The Women’s Foundation Nepal (WFN) is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization founded in 1988 to support women and children in Nepal. The organization works to improve the lives of those affected by poverty, violence and discrimination by providing shelter, education, legal aid and economic opportunities. Through community-driven initiatives, WFN fosters long-term solutions to empower women and break cycles of poverty.
Key Objectives of WFN
- Providing Shelter. Safe homes for women and children escaping violence and poverty.
- Expanding Access to Education. Training programs and scholarships for underprivileged children.
- Advocating for Equal Rights. Legal assistance and policy advocacy for gender equality.
- Promoting Economic Independence. Supporting micro-credits, self-sustaining businesses and fair-trade initiatives.
Safe Shelter and Essential Services
WFN operates three shelter homes in Kathmandu, providing refuge for more than 120 children and 30 women escaping violence, abuse or extreme poverty. These shelters ensure that women and children receive medical care, psychological support and legal aid, helping them recover from traumatic experiences and regain stability. Beyond providing a safe environment, the shelters also serve as a foundation for rebuilding lives by offering vocational training and job placement opportunities. Through these programs, residents gain essential skills and resources that enable them to achieve independence and long-term security.
Expanding Access to Education in Nepal
WFN ensures that survivors of violence receive educational opportunities and skills training to secure a better future. Programs include:
- Early childhood education, scholarships and sponsorships for children from low-income families.
- Vocational training programs, such as sewing, shoe-making, screen printing, house wiring, and personal support work.
- The Nepalese Rural Women Program, launched in 2010, trains nearly 1,000 women across five rural districts. Training programs include leadership, gender equality and micro-financing.
Through these ongoing efforts, WFN equips women and children with the education and skills needed for long-term success.
Advocating for Equal Rights in Nepal
WFN actively fights against gender discrimination in legal frameworks and works to increase women’s representation in government and leadership roles. By lobbying for policy changes and providing free legal aid, WFN helps women secure their rights and escape oppressive situations. The foundation assists between five and seven women at its legal offices daily, offering guidance and support.
In 2019, Women’s Foundation Nepal won 62 cases related to divorce, violence and property rights, ensuring that women in vulnerable situations had access to justice. For cases that escalate to higher courts, WFN continues to provide legal aid and representation. By covering court fees and providing financial assistance, WFN has helped thousands of women and girls gain legal protection and secure their rights.
Economic Empowerment Through Self-Sustaining Businesses
WFN promotes economic independence by supporting micro-credit initiatives and women-led businesses. The Maheela Cooperative, a fair-trade organization launched in 2000, provides employment and training to women escaping poverty and violence. Currently, more than 80 women receive training and employment in textiles, handicrafts and jewelry production. These opportunities allow them to develop essential skills and achieve financial stability.
The cooperative reinvests 60% of its profits into WFN’s social programs, ensuring the sustainability of its initiatives. Fair wages and safe working conditions remain a priority, empowering women with stable incomes. Products created by the Maheela Cooperative, including scarves, textiles and handmade jewelry, are sold in Europe, the United States (U.S.) and Canada. This not only helps fund WFN’s projects but also creates a sustainable income source for the women involved, fostering long-term economic growth.
Scholarships and Sponsorships in Nepal
WFN supports more than 1,000 children from underprivileged backgrounds through scholarships and sponsorships, ensuring they have access to education. Sponsorships cover essential living expenses, including health care, food and clothing, for children in WFN’s shelter homes. The foundation also offers scholarships that provide tuition fees, school supplies and uniforms, enabling children to stay in school and complete their education.
By investing in education, WFN helps break the cycle of poverty, giving children the opportunity to build brighter futures and become self-sufficient. The organization also extends its support to higher education, funding university studies for children who achieve strong academic results in their 10th-grade exams. Through these programs, WFN empowers the next generation, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to create lasting change in their communities.
A Commitment to Ethical Practices
WFN and Maheela Cooperative prioritize fair wages, ethical labor practices and nondiscrimination policies. They actively oppose child labor and forced labor, ensuring a safe and inclusive work environment for all employees. The organization does not discriminate based on caste, nationality, religion, gender, disability or political beliefs, making it a model for inclusive social development in Nepal.
A Legacy of Empowerment
The Women’s Foundation Nepal was founded by a group of young women who helped rescue a missing girl forced into labor. Its advocacy grew into a thriving organization that now impacts thousands across Nepal. Results are achieved through shelter, legal aid, education and economic empowerment. Through its multifaceted approach, WFN continues to fight for a future where women and children in Nepal live free from violence, poverty and discrimination. With continued support, WFN can potentially expand its life-changing programs and uplift even more women and children across Nepal.
