Nairobi, Kenya — In Africa, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation. Many countries are changing their policies. They are expanding contraceptive and maternal health services, improving HIV prevention efforts, and challenging deeply rooted social norms and stigmas. Despite this progress, young people and adolescents face a growing…
November 25 marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence — a civil society-led initiative calling for action to ensure that every woman and girl can live a life free from violence. The 2025 theme of “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls” addresses one of the fastest-growing…
IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Now Playing Pregnant Black women recount delayed care while in labor 02:11 UP NEXT Chaos after gunshots ring out at tree lighting ceremony 00:18 Sea turtles nursed back to health in Massachusetts 00:22 Drone finds 86-year-old man who was lost…
Violence against women remains one of the world’s most persistent and under-addressed human rights crises, with very little progress in two decades, according to a landmark report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN partners. Nearly 1 in 3 women – estimated 840 million globally – have experienced partner or sexual violence…
Khanyisile Ngcobo, Nomsa Maseko,BBC Africa, Johannesburg and Danai Nesta Kupemba AFP via Getty Images Many activists want gender-based violence to be declared a national disaster South African women’s rights groups are calling for nationwide protests to demand that gender-based violence (GBV) be declared a national disaster in a country where attacks on women have become…
The African Union (AU) Solidarity Mission on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) successfully concluded its two-day high-level gathering in Juba, reinforcing African solidarity and defining actionable steps for the implementation of the WPS Agenda. The mission was held under the theme, “Celebrating 25 years of 1325: Homegrown Solutions, Women-Led Peace for South Sudan: Keeping Hope…
Many refugee women in Nairobi lack official work permits, forcing them into precarious, informal jobs where they face low pay, exploitation, and no legal protection. Although refugees and asylum seekers are allowed to seek employment, obtaining legal work permits requires time, money, and documents that many do not have access to, contributing to lengthy delays….
When Salma* was just 15, she was forced to get married, even though she wanted to stay in school and become a doctor someday. Instead, she found herself tied to a man who “changed from being kind to being a monster.” He would beat her “with his bare hands,” she said recently. The young mother…
UN Women’s 16 Days of Activism campaign demands a world where technology is a force for equality – not harm. New York – The digital world promised connection and empowerment – but for millions of women and girls, it has become a world of abuse. Digital violence is spreading at alarming speed fueled by artificial intelligence, anonymity,…
In a world striving for sustainability, Michelle Lingam’s aspirations for her solar installation business highlight a troubling paradox: despite the critical role of women entrepreneurs in combating climate change, they continue to be largely excluded from formal financing. When Lingam sought a loan to expand her business, she anticipated rigorous scrutiny. What she did not…
