Europe
| Asylum
    for Battered Woman.  
[Spain] In a
    precedent-setting decision, the Spanish Inter-ministerial Asylum 
Commission has given
    refuge to a 38-year-old woman, who could not find protection from 
decades of suffering at
    the hands of her husband whom she had been forced to 
marry. | 
| Fertility Fray.  [Italy] The current law forbids 
sperm and egg
    donation, limits the number of embryos created with in vitro techniques 
to three and bans
    all embryo research.  
Opponents complain the
    law restricts scientific research and a woman's reproductive 
rights. | 
| Vatican Calls for
    Pastoral Reflection on "Women of the Street.  [Italy] Rome is to host the first 
international
    pastoral meeting for the liberation of "women of the 
street." | 
| Crucified
    Nun Dies in 'Exorcism'.  
[Romania]
    A Romanian nun died after being bound to a cross, gagged and left alone 
for three days in
    a cold room in a convent. | 
| Embassies Clarify Role
    in Information Campaign.  [Denmark,
    Norway, Switzerland, Canada, Turkey] Questions have arisen about the 
involvement of the
    Embassies of Denmark, Norway, Switzerland and Canada in the information 
campaign conducted
    by the Turkish Penal Code Women's Platform. | 
| Blair Woos Women on
    Campaign Trail.  
[United Kingdom]
    Prime Minister Tony Blair is attempting to win over women with an 
attempt to improve the
    work-life balance. | 
| Russian Women Win 9th Straight Euro Cup. [Russia] Russia won its ninth straight European Cup women's title. |