https://www.girlsglobe.org Gender equality, human rights and social justice. Fri, 23 May 2025 11:36:07 +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/2025/05/23/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/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/2024/08/20/its-quite-emotional-to-remember-the-day-the-abortion-law-changed-in-thailand/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/08/20/its-quite-emotional-to-remember-the-day-the-abortion-law-changed-in-thailand/#respond Tue, 20 Aug 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65991 I was getting so many direct messages from people telling me they’d had abortions, but they didn’t know who to talk to, or how to deal with it.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/08/20/its-quite-emotional-to-remember-the-day-the-abortion-law-changed-in-thailand/feed/ 0 65991 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/22/solidarity-studio-habiba-mohamed-and-bwalya-chomba-on-obstetric-fistula-and-stories-of-hope/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/22/solidarity-studio-habiba-mohamed-and-bwalya-chomba-on-obstetric-fistula-and-stories-of-hope/#respond Wed, 22 May 2024 09:45:32 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65826&preview=true&preview_id=65826 Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury. It leaves a woman incontinent, humiliated, and—all too often—shunned by her community. Surgery is the only cure.

Habiba Mohamed is the Regional Director of Programs in Africa and Bwalya Magawa Chomba is the Program Director for Zambia at Fistula Foundation. 

In the Solidarity Studio, they share stories of obstetric fistula, stories that have shifted their work to help end fistula.

Habiba and Bwalya also share an important call to action for us all to get engaged to end obstetric fistula. 

Available as a podcast and as a video with captions. ]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/22/solidarity-studio-habiba-mohamed-and-bwalya-chomba-on-obstetric-fistula-and-stories-of-hope/feed/ 0 65826 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/01/17/maureen-twahirwa-rwanda/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/01/17/maureen-twahirwa-rwanda/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:55:52 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65217&preview=true&preview_id=65217
Maureen Twahirwa is a Rwandan citizen and a mother who is passionate about advocating for women, girls and young people. She has worked in the private sector, as well as in national and international organizations to make that difference.

In this episode of The Power of Stories Podcast, Maureen Twahirwa discusses

- her recent move from Rwanda to South Sudan, wanting to do more for communities while also pursuing career growth.

- working to end to gender-based violence and to advance everyone’s rights, with a focus on the rights of women, girls, and young people.

- the great strength and potential of young people in creating positive change.

- the gap in gender equality.

- combining her career with her responsibilities as a mother.

- involving her family and children in her decision to work in South Sudan, and the role of technology in staying connected with her family.

- the importance of seeking help from the support system around us and encouraging every woman and every girl to use their voice to encourage or advocate for others.

- using her own voice to make a difference in terms of policy changes, programming and services for those whose voices are not heard yet they contribute to peace and sustainable development.

]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/01/17/maureen-twahirwa-rwanda/feed/ 0 65217 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/12/06/call-for-submissions-photo-competition-on-the-theme-men-and-love/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/12/06/call-for-submissions-photo-competition-on-the-theme-men-and-love/#respond Wed, 06 Dec 2023 10:13:01 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=64810&preview=true&preview_id=64810

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) announces its Second International Photography Collaboration as part of the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace Programme (MMFP)

In these times of increasing conflict and polarisation, WILPF calls for submissions on the theme of men and love. We leave it to you to share your vision about who, where, how and what men can and do love. 

What you need to know!

⏳ Deadline for submissions: Monday 1 January 2024

🏆 Shortlist and winners: The shortlist and winners will be announced by 15th of February 2024

📷 Contest Award Categories: Documentary, Photojournalism and Open Format Photography 

💸 Award Prize: one winner and two runner-ups. From these, the winner will receive $1,000 and the runner-ups will receive $600.

Read the full post to learn more about the photography collaboration. ]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/12/06/call-for-submissions-photo-competition-on-the-theme-men-and-love/feed/ 0 64810 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/10/25/dr-taveeshi-gupta-boys-men-fathers-and-gender-equality/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/10/25/dr-taveeshi-gupta-boys-men-fathers-and-gender-equality/#respond Wed, 25 Oct 2023 11:53:15 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=64641&preview=true&preview_id=64641

In this episode, Dr. Taveeshi Gupta speaks with Julia Wiklander about the new State of the World's Fathers report, masculinity and gender equality.

