In the West African country of Guinea-Bissau, more than 400,000 girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation. Despite decades of effort, the prevalence of the harmful practice has remained. Now, communities are coming together to change that. In the Gabu region, in the eastern part of the country, 24 rural communities recently united in a show of solidarity and hope, gathering to advocate for the right of women and girls to live free from harm 每 and to sign a declaration of intent to end the practice for good. Here, .
UNFPA
Millions of people around the world are unable to have the number of children they want 每 whether they want more, fewer, or none at all. Recently, fertility declines are making headlines, with women all too often blamed for these demographic shifts. Some governments are employing drastic measures to incentivize young people to make fertility decisions in line with national targets. But the real crisis is that the most consequential reproductive decision a human being can make 每 when, whether and with whom to have a child 每 is being undermined. Together with YouGov, conducted a of 14 countries to ask people whether they are having the families they desire. We found that alarmingly high proportions of adults are unable to realize their fertility intentions.
Giving birth shouldn't be a fight for survival. In Gaza, Nisma had to flee her home pregnant and now struggles to feed her newborn. Hear her story and see how UNFPA〞the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency〞is .
Loti Kubuya Mielor, a midwife supervisor in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, vividly recalls a critical moment on January 2, 2023, when a woman gave birth to quadruplets under his supervision and subsequently experienced severe postpartum hemorrhage. Thanks to Loti's decisive actions and swift administration of medication within seven minutes, he stabilized the mother, preventing a life-threatening situation. Two years later, he still carries photos of the quadruplets on his phone. Midwives play an essential role in crises, often being the first and only care providers for pregnant women and newborns facing complications. In conflict-affected regions like eastern DRC, maternal and neonatal mortality risks can double due to disrupted health systems and limited access to vital services.
Pregnant women and new mothers in the West Bank are facing life-threatening risks as violence, displacement, and the collapse of healthcare services leave them without access to essential care.
Sudan is facing a devastating civil war that has lasted two years, leading to widespread violence, displacement, and a severe healthcare crisis. of health facilities in the hardest-hit areas are either barely operational or completely closed. The conflict has displaced millions and resulted in horrific atrocities, including systematic rape. With an estimated 91,000 women expected to give birth in the next three months, many lack safe access to healthcare. Over half of Sudan＊s population, approximately 30.4 million people, due to ongoing attacks on facilities and significant funding shortages. 鎊飪換羸 sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA) is working to support the few operational health facilities, providing essential services to women and girls amidst these challenging conditions.
Anandita Philipose, leading UNFPA's work in Lebanon, addresses exploitation, violence, and protection risks, striving to safeguard women's health and dignity.
as a weapon of terror in Sudan are rising alarmingly, with over 12 million women, girls, and increasingly men and boys at risk〞an 80% surge from last year.
UNFPA Deputy Executive Director, Andrew Saberton, stresses that women and girls continue to bear the brunt of the conflict in Lebanon.
The Central African Republic is one of the worst places for women, marked with widespread illiteracy, poverty and gender-based violence.
※I am now that annoying friend who goes to parties and hands condoms to my friends,§ Jennifer, 22, says with a laugh. An intern with , a partner of , the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, Jennifer says she doesn＊t want her friends to get sexually transmitted infections. She also encourages people to get sexual health checks and shares information about health, rights and choices. Jennifer, who lives in Mexico City, learned about such issues from a UNFPA programme called SAFETEEN First 每 a initiative supported by and taught in workshops by Mexico Vivo. Here, UNFPA goes behind the scenes with Jennifer and other young leaders to illustrate how they＊re making a difference in their communities in Mexico.
(FGM), a practice that involves altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons, is internationally recognized as a violation of human rights. Unfortunately, a lot of myths and misinformation about FGM still exist that perpetuate the practice. So, where is it practiced? What are the consequences? And are men against it? .
Let , tell you the facts as she reacts to real online comments about .
As Ukraine enters the fourth year of Russia＊s full-scale invasion, pregnant women 每 especially those living closer to front-line zones 每 continue to face the consequences of war. One initiative that will make an important difference: bomb-proof maternity wards. , the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, is supporting the construction of new, reinforced underground maternity and newborn units. These specialist units, designed within a bomb shelter, will ensure that women can give birth in safer conditions despite ongoing attacks.
In 2023, paramilitary forces entered the town of Geneina in West Darfur, Sudan and people fled. When that happened, 41-year-old Daralssalam was nine months pregnant and went into labour on the side of the road. The fighters "made no distinction between men, women or children", says crying as she recalls the violence. "Everyone was killed or raped." When she gave birth, fighters surrounded her. "A fighter took my baby and cut the umbilical cord," she says. They separated the baby's legs to check its genitals. "If it was a boy, they would kill it." Fortunately, the baby was a girl. The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to displace millions. has visited displacement camps in Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic, hearing the stories of women and girls living in war.