For the first time in history, adults aged over 60 now outnumber children under five – and are projected to outnumber all youth by 2050. Older women are the fastest-growing demographic globally. Yet, when it comes to preventing violence, they are often overlooked. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June aims to shine a…
The Gambia has become the first African country to ratify the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to advance women’s rights and strengthen protections against gender-based violence. The historic ratification took place on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, after members of the National Assembly…
Threats and deadly conflict over migration are spreading fast in South Africa. This is hugely worrying and could result in widespread injury and killings, as it has in the past. The region’s investment prospects could be dimmed too, due to perceptions of political instability. The need for effective responses is real and urgent. The death…
Nearly 10,000 cases of conflict-related sexual violence were recorded worldwide last year – more than double the previous year’s figure – as rape, sexual slavery and abduction were deployed as weapons of war across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Caribbean. Releasing the UN’s annual report on Friday, Special Representative Pramila Patten said the…
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad expresses its concern regarding recent reports of incidents and tensions involving foreign nationals in the Republic of South Africa. The reported developments, which have affected nationals from several countries, have generated understandable concern among migrant communities and attracted significant public attention. Such incidents are regrettable…
Millions in Colombia will head to the polls on Sunday to cast their vote in a high-stakes presidential election that is expected to result in a runoff between two strikingly different candidates. A new president could be elected, but no candidate is expected to clear the 50% threshold required to win in the first round….
In this blog post, Skye Wheeler reflects on advocacy and research in Sierra Leone and introduces an upcoming webinar hosted by Human Rights Watch and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Bringing together speakers from Mexico, South Africa, Malawi, Nigeria, Mali, and Senegal, the event explores how different communities are responding to obstetric violence through feminist…
NewsFeed US police have responded to a shooting at a mosque in California, with officials saying the threat had been ‘neutralised’. The area around the Islamic Centre of San Diego was locked down, after witnesses said they heard dozens of shots fired. Published On 18 May 202618 May 2026 Click here to share on social…
Violence and discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people are widespread, including at school, where 45 per cent of LGBT youth report being bullied. That’s the worrying message from UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, who says that more than one in three countries still criminalize consensual same-sex conduct and several also maintain the death penalty for it….
When the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, another crisis quietly grew behind closed doors. Reports from around the globe suggested that violence against women and girls was increasing. Governments, nongovernmental organizations and advocates began referring to the phenomenon as a “shadow pandemic.” To determine whether these headlines and informal…