They speak about the impact of the digital world on young boys perceptions of gender equality. And why boys must be included in gender equality work. Taveeshi shares personal stories of what brought her to work with men, boys and masculinities in the first place. She shares what brings her hope and how she stays motivated to continue this important work.

Dr. Taveeshi Gupta is the Director of Research, Evaluation and Learning at Equimundo. Her expertise lies in understanding the role of gender norms in perpetuating violence against women and children, creating inequitable home and workplace environments, and reinforcing inter-generational transmission of harmful gender identities for boys and girls.

]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/10/25/dr-taveeshi-gupta-boys-men-fathers-and-gender-equality/feed/ 0 64641 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/10/05/yodit-kifle-smith-usa/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/10/05/yodit-kifle-smith-usa/#respond Thu, 05 Oct 2023 15:22:17 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=64577&preview=true&preview_id=64577 Yodit Kifle Smith is a daughter, sister, wife, friend to many, and now also the mother of a precious daughter, a role she treasures deeply. Among her many other roles, Yodit is the co-host of the Power of Stories Podcast.  In this episode, Yodit discusses her new role as a mom… learning to see the […]]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/10/05/yodit-kifle-smith-usa/feed/ 0 64577 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/08/24/theodora-biney-amissah-usa/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/08/24/theodora-biney-amissah-usa/#respond Thu, 24 Aug 2023 17:32:52 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=64152&preview=true&preview_id=64152

Theodora Biney-Amissah is a first-generation Ghanaian-American, a community and women's public health and impact professional, a birthworker-entrepreneur and family caregiver.

Theodora is deeply committed to helping pregnant, birthing, and postpartum women and people and their families navigate reproductive and maternal health care, particularly postpartum healing and recovery with doula support, community care and education.

In this episode, Theodora discusses growing up in a large family of many cousins, and learning lessons in childhood about caring for people in community…

- being called a doula years before she actually became one…

- after college, her experiences working in public health and working with midwives…

- volunteering in women’s shelters…

- practicing self-care by taking time to pause…

- setting boundaries for herself in her different roles…

- her experiences of being a family caregiver at various times in her life…

- gaps in community and national maternal healthcare…

- learning many things from her grandmother, who was an entrepreneur, as is her mother…

- encouraging community members to discuss health concerns and issues…

- her role in getting people to think about what they want for themselves regarding their maternal health journeys, and what they don’t want…

- the importance for us to believe that we are all unique and have gifts to share in the world.
]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/08/24/theodora-biney-amissah-usa/feed/ 0 64152 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/07/05/safe-spaces-a-life-changing-place-for-adolescent-girls-and-young-women-in-rwanda/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/07/05/safe-spaces-a-life-changing-place-for-adolescent-girls-and-young-women-in-rwanda/#respond Wed, 05 Jul 2023 12:49:42 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=63893
"Rwandan and African traditional cultures - like in other parts of the world - more generally tend to promote gender inequality on women's rights and power. This being my home, I grew up knowing that I did not want to live under a patriarchal system forever.
Growing up, I witnessed gender inequalities and gender-based violence (GBV) all around me. In leadership and education, discrimination in so-called “men’s careers”, and many more obstacles that both hindered girls' dreams and development in general, but also exposed us to high-risk lives of unprotected sexual intercourse, leading to unplanned pregnancies and the frightening possibility of contracting HIV.
Safe Spaces awoke power within me to contribute in the fight for girls and women's rights, and against any form of gender-based violence."
Read the whole post by Uwase Aisha on her work with holding Safe Spaces for adolescent girls and young women in Rwanda. ]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/07/05/safe-spaces-a-life-changing-place-for-adolescent-girls-and-young-women-in-rwanda/feed/ 0 63893