https://www.girlsglobe.org Gender equality, human rights and social justice. Wed, 11 Jun 2025 17:27:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://i0.wp.com/www.girlsglobe.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/girlsglobe_icon_green2-1.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 https://www.girlsglobe.org 32 32 128553070 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/11/greta-gaza-and-genocide-how-silence-shouts-racism-and-complicity/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/11/greta-gaza-and-genocide-how-silence-shouts-racism-and-complicity/#respond Wed, 11 Jun 2025 17:27:16 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66598 Swedish activist, Greta Thunberg made headlines upon her return to Sweden yesterday after being forcibly detained on international waters by Israel. She was a part of the crew of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla's boat Madleen, which attempted to break Israel's illegal blockade on the occupied Gaza Strip to supply humanitarian aid.

Since the ceasefire collapsed in Gaza, Israeli forces have escalated their attack, killing and injuring tens of thousands of civilians. The UN estimates that over 640,000 have been forcibly displaced, with people confined to an ever-shrinking space.

Israel has previously attacked boats part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and intercepted the Madleen on international waters and detained its crew earlier this week.

Greta explained that she's most worried about the continued development of the crisis in Gaza, the crimes against humanity that we're witnessing and the war crimes that Israel is guilty of. ]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/11/greta-gaza-and-genocide-how-silence-shouts-racism-and-complicity/feed/ 0 66598 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/05/protecting-woman-centred-care-in-a-world-of-crises-why-midwives-must-be-at-the-centre/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/05/protecting-woman-centred-care-in-a-world-of-crises-why-midwives-must-be-at-the-centre/#respond Mon, 05 May 2025 09:15:42 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66531 After the initial shock of a crisis — whether caused by conflict, climate change or natural disasters — daily life continues to unfold. Yet even as communities face devastation, life goes on. Pregnancies continue, and women and gender diverse people go into labour and give birth. A moment that should be joyful and safe turns frightening and uncertain, as giving birth becomes far more dangerous and unpredictable. More than half of maternal deaths worldwide occur in fragile and crisis-affected settings, making clear just how deadly these situations can be. 

At the same time, needs rise sharply. The demand for contraception, comprehensive abortion care and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increases, while access to these services often becomes limited or disappears entirely. Menstrual hygiene becomes harder to manage as products and safe facilities, including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, become scarce. Unintended pregnancies and STIs increase due to the lack of barrier methods and heightened risk of sexual violence.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/05/protecting-woman-centred-care-in-a-world-of-crises-why-midwives-must-be-at-the-centre/feed/ 0 66531 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/04/15/how-youth-voices-are-stirring-change-in-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/04/15/how-youth-voices-are-stirring-change-in-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights/#comments Tue, 15 Apr 2025 07:54:22 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66506 "Hi, I’m Azra—host, producer, and someone who genuinely believes that when young people speak up, the world shifts. I’m also a youth advocate with IPD (Member Association of IPPF EN) from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the current Chair of the YSAFE Steering Committee. In this article I want to share the experience of producing a youth-led podcast on sex positivity, gender equality and SRHR. The podcast’s title is Sex Positivitea with YSAFE.

Sex Positivitea started as a small idea and quickly became one of the most powerful projects I’ve ever had the privilege to lead. I remember nervously recording our first episode, unsure if anyone would listen. Fast forward to now—season four—and I’m still amazed by the conversations we’re having and the connections we’re making.

This podcast is a love letter to every young person who’s ever felt left out of the conversation about their own body, identity, or rights."]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/04/15/how-youth-voices-are-stirring-change-in-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights/feed/ 1 66506 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/04/02/from-streets-to-classrooms-in-afghanistan-alis-story/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/04/02/from-streets-to-classrooms-in-afghanistan-alis-story/#respond Wed, 02 Apr 2025 07:47:22 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66472 Ali was only 4 years old when his drug-addicted father left the family. His mother took his sister and disappeared shortly after. Ali was left with his grandmother who washes clothes at peoples homes in order to pay the bills, and his aunt, who begs for bread next to a bakery every day. When we found Ali, he had been selling chewing gum on the streets to earn 30 AFS ($0.34) a day to contribute to family food. 

"Since Ali doesn't have parents anymore," shared his grandmother, "I worried about his future and thought he would become like his father. Now that he is going to school, I am relieved and have much hope for him."]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/04/02/from-streets-to-classrooms-in-afghanistan-alis-story/feed/ 0 66472 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/19/its-time-to-go-beyond-lip-service-to-end-gender-based-violence/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/19/its-time-to-go-beyond-lip-service-to-end-gender-based-violence/#comments Wed, 19 Mar 2025 08:59:17 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66459 Sarah Baartman, a Khoisan woman, endured extreme dehumanisation and exploitation in 19th-century Europe. Both in life and death she symbolises the abuse of African women by racist and patriarchal systems. Sarah was stripped of her dignity, displayed in human zoos, sexually, physically and emotionally abused for the amusement of the elite. 

This uncomfortable history is not just history – in many ways it is a haunting mirror of the present.

