Latvian MPs have voted to withdraw from an international accord aimed at protecting women from violence, including domestic abuse, after a long and intense debate in parliament. Several thousand people protested against the vote this week in Riga. It is now up to President Edgars Rinkevics to decide whether to approve the law or not….
New York – Sweeping aid cuts are dismantling the very organizations that are critical to ending violence against women and girls. The new UN Women report, At Risk and Underfunded, based on a global survey of 428 women’s rights and civil society organizations, finds that on the back of cuts by governments, more women are at risk of…
Around 676 million women lived within 50 kilometres of deadly conflict last year – the highest figure since the 1990s. That’s one of the key findings of the UN Secretary-General’s annual report on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) published on Monday. The report highlights the role that women play as peacemakers, describes how conflict affects…
New York – The world is experiencing the highest number of active conflicts since 1946, creating unprecedented risks and suffering for women and girls. The 2025 UN Secretary-General’s report on Women, Peace and Security warns that 676 million women now live within 50 kilometers of deadly conflict, the highest level since the 1990s. Civilian casualties among women and…
Johannesburg — Masterclass in Human-Centered Leadership at Women Create Wealth Summit #WCW2025 – Theo Sowa and Reeta Roy Yesterday, we had the privilege of witnessing a refreshingly candid conversation between two remarkable leaders, Theo Sowa, CEO of GMT and Reeta Roy, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation as they explored what it truly takes…
The United States is cutting billions in foreign aid. In Nigeria, pregnant women and others now face higher risks from HIV Kyuntu John, a mother of three, is running out of her antiretroviral drugs needed to fight AIDS. In a matter of days, her supply will end. But in the wake of the Trump administration’s…
Johannesburg — As we open the #WCWSummit2025, our CEO Theo Sowa and Director of Programmes Shiphra Chisha (M.Inst.D), MBA set the tone for the day, centered on purpose, impact, and collective power. Theo reflected on the deeper purpose of our work, emphasizing that true equality requires collective action, balance, and systemic change. Inspired by a…
Women entrepreneurs hold the potential to transform Africa’s economic future. Across the continent, women-owned businesses are creating jobs, lifting families out of poverty and reshaping communities, thanks to their resilience, creativity, and belief in succeeding against all odds. Justina Opit, the CEO of Omega Foods in Zambia, is just one example. “I created Omega Foods…
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK – During the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Spotlight Initiative co-hosted a high-level side event to mobilize new commitments towards gender-based violence prevention and response. ‘Full Speed Ahead: A Global Partnership to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls’ was co-hosted with the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU),…
Amid predictions of Africa’s growth and the potential of its youth, one inconvenient statistic tells a different story. Africa has the highest rate of femicide worldwide [2.9 victims per 100,000 in 2023] – around 22,000 women and girls are killed every year by an intimate partner or family member. I spend a lot of time…
