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Dignity restored and lives regained through fistula repair in rural Bangladesh
SHERPUR, Bangladesh — Banessa Bibi, now in her nineties, cannot remember how many children she brought into this world. She only recalls the three daughters and two sons who survived. In her village, childbirth once…
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Child marriage rising among refugees and host communities in South Sudan
South Sudan
UPPER NILE STATE, South Sudan — “I was married and had my first child at 14 years old,” said Betty*, who fled conflict in Sudan only to find further uncertainty in South Sudan. Along with more…
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"Kinder, stronger, more equal": Imagining a world where no mothers die
UNITED NATIONS, New York – “When a mother dies, a family does not only lose one person – it loses its centre,” Kindness Ngoh, a midwife in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, explained.
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“Every minute felt endless”: Pregnant women displaced in Lebanon carry life through crisis
Lebanon
SOUTHERN GOVERNORATES, Lebanon – At seven months pregnant, 26-year-old Rima* fled her home in southern Lebanon amid intense bombing. “We left suddenly, with only the clothes we were wearing,” she said. “There was no…
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The skilled midwife bringing comprehensive maternal healthcare to remote communities in Guatemala
ALTA VERAPAZ, Guatemala – For Estela Santiago, studying to become a professional midwife involved travelling six hours each week from her home in Nebaj to Huehuetenango, making several bus transfers along the way, all…
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Despite danger and upheaval, midwives help women deliver safely at Burundi’s Musenyi refugee camp
Burundi
Burunga Province, BURUNDI – “When I found out I was pregnant, I was very afraid because I knew giving birth was going to be dangerous for me,” said 36-year-old Maombi Kijijwa.
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Amid surge in conflict-related sexual violence, survivors are rebuilding their lives
Democratic Republic of the Congo
BENI, The Democratic Republic of the Congo – Women and girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have endured a dramatic surge in sexual violence over the last year, as armed groups ramp up their assault on…
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“Even during labour, I was afraid”: Women in the West Bank give birth under sirens, settler assaults and severe movement restrictions
WEST BANK, The Occupied Palestinian Territory – “Even during labour, I was afraid. I could hear sirens and kept thinking about my children,” said Haneen*, from the village of Ras Tira in the occupied West Bank. “Life…
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A race for rights: How sport helps to protect girls in Uganda from gender-based violence and female genital mutilation
Uganda
KAPCHORWA, Uganda – “As a female coach, the girls trust me,” said Zuena Cheptoek, an athletics coach in the town of Kapchorwa, in eastern Uganda. “They tell me things they can’t tell anyone else – about pressure to…
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Which innovations have had the greatest impact on population, human rights and global development? Technologies that empower choice
India
BIHAR, India – This week, leaders from around the world are convening at United Nations Headquarters in New York for an annual meeting to discuss progress in supporting human rights and development for people around the…
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To harness technology and research for development, the world must end digital violence
UNITED NATIONS, New York/MOLDOVA, Chișinău - Gender-based violence is increasing globally – not only in the physical world but also across digital spaces. There was a 550 per cent increase in AI-generated abusive video…
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Displaced once more, pregnant refugees in Lebanon face gruelling return to Syria
HOMS GOVERNORATE, Syrian Arab Republic – Pregnant and post-partum refugees who fled Syria years ago are finding themselves displaced once more, this time by escalating violence in Lebanon. Many are experiencing fatigue…
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