The world still sees women’s bodies as commodities, women’s labour as free and their opinions as not worthy. Systems of oppression continue to silence women’s voices in public and private spaces leading to economic exclusion and general disempowerment of women. 

During the ongoing Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) summit, where deep reflections on the progress towards the Beijing platform of action are taking place, we must ask ourselves the hard questions and go beyond lip service to making the actual changes that will make a difference in women’s lives and end Gender Based Violence. ]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/19/its-time-to-go-beyond-lip-service-to-end-gender-based-violence/feed/ 3 66459 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/06/1-in-4-countries-worldwide-face-backlash-on-womens-rights-new-un-women-report-shows/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/06/1-in-4-countries-worldwide-face-backlash-on-womens-rights-new-un-women-report-shows/#respond Thu, 06 Mar 2025 12:20:57 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66392 Ahead of the 50th official UN International Women's Day this year, UN Women reports that one in four countries face backlash on women's rights. Gender equality and the rights of women and girls are facing growing threats at unprecedented levels.

In a world where we're seeing the rise of authoritarianism, the power of big tech and AI, we're also witnessing the simultaneous rise of threats against women's and girls' rights.

These threats include higher levels of discrimination, weaker legal protections, less funding for programs and institutions that support and protect women. Global crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate emergency, conflicts and soaring prices, make the urgency to respond to these threats even greater.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/06/1-in-4-countries-worldwide-face-backlash-on-womens-rights-new-un-women-report-shows/feed/ 0 66392 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/02/18/for-the-dignity-of-all-supporting-usaid/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/02/18/for-the-dignity-of-all-supporting-usaid/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:13:08 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66354 The image is still vivid: girls, between eleven and fourteen years old, sitting in a circle, waiting. Not for treats, but for notebooks and pens. These girls had been in school, but their families could no longer afford the basic supplies. These materials came from a box stamped with the words, “from the American people.” […]]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/02/18/for-the-dignity-of-all-supporting-usaid/feed/ 0 66354 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/12/23/shifting-the-global-north-south-power-imbalance-in-the-fight-against-gbv/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/12/23/shifting-the-global-north-south-power-imbalance-in-the-fight-against-gbv/#respond Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:14:00 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66276 At Womanity we take pride in investing in innovative and sustainable global solutions that prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG) and accelerate gender equality.

With 1 in 3 women experiencing physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime and just 0.2% of global aid and development funding directed to gender-based violence prevention, the urgency to implement programmes that break new ground and drive progress, has never been greater.

Our approach is to work closely with local partners to overcome barriers and unlock women’s potential in underserved parts of the world so that women and girls can live free of violence, allowing entire communities to thrive.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/12/23/shifting-the-global-north-south-power-imbalance-in-the-fight-against-gbv/feed/ 0 66276 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/12/17/i-want-to-help-rural-women-in-india-own-the-land-they-work-on/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/12/17/i-want-to-help-rural-women-in-india-own-the-land-they-work-on/#comments Tue, 17 Dec 2024 12:04:19 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66263 "In my community, women do all the farm work while the men are hardly seen.

It’s an unfortunate truth that most men have either migrated to cities in search of alternative livelihoods, have decreasing interest in farming, or have succumbed to alcoholism. Despite their hard work, only 1 in 6 rural Indian women own the land they work on.

When I meet women in the field, they often lack agency and have no place to call their own, with no rights to their parental or husband's homes. In cases of domestic violence, they have nothing of their own to fall back on. Most feel trapped and hopeless. They lack a voice. Without a voice, they have no income or means to make life decisions or achieve long-term financial security.

As I came across more and more women suffering this fate, I knew I had to do something."

written by Rachna Bagwan who works for Jan Sahas, an NGO partner of Womanity’s ‘Land for Women’ programme]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/12/17/i-want-to-help-rural-women-in-india-own-the-land-they-work-on/feed/ 1 66263 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/11/11/what-does-a-trump-presidency-mean-for-global-reproductive-rights/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/11/11/what-does-a-trump-presidency-mean-for-global-reproductive-rights/#respond Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:37:11 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66242 Donald Trump has now officially secured a second term as president of the United States. Many are still reeling from the news that a convicted felon and sexual abuser has been voted into the most powerful position in the country. And the US’ hold on global politics and media means that those of us outside of the country also feel the impact. 

As advocates for reproductive justice, we already know the damage that has and can be done by Trump. The Guttmacher Institute pulls no punches in stating that his election to president will “decimate” sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). 

The impact on US healthcare is being well-documented, but as a global fund dedicated to abortion, we want to look at the worldwide repercussions of a second Trump term.

We’re proud to be able to continue funding safe abortion work. 

Yesterday, we officially announced a new global funding call for organisations working to improve access to abortion. We are now offering grants to those in low- and middle-income countries – a total of 140 countries are eligible to apply.  

In the next few years, we are able to commit $18.5 million to abortion work. It is by no means enough to fix the funding crisis, but it goes a small way towards connecting and resourcing a powerful global movement of activists. 

As a global fund solely dedicated to safe abortion, we’re here to proudly support those fighting for a better world.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/11/11/what-does-a-trump-presidency-mean-for-global-reproductive-rights/feed/ 0 66242