– Nalini Vijayakumar
Nalini is based in Perth, WA, Australia and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Migrant Workers in the UAE
Economic Dependency on Migrant Workers in the UAE
According to the Migration Policy Institute, the UAE “has become a popular destination for temporary labor migrants seeking employment opportunities and higher standards of living.” Attracting low and high-skilled workers, migrants make up more than 90% of the private workforce in the UAE. Government systems, like the Kafala Sponsorship System, have incentivized companies to hire international migrants. However, the Kafala Sponsorship System has been controversial, leading to the abuse of many migrant workers.
The Kafala Sponsorship System
The Kafala System allows migrant workers an opportunity for financial security in a new chapter of their lives in return for providing labor to an oil-driven economy. However, many private companies have used this to their advantage, becoming a stemming point for human rights abuses. With workers’ residential and employment status dependent upon their sponsor’s jurisdiction, workers have little power to move jobs, challenge unpaid wages and fight against unsafe workplace conditions.
With little mobility in their choice of work, quitting or resigning from a job is an offense that can lead to the termination of sponsorship and deportation. As a result, many domestic workers excluded from labor laws in the UAE become trapped in the Kafala System with no legal path out. In recent years, the UAE government has passed laws to address the flaws in the Kafala system. These new laws include prohibiting the confiscation of an employee’s documents and introducing wage protection measures. While human rights groups have found that work-right abuses are still vibrant, the potential for a flawless Kafala System has become a hope for the future.
Economic Benefit
The UAE has become a popular migration hub due to the economic opportunity the country presents. The country’s tax-friendly laws, such as no personal income tax, have made it attractive for everyone. With the extra money, many migrant workers can send remittances back to their families in their home country. Once financially able, families of migrants are relocated to the UAE to be reunited with family, furthering the UAE economy.
Conclusion on Migrant Workers in the UAE
Due to economic development, the rapid migration to the UAE has caused many migrant workers to be exploited under the UAE’s lack of labor laws. With major flaws in government systems, many migrant workers are stuck in inhuman situations that are at the discretion of their sponsoring company. The government is actively working to pass laws in hopes of reforming systems like the Kafala Sponsorship System. However, migration to the country has not slowed in recent years and many migrants risk employment imprisonment.
– Naseem Rahman
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Urgent Humanitarian Aid: UK Government Pledges £61 Million
Cyclone Chido
The U.K. government designated up to £5 million to aid those that cyclone Chido in Mozambique affected. Cyclone Chido hit Mozambique in December 2024, with winds of more than 200 km/h an hour and 176 mm of rainfall within 24 hours, causing widespread destruction. Chido marked the beginning of the South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Chido has been the worst cyclone to hit the region in about 90 years. High wind speeds, heavy rainfall and storm surges accompany cyclones, which leads to widespread damage and flooding. Chido’s destruction injured 768 people with more than 622,00 people affected by the cyclone.
The cyclone has destroyed more than 35,000 homes and affected more than 90,000 children in Cabo Delgado in Northern Mozambique, according to UNICEF. Along with homes, the cyclone severely damaged classrooms and health facilities. Cabo Delgado has seen seven years of brutal conflict, which displaced more than 1.3 million people, the majority of which were women and children, before Cyclone Chido wreaked havoc in Mozambique. There are currently 4.8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Mozambique, of which 3.4 million are children.
The U.K. aims to reach about 350,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance in Mozambique by providing immediate shelter, clean water and sanitation. Further, the £5 million designated for humanitarian relief in Mozambique aims to ensure that the country is better prepared for the rest of the 2024-2025 cyclone season by coordinating with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, according to the U.K. Government.
Bangladesh
The U.K. Government committed £5 million of humanitarian aid for Bangladesh to provide shelter, healthcare and clean water in the Rohingya refugee camps. The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority group residing in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, where they are not recognized by the state and denied citizenship. As of August 2024, about 1 million Rohingya have sought refuge in Bangladesh after fleeing from prosecution in Myanmar. The U.K. government has given urgent humanitarian relief to the UNHCR, the IOM and UNICEF.
Somalia
The Development Office has designated another £5 million to support the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and its efforts in Somalia to provide emergency assistance, basic health care, food and water. The ICRC has been operating in Somalia since 1977 and provides humanitarian relief to families in Somalia that are affected by years of armed conflict and climatic shocks.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Another £5 million will be given to the World Food Programme (WPF) to support its efforts in the DRC, where currently 25.6 million people are facing crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity. The DRC faces one of the largest hunger crises in the world. Armed conflicts within the country have displaced a large part of the population and hunger continues to grow. The U.K.’s aid will deliver assistance to about 48,000 people and help address their immediate needs.
Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
Due to the ongoing food crisis in the Sahel region, the U.K. Government aid package designated up to £8 million to provide food assistance in partnership with the ICRC, which is providing humanitarian aid in the region due to ongoing droughts and soaring food prices, which have exacerbated food insecurity in the region, Currently more than 3 million people in Niger and 3 million people in Burkina Faso are facing emergency food insecurity.
Myanmar
The U.K. Government has allocated a further £11 million of aid to address the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. The money will provide lifesaving treatments for malaria and provide access to lifesaving sexual health and maternal health treatments. Myanmar has a maternal mortality ratio of 282 compared to the Southeast Asian average rate of 140. This means that out of 100,000 live births, there are 282 related deaths. Most of these deaths are related to postpartum bleeding, unsafe abortion and sepsis, which with the right treatment and care are mostly preventable.
Middle East
The U.K. government dedicated £22 million of aid, the largest portion of the package, to address the escalating crisis in the Middle East, which came shortly after the Prime Minister allocated £13 million to UNRWA on December 11, 2024, supporting essential services for Palestinian refugees across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Later in December, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary committed over £60 million to aid Syrians through various UN humanitarian funds and the U.K. Aid Fund for Northern Syria, according to the U.K. Government.
Addressing Humanitarian Crises
This urgent humanitarian aid package demonstrates the U.K. government’s continued commitment to addressing humanitarian crises worldwide through strategic partnerships with U.N. agencies and international organizations like the ICRC, WFP and UNICEF. The distribution of funds across multiple regions reflects a balanced approach to global humanitarian assistance, with particular emphasis on immediate crisis response in the Middle East, climate disaster relief in Mozambique, and addressing food insecurity in the Sahel region. However, this commitment operates within the context of the U.K.’s reduced overseas aid spending from 0.7% to 0.5% of GDP, raising questions about the scale of future humanitarian interventions despite the government’s evident willingness to respond to urgent global crises.
– Salome von Stolzmann
Photo: Unsplash
Communities Fighting Uganda’s Trash Crisis
Background
Uganda’s trash crisis is not a new development, but in recent years the problem has risen to a fever pitch. In a 2024 report, Ugandan officials reported that more than 9.8 million Ugandan households, equivalent to 91.6% of all total households, relied on improper waste management methods. These waste management methods ranged from using fire pits to burn trash, or simply dumping waste in illegal or unsupervised locations like gardens. This, combined with a lack of access to trash bins, has created a precedent of improper waste disposal.
There have already been attempts made to try and combat Uganda’s trash crisis. Uganda has repeatedly tried to outlaw single-use plastics, which are the main source of trash in the country. Bans on single-use plastics enacted in 2007, 2009, 2015, 2018, and 2021 have proven to be ineffective due to lax law enforcement and inconsistent policies. This has culminated in Uganda generating an estimated amount of 600 tons of plastic trash every day, which translates to about 220,000 tons of plastic waste every year.
Effects of Pollution
The effects of Uganda’s trash crisis have been devastating so far. The trash-landslide is the most cataclysmic of them, but it is by no means the only repercussion of poor waste management. Lake Victoria, the largest tropical lake in the world, resides on Uganda’s southern border and faces a threat in large part due to Uganda’s trash crisis. More than 40 million people rely on this lake as their primary source of freshwater. Due to the contamination from trash, Lake Victoria is now reaching dangerous levels of pollution that make it unfit for human consumption and harmful to the wildlife within.
Coming Together To Make a Change
Despite the severity of the situation, communities have come together to try and find solutions for Uganda’s trash crisis. This has taken many different forms of activism and action. Recycling, for example, has become one of the biggest ways that nonprofits are reclaiming the trash crisis. Takataka Plastics is a local business that aims to help make Uganda greener and safer by turning plastic into fashionable tiles for walls and floors. So far, the company has recycled more than 87.7 tons of plastic since their opening in 2020. These construction materials are low-cost as well, and their production has created jobs for many Ugandan locals.
The reuse and recycling of trash does not stop there, though. Nonprofits and individuals have created many things out of plastic bottles in Uganda, including trash bins, planters and even entire school gates! More than that, entire houses have been constructed out of plastic bottles.
