New Resources

Based on Gender Action's extensive research, "Banking on Health" highlights the World Bank and African Development Bank's (AfDB) insufficient investments (2000-2012) addressing reproductive health and HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan African countries.

With Mohammad Morsi’s inauguration as President of Egypt in June 2012, many Egyptians hoped that the country’s fitful political transition would finally be on a smoother path towards institutional reform and democratization (see summary of key events).  But much remains in flux.  The constitution drafting process that was contentious from the outset of the transition still poses difficulties for Mr. Morsi.  He has promised a new constitution that would be put to a referendum within 2 weeks of completion, to be followed by new parliamentary elections 60 days after that.  But resignations from the drafting committee and criticism about the lack of transparency have plagued the process and led to delays. In addition, civil rights advocates are concerned about the limited time available to consult and educate the public about the provisions of the new constitution.

Child marriage is not only a violation of a girl’s rights; it also seriously compromises efforts to reduce gender-based violence, advance education, overcome poverty and improve health indicators for girls and women.  

Abortion is criminalised throughout Central America. El Salvador and Nicaragua have the most stringent bans on abortion, which allow for no exception for cases of rape, incest, threat to the mother's health or severe foetus abnormality - not even to save a woman’s life in immediate risk. Honduras and Guatemala share similar legislations although emergency abortion - to save the mother's life - is permitted. The effects of this criminalisation are causing widespread human rights violations and reflect systemic discrimination against women in the region.

Syrian women and girls coming to Lebanon are at increased risk of multiple forms of violence due to generalized insecurity and limited access to support. IRC’s rapid GBV assessment highlighted the myriad and severe protection issues women and girls faced before leaving Syria, and since arriving in Lebanon. 

In Southern India, family disputes are settled by Jamaats-all male bodies which apply Islamic Sharia law to cases without allowing women to be present, even to defend themselves. Recognizing this fundamental inequity, a group of women in 2004 established a women’s Jamaat, which soon became a network of 12,000 members spread over 12 districts. 

This report presents new estimates of undernourishment based on a revised and improved methodology. The new estimates show that progress in reducing hunger during the past 20 years has been better than previously believed, and that, given renewed efforts, it may be possible to reach the MDG hunger target at the global level by 2015. However, the number of people suffering from chronic undernourishment is still unacceptably high, and eradication of hunger remains a major global challenge. 

This infographic delves deeper into how the phenomenon of women in tech is on the rise.

The MPOA Scorecard provides data and an analysis of statistics provided by African governments to the African Union Commission in the Maputo Plan of Action (MPOA) reporting. This report first briefly introduces the various concepts that inform sexual and reproductive health and rights on the continent, how the Maputo Plan of Action commitment evolved as a government solution, and how accountability and data can be used to improve Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). 

Human rights defenders active in the Russian Federation are concerned about the worsening in last six month of the already bad situation with the execution of the right to freedom of expression by members of minority groups and all those advocating the views not shared by governmental officials. Members of the LGBT community became the first victims of a new “witch hunt”.