STORIES
From breaking news and urgent investigations to bold op-eds by global leaders, we bring you the stories that shape the lives of women and girls worldwide.

Iran’s Hijab Crackdown Goes Digital
The Islamic Republic of Iran is leveraging drones and intrusive digital tools to suppress women’s dissent.

Kuwait Abolishes Article 153 in Landmark Win for Women’s Rights
Kuwait’s repeal of a law that once excused so-called honor killings marks a critical step forward—but for many women, justice comes too late.

Thousands of Syrian Children Denied Citizenship as Women Confront Outdated Citizenship Laws
With Bashar al-Assad gone, Syrian women demand a long-overdue fix to outdated citizenship laws. Photo: Qusai Alazroni / UNHCR

The Battle to Make Marital Rape a Crime in India
As India’s Supreme Court deliberates on the criminalization of marital rape, women's rights advocates push to close a legal loophole that leaves millions unprotected from violence in marriage. Photo: Avishek Das

New Report Reveals Systemic Failure to Protect Girls from Sexual Violence in Guatemala
A new report from Human Rights Watch reveals that Guatemala’s laws claim to protect girls, but in practice, they trap them.

‘Without Real Opportunities, What Choice Do We Have?’: How Poverty Pushes Women in Rural Nigeria into Prostitution
For some women in rural Nigeria, the path to survival is shaped not by choice, but by circumstance.

Gaza’s Pregnant Women Face ‘Constant Risk of Preventable Death,’ Rights Group Warns
A new Human Rights Watch report reveals pregnant women in Gaza face life-threatening conditions as the war decimates healthcare, leaving many to give birth without medical care, clean water, or basic supplies. Photo: Andalou Agency

As the U.S. Freezes Foreign Aid, Life-Saving HIV Programs in Nigeria Hang in the Balance
As U.S. foreign aid freezes, Nigerian women face a growing healthcare crisis, with vital HIV programs shutting down and millions left without access to life-saving testing and treatment. Photo: Misha Friedman

Rural Zimbabwean Families Face Drought, Fueling Child Marriages
As drought worsens in rural Zimbabwe, families struggle to survive, with child marriage rising in its wake.

International Criminal Court Seeks Arrest Warrants for Taliban Leaders
The International Criminal Court seeks arrest warrants for two top Taliban leaders for their crimes against women and girls. Photo: Ebrahim Noroozi / AP

As Political Tides Change in Syria, Yazidi and Kurdish Women Fear Renewed Persecution
‘We celebrated Assad’s fall, but Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham isn’t any better,’ say some Syrian women, as hope is overshadowed by fear of renewed oppression. Photo: Andrea DiCenzo / The New Yorker

Egypt Restricts Women’s Travel to Saudi Arabia Based on Employment and Education Level
Egypt now requires women with limited education or listed as 'housewives' to seek approval before traveling to Saudi Arabia, a move many call discriminatory and unconstitutional. Illustration by Jun Cen

Taliban’s Latest Edict: No Windows Overlooking Homes with Women
In a new effort to hide women from public view, the Taliban has banned windows overlooking their homes. Photo: Jorge Silva / Reuters

Syrian Activists Voice Alarm Over the Future of Women’s Rights Under HTS
Amid Syria’s political transition, women’s rights hang in the balance. Photo: The New Arab

After Colombia Bans Child Marriage, Cultural Change Becomes the Focus
Colombia’s ban on child marriage sparks hope and hard conversations about breaking cultural norms. Photo: Raul Arboleda / AFP

Solar Power Has the Potential to Uplift Zambia’s Women
Access to solar power is transforming the lives of Zambian women, offering them opportunities for independence and economic growth. Photo: Elaine Little

‘Women are dying’: Texas Offers a Glimpse Into the Future of U.S. Reproductive Healthcare
Denying women safe reproductive healthcare makes them four times more likely to experience poverty, eviction, and bankruptcy — a reality Texas exemplifies and one a second Trump term could turn into a national crisis. Photo: Jay Janner / Austin American-Statesman

Delhi’s Lethal Air Quality Endangers Pregnant Women
As Delhi’s toxic air worsens, mothers fight for clean air to protect their children. Photo: Amarjeet Kumar Singh / Getty Images

Cockroaches and Coercion: The Exploitation of Women in Colombia’s Webcam Industry
A new Human Rights Watch report reveals the exploitation of Colombian webcam models, including unsafe conditions and systemic neglect by multinational platforms.

In Yemen’s Refugee Camps, Midwives Fight to Ensure Safe Deliveries
In Yemen’s displacement camps, midwives are the silent heroes risking everything to ensure safe childbirth amidst war and poverty. Photo: Nabeel al-Awzari / Reuters