Social Innovation Academy (SINA) is a nonprofit in Africa focusing on unemployment and educational opportunities. In 2022, SINA built a social space for refugees in Uganda out of plastic bottles. This initial building marked an important step in combating Uganda’s trash crisis by offering further inspiration for the reuse and recycling of plastic.
Beyond the recycling of plastics, many individuals within Uganda are also doing their part to combat Uganda’s trash crisis by offering natural alternatives to plastics. For example, Godfrey Kigoye, a local Ugandan farmer, has taken to growing calabash, also known as bottle gourds, as a substitute for plastic bottles. These bottle gourds, after being dried, can be used as a reusable and biodegradable container for fluids. Many farmers, Kigoye included, have found that bottle gourds are becoming more popular among customers in favor of single-use plastic bottles.
Moving Forward
While there is still plenty of work to be done regarding Uganda’s trash crisis, recent efforts to reclaim and dispose of the trash plaguing Uganda have proven promising. With continued efforts from both the Ugandan government and its people, a healthier, happier Uganda with less trash is in sight.
– Mackenzie Scott
Photo: Flickr
Women’s Empowerment in Kurdistan
Political Participation
A defining policy in Kurdish governance is the co-chair system, which legally mandates that all leadership positions be shared equally between men and women. This structure ensures that international diplomats engaging with Kurdish representatives meet with women and men in equal numbers. The ideological foundation of this movement is rooted in “jineology” or “the science of women.” Several Kurdish political organizations embrace this philosophy, with the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) in northern Syria being the most well-known. This region, referred to as Rojava by Kurds, symbolizes Western Kurdistan and serves as a key example of gender equality in action.
While these reforms have created new opportunities for women, challenges remain. Political instability, conservative social structures and ongoing conflict in the region pose obstacles to full gender equality. Women participating in politics and military forces still face discrimination and resistance from traditional societal norms.
Advancing Gender Equality
Committed to promoting gender equality, the YPJ movement has established women-only organizations and mandated that half of all government funds be allocated to women’s initiatives. These ongoing efforts have led to significant legal reforms, including the outlawing of child marriage, a ban on polygamy and stronger mechanisms for women to report domestic abuse, with legal consequences for perpetrators.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has also introduced legal protections for women’s rights. The Family Law enacted in 2011 provides statutory protection against gender-based violence, including practices like female genital cutting. However, gaps in enforcement persist and legal loopholes allow some discriminatory practices to continue. Provisions permitting husbands to discipline their wives and laws enabling rapists to avoid prosecution by marrying their victims highlight the ongoing need for legal reform. Despite these challenges, the establishment of such laws marks progress toward safeguarding women’s rights. It is a significant step in transforming Kurdish society.
Economic Empowerment and Breaking Cycles of Poverty
Economic independence plays a crucial role in advancing gender equality. Programs such as the Stronger Women, Stronger Nations initiative support vulnerable women, including Syrian, Yazidi and Iraqi refugees, through vocational training and economic empowerment strategies. These programs provide financial literacy training, employment opportunities and entrepreneurship support, enabling women to secure stable incomes.
Women who participate in these initiatives gain skills in various sectors, including agriculture, tailoring and business management. In addition to improving household income, these programs reduce economic dependence on male family members, offering women greater autonomy and social mobility. Despite these advancements, women in Kurdistan still face barriers to workforce participation, including societal expectations, limited access to higher education and economic policies that do not always prioritize female employment.
Looking Ahead
Kurdish women’s empowerment has already set a precedent for gender equality in the region. However, continued progress depends on further legal reforms, education access and economic opportunities. While Kurdish women’s leadership in governance, law and military forces has been groundbreaking, ongoing advocacy is needed to address legal gaps and social resistance.
By fostering long-term gender equality through political representation, legal protections and economic independence, women’s empowerment in Kurdistan is not only transforming communities but also shaping the future of the Middle East. Their achievements serve as a model for other regions striving for gender justice and social reform.
– Edzhe Miteva
Photo: Flickr
Women’s Foundation Nepal: Empowering Women
Key Objectives of WFN
Safe Shelter and Essential Services
WFN operates three shelter homes in Kathmandu, providing refuge for more than 120 children and 30 women escaping violence, abuse or extreme poverty. These shelters ensure that women and children receive medical care, psychological support and legal aid, helping them recover from traumatic experiences and regain stability. Beyond providing a safe environment, the shelters also serve as a foundation for rebuilding lives by offering vocational training and job placement opportunities. Through these programs, residents gain essential skills and resources that enable them to achieve independence and long-term security.
