The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence focused attention on the ongoing crisis affecting millions of women and girls across Africa. Systemic failures, cultural norms, and weak law enforcement continue to perpetuate physical and sexual abuse of women worldwide.

It is estimated that one

Liberia has seen a troubling resurgence of female genital mutilation (FGM). New footage revealed that 502 girls and young women were recently initiated during a combined Sande ceremony across Lofa, Maryland, and Sinoe counties. FGM affects half of Liberia's rural women ages 15 to 49, according to UN Women.

Health advocates have warned that the latest mass initiation signals a worsening trend at a time when

Women and girls in Zimbabwe are facing the growing threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has warned.

In a statement to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the ZHRC said technology-facilitated abuse no longer occurs on the periphery: "Women and girls are increasingly self-censoring to avoid online

Several countries in Africa are expanding services and challenging long-held stigmas about sexual and reproductive health and rights, but young people now face a convergence of challenges. Conflict, climate shocks, shrinking civic space, and rising anti-rights movements are undermining bodily autonomy and access to care. Cuts in funding from international donors are also making vulnerabilities worse, especially in countries with poorly funded health systems.

 Without urgent action, decades

South African women's rights groups have called for nationwide protests demanding that gender-based violence (GBV) be declared a national disaster, as attacks on women remained widespread. The movement began online and culminated in a "G20 Women's Shutdown", with supporters, including celebrities and ordinary citizens, turning

The first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day has marked a historic milestone in the fight against a disease that is largely preventable. The World Health Assembly established it to raise awareness of the need to vaccinate, screen, and treat women and girls against cervical cancer, which claims over 350,000 lives each year.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and its partners have

A new UN Women report, At Risk and Underfunded,  has warned that sweeping aid cuts are crippling women's rights organizations, leaving millions of women and girls more vulnerable to violence.

The report, based on a global

A new report by the Commission of Inquiry on Tigray Genocide (CITG) has revealed evidence of widespread sexual and gender-based violence against hundreds of thousands of women and girls in Tigray during the two-year conflict.

Rape, sexual slavery, and other forms of gender-based violence are described in the report as

Ethiopian marathon runner Shewarge Alene, who took ill during a training session in Addis Ababa, has died after being admitted to hospital. Arlene, 30, participated in 27 marathons between 2011 and 2025, and won the Stockholm Marathon in May. The Stockholm Marathon organisers have paid tribute to her, expressing deep sorrow and sending condolences to her family and loved ones.

Stats SA's crime report has revealed that spouses, friends, acquaintances, and other relatives commit 60% of crimes against women in the country. 

Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke released the report in Pretoria and said that, unlike men, women are often targeted in places where they should feel safe. The report also indicates that knives were the most commonly used weapon in assaults against women last