One year ago, on February 24th, peace in Ukraine shattered when shots rang through the air, missile strikes destroyed homes, and artillery fire turned villages into graveyards. Russia invaded Ukraine, bringing death and destruction to its neighboring country. The war in Ukraine has severely impacted human rights, ripping away girls’ basic right to safety. By talking to Ukrainian girls my age, I realize how important it is for the world to hear their powerful words.
Women, Life, Freedom. Quotes from Iranian Girls about the Revolution
Women, Life, Freedom. This powerful motto, shouted out by Iranian youth, became a symbol of unceasing protests in Iran. For decades, women in Iran have faced many discriminations in almost every area of their lives.
On September 16, 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old, was beaten and killed by morality police for allegedly breaking Iran’s strict dress code. Since then, women’s rights protests have erupted within Iran, calling for freedom, dignity, and reforms.
The LGBTQ+ Community Has a Right to Safety
Homophobia is a feminist issue. Homophobia and sexism feed into each other. Both forces maintain traditional gender roles and inequalities in our society. Without addressing and eventually eradicating homophobia, the feminist agenda can never be fully fulfilled. It is time to stand up to injustices and senseless impositions of historically patriarchal societies on those who fall outside of rigid norms.
Why Governments Need to Invest in Girls' Education Now
The pandemic has created global barriers to education, from challenges like vaccine inequity, budget cuts, and the lack of safe infrastructure within the education system to socio-economic constraints and the rising rates of gender-based violence. Adolescent girls are more likely to be pulled from school during emergencies than boys, making girls more vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and harmful practices.
