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Empowering girls to take a stand against violence, abuse
Niger
Violence against women and girls is one of the world’s most pervasive human rights abuses. It happens every day, in every region, country and community on the planet, sometimes in plain sight.
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Acceptance of family planning grows in Afghanistan, but myths linger
Afghanistan
HERAT, Afghanistan – "It is better to have one child rather than many, so you can give your child the support he needs and the best education you can offer," said Farzana, 37, at the family planning centre in Herat city…
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Young motherhood threatens girls in rural Cambodia
Cambodia
At 16 years old, Svet is struggling with the challenges of motherhood. Having dropped out of school after grade 4, she had not received any information about sexual and reproductive health, family planning, or childcare…
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Safe haven for girls living on the streets of Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
AD’s* nightmare began when her parents died. “My uncle decided to marry me off against my will. I refused and ran away.” She sought help from her brother-in-law, “but he asked me to return to my so-called husband,” she…
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Majority of maternal deaths take place in crises and fragile conditions
Updated figures released by the United Nations yesterday revealed that the global maternal death ratio has dropped 44 per cent since 1990, but too many women continue to die needlessly, and a majority of them are dying…
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Reaching pregnant women, new mothers in wake of Typhoon Koppu
Philippines
Relief and recovery efforts are ongoing in the Philippines as floodwaters from Typhoon Koppu, known locally as Typhoon Lando, continue to recede. Among those affected are hundreds of thousands of women and girls of…
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Phone line answers burning questions of Afghan youth
Afghanistan
A team of doctors are answering adolescents' questions at the Youth Health Line, the first-ever phone line designed to provide sensitive health information and assistance to Afghan youth.
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As Yemen conflict drags on, women’s vulnerability grows
Yemen
Conditions for Yemeni women and girls are deteriorating as the conflict in Yemen drags on. The stress and chaos of the crisis, coupled with entrenched gender inequality, have left women and girls extremely vulnerable to…
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Y-Peer Moldova brings sexual health education to vulnerable youth
Moldova, Republic of
“It is not easy at all for me to live alone,” Tudor told UNFPA. He has been living by himself since he was 13 years old, when the last of his family members moved abroad to work.
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Health experts call for renewed focus on maternal, child deaths
Haiti, Mexico
Despite global commitments, unacceptably large numbers of mothers and newborns continue to die during pregnancy and in the days following childbirth. Yet the actions needed to save these women and newborns are largely…
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Five of the greatest sexual health advances since the birth of the UN
The United Nations was founded 70 years ago. In that time, the world has seen enormous advances in sexual and reproductive health. These changes have helped policymakers recognize that healthy and empowered women are…
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Violence survivors find compassion, care at Cameroon's Listening Centre
Cameroon
How does one comfort the family of an abused adolescent girl, or assist a pregnant survivor of sexual assault? In Batouri, in eastern Cameroon, these difficult tasks are the responsibility of two Catholic priests, who…
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