Women’s News – Page 2 – Women's Network for Change

August 9, 2025

African Women: Courage, Quotas, and the Climb Toward Parity

Women in African Politics: Courage, Quotas, and the Climb Toward Parity

Across Africa, women are changing the face of politics—yet the journey toward equal representation remains steep. According to the 2024 Africa Barometer, women currently hold 26% of parliamentary seats across the continent, a modest increase of just 1% since 2021. At this rate, gender parity in African legislatures will not be achieved until the year 2100. This slow pace is not due to a lack of capable women leaders, but rather the persistence of deep structural and cultural barriers. From […]

April 17, 2025

Dominique Attias Honored as Officer of the Legion of Honor for Lifetime Legal Advocacy

In a ceremony held at the Paris Bar Association on April 10, 2025, Dominique Attias, a trailblazing figure in the French legal world, was awarded the title of Officier de la Légion d’Honneur—Officer of the Legion of Honor—in recognition of her decades-long dedication to justice, children’s rights, and the defense of fundamental freedoms. The award is one of the highest civilian honors in France, bestowed by presidential decree and announced in the Journal Officiel on July 9, 2024. Attias joins […]

March 12, 2025

WNC at the CSW69: Advocating for Gender Equality on the Global Stage

The 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) is currently taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, bringing together government representatives, civil society organizations, and activists from around the world to discuss pressing gender equality issues. This year, the priority theme focuses on “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.” The Commission on the […]

March 11, 2025

Letter to support Maryam Akbari Monfared

Campaign to Support Maryam Akbari Monfared – Write a Letter Today!

Let’s all support Maryam AKBARI MONFARED, a courageous opponent of the regime in Iran. Imprisoned in the dungeons of the mullahs and separated from her 3 children for more than 15 YEARS, for demanding accountability from the Iranian regime for the deaths of her brothers and sisters, who were murdered like 30,000 young people, women, and men by their torturers in the summer of 1988. She was supposed to be released on October 12, 2024. And yet, she remains imprisoned, […]

February 27, 2025

Louis Arnaud and Ingrid Betancourt Join Paris Rally to Demand Justice for Iranian Political Prisoners

Paris, February 1, 2025 – A demonstration took place in front of the Panthéon in Paris to bring attention to the situation of political prisoners in Iran and denounce the regime’s use of hostage diplomacy. The rally featured speeches from former detainees and human rights advocates, urging international action against the Iranian government’s systematic repression. One of the key speakers was former French detainee Louis Arnaud, who shared his experiences of imprisonment in Iran. Arnaud, a French banking consultant, was […]

February 26, 2025

Dr. Ranjana Kumari at the AI Action Summit 2025

The AI Action Summit 2025, held at the Grand Palais in Paris, was a defining event in the global artificial intelligence landscape. Leaders from around the world gathered to discuss AI advancements, regulatory frameworks, and ethical considerations. However, one crucial aspect that remained on the sidelines was gender and AI, a topic championed by Dr. Ranjana Kumari and other advocates for women’s rights in technology. The summit saw major financial commitments, with French President Emmanuel Macron announcing a €109 billion […]

September 15, 2024

Women’s Right to Education in Afghanistan: The Impact of Fundamentalism

Since the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan in 2021, the right of women and girls to access education has been systematically stripped away, marking a stark regression from the progress achieved in the previous two decades. This repression is a direct result of the fundamentalist ideology embraced by the Taliban, which severely limits women’s rights. The implications of these restrictions are not only devastating for Afghan women, but also for the country’s broader social and economic development. Before the Taliban’s return […]

August 23, 2024

Über Mut by Rita Süssmuth – A Powerful Manifesto for Courage and Democracy

In her final and most compelling work, Über Mut, Rita Süssmuth—esteemed former CDU politician, leading figure in German politics, and Honorary President of the WNC—delivers a passionate call to action. At 87, Süssmuth draws upon her extensive experience to address the pressing challenges of our time, urging citizens to embrace optimism and civic courage in the face of global crises and societal fears. A Legacy of Courage and Engagement Über Mut is more than just a memoir; it is Süssmuth’s […]

July 31, 2024

Gender Equality in the Legal Sphere: A Call for Action

From June 6-8, 2024, the European Bars Association (FBE) General Congress, titled “The Lawyer of the Future,” took place in Malaga. This event brought together leading voices from the legal profession to deliberate on the critical need for implementing gender quotas and targets within Bar Associations and law firms. Despite women outnumbering men in the legal profession, a glaring under-representation of women in leadership positions persists. The Panel Discussion The discussion, moderated by Michael Griem, the 2nd Vice President of […]

July 28, 2024

Roberta Metsola Re-Elected as European Parliament President: A Legacy of Leadership and Commitment to Democratic Values

Roberta Metsola’s re-election as President of the European Parliament marks a significant milestone in her illustrious career and underscores her impact on European politics. Her leadership has been characterized by a strong commitment to democratic values, robust policy initiatives, and a dedication to fostering unity across the European Union. Metsola, a Maltese politician and member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2013, quickly rose through the ranks due to her tenacity and clear vision for Europe’s future. Born in 1979 […]