Evidence-based reporting, analysis and perspectives on women’s health worldwide. Updated as stories develop.
The average country scores 67 out of 100 for laws supporting women’s economic equality, and 53 for enforcing them, the World Bank finds. The gap is widest on safety from violence, but 68 economies passed reforms in two years, and Egypt shows how fast laws can change.
France’s National Assembly passed a cross-party bill on sexist and sexual violence by 503 votes to none on 13 October 2026. Two days later, Interior Ministry figures showed 111 women were killed by a partner or former partner in 2025, up 4% on the year before.
One in three national bodies set up to advance gender equality has lost institutional power in the past two years, a UN report finds. Legal reforms in 68 economies and upcoming UN reviews give governments and advocates routes to reverse the trend.
Illinois has made it unlawful to discriminate against workers because of perimenopause or menopause. From 1 January 2027, employers with four or more staff must offer reasonable accommodations, and workers will have a clear route to ask for them.
Stories filed under this theme will appear here once published.