News story
Empowering indigenous women in Venezuela to become mothers by choice, not chance
ZULIA, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela – “The last time I was in labour, I was on the brink of death,” said Omaira Opikuko, a member of the Yukpa indigenous community in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Read story
News story
Nurturing hope and leadership among Gaza’s young people
GAZA, Palestine – “My message to the world is how important it is to strengthen the role of youth in societies, and to invest in their potential,” said twenty-three-year old Sarah Al Shamali, from Gaza City.
Read story
News story
Supporting the first line of response amid climate crises in Yemen
SA’ADA GOVERNORATE, Yemen – “My children and I are suffering from illnesses and my husband is in prison,” said 31-year-old Amina Ismail Qasim. “Now I’ve lost my daughter, the pain is unbearable.”
Read story
News story
“Bringing smiles to mothers and babies”: Midwives promote safe births at Nimbo health centre in Côte D’Ivoire
BOUAKÉ, Côte D’Ivoire – Entrepreneur Rosine Gnohou was at a prenatal check-up when the midwife she was seeing delivered some concerning news: Her amniotic fluid levels were low.
Read story
News story
Empowering adolescent girls in Niger to take control of their lives – and futures
TESSAOUA DEPARTMENT, Niger – “Every young girl must have an economic activity. It’s humiliating to ask for money: You have to look out for yourself,” said 17-year-old Maimounatou, who lives in Tessaoua, in Niger’s south…
Read story
News story
Respectful maternity care in Paraguay puts women's autonomy at the centre of childbirth
KATUETE/ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay – Preparing to give birth for the first time at age 39, Claudelina Ortellado Portillo was anxious. “Because of my age and because everything was new to me, plus I had a hard time getting…
Read story
News story
In Georgia, an LGBTQIA+ advocate making HIV prevention and health care accessible for all
TBILISI, Georgia – As a social worker for the LGBTQIA+ community in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, Beka Gabadadze quickly learned how a person’s gender identity and expression can affect every part of their life.
Read story
News story
“Hope dies last”: UNFPA helpline empowers gender-based violence survivors in Azerbaijan
BAKU, Azerbaijan – Aynur* recalled the beginning of her relationship with Rauf* as “blissful”. The 24-year-old had recently completed a Master’s degree in Poland, returning to her home in Azerbaijan to begin a career as…
Read story
News story
Counting every voice: Brazil's census includes quilombola communities for the first time
CONCEIÇÃO DAS CRIOULAS, Brazil – “If I could choose where to be born, I would choose Conceição das Crioulas,” Antônio Crioulo told UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.
Read story
News story
“There are people willing to listen”: How census takers go above and beyond to count people as they are
LA PAZ, Bolivia; CHIȘINĂU, The Republic of Moldova; Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam – It was 8:30 a.m. on 23 March, 2024, the day 860,000 volunteers would carry out Bolivia’s national census. In the Río Seco area of the…
Read story
News story
Drought emergency in Zambia: Child marriage, HIV and hunger on the rise for women and girls
SOUTHERN PROVINCE, Zambia – “They don’t have any food, and the teenagers can become vulnerable,” said nurse Suvannah Sinakaaba, in the village of Hakankula in Zambia’s Monze District. “HIV rates are quite high among…
Read story
News story
Giving birth on Ukraine’s front line: How women and medical workers are coping under fire
ODESA, Ukraine – Like many expecting parents, Oleksandra and Oleksandr Chebotar were eagerly awaiting the birth of their daughter. The way it happened, however, was unlike anything they had ever imagined.
Read story