Expanding Access to Education in Nepal
WFN ensures that survivors of violence receive educational opportunities and skills training to secure a better future. Programs include:
Through these ongoing efforts, WFN equips women and children with the education and skills needed for long-term success.
Advocating for Equal Rights in Nepal
WFN actively fights against gender discrimination in legal frameworks and works to increase women’s representation in government and leadership roles. By lobbying for policy changes and providing free legal aid, WFN helps women secure their rights and escape oppressive situations. The foundation assists between five and seven women at its legal offices daily, offering guidance and support.
In 2019, Women’s Foundation Nepal won 62 cases related to divorce, violence and property rights, ensuring that women in vulnerable situations had access to justice. For cases that escalate to higher courts, WFN continues to provide legal aid and representation. By covering court fees and providing financial assistance, WFN has helped thousands of women and girls gain legal protection and secure their rights.
Economic Empowerment Through Self-Sustaining Businesses
WFN promotes economic independence by supporting micro-credit initiatives and women-led businesses. The Maheela Cooperative, a fair-trade organization launched in 2000, provides employment and training to women escaping poverty and violence. Currently, more than 80 women receive training and employment in textiles, handicrafts and jewelry production. These opportunities allow them to develop essential skills and achieve financial stability.
The cooperative reinvests 60% of its profits into WFN’s social programs, ensuring the sustainability of its initiatives. Fair wages and safe working conditions remain a priority, empowering women with stable incomes. Products created by the Maheela Cooperative, including scarves, textiles and handmade jewelry, are sold in Europe, the United States (U.S.) and Canada. This not only helps fund WFN’s projects but also creates a sustainable income source for the women involved, fostering long-term economic growth.
Scholarships and Sponsorships in Nepal
WFN supports more than 1,000 children from underprivileged backgrounds through scholarships and sponsorships, ensuring they have access to education. Sponsorships cover essential living expenses, including health care, food and clothing, for children in WFN’s shelter homes. The foundation also offers scholarships that provide tuition fees, school supplies and uniforms, enabling children to stay in school and complete their education.
By investing in education, WFN helps break the cycle of poverty, giving children the opportunity to build brighter futures and become self-sufficient. The organization also extends its support to higher education, funding university studies for children who achieve strong academic results in their 10th-grade exams. Through these programs, WFN empowers the next generation, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to create lasting change in their communities.
A Commitment to Ethical Practices
WFN and Maheela Cooperative prioritize fair wages, ethical labor practices and nondiscrimination policies. They actively oppose child labor and forced labor, ensuring a safe and inclusive work environment for all employees. The organization does not discriminate based on caste, nationality, religion, gender, disability or political beliefs, making it a model for inclusive social development in Nepal.
A Legacy of Empowerment
The Women’s Foundation Nepal was founded by a group of young women who helped rescue a missing girl forced into labor. Its advocacy grew into a thriving organization that now impacts thousands across Nepal. Results are achieved through shelter, legal aid, education and economic empowerment. Through its multifaceted approach, WFN continues to fight for a future where women and children in Nepal live free from violence, poverty and discrimination. With continued support, WFN can potentially expand its life-changing programs and uplift even more women and children across Nepal.
– Nalini Vijayakumar
Photo: Flickr
Senior Taliban Official Backs Afghan Women’s Right to Education
What Is Life Like for Women and Girls in Afghanistan?
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a statement on the International Day of Education, Jan. 24, 2025, noting that it has been four years since Afghanistan became “the only country in the world that explicitly bars women and girls [above the age of 12] from all levels of education.” It is not only Afghan women’s and girls’ right to education that is being violated. A series of other gender discrimination laws have been passed targeting women’s rights. The laws include the right to work, appear on TV, recite poetry or sing in public, go to the park and travel without a male relative.
The situation worsened when the Ministry of Economy shared a letter on the social media platform X on Dec. 29, 2024, threatening to shut down the activities of all nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with women employees. Data collected by UNAMA revealed that 64% of Afghan women surveyed felt unsafe going out alone. This anxiety largely stems from “targeted harassment, threats and violence” from the Taliban and the wider community.
Men have also expressed feeling safer going out alone than with a female relative in public. Accompanying a woman draws more attention from the authorities. UNAMA notes that this has led to increased conservatism and control within families as men risk being targeted for violating the limitations placed on women and girls. Many Afghan women and girls protested the Taliban’s rise to power in 2021.
However, the Taliban responded with violence, killings and arbitrary arrests. UNAMA’s report further highlights the barriers Afghan women face when communicating with local authorities. This disconnect further removes women’s voices from public life. It increases their reliance on men in their family and community to advocate for them.
