Equality Now

05/13/2026

A couple of weeks on from Women Deliver 2026, we’re still reflecting on the conversations, connections, and collective energy that made the week so impactful.

At the end of April, Equality Now joined thousands of advocates, activists, youth leaders, and partners in Naarm (Melbourne) for the first-ever Women Deliver conference hosted in the Oceanic Pacific region.

At a time of growing backlash against the rights of women and girls globally, WD2026 was a powerful reminder that progress must be organised, defended, and built together. Throughout the week, we contributed to important conversations on discriminatory laws, technology-facilitated abuse, child marriage, family law reform, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and accountability for gender-based violence.

We were especially inspired by the leadership of First Nations women and Oceanic Pacific feminists, whose voices and vision shaped so many important discussions.

Thank you to everyone who joined our sessions, visited our exhibition space, and connected with us throughout the week. We left Naarm inspired, energised, and more committed than ever to advancing gender equality worldwide.

05/11/2026

15 years ago, the Istanbul Convention was opened for signature, creating the world’s strongest legally binding treaty to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence.

The Convention recognises a simple but powerful truth: violence against women and girls is a human rights violation. Governments have a responsibility to prevent violence, protect survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable.

Fifteen years on, the Convention remains a vital tool for strengthening protections for women and girls across Europe and beyond.

Protecting women’s rights requires strong laws, accountability, and international cooperation.

Learn more about women’s rights and international law: https://bit.ly/49oDQB0

05/09/2026

Tomorrow, we celebrate Mother’s Day in many parts of the world.

We’re honoured to spotlight Kathy Sharpe, a member of our global community who is helping raise the next generation of changemakers.

Since 2022, Kathy has supported Equality Now with a deep commitment to gender equality—not only through her philanthropy, but in how she raises her daughters. As she puts it, “Equality starts at home—in the conversations we have, the examples we set, and the way we teach our daughters to value their voices. It’s a legacy my mom gave me, and one I’m proud to carry forward in her honour—because the way we raise our daughters today shapes the world they, and all of us, will live in tomorrow.”

Thank you, Kathy. And to mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and mentors everywhere: your influence is shaping a powerful new generation of women ready to carry the movement for gender equality forward.

05/03/2026

Still looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift?

Next Sunday, 10 May is Mother’s Day in many parts of the world, a time to celebrate and honour the extraordinary women who have helped shape us. This year, you can help make a difference by giving your loved one something special that will also make an impact for gender equality.

Equality Now is proud to partner with Awe Inspired, Conscious Step, Social Goods, Terra Mare®, and others that help support our essential work by donating proceeds from the sale of select items. Every purchase you make will help ensure a brighter future for women and girls everywhere.

Shop now at equalitynow.org/giftguide.

05/01/2026

Meet Naglaa.

As Equality Now’s Legal Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa, Naglaa leads work on family law reform across the region, working with partners to challenge discriminatory laws and drive change.

One recent milestone she’s proud of is progress in Egypt, where new measures mean maintenance rulings can finally be enforced, helping women and children access the financial support they’re entitled to.

For Naglaa, this work is about shifting systems, because family law, gender-based violence, and harmful practices are all connected.

She’s now pushing for stronger enforcement of women’s financial rights across the region.

Find more about our work across MENA at equalitynow.org/MENA

04/28/2026

Across the Americas, hundreds of thousands of women and girls are affected by female ge***al mutilation (FGM), yet legal protections remain uneven, incomplete, or absent in many countries.

However, momentum is building across the region:

🔹 In Connecticut, US, a bill to prohibit FGM has passed unanimously in the State Senate and now awaits a House vote. A major step after years of advocacy.
🔹 In Colombia, lawmakers are advancing a landmark bill that could establish the first comprehensive legal framework on FGM in Latin America, centred on prevention, education, and survivor support.

Progress is possible and it’s happening.

🔗 Read more about this pivotal moment for the Americas and what happens next: https://bit.ly/422kNbF

Climate change is increasing risks of sexual and gender based violence worldwide. Learn what climate-related sexual and gender based violence is and how global action can prevent it.

04/25/2026

A month after the release of ‘Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere’, the conversations it sparked are still highly relevant.

The documentary highlights how online spaces are being used by influencers who promote and profit from harmful ideas about gender, relationships, and power, and how these narratives spread beyond their original platforms.

From content creators who monetise misogyny to algorithms that amplify extreme content, these digital ecosystems are shaping attitudes, behaviours, and real-world harm.

At Equality Now, we know this isn’t just a cultural trend. It’s a gender equality and human rights issue, and addressing it requires stronger laws, platform accountability, and safer digital spaces.

🔗 Read more as we unpack what the documentary reveals and what needs to change: https://bit.ly/3OKcjD4

What Louis Theroux’s “Inside the Manosphere” reveals about online misogyny, how it spreads, and why it has real-world consequences.

04/24/2026

Meet Mel.

As an Associate Manager working in Equality Now’s communications team, Mel works to turn complex legal work into powerful storytelling that pushes for accountability and reform, because how we communicate change is part of how we achieve it.

One moment she’s especially proud of is helping bring the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the forefront through a large-scale projection on the National Archives in Washington, DC (swipe to see), a powerful visual that captured public attention at a critical moment. Shortly after, the ERA was declared the law of the land, marking a major step toward constitutional equality in the US.

Mel is now working to shift how sexual violence is understood and addressed, pushing for systems that believe survivors, handle evidence properly, and deliver justice.

Find more about our work on ending sexual violence this eqaulitynow.org/SAAM

04/22/2026

Climate change is increasing the risk of sexual violence worldwide.

As floods, droughts, and other climate-related disasters disrupt communities, the conditions that drive sexual and gender-based violence are intensified.

Displacement into overcrowded shelters, loss of livelihoods, and reduced access to services all increase the risk of harm for women and girls.

In these contexts, survivors often face even greater barriers to support and justice. Healthcare, legal aid, and protection systems are frequently disrupted when they are needed most.

This is sexual and gender based violence intensified by climate change, a growing global reality that remains under-recognised.

As we mark Earth Day during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it is critical to recognise that these issues are interconnected. Efforts to address the climate crisis must also address the inequalities and risks it deepens.

Climate justice must include gender justice.

🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4sOXr4i

04/17/2026

Meet Sandra.

As Equality Now’s Legal and Advocacy Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean, Sandra supports civil society partners to engage in regional human rights spaces and drive change at the national level, bridging the gap between international standards and real-world impact.

She’s proud to have been involved in the follow-up to the landmark ruling in the Brisa de Angulo Losada case before the Inter-American Court, working to ensure its standards on consent, access to justice, and survivor protection translate into concrete legal and institutional change, particularly for adolescent girls.

Sandra also advances action on technology-facilitated gender-based violence, supporting the rollout of the Inter-American Model Law so countries can better respond to digital harms.

Her focus now is on implementation, ensuring these standards are not just adopted, but truly change how justice systems respond to survivors.

Find more about our work on ending sexual violence this eqaulitynow.org/SAAM