UN agency advancing women’s rights and gender equality
As South Africa marks the 70th anniversary of the 1956 march for women’s rights, officials say gains in representation have not translated into security or economic equality. The day highlights ongoing gender-based violence and inequality, with data showing rising violence against women and continued gaps between political progress and daily realities.
UNESCO has warned that Afghanistan remains the only country that formally bars girls and women from secondary and higher education. The agency has said the five-year exclusion has reversed two decades of progress, pushed 2.4 million girls out of school, narrowed women’s work options and deepened economic and social harms. UNESCO says it will keep running community literacy and skills programs while pressing for full restoration of educational rights.
The Taliban’s return to power has reached five years as Kabul marks the anniversary with ceremonies and crackdowns. While security has improved and some infrastructure projects advance, women face sweeping restrictions, humanitarian needs rise, and international recognition remains limited. Attacks against officials persist, while aid workers face detentions amid a fragile economy.
Police have found a ninth body in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, as investigations intensify into a series of murders of women in the area. Authorities are considering all possibilities, including multiple suspects or separate perpetrators, and have issued a public warning amid rising femicide and violent crime concerns.
A spate of killings of women in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, has sparked national alarm over gender-based violence. Nine bodies have been found in two months; authorities are reviewing cases, and no definitive links have been established. Investigations include potential serial-killer links, police actions, and public safety advisories.
The UN secretary-general race has shifted as Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE’s veteran diplomat, has entered late but now faces both support and intense scrutiny. Critics cite UAE links to Sudan's war; supporters praise her UN experience and diplomatic record. A straw poll is expected to signal whether she can consolidate backing among Security Council members.