News story
Child bride, mother of seven, refugee and, today, an independent woman
Iraq
“I was only 12 years old when I got married to my 25-year-old cousin,” Najma*, from a Syria, told UNFPA recently.
Read story
News story
Beauty for the brave: Abuse survivors learn to make it on their own
Ukraine
Not long ago, Olena* feared for her life and for her children. But then she found the courage to start a new life.
Read story
News story
Fighting for girls’ right to say no to child marriage in South Sudan
South Sudan
Helen Poni hopes her decision to not become a child bride and pursue a career inspires other girls.
Read story
News story
Dignity and strength: Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia
Colombia
Fifteen-year-old Nelsmar walked for eight days to reach Colombia, where she slept on the streets. This is her story.
Read story
News story
Midwives save lives – but more support for midwifery is needed
Bangladesh
Midwives could avert over 80 per cent of all maternal deaths, stillbirths and newborn deaths.
Read story
News story
Barcode technology transforms access to family planning in the Philippines
Philippines
A UNFPA-supported project aims to replace manual reporting with simple barcode scanning for family planning stocks.
Read story
News story
Training new midwives in storm-hit Mozambique
Mozambique
A veteran of multiple humanitarian crises is part of UNFPA's response team for Cyclone Idai in Beira.
Read story
News story
Menstruation is not a girls' or women’s issue – it’s a human rights issue
“My periods are a nightmare,” Nyanjuma Galoth, 20, told UNFPA at a civilian protection camp in South Sudan. “They are very painful, and I can’t get any sanitary products.” It is a major source of stress, she said. “The…
Read story
News story
A nightmare within a nightmare: Taking on sexual and gender-based violence in humanitarian crises
Yemen
The prevalence of gender-based violence often increases in times of crisis, as protection mechanisms break down, support services falter and stresses on families mount. In Yemen, reports of gender-based violence…
Read story
News story
Treatment for traumatic childbirth injury gives new hope to women in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
“I saw myself as the living dead,” 50-year-old Laila* told UNFPA. She suffered terribly while giving birth in Pakistan 27 years ago. The prolonged, obstructed labour left her with an obstetric fistula – one of the most…
Read story
News story
Ending obstetric fistula: Devastating and preventable childbirth injury continues to haunt women
Tanzania, United Republic of
Despite her best efforts, the delivery went worse than she could have imagined. Ms. Yakobo ended up with an obstetric fistula – one of the most serious and tragic injuries that can occur during childbirth.
Read story
News story
5 ways female genital mutilation undermines the health of women and girls
Girls and women who undergo FGM face a range of serious health risks – from potentially fatal bleeding to childbirth complications to long-term psychological problems.
Read story