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/2025/05/23/neha-mankani-midwifery-and-the-climate-crisis/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/23/neha-mankani-midwifery-and-the-climate-crisis/#respond Fri, 23 May 2025 11:35:50 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66577 Neha Mankani is a community midwife and global health practitioner from Pakistan with a strong focus on reproductive health and rights in crisis situations, emergency response and climate-affected communities. 

Neha is the Humanitarian and Climate Engagement Advisor at the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and the founder of the Mama Baby Fund; a financial emergency fund for maternal and neonatal healthcare in Pakistan. She has extensive experience in SRHR and maternal and neonatal health clinical practice, programming, and midwifery advocacy both at the local and global levels.

In this episode, Neha shares stories from her work with the coastal communities outside of Karachi, Pakistan and why she stared Mama Baby Fund. As a midwife with the ICM, Julia and Neha talk about how to build resilience in communities affected by the climate crisis and the critical role that midwives have.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/23/neha-mankani-midwifery-and-the-climate-crisis/feed/ 0 66577 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/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/2024/10/02/laura-somoggi-feminist-leadership-decolonization-and-resilience/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/02/laura-somoggi-feminist-leadership-decolonization-and-resilience/#respond Wed, 02 Oct 2024 09:10:32 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66166&preview=true&preview_id=66166 Laura Somoggi, Co-CEO at Womanity, is an international development expert with a focus on gender equity, social impact, and trust-based philanthropy.

A feminist and strong advocate for devolution of power through equitable partnerships, Laura has overseen programmes with a presence in 15 countries. Coming from a colonised country and a family of refugees, the decolonisation of knowledge and development is especially personal to her.

In this episode, Julia and Laura speak about hope and resilience in the face of backlash, the status of gender equality around the world and about decolonizing development.

Laura shares her own stories - including about her career move - and talks about the work of Womanity at large and in Afghanistan specifically.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/02/laura-somoggi-feminist-leadership-decolonization-and-resilience/feed/ 0 66166 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/08/26/solidarity-studio-neha-gurung-on-statelessness/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/08/26/solidarity-studio-neha-gurung-on-statelessness/#respond Mon, 26 Aug 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66068&preview=true&preview_id=66068 Neha Gurung is a human rights lawyer from Nepal and the Co-founder and Head of Legal Aid and Advocacy at the Citizenship Affected People's Network, Nepal.

She is also currently the Co-Lead at the Global Movement Against Statelessness.

In the Girls' Globe Solidarity Studio, Neha shares parts of her story. She speaks about how she was affected by statelessness and her calls to action for others. Neha shares what feminist solidarity looks like to her.

]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/08/26/solidarity-studio-neha-gurung-on-statelessness/feed/ 0 66068 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/06/19/magda-sarah-boulabiza-racial-climate-and-economic-justice-in-europe/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/06/19/magda-sarah-boulabiza-racial-climate-and-economic-justice-in-europe/#respond Wed, 19 Jun 2024 06:22:19 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65995&preview=true&preview_id=65995 "The values of democracy and human rights in Europe are only a facade." - Magda-Sarah Boulabiza

Magda-Sarah Boulabiza is the policy and advocacy advisor for climate and economic justice at the European Network Against Racism (ENAR). 

In this episode Magda speaks with Julia Wiklander about the linkages between racial, climate and economic justice. 

Magda shares her journey as a changemaker, starting with her experience of witnessing police violence at a young age. She discusses the interlinkages between climate and racial justice, highlighting how racialized communities are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis.

Magda also speaks about the hypocrisy of Europe in terms of repressive policies and the need for reparations for historical harms. She talks about Europe's history of colonialism and racism that has led to a racial wealth gap and ongoing discrimination. Magda gives current examples that show the effects and harms of the ongoing racism and lack of acknowledging responsibility for Europe’s colonial history.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/06/19/magda-sarah-boulabiza-racial-climate-and-economic-justice-in-europe/feed/ 0 65995 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/06/03/the-eus-hypocrisy-from-human-rights-abuses-to-climate-inaction/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/06/03/the-eus-hypocrisy-from-human-rights-abuses-to-climate-inaction/#comments Mon, 03 Jun 2024 16:52:20 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65867 Since its foundation, the European Union has prided itself in standing up for human rights, dignity and freedom. It has seen itself as a light in the world for upholding justice, solidarity and equality.

Yet, time and time again, the actions of the European Union don't match the words they put on paper. And recently, we're seeing more examples of EU decisions that contradict its own treaties.

EU's hypocrisy can be seen in the human rights abuses it funds in other countries, it's crackdown on minority rights within member states or through its inaction for our shared climate.

This post details one of these hypocrisies and shares examples of others.

The European elections, taking place later this week, are important to take a stand for humanity and to turn the tide of European hypocrisy.

Therefore, we must understand which parties and members of European Parliament are willing to break the cycle of EU's hypocrisy.

Several international expert organizations and human rights and advocacy networks have conducted research to help us do so. ]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/06/03/the-eus-hypocrisy-from-human-rights-abuses-to-climate-inaction/feed/ 1 65867 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/29/student-movement-for-palestine-voices-against-genocide/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/29/student-movement-for-palestine-voices-against-genocide/#respond Wed, 29 May 2024 13:07:17 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65881&preview=true&preview_id=65881 Students across western nations are taking to the streets and to their universities to demand them to end their complicity in the crimes of Israel and the ongoing genocide. The student movement is making noise and creating waves of change. The student protests that started in the US, have spread across the country and across Europe.

The past 8 months of brutal massacres, forced displacement, indiscriminate bombings, intentional starvation and other horrors inflicted by Israel on the Palestinian people in Gaza have been dreadful and heart wrenching to witness. 

As of today, more than 35000 people have been killed by Israel in Gaza. 16000 children have been killed. Thousands are injured. Children maimed. Mothers lost. Families torn apart. Healthworkers targeted infront of patients. Mass graves found outside hospitals. Hospitals bombed. Cultural and historical sites destroyed. Places of worship ruined.

And every university turned to rubble.

"More than 5000 university students have been killed. Over 90,000 university students have lost their education. I cannot even begin to imagine how that feels. So, for us as students, we want to be their voice." - Adla, student at Lund University student encampment for Palestine ]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/29/student-movement-for-palestine-voices-against-genocide/feed/ 0 65881 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/16/emmanuel-achiri-on-the-eu-migration-pact-and-europes-identity-crisis/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/16/emmanuel-achiri-on-the-eu-migration-pact-and-europes-identity-crisis/#respond Thu, 16 May 2024 09:21:19 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65819&preview=true&preview_id=65819 Emmanuel Achiri is the Policy and Advocacy Officer at the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) and an expert on migration, policing and security. He holds a doctorate in International Relations with a focus on international law and forced migration.

Emmanuel discusses the contradictions within the EU Migration Pact, which claims to address structural racism while legitimizing racial profiling and criminalization of migrants.

He highlights the crisis of European identity and the failure to acknowledge Europe's historical role in creating instability in other parts of the world.

The conversation explores the need for a transformational approach to social justice and migration in Europe. It highlights the shortcomings of the EU elections in addressing these issues and the importance of voting for human rights.

"When Europeans ignore the destruction of fundamental human rights principles, eventually this would move from just migrants to the rest of Europe," says Emmanuel Achiri

This episode is a part of a new series of the Hey Changemaker! Podcast called In The Deep End. ]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/16/emmanuel-achiri-on-the-eu-migration-pact-and-europes-identity-crisis/feed/ 0 65819