Who Are the Taliban and Stanikzai?
The Taliban is a Sunni Islamist group founded in 1994 which previously ruled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, implementing similar gender discrimination laws as are enforced by its regime today. Many of its members are former Afghan Mujahideen – armed Islamist groups involved in the First Afghan Civil War (1989-1992).
The first Taliban government fell after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, but the group regained control in 2021 after U.S troops withdrew. With the rights of women and girls deteriorating rapidly, in 2022, the deputy foreign minister condemned the closure of schools for girls. During a gathering of Taliban officials in Kabul, the country’s capital, Stanikzai urged the regime that “Women must get an education; there is no Islamic prohibition for girls’ education.”
This time around, Stanikzai directly asked the Taliban leader to reconsider the regime’s policies. He argued that there was no reason to deny education to women and girls, “just as there was no justification for it in the past and there shouldn’t be one at all.” The Guardian reported that Stanikzai is allegedly facing arrest for his comments and has fled to Dubai, though the minister has said he left for “health reasons.”
The Past
Restrictions on women’s rights have not always been the norm. The country has experienced fluctuating periods of equality and gender disparities in the past century.
For example, women’s suffrage in Afghanistan was achieved in 1919, a year before women in the U.S. were granted the right to vote. During this same period, the Queen Consort of Afghanistan, Soraya Tarzi, advocated for Afghan women’s and girls’ right to education and facilitated the opening of the country’s first school for girls in 1921. Since then, various regimes have advanced or rolled back on women’s rights.
How Has the International Community Been Responding?
Despite having been the de facto authorities for four years, the Taliban has yet to receive international recognition. The growing exclusion of women and girls from the public space has led to the U.N. labeling the Taliban’s policies as “gender apartheid.” Similarly, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued applications for arrest warrants against two Taliban officials: the leader of the Taliban, Haibatullah Akhundzada and the Chief of Justice, Abdul Hakim Haqqani. They are charged “for the crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds.” The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, also announced that other senior Taliban officials will soon face similar consequences.
With the clampdown on NGOs in the country, courses for action on the ground are becoming increasingly limited. UNAMA has been collaborating with the United Nations Entity for Women and Gender Equality (U.N. Women) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) since August 2022 to reach out to Afghan women nationwide and gather insights about their living conditions. Their latest report revealed that 45% of women and 41% of men consulted in April 2024 believe the international community should facilitate communication between Afghan women and the Taliban. They believe centering women’s voices is crucial to advancing their rights.
– Nesreen Yousfi
Photo: Flickr
Mental Health in Cabo Verde
Mental Health Rate in Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde has made significant progress in all areas since gaining its freedom. The mental health of its people has been no exception. In 2017, there were no reported mental health professionals. Three years later, 11 total psychiatrists, 40 psychologists, 23 social workers, one mental health nurse and one occupational therapist were reported, demonstrating the country’s effort at combating mental health.
Suicide rates have also steadily declined, dropping from 17.46 per 100,000 people in 2013 to 15.23 in 2019. However, nearly 5% of people living in Cabo Verde still experience depression. To combat this, the Cabo Verde government has expanded mental health resources. In addition, it has launched initiatives such as educational conferences to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
Reducing Stigma
World Health Day is observed annually on April 7. In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) partnered with Cabo Verde’s Ministry of Health and Social Security (MSSS) to organize a conference focused on depression. The conference aimed to tackle the issue without stigma or bias. Under the theme “Depression: Let’s Talk,” the event occurred in the nation’s capital and welcomed everyone to participate. Before the conference, the WHO held press briefings to discuss topics such as stigma, strategies for raising awareness about depression, its impact on those affected and the available resources for support.
A series of events also took place across Cabo Verde on the same date. At the University of Cabo Verde, a roundtable discussion was held with several doctors from the WHO and MSSS, focusing on discrimination in mental health. At the Agostino Neto Hospital Central Hospital in Praia, a “Conversation morning,” was held. Pregnant and new mothers were invited to participate in an open discussion about postpartum depression. Led by the clinical director from the hospital alongside doctors from the WHO, patients were educated on signs of postpartum depression and how to navigate it.
Government Support
The day concluded with a forum on depression at the Government Palace. During the event, the forum’s chairman, Dr. Arlindo do Rosário, emphasized that the work of the WHO and MSSS “further highlight the government’s firm commitment to actually include mental health in our work.”
