Sexual violence

Belongings of Halima Ali Maiyanga and Maryam Ali Maiyanga, two of the young women kidnapped by Boko Haram in a boarding school in Chibok, Nigeria, in April 2014.

'The Stolen Daughters of Chibok': the impact of the abduction of Nigerian schoolgirls 9 years on

Author and human rights activist Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode documented the heartbreaking stories of the Chibok families nine years after the Boko Haram abductions that gripped the world’s attention.

'The Stolen Daughters of Chibok': the impact of the abduction of Nigerian schoolgirls 9 years on
Bogota has trained more than 500 police officers to respond to cases of gender-based violence, known as the purple patrol.

In Colombia’s capital, the ‘purple patrol’ fights sexual harassment on crowded buses

In Colombia’s capital, the ‘purple patrol’ fights sexual harassment on crowded buses
Posters with a message that read in Spanish "Free abortion."

Founding fatherhood: Part II

Founding fatherhood: Part II
Indian people hold placards and candles as they participate at a candle light vigil as they mark the first anniversary of a young woman's demise after the fatal gang rape, in New Delhi, India, Dec. 29, 2013.

A decade after the deadly assault of Jyoti Singh, has safety for women in India improved?

A decade after the deadly assault of Jyoti Singh, has safety for women in India improved?
"Bust of a smiling woman," 1901, by Pablo Picasso, at the Reina Sofía Museum. 

The Picasso paradox: Museums grapple with how to remember the artist’s complicated legacy

The Picasso paradox: Museums grapple with how to remember the artist’s complicated legacy
A dramatic rise in the number of women drugged against their will in France has young people watching their drinks carefully.

Needle-spiking trend in Europe alarms nightclubbers — especially women

In southwest France, just about everyone seems to know someone who’s been jabbed by a syringe while out partying at a dance club.

Needle-spiking trend in Europe alarms nightclubbers — especially women
V Sailakshmi, 39, says sex work helped pay for her sister's wedding and for her father's funeral

'We are demanding full decriminalization': Sex workers in India rally for labor rights

Sex work is technically legal in India, but workers say they face stigma, harassment and violence — especially by the police. In recent years, sex worker collectives have formed to demand full decriminalization of sex work and recognition of their labor as worthy of protections and rights.

'We are demanding full decriminalization': Sex workers in India rally for labor rights
Eneas Espinoza, who says he was sexually abused multiple times when he was a child, by several catholic priests in Chile

A growing number of clerical sexual abuse survivors are coming forward in Latin America

Latin America may become the next region to expose childhood clerical sexual abuse. Some victims have spent decades without coming forward because of the importance given to clergy in the community. But a growing number of people are creating support networks for survivors.

A growing number of clerical sexual abuse survivors are coming forward in Latin America
Superhero Priya fights injustice along with her trusted tiger Sahas.

Superhero Priya tries to rescue New Delhi from air pollution on Earth Day

India's first female comic superhero has previously tackled issues like masking up during COVID-19, surviving assault, trafficking and acid attacks. On Earth Day, Priya has returned — astride her faithful flying tiger — to show young children the power of collective action in tackling air pollution.

Superhero Priya tries to rescue New Delhi from air pollution on Earth Day
At a playground in San Francisco, Deisy Ramírez reflects on how she found safety here after fleeing captivity in Guatemala

For immigrants fleeing gender-based violence, it’s a long road to asylum in the US

Thousands of people are pursuing protection from gender-based violence in a US asylum system that was gutted during the presidency of Donald Trump and has been only partially restored by President Joe Biden. Deisy Ramírez was one of them, trying to escape an abusive, forced marriage in Guatemala.

For immigrants fleeing gender-based violence, it’s a long road to asylum in the US
Protesters gather outside Poland's Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw, Poland, on Nov.6, 2021, to protest against the restrictive abortion laws after a woman died of complications during her pregnancy. 

This Polish activist sent abortion pills to a woman in need. Now she's on trial.

An abortion-rights activist charged with breaking Poland’s strict abortion laws goes on trial in Warsaw next week. The case is the first of its kind in Europe.

This Polish activist sent abortion pills to a woman in need. Now she's on trial.
Women participating in a program for survivors of sexual violence at Woldiya University in Woldiya, Ethiopia, Feb. 19, 2022.

The fighting in northern Ethiopia cooled down months ago. But many survivors of sexual violence are only now receiving care.

The conflict in northern Ethiopia has been marked by what the United Nations calls “extreme brutality,” especially toward women. The UN and human rights organizations have been concerned about “widespread” sexual- and gender-based violence there.

The fighting in northern Ethiopia cooled down months ago. But many survivors of sexual violence are only now receiving care.
A woman sits with her legs folded on the ground in a pose of shame and exhaustion.

For sexual assault victims in Ghana, justice is expensive — and elusive

Many people who experience sexual assault from Ghana’s poorest communities cannot afford the $85 medical exam required to file a police report.  

For sexual assault victims in Ghana, justice is expensive — and elusive
An image of male and female legs dancing in the final round of the stage category during the Tango World Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. 

Feminist tango collectives take center stage in Argentina

All-female and all-queer tango groups playing contemporary tango songs with a feminist lens are on the rise in Argentina.

Feminist tango collectives take center stage in Argentina
China's Peng Shuai reacts during her first round singles match against Japan's Nao Hibino at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai's retraction 'comes off as highly staged,' journalist says

After Peng Shuai backtracked from accusing a top official of sexual assault, Jeremy Goldkorn, editor-in-chief of SupChina and co-founder of the Sinica Podcast, tells The World’s host Marco Werman that her statement seems forced.

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai's retraction 'comes off as highly staged,' journalist says