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“It's not just food and assistance, you need to give these children a life, a life of full opportunities..."

When thousands fled the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, fearing the loss of millions of lives, stayed on. Every day since, the former UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in the country has fought to ease the acute suffering of its people. “I believe we are the last, best hope that humanity has. And we have to stand for it. For [many] we represent this larger world of justice, the moral compass. We must keep that.”

More than 9 in 10 Afghans now live in poverty, with 24.4 million reliant on humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, mounting restrictions on freedoms have excluded millions of women from work and study. In this episode, Dr. Alakbarov reflects on three painful years of Taliban rule, on the desperate need for long-term prospects, and on finding hope amid the darkness.

Photo credit: ©UN Afghanistan

Valdecir Nascimento tells , she wants black women of today to have the power and possibility to decide. 

Gender bias is alive and well in the 21st century, and it casts a shadow over our beliefs and how we act on them. No matter where women live, they are paid less, shoulder more unpaid housework and childcare, and are wildly under-represented in civic and business leadership. Men make the laws, lead the vast majority of governments, and run the biggest companies. undertakes regular assessment of the attitudes people have towards men’s and women’s societal roles. Its latest report on the , shows that biases remain persistent.

In the nearly two years since Afghanistan’s de-facto authorities seized power, the “ambitions, dreams and potential” of girls and women have perished, a rights activist has told the  in Geneva.

And in an with UN News’s Nancy Sarkis, Afghan civil rights activist Shaharzad Akbar explains that women and girls there talk of “being buried alive, breathing, but not being able to do much else.”

Audio Credit: Nancy Sarkis, UN News - Geneva

Photo Credit: UN Photo/Srdjan Slavkovic

For many women around the world, the devastating loss of a partner is magnified by the long-term struggle for their basic rights and dignity. Even though there are more than 258 million widows around the world, historically, widows have been left unseen and unsupported. Today, as armed conflicts leave women newly widowed or with disappeared partners, the unique experiences and needs of widows must be brought to the forefront. This International Widows’ Day (23 June), let’s make their voices lead to the path to equality.

Research shows that when women serve in cabinets and parliaments, they pass laws and policies that are better for ordinary people, the environment and social cohesion. Women also bring immense benefits to diplomacy, yet their contributions have often been overlooked. It's time to recognize and celebrate the ways in which women are breaking barriers and making a difference in the field of diplomacy.  On this International Day of Women in Diplomacy (24 June), we must all do everything possible to ensure women are at the table, their voices heard, and contributions valued.

's projects have supported women empowerment through education and training.

The devastating Türkiye earthquake left pregnant women and new mothers in crisis. has been on the ground from day one, coordinating with partners to reestablish sexual and reproductive health and protection services in Syria and Türkiye.

To tackle period poverty,  and its partners manufacture sanitary pads and distribute them among women and girls in The Gambia.

As peacekeeping has evolved throughout the years, women have been increasingly deployed in police, military, and civilian operations. Their heightened representation continues to have a tangible impact on peacekeeping environments. This year marks the 75th anniversary of which honors all uniformed and civilian individuals who have served and continue to serve in UN peacekeeping operations around the world for their valuable contributions to peace. celebrates the contributions of women peacekeepers

is providing vital maternal health care to ensure women give birth safely as maternity hospitals in Syria are under immense strain after the recent earthquakes.

For the women and girls who are living amid the Horn of Africa crisis, there are increased risks.  Cases of child and forced marriage, female genital mutilation, rape, and other forms of violence have all risen sharply. provides medical personnel and supports a range of mobile services and initiatives to reach people, such as this motorcycle ambulance, driven by Mark, who transports women to deliver safely. With increased support from the international community, UNFPA can do more for women to protect them from violence and provide access to medical interventions.

pays tribute to all women journalists who are prevented from doing their jobs and who face threats and attacks on their personal safety.

highlights 5 reasons women and girls in Syria and Türkiye still need your support 3 months later after the devasting earthquake.  

When Shukri Mohamed Abdi decided to work in the media, she and her family had to overcome fierce resistance and physical threats from groups opposed to her reporting, where the concept of being a journalist does not exist. The fact that Somalia’s only all-women media house, , is still in business a year after it was created with support from is a human rights achievement in itself. By freeing up a space for women to report on what they believe is important, Bilan has opened up a different Somalia to local and international audiences.