Recently, Dr. Angel Olider Rojas Vistorte hosted a conference on mental disorders and social media usage in Praia. The event, held in June 2024, was organized by the Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde, the Ibero-American University Foundation and the European University of the Atlantic, where Vistorte is affiliated. The conference aimed to create a safe space for discussing mental health and promoting healthy dialogue about mental health issues. In his lecture, Vistorte went beyond depression, addressing anxiety and eating disorders as potential consequences of excessive social media usage.
Conclusion
Cabo Verde has made notable progress in improving mental health care, reducing stigma and increasing access to mental health professionals. Despite challenges such as poverty and limited resources, the country has seen a decline in mental health disorders and suicide rates. Educational initiatives and open discussions have further supported awareness and progress. These positive strides reflect Cabo Verde’s commitment to better mental health for its people.
– Hannah Pacheco
Photo: Pixabay
Expanding Renewable Energy in the Soloman Islands
Current Renewable Energy Landscape
The Solomon Islands relies heavily on diesel generators, with approximately 80% of its electricity coming from fossil fuels. Hydropower has played a role in the country’s renewable energy sector, with the Lungga Hydropower Station near the capital, Honiara, serving as the primary source of renewable electricity. However, the country seeks to diversify its energy mix to reduce costs, increase sustainability and enhance energy security.
Future Renewable Energy Potential
The Solomon Islands government aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its national energy mix to a target of 100% by 2030. Solar power presents one of the most promising opportunities, given the country’s tropical climate and consistent year-round sunlight. Additionally, the newly launched Tina River Hydropower Project is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 49,500 tons annually, significantly reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. The government is also promoting community-based biomass projects to meet energy needs while encouraging sustainable land use practices.
The Role of Coconut Oil in Energy Production
In a unique renewable energy initiative, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) partnered with Solomon Power to explore coconut oil as an alternative to diesel fuel. The trial involved running a generator on locally produced coconut oil, with a contract supplying 1,000 liters per week. This not only provided a steady income for coconut farmers but also demonstrated the potential for coconut oil to become a viable renewable energy source. Expanding this initiative could enhance energy security while creating new economic opportunities in the agricultural sector.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite progress, the Solomon Islands faces challenges in expanding its renewable energy sector. The geographical dispersion of islands makes energy infrastructure development costly and logistically complex. Additionally, securing financing for large-scale projects remains a hurdle for the nation and the country currently has some of the highest electricity costs in the world. Additionally, if coconut oil emerges as a major fuel source, it will require substantial investments in coconut farming, including replanting initiatives and enhanced quality control measures. The Solomon Islands needs to focus on a transition to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels to advance its energy goals and contribute to global sustainability efforts.
Renewable energy in the Soloman Islands stands at a pivotal moment in its transition. Expanding renewable energy sources could reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lower energy costs and contribute to global sustainability goals. With ongoing investments in hydropower, solar energy and innovative biofuel solutions, the country is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable energy development in the Pacific region.
– Avery Hazard
Photo: Flickr
Pashtun Poverty in Central Asia
FATA
Pashtun poverty is directly tied to destabilization and ethnic violence in Central Asia. Previously called “the most dangerous place in the world,” the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) of Pakistan was home to 20% of the world’s Pashtuns. Although absorbed in 2018, FATA was home to blatant and widespread poverty, with 60% of people living below the poverty line.
This area was described as a “legal vacuum” because no neighboring country would assume administrative control. This led to a 33% literacy rate and plagued the area with intense ethnic and religious violence. In 2018, Pakistan merged the areas into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the hopes of improving conditions. Most terror attacks occurred in Pashtun areas in 2022, which points to continuing destabilization and a failure to address the conditions.
Drug Trafficking in Afghanistan
Over the border in Afghanistan, the Pashtuns have additionally dealt with decades of conflict and now Taliban rule. Although Pashtun’s relationship with the Taliban is complicated, the Taliban’s ban on narcotic production has disrupted a significant source of income for Pashtun communities. The U.N. estimated that it had affected the lives of nearly 7 million people who relied on growing opium for income.
Farmers were believed to have lost $1.3 billion in 2023 due to the halt in production, while landowners sold their stockpiles at a hiked price. While the production of narcotics is a complex issue, it is an industry upon which millions depend for their livelihoods. Its cessation has likely pushed many into poverty. Many farmers have continued to defy the ban as it’s their only way to avoid hunger and provide for their families.
Education in Pakistan
Although the situation for Pashtuns seems quite dire, great strides have been made for the education of the next generation. The village of Khanozai, in Balochistan, has a successful education scheme with an estimated 98% literacy rate. Although many Pashtun families must face the dilemma between having their children work or attend school, this village has insisted on the education of the next generation.
The Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai is actually Pashtun. In 2012, she spoke out against the Taliban in favor of education for girls. This led to an attack on her life. She survived and has become a global face of the movement for the right for a girl to learn. She is the only Pashtun and youngest ever person to win a Nobel Prize laureate.
The Pashtun Trust
The Pashtun Trust is an England-based charity that works to support both the local community and those in Central Asia. The nonprofit’s Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Projects work to alleviate poverty and provide education to people in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 2019, the Trust managed to build 50 water wells throughout the region to tackle dehydration.
Pashtun poverty in Central Asia is an ongoing issue. However, nonprofit organizations like the Pashtun Trust are committed to improving the conditions of Pashtuns.
– Charley Dennis
Photo: Flickr
The Use of Child Soldiers in Iraqi Kurdistan
The History of Child Soldiers in Iraqi Kurdistan
During Saddam Hussein’s reign, vulnerable children often became targets of informal militias, with the PKK recruiting aggressively since its formation. In 1994, reports filed by the UN Refugee Agency documented the PKK’s “systematic increase in child recruitment” and even the creation of “child regiments.” A battalion called Tabura Zaroken Sehit Agit, for instance, operated with “a committee of five children aged between 8 and 12.” A year later, sources from the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) verified these reports after the loss of 1,000 PKK guerrillas—many of them young boys and girls—during an attack on the Kurdish Democratic Party. Yet, instead of being deterred by heavy casualties, the PKK intensified its recruitment efforts, adding 3,000 more children to its ranks by 1998.
About 13 years after Saddam Hussein’s deposition, the practice had not subsided. Human Rights Watch documented 29 cases of the use of child soldiers in 2016 – all tied to the PKK. Additionally, of these cases, the children concerned routinely admitted to “participating in fighting,” staffing checkpoints throughout the PKK occupied Qandil Mountains, and cleaning or preparing weapons. The latter occupations, although far from the frontlines, still carrying significant risks. Due to Iraqi Kurdistan’s neighboring proximity to Turkey, Turkish airstrikes can kill child soldiers without the children witnessing the horrors of close combat.
The Influence of Poverty
Chiefly, the depths of Iraqi poverty bear the foremost reason why these children fall into recruitment traps that militias created. Deprived of money and education, children fall susceptible to armed groups offering financial incentives. As of 2016, UNICEF reported that more than a half a million Iraqi children were engaged in labor due to declining family incomes, violence and displacement. With a further “5 million children in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.” Furthermore, long-term political instability, corruption or weak governance in Iraq has exacerbated poverty. Limited economic opportunities and displacement due to armed conflict coupled with societal pressures to achieve rite of passage or honor in protection of one’s family makes children increasingly vulnerable to militant influence.
As such, important NGOs like the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which began operating in Iraq in 2003, and the Iraq Child Rights Network which began working in Iraq in 2011, are continuously offering community-based child protection systems and implementing protective policies. In 2022, the IRC’s child and youth protection and development services supported 18,200 people, providing conflict-affected children with access to sustainable, specialized, holistic and nurturing protective services. Likewise, the ICRN has contributed its support to the National Child Protection Policy (NCPP), a policy which aims to provide a comprehensive framework to protect children from violence, exploitation and abuse, including preventing the recruitment of children into armed forces and armed groups.
Positive Changes
However, among all progress, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is driving the greatest changes. In August 2024, a conference occurred titled Promoting the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in Accordance with International Standards. At this conference, Kurdistan’s Coordinator for International Advocacy, Dinadr Zebari, highlighted the KRG’s aims—specifically its 2021–2025 Regional Human Rights Action Plan—to raise Iraqi Kurdistan’s international reputation through “commitments to human rights.”
He stated the KRG has already implemented several human rights recommendations upon refugees, of whom are the primary source of child soldiers. These recommendations include “reception, accommodation, and essential services.” In fact, the KRG is now responsible for 80% of services for refugees, having allocated 138 schools and 54 mainstream schools throughout the region. This is monumental achievement, because 40,410 refugee students now receive formal education and there is hope that more refugees will enroll in mainstream schools since the Ministry of Education’s granting approval in 2021.
Looking Ahead
While the future looks promising for Iraq and its educational developments, there can be no complete celebration until every child is safe from militancy. About 327,000 refugees still reside in Iraq, with 41% estimated to be children under 18. Of these, 90% live specifically in the Kurdistan region. This means that potentially 93,000 child refugees still require aid and education after subtracting those already enrolled in schools.
– Leighton Webber
Photo: Flickr