Planned Parenthood: Giving more to society than controversy

Women are peculiarly vulnerable when it comes to personal health and healthcare, facing the potential for breast, ovarian, uterine and cervical cancers as well as the common maladies (heart disease, diabetes, etc) the male portion of the population shares with us. Living in a first-world country such as the United States of America provides a …

A Trip to Ukraine

When I was in Ukraine this summer, I had the incredible opportunity of working with an NGO called La Strada-Ukraine, a branch of La Strada International, who works to prevent human trafficking, domestic and gender based violence, and promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and children. While I learned an invaluable amount of …

Reflections on CSW59/Beijing +20: Nathalia

I had the opportunity of attending the first week of the CSW59 conference and had a wonderful experience. I loved watching the dynamics of the United Nations and the role that each representative played in the discussions. I was amazed at the complexity of diplomacy and how frustrating it can be at times. I met …

Reflections on CSW59/Beijing +20: Victoria

I was sitting in VIP seats with a Bollywood movie star at an exclusive event at Beijing +20. Some of my greatest heros—including Hillary Clinton and Geena Rocero—were speaking at the event, and I was only a few feet away from them. It should have been one of the greatest moments of my life, but …

Women, Death, and Inheritance — by RMH

Let’s talk about what happens when people die. By which I mean, what happens to MONEY when people die. I don’t mean to trivialize death, or grief – I’ve experienced my share of both. But today I want to deal with inheritance – the practical matter of who gets the money (or the land, or …

Leading to Beijing +20: Child Marriage Part 2 — by LAE

Growing up, I was never one of those girls who dreamed about her fairy tale wedding. Of course, I made sure that Barbie and my MC Hammer dolls were married once a week, but I never really gave any thought to MY own wedding day. It was not until I got much older that I …

Leading to Beijing +20: Female Genital Mutilation — by VLF

The WomanStats team is busy with preparations for the Beijing +20 conference that will be held in New York City next March. As always, we are dedicated to helping policy-makers access the data they need to make informed decisions about women's security. You can bet that we will be at the Beijing +20 conference, doing everything in …

Leading to Beijing +20: Child Marriage

Child marriage is the official or unofficial union that involves a child under the age of 18. While child marriage is a reality for both boys and girls, girls are disproportionately affected by the practice. It is estimated that over 700 million women alive today were married as children, and in the developing world, 1 …

Homeland Cutting: FGM/C in the US

What is FGM/C? Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, or FGM/C for short, is a traditional practice that involves the cutting and partial or total removal of the female genitalia. It is an appalling practice that an estimated 140 million women and girls worldwide suffer from (1). This act is typically performed on young girls before the age …

Domestic Workers in the Middle East

In the United Arab Emirates, each household has an average of three domestic workers.[i] Domestic workers make up 25 percent of the Lebanese workforce and often face physical abuse in various forms.[ii] These workers are placed in vulnerable situations throughout the Middle East making it easy for their employers to violate their rights. The system …