World Archives

Photo of a woman's face with a tear smearing a painted Ukrainian flag on her cheek

‘I can’t keep this baby’: Pregnant Ukrainian refugees struggle to get abortion care

Poland has become a place of refuge for millions of women fleeing war in Ukraine. It also has some of Europe’s most restrictive abortion laws, posing a major challenge to refugees with unwanted pregnancies. Some have survived rape, others simply cannot imagine taking on the responsibility of a child while their futures are so uncertain.

by Hanna KozlowskaMay 3, 2022

This story was co-published with The Cut.

Photo of a Taliban fighter standing with a weapon at a check point in Afghanistan

What the Taliban means for queer Afghans

During the US occupation, little was done to build a support network for the LGBTQ+ community in Afghanistan. Now their lives are in danger as they struggle to flee.

by Zahra Nader, Zahra MousawiApr 20, 2022

This story was co-published with Foreign Policy.

An illustration of a white clock with blood droplets in the middle.

Early puberty cases have surged during covid, doctors say

A mother in Mumbai noticed that her eight-year-old daughter seemed to be developing breasts. Then came bloodstains on her clothes. The little girl had gotten her first period. Did the pandemic push the child into puberty? Doctors around the world blame the pandemic for a surge in early puberty?

by Puja ChangoiwalaMar 28, 2022

This story was co-published with The Washington Post.

Photo of a protestor holding a woman's photo and a large red umbrella

Analysis: Where democracy falters, so do reproductive rights

Reproductive rights don’t exist in a vacuum: They are inextricably linked to democratic institutions, with threats to one reinforcing threats to the other. As countries like Poland, Brazil, Hungary, and the United States face threats to their democracies, so do the women of those countries face threats to their reproductive rights.

by Hanna KozlowskaMar 16, 2022

This story was co-published with Foreign Policy.

Dating in the time of the Taliban

For most Young Afghans coming of age under US occupation, the Taliban was a history lesson. For them, mingling in restaurants and dating was normal. Now, everything has changed.

by Zahra Nader, Kreshma FakhriMar 4, 2022

This story was co-published with The Cut.

Afghanistan’s new government imposes discriminatory restrictions on healthcare

A new requirement from the Taliban— that women be accompanied by a male chaperone when seeking healthcare—is preventing many Afghan women from getting the treatment they need at a time when the country is facing a severe economic crisis, food insecurity and a massive spike in COVID-19 cases.

by Zahra Nader, Nargis AminiMar 2, 2022

This story was co-published with Rukhshana Media and Foreign Policy.

Money in the forecast: Women reap unexpected gains from India's investment in early weather warning systems

India’s investment early weather warning systems was expected to help a predominantly male field of fishermen. But data suggests it may have unexpectedly led to major financial gains for women since the systems were launched a decade ago. Experts say the unintended win shows that gender is still a blind spot for climate policymakers.

by Disha ShettyFeb 25, 2022

This story was co-published with The Wire.

A photo of three women with their backs facing the camera

Women victimized by Boko Haram forced to choose peace over justice

Boko Haram militants are surrendering to the Nigerian government as part of a rehabilitation program. But the women they once tortured are demanding justice too.

by Shola LawalFeb 10, 2022

This story was co-published with VICE World News.

Photo fo women standing in line wearing protective face masks

Analysis: India is building a women-only social safety net

Political parties across India have promised a host of new social programs exclusively for women. Is it politics or progress?

by Mahima JainJan 26, 2022

This story was co-published with Foreign Policy.

She made jeans for Americans. When they stopped shopping, she turned to sex work

As the garment sector—one of the Lesotho’s largest employers—crumbles during the coronavirus pandemic, a 30-year-old factory worker turns to sex work to make do.

by Louise Donovan, Refiloe Makhaba NkuneDec 14, 2021

Photo of a woman speaking behind a podium

Analysis: Did Angela Merkel matter for women?

Whatever labels have been affixed to this often-inscrutable woman, there is one that she herself has consistently dodged: feminist.

by Jill PetzingerDec 13, 2021

Mysterious deaths of mother, daughter lay bare neglect of rural healthcare in India

The deaths of a village elder and her daughter during India's second COVID-19 wave raise important questions about lapses in the Indian government’s pandemic response.

by Puja ChangoiwalaNov 20, 2021

This story was published in partnership with The Fuller Project and The Wire.

A photo of a Taliban soldier pointing a weapon at a driver at a checkpoint

Dispatches From Afghanistan: She Attended a Protest. Then Taliban Showed Up at Her Door

An Afghan woman is attacked by a Taliban soldier during a protest. Then one shows up at her door the next day. Now she must flee.

by Fatima EtemadiNov 2, 2021

This story was published in partnership between Rukhshana Media and The Fuller Project.

A photo of students raising their hands in a classroom

‘My Classmates Have No Hope’

“We were the ones hoping to shape the future, but they took that future away from us,” a teen girl writes, describing the “terror” of attending a high school in northern Afghanistan under Taliban control—the latest dispatch in our series with Rukhshana Media, “Ending America’s Forever War: What is next for Afghan women?”

by Razia MohseniNov 1, 2021

This story was published in partnership between Rukhshana Media and The Fuller Project.

A photo of a baby holding an adult's finger

The loneliest lactation consultant in the world

Pakistan has 50 million women of childbearing age and only one globally certified person to help them feed their newborns.

by Hina HusainOct 26, 2021

This story was published in partnership with Foreign Policy and The Fuller Project.

A photo of a group of women looking at cell phones

'We Must Stay Strong': As Freedoms Erode, An Aspiring Student Calls for Solidarity, Hope

A young Afghan woman seeks solidarity and hope for women and girls despite Taliban oppression.

by Sakina RezvaniOct 25, 2021

This story was published in partnership with Rukhshana Media and The Fuller Project.

Dispatches From Afghanistan: ‘Can You Imagine How Difficult It Is to Feel Exiled in Your Own City?’

A female journalist in Kabul adjusts to life under the Taliban’s shadow.

by HadisOct 22, 2021

This series was published in partnership with Rukhshana Media and The Fuller Project.

A photo of university students in a classroom

She Survived Two School Attacks. Now She Fears Pursuing Education Will Make Her a Taliban Target

A 19-year-old dressmaker in Kabul fears her dreams of continuing her education will make her a target for the Taliban.

by NafizaOct 21, 2021

This story was published in partnership with Rukhshana Media and The Fuller Project.

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