages 15-50) and people of Northern European descent. The clinical manifestations of AIP include acute and chronic symptoms that can be outlined into three phases: the prodromal phase, the visceral symptom phase, and the neurological phase. Major clinical symptoms involve severe abdominal pain, peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathies, and psychiatric manifestations. Symptoms are often heterogeneous and vague, which can lead to life-threatening signs if not treated and managed appropriately. Whether treating AIP in its acute or chronic form, the cornerstone of treatment consists of the suppression of the production of ALA and PBG. The mainstay of managing acute attacks continues to comprise discontinuing porphyrogenic agents, adequate caloric support, heme treatment, and the treatment of symptoms. In recurrent attacks and chronic management, prevention is key with the consideration of liver transplantation and/or renal transplantation. In recent years, there has been great interest in emerging treatments that focus on a molecular level such as enzyme replacement therapy, ALAS1 gene inhibition, and even liver gene therapy (GT), which has changed the way of traditionally managing this disease and will pave the way for innovative therapies to come.