Global Issues News Headlines for “Women’s Rights”

Mothers get nearly eight times more paid leave than fathers – and women pay the price

2026-10-22T05:00:00-07:00

Mothers around the world get nearly eight times as much paid leave as fathers, leaving women to shoulder most of the care burden – at a cost to families, children and economies, according to new UN data published on Thursday.

Read the full story, “Mothers get nearly eight times more paid leave than fathers – and women pay the price”, on globalissues.org →

Afghan Women Defy Taliban Restrictions Through Online Protests

2026-10-20T15:37:49-07:00

PARWAN, Afghanistan, October 20 (IPS) - Afghan women have resorted to online protests as their only available recourse, even though the risks of being caught are high and carry enormous consequences.

Read the full story, “Afghan Women Defy Taliban Restrictions Through Online Protests”, on globalissues.org →

CHINA: ‘My Sister Has Been in a Chinese Prison for Eight Years Because I Exercised My Freedom of Speech’

2026-10-19T07:01:18-07:00

CIVICUS discusses the persecution of Uyghurs and activism in exile with Rushan Abbas, an Uyghur American activist, founder and executive director of Campaign for Uyghurs and chair of the Executive Committee of the World Uyghur Congress.

Read the full story, “CHINA: ‘My Sister Has Been in a Chinese Prison for Eight Years Because I Exercised My Freedom of Speech’”, on globalissues.org →

‘Prioritize Social Inclusion as Rapid Transformations Risk Leaving Millions Behind’

2026-10-16T05:49:11-07:00

UNITED NATIONS, October 16 (IPS) - The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) new report, which addresses the rapid global transformations driven by artificial intelligence (AI), demographic shifts, climate change, and conflict, highlights the widening disparities in employment, social inclusion, and access to services.

Read the full story, “‘Prioritize Social Inclusion as Rapid Transformations Risk Leaving Millions Behind’”, on globalissues.org →

Afghanistan’s Stolen Peace: The Women Who Refuse to Be Silenced

2026-10-15T17:39:48-07:00

BENGALURU, India, October 15 (IPS) - When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, Zahra Nader was pursuing a doctorate in Women and Gender studies at York University in Canada. Nader had planned to return to Afghanistan to continue her research, possibly teach at Kabul University, and continue exploring Afghan women’s role in political history.

Read the full story, “Afghanistan’s Stolen Peace: The Women Who Refuse to Be Silenced”, on globalissues.org →

Middle East Escalation Could Leave 11.7 Million More Women and Girls Facing Food Insecurity by End-2026

2026-10-13T16:44:35-07:00

GENEVA, October 13 (IPS) - An additional 11.7 million women and girls could face food insecurity by the end of 2026, as the escalation in the Middle East and disruption to the Strait of Hormuz drive up food prices and strain livelihoods and household resources, according to a new UN Women analysis published today.

Read the full story, “Middle East Escalation Could Leave 11.7 Million More Women and Girls Facing Food Insecurity by End-2026”, on globalissues.org →

Navi Pillay’s Nobel Peace Prize Is a Vote of Confidence in a Global Legal Order under Fire

2026-10-12T18:35:41-07:00

PRETORIA, South Africa, October 12 (IPS) - The awarding of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to distinguished South African jurist and international judge Navanethem “Navi” Pillay is about more than just the recognition of an exceptional individual in the global fight for justice.

Read the full story, “Navi Pillay’s Nobel Peace Prize Is a Vote of Confidence in a Global Legal Order under Fire”, on globalissues.org →

Kazakhstan Has Spent 23 Years Bringing Faiths Together. Now Comes the Harder Part.

2026-10-12T06:44:46-07:00

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 12 (IPS) - In a world increasingly divided by war, political distrust and competing ideologies, Kazakhstan has spent more than two decades pursuing an unusual diplomatic undertaking: keeping representatives of different religions in conversation.

Read the full story, “Kazakhstan Has Spent 23 Years Bringing Faiths Together. Now Comes the Harder Part.”, on globalissues.org →

Tanzania’s Biggest City Bets on Elevated Bridge to Dodge Chronic Flooding

2026-10-09T14:53:55-07:00

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, October 9 (IPS) - Each morning on her way to Kariakoo, Clementina Nyangwine looks out of her commuter bus as it crawls through Jangwani and watches giant foundation piles rising above the muddy Msimbazi valley.

Read the full story, “Tanzania’s Biggest City Bets on Elevated Bridge to Dodge Chronic Flooding”, on globalissues.org →

Nearly 50,000 Women and Girls Killed or Severely Injured in Gaza in Three Years of War – One in 21 Gazan Women and Girls

2026-10-09T08:29:29-07:00

UNITED NATIONS, October 9 (IPS) - Since October 2023, 50,000 women and girls in Gaza have been killed or seriously injured.

Read the full story, “Nearly 50,000 Women and Girls Killed or Severely Injured in Gaza in Three Years of War – One in 21 Gazan Women and Girls”, on globalissues.org →