Our Blog

Meet six incredible refugee women - from Syrian activist Waad al-Kateab to actress and singer Marlene Dietrich - who have used their power to make a difference.

In 2018, Leila's village in Damascus, Syria was bombed, killing two of her children and injuring her daughter so badly that she still struggles to walk properly today. Despite their injuries, Leila and her daughter made the difficult to decision to leave their home and seek asylum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In the face of immense grief, Leila knew that she needed to move forward for the sake of her family.

On paper, it might seem as though women's rights are protected in Nigeria. But today, Nigerian women and girls continue to face the reality of widespread discrimination, violence and injustice. To understand why urgent change is needed, read these 10 key facts about women's rights in Nigeria.

After graduating from our 12 month programme in the Democractic Republic of Congo, Cinama went on to start her own brickmaking business. She now shares her knowledge with other women and is looked up to as a role model.

More than one year on from Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine and our Managing Director, Sara Bowcutt, shared her reflections with Seida Sarić, Director of Žene za Žene International), our sister organisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kateryna Shukh, Vice President of Bereginja – Mariupol’s Women’s Association. 

The UK Government recently published two long-awaited policies, reflecting how collective and sustained advocacy - anchored in women’s experiences - can contribute to small wins in a broader context of a global rollback on women’s rights, no matter how painstaking those advocacy efforts or granular those wins may feel. So, what are those small wins, and are they worth celebrating?

Across the world, women often have less access to technology, mobile phones and the internet compared to men. In fact, the majority of the 2.9 billion people who remain unconnected are women and girls. But evidence suggests that digital inclusion goes hand in hand with economic empowerment and gender equality.

20 years since the war broke out in Iraq, we reflect on the impact of the war on women, our support over the years and hopes for the future.

Women for Women International invests in the power of women living in these communities. As we celebrate Women's History Month, we reflect on the progress of women using their #PowerToChange in their lives and communities for generations to come. 

This International Women’s Day, we are heartened to have the support of our passionate partners and global community in creating the changes we want to see in the world.  From beauty to dining to fashion and jewellery, there are many ways to invest in the strength of women, while sharing a gift or choosing a special item for yourself. 

In the early hours of February 24, 2022, a televised announcement by Russian President Vladmir Putin would ignite a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Citing his objectives of the country’s “demilitarisation” and “denazification”, his words signaled the siege of key Ukrainian cities by Russian military forces and upended the lives of Ukrainian men, women, and children.  

In Mariupol, Olga sang pop and folk music with her group, Melody, who made it onto Ukrainian X-Factor and her husband was the Head of Mariupol’s orchestra. When war broke out, Olga made the perilous journey across the border to Poland with her son, Max, and her parents. Her husband stayed behind in Ukraine.