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20 June 2019
News
A Syrian refugee in northern Iraq. © UNFPA/Seivan Salim
Child bride, mother of seven, refugee and, today, an independent woman
“I was only 12 years old when I got married to my 25-year-old cousin,” Najma*, from a Syria, told UNFPA recently.
12 June 2019
News
Participants in the ‘Beauty for All’ course show off their new skills at a graduation ceremony in April. Photo courtesy of L’Oréal
Beauty for the brave: Abuse survivors learn to make it on their own
Not long ago, Olena* feared for her life and for her children. But then she found the courage to start a new life.
11 June 2019
News
Fighting for girls’ right to say no to child marriage in South Sudan
Fighting for girls’ right to say no to child marriage in South Sudan
Helen Poni hopes her decision to not become a child bride and pursue a career inspires other girls.
5 June 2019
News
Large numbers of people are bypassing immigration controls as they exit Venezuela. © Tomer Urwicz
Dignity and strength: Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia
Fifteen-year-old Nelsmar walked for eight days to reach Colombia, where she slept on the streets. This is her story.
4 June 2019
News
Midwife Imama (left) checks on Salma and her newborn in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Fahima Tajrin
Midwives save lives – but more support for midwifery is needed
Midwives could avert over 80 per cent of all maternal deaths, stillbirths and newborn deaths.
3 June 2019
News
Ms. Bedla and midwife Ms. Ruanto at the San Roque health centre. © UNFPA Philippines/Reginald Sarmenta
Barcode technology transforms access to family planning in the Philippines
A UNFPA-supported project aims to replace manual reporting with simple barcode scanning for family planning stocks.
29 May 2019
News
Ms. Nana says she wanted to work as a midwife to help improve family planning use. © UNFPA/Natalia da Luz
Training new midwives in storm-hit Mozambique
A veteran of multiple humanitarian crises is part of UNFPA's response team for Cyclone Idai in Beira.
28 May 2019
News
UNFPA holds sessions raising awareness about gender-based violence, and the availability of support services, in a displacement camp in Yemen. © UNFPA Yemen
A nightmare within a nightmare: Taking on sexual and gender-based violence in humanitarian crises
The prevalence of gender-based violence often increases in times of crisis, as protection mechanisms break down, support services falter and stresses on families mount. In Yemen, reports of gender-based violence... Read more
28 May 2019
News
In India, 15-year-old Priyanka Meena sleeps outside her home when she has her periods. She wears the same clothes and uses the same utensils when she menstruates; these are believed to be unclean. © UNFPA India
Menstruation is not a girls' or women’s issue – it’s a human rights issue
“My periods are a nightmare,” Nyanjuma Galoth, 20, told UNFPA at a civilian protection camp in South Sudan. “They are very painful, and I can’t get any sanitary products.” It is a major source of stress, she said. “The... Read more
22 May 2019
News
Farah* recently received surgical treatment for obstetric fistula. She says she can now "live a normal life." © UNFPA Afghanistan
Treatment for traumatic childbirth injury gives new hope to women in Afghanistan
“I saw myself as the living dead,” 50-year-old Laila* told UNFPA. She suffered terribly while giving birth in Pakistan 27 years ago. The prolonged, obstructed labour left her with an obstetric fistula – one of the most... Read more

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