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/2025/06/05/jacqueline-dunkley-bent-midwifery-maternal-health-and-inequality/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/05/jacqueline-dunkley-bent-midwifery-maternal-health-and-inequality/#respond Thu, 05 Jun 2025 08:37:02 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66588 Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE is the Chief Midwife of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). 

Jacqueline has a tremendous career in midwifery clinical practice and leadership. Prior to joining ICM, Jacqueline served as the first Chief Midwifery Officer for the NHS in England and was one of two National Maternity Safety Champions appointed by the Department for Health and Social Care. She is a registered nurse and midwife and holds honorary doctorates from Worcester and Winchester Universities in the UK and a visiting Professorship in Midwifery at Kings College London and London South Bank University.

In this episode, Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent shares some incredible stories from her career in midwifery, including leading national midwifery initiatives during COVID.

Julia and Jacqueline talk about the needs of midwives and the status of maternal health worldwide. They discuss inequality and inequity of care and outcomes for women and mothers between regions and within countries - and the need for data in combination with the stories of women’s lived realities. Jacqueline speaks about her work with ICM and the importance of midwifery leadership through the crises we are witnessing in the world today.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/05/jacqueline-dunkley-bent-midwifery-maternal-health-and-inequality/feed/ 0 66588 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/2025/03/06/1-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/2024/10/23/beth-woroniuk-feminist-led-change-in-a-turbulent-world/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/23/beth-woroniuk-feminist-led-change-in-a-turbulent-world/#respond Wed, 23 Oct 2024 10:14:49 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66217&preview=true&preview_id=66217 Beth Woroniuk is currently a Senior Fellow with the Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative.

Until earlier this year, she was the Vice-President, Policy at the Equality Fund. Beth has worked to advance gender justice and feminist approaches to policymaking for over 35 years. She has advised and worked with bilateral aid agencies, women’s funds, UN entities, international NGOs and feminist organizations, strengthening their work on gender equality and women’s rights in numerous contexts and countries.

In this episode Beth shares her own stories, perspectives and reasons for hope in a turbulent world. 

Julia and Beth talk about resilience as feminist changemakers and the multiple crises that we’re facing in the world. Beth gives us insights into the challenges, and the wins, that we’re seeing as a global feminist movement. She shares amazing advice for young women who are moving into the feminist advocacy space today.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/23/beth-woroniuk-feminist-led-change-in-a-turbulent-world/feed/ 0 66217 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/18/hassina-sherjan-a-legacy-for-education-in-afghanistan/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/18/hassina-sherjan-a-legacy-for-education-in-afghanistan/#comments Fri, 18 Oct 2024 07:19:00 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66213&preview=true&preview_id=66213 Hassina Sherjan shares her own story of coming back to Afghanistan 19 years after leaving the country at the age of 19.

She tells us about how she build Aid Afghanistan for Education and the impact the organization has had. Hassina speaks about the shock and aftermath of the Taliban takeover in 2021 and how her work for education in Afghanistan continues in a different form.

Hassina Sherjan is the Founder and CEO of Aid Afghanistan For Education. ]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/18/hassina-sherjan-a-legacy-for-education-in-afghanistan/feed/ 1 66213 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/11/3-ways-to-support-girls-education-in-afghanistan/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/11/3-ways-to-support-girls-education-in-afghanistan/#respond Fri, 11 Oct 2024 11:46:04 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66182&preview=true&preview_id=66182 Education is a powerful tool for transforming lives, especially for Afghan women and girls who have faced tremendous challenges. For many, education has become the key to unlocking their potential and breaking cycles of poverty.

As one Afghan student shared, "Education is our weapon against oppression. It opens doors to opportunities that we never thought were possible."

On this International Day of the Girl, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and pride of girls in Afghanistan—today and every day.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/11/3-ways-to-support-girls-education-in-afghanistan/feed/ 0 66182 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/07/10/nesmah-mansoor-yemen-peace-and-climate-justice/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/07/10/nesmah-mansoor-yemen-peace-and-climate-justice/#comments Wed, 10 Jul 2024 08:23:33 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66042&preview=true&preview_id=66042 Nesmah Mansoor is a Women's Peace and Security expert and a Co-founder of the Peace Track Initiative.

Nesmah is currently serving as their Policy and Communication Senior Officer. She specializes in the intersection of peacebuilding and climate justice and is Peace Track Initiative’s focal point for Feminist Climate Justice issues. Nesmah is also pursuing a master's degree in International Relations at Inalco, Paris, with a focus on Security Studies.

In this episode Nesmah Mansoor speaks with Julia Wiklander about Yemen. Nesmah shares her journey as a changemaker, from challenging gender norms as a child to using her voice to raise awareness about the situation in Yemen. She gives us a very clear and comprehensive overview of the complex history of Yemen, including the civil war and the impact on the people, particularly the internally displaced persons (IDPs). She continues to emphasize the dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen and the challenges faced by IDPs, including lack of access to clean water and sanitation.

Nesmah and Julia talk about the Houthis involvement in the issue of Palestine and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, through their attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Nesmah addresses the misconception that the Houthi rebels are heroes, highlighting their primary role in the conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of Yemenis and currently continue to violate human rights.

"Militarization is the elephant in the room. Militarization, in all its forms, should be addressed for us to address the climate crisis." - Nesmah Mansoor

This episode covers the interconnectedness of peace, climate change, and justice movements. Nesmah Mansoor emphasizes the importance of understanding the root causes of conflicts and the impact of militarization on both peace and the environment. She also highlights the resilience and activism of women in Yemen and their role in peacebuilding.

It's a podcast about hope and resilience in the most challenging of circumstances.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/07/10/nesmah-mansoor-yemen-peace-and-climate-justice/feed/ 1 66042 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/06/12/adele-kirsten-long-term-activism-gun-violence-anti-apartheid/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/06/12/adele-kirsten-long-term-activism-gun-violence-anti-apartheid/#respond Wed, 12 Jun 2024 07:47:42 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65967&preview=true&preview_id=65967 "If we aren't thinking structurally and systemically then it's charity. And charity has its place. But if you're an activist, you're about making change... and you have to find it within you to see the links between the small change, the mobilization and the structural systemic change." - Adèle Kirsten on the Hey Changemaker! Podcast.

Adèle Kirsten has been a non-violent, social justice activist for almost 40 years in South Africa, and is the Director of Gun Free South Africa, of which she was a founding member. 

Adèle became active in the anti-apartheid movement in the late 70’s as a result of her opposition to the injustices of the apartheid system, the growing militarisation of the society, and her support for those who refused to serve in the apartheid army. 

In this episode, Adèle shares how she got involved in the anti-apartheid movement as a student in South Africa. We talk about the linkages with the student movement today. She shares several stories from her work with Gun Free South Africa. One is the current - almost unbelievable - class-action lawsuit taking place in South Africa: Prinsloo Guns Class Action. 

Adèle Kirsten speaks with Julia Wiklander about gun violence, long-term activism and about solidarity and hope. 

]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/06/12/adele-kirsten-long-term-activism-gun-violence-anti-apartheid/feed/ 0 65967