News – Women's Network for Change

October 15, 2026

Navi Pillay, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Navi Pillay: A Woman Who Turned Barriers into Stepping Stones

In every era of history, there are women who not only overcome the limitations imposed upon them but also pave the way for future generations. Navi Pillay is one of those women; a woman who emerged from a society marked by racial discrimination and gender inequality to become one of the world’s most prominent figures in human rights and international justice. Receiving the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize is a significant milestone in her career, but that distinction alone is not […]

October 15, 2026

Gina Romero, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association, supports the No To Execution Tuesdays campaign.

UN Expert Takes ‘No Execution Tuesdays’ Campaign Global

UN Rapporteur Gina Romero’s hunger strike sparked a wave of international solidarity with Iranian political prisoners. At a time when dozens of political prisoners and protesters in Iran are facing the threat of execution, a powerful act by Gina Romero, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, helped generate an unprecedented wave of international solidarity with the ‘No To Execution Tuesdays’ campaign. Her decision to join the campaign’s 24-hour hunger strike […]

October 14, 2026

Maryam Yarmohammadi, a 28-year-old mother whose killing drew renewed attention to femicide in Iran.

Femicide in Iran: How Laws Turn Family Killers into Mourners

How Iran’s Legal System Enables Impunity for Femicide In recent days, the shocking murder of a young mother on Iran’s Qeshm Island has once again brought the issue of femicide and honor killings into the media spotlight and social media conversations. Two Saturdays ago, a 28-year-old mother named Maryam Yarmohammadi was killed in her own home in a relentless knife attack. Two men have been arrested on charges of murder and complicity in murder. The murder suspect is Ms. Yarmohammadi’s […]

October 9, 2026

California Ends Child Marriage with Landmark Reform Protecting Girls’ Rights

California has enacted a landmark reform prohibiting marriage for anyone under the age of 18, without exception. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1267 (AB-1267) into law on September 30, establishing 18 as the minimum legal age for both marriage and domestic partnership in the state. The measure repeals previous provisions that allowed minors to marry with parental consent and judicial approval. Before the law’s adoption, California was among the few U.S. states that did not have a statutory minimum age […]

September 25, 2026

Symbolic image representing women in political leadership and decision-making roles

UN Women Reports Continued Underrepresentation of Women in Politics

Updated figures published by UN Women on 15 September 2026 show that women remain significantly underrepresented in political decision-making worldwide, despite progress in women’s political participation over recent decades. As of 1 September 2026, women serve as Heads of State and/or Government in 28 countries, with 30 women holding these positions. According to UN Women, at the current rate of progress, gender equality in the highest positions of political power will not be reached for another 130 years. Women also […]

August 1, 2026

Breaking the Boardroom Barrier: Europe’s Push for Women in Corporate Leadership

A major shift is underway in global corporate leadership. Across Europe, new rules aimed at increasing women’s representation in company boardrooms are beginning to reshape one of the most persistent areas of gender inequality: access to top decision-making roles. The change is being driven by the Women on Boards Directive of the European Union, which requires listed companies across member states to take concrete steps toward achieving greater gender balance in corporate leadership. By June 2026, large publicly listed companies […]

July 12, 2026

Artificial Intelligence, Disinformation and Women’s Political Leadership

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way societies communicate, govern, and participate in democratic processes. While AI offers enormous opportunities for innovation and development, it also presents new and significant challenges for women in politics. The rapid rise of AI-generated disinformation, algorithmic bias, and online gender-based abuse threatens not only individual women leaders but also the health of democratic institutions. As governments, civil society, and international organisations grapple with the implications of AI, ensuring that women can participate safely and […]

April 30, 2026

WNC’s Participation in CSW 70: Engaging with Global Leaders and Advocating Women’s Rights

The seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 70) took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 9 to 19 March 2026. Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the world were invited to attend the session. The themes for CSW 70 were: At CSW 70, our NGO was honored to participate in critical events that addressed global challenges and opportunities for advancing gender equality. Among […]

April 10, 2026

Maryam Akbari Monfared Released After 17 Years

A Proud Milestone for WNC Advocacy The WNC proudly announces the release of Maryam Akbari Monfared, one of Iran’s longest-serving female political prisoners, on April 8, 2026. Her freedom marks a powerful moment of hope and perseverance and stands as a testament to years of tireless advocacy, including efforts led by our organization. After nearly 17 years of imprisonment without a single day of leave, Maryam Akbari Monfared has finally been reunited with her family. Her case has long symbolized […]

February 1, 2026

WNC Extends Deepest Condolences on the Passing of Prof. Rita Süssmuth

Trailblazing German Politician and Champion of Equality Germany is mourning the loss of Rita Süssmuth, one of the most influential and respected political figures in the history of the Federal Republic. The longtime CDU politician and former President of the German Bundestag has died at the age of 88, as confirmed by current Bundestag President Julia Klöckner. She described Süssmuth as “one of the most significant politicians of the Federal Republic of Germany,” whose impact will be felt for generations […]