https://www.girlsglobe.org Gender equality, human rights and social justice. Wed, 11 Jun 2025 11:59:59 +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/2025/06/13/dr-blessing-timidi-digha-canada/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/13/dr-blessing-timidi-digha-canada/#respond Fri, 13 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66592 Dr. Blessing Timidi Digha is a Black woman who identifies as a Feminist and who is also an Advocate, Storyteller and Community-Based Researcher. She brings all of her intersections and ideologies to the work she does on Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.

Blessing likes to kickstart uncomfortable conversations on issues that concern, affect, and impact girls and women. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in social justice education.

In this episode, Blessing discusses

- the ways people encouraged her to pursue a Masters degree and then a Doctorate, after having first studied engineering in Nigeria because her parents considered it a prestigious profession…
- her choice to study social justice education as her field of study for advanced degrees that complimented her fieldwork experiences…
- the level of openness of knowledgeable professors in Canada who value the diverse field experiences of their students…
- her advice to us all to incorporate what we love into things that we are required to do…
- the importance of honoring the season we are in and of knowing when it is time to let a season go…
- and these words of encouragement: “You can evolve at any time. The only constant is you. As long as you want it, go for it!”]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/13/dr-blessing-timidi-digha-canada/feed/ 0 66592 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/2025/05/23/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/2025/05/05/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/2025/03/06/1-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/2024/11/11/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 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/28/abortion-in-turkiye-legal-but-not-available/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/28/abortion-in-turkiye-legal-but-not-available/#respond Mon, 28 Oct 2024 08:23:00 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66225 The abortion situation in Türkiye is unique. We have a fairly liberal law on paper, but in reality, access to abortion is severely restricted. 

Abortion is legal on request up to 10 weeks. When you compare this to other countries in the region, Türkiye can look more egalitarian. But in practice, because of the government’s pro-natalist policies, access to abortion is not possible in state hospitals. We have a huge gap between law and practice.

This post is written by Ezel Buse Sönmezocak and İrem Gerkuş at Women for Women’s Human Rights (WWHR), a Safe Abortion Action Fund grantee partner in Türkiye. ]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/28/abortion-in-turkiye-legal-but-not-available/feed/ 0 66225 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/11/mushairat-mamun-usa-2/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/11/mushairat-mamun-usa-2/#respond Fri, 11 Oct 2024 11:56:10 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66200&preview=true&preview_id=66200 Mushairat Mamun is a first-generation American Bangladeshi who was born and raised in Queens, New York.

At 17, she moved to Bangladesh to pursue her undergraduate degree, focusing on Public Health and Philanthropy. Throughout her early medical career, Mushairat played a crucial role in addressing challenges in Maternal Health in Bangladesh. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies in Atlanta, and is the first person in her family to pursue a career in medicine. 

In this episode, Mushairat Mamun discusses how, even as a child, she sought ways to learn through new challenges. She reflects on growing up in a community where health and medicine were rarely discussed, and making big decisions, like moving to Bangladesh to study and find her own sense of identity. She shares how she grew through friendships and storytelling, driven by a desire to learn more, do more, and pursue a field where she could help others.

Mushairat emphasizes the importance of discussing feelings, emotions, love, and relationships to support mental health, even when these topics are considered taboo. She highlights her experience speaking with women across all age groups, valuing the significance of hearing them discuss their health and bodies, and challenging long-standing cultural norms.

She encourages women to use their voices to advocate for themselves and others, engage in meaningful issues, and promote change. Her advice to women and girls is: “Find what challenges you and do what scares you the most. Once you learn to control that fear, you can unleash your true potential.”]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/10/11/mushairat-mamun-usa-2/feed/ 0 66200 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/08/23/melinda-french-gates-takes-sides-i-respond/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/08/23/melinda-french-gates-takes-sides-i-respond/#respond Fri, 23 Aug 2024 07:22:48 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66071&preview=true&preview_id=66071 "Melinda French Gates is setting her own agenda. And I, as a woman leading a community of women philanthropists, am deeply inspired and energized.

Since transitioning from the Gates Foundation, Melinda has publicly stepped into her own power in new ways, challenging the many false binaries in philanthropy. It feels more uncensored than ever before, and it gives me hope: if Melinda – one of the world's biggest philanthropists – can refresh her own philanthropic giving and perspective, women philanthropists everywhere can do the same."

Darley Tom is the Co-Lead of Maverick Collective by PSI]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/08/23/melinda-french-gates-takes-sides-i-respond/feed/ 0 66071