Equality Now

10/12/2026

International Day of the Girl Child may be over for another year, but our work to end child marriage and advance the human rights of all women and girls continues every day.

In the words of musician and advocate :

“Society shouldn't decide what it means to be a woman before a woman herself does. But that's what happens - we are assigned roles, boxes, corners, and rules to abide by and mold ourselves within. Around the world, this happens in unthinkable ways, such as child marriage; and even if you don't see it in your immediate surroundings, it's happening to someone who could have just as easily been you."

We’re honoured to have Victoria’s support, and grateful for the way her music, including her song DOG, sheds light on the issues that matter.

Learn how you can help at equalitynow.org/IDGC.

10/11/2026

This International Day of the Girl Child, contribute to a gender-equal future.

For more than three decades, Equality Now has worked alongside our partners to create a world in which all women and girls have equal rights. Last year alone, our work touched the lives of 69 million women and girls. Over the next five years, we aim to reach 350 million more.

$5 helps fund an hour of gender advocacy work, allowing us to move the needle on topics like child marriage, female ge***al mutilation, tech-facilitated gender-based violence, and more.

Don’t let today pass without adding your support for women and girls. Give today: equalitynow.org/donate (and link in bio).

10/10/2026

Our October pick: Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice by Meredith Walker

Part guidebook, part pep talk, this book is packed with practical tools to help teens and young adults figure out who they are, navigate life's big questions, and build real confidence. Featuring a foreword by Amy Poehler and stunning illustrations by Nina Cosford, it's as lovely to look at as it is to read.

Subscribe to Equality Culture Club to access an exclusive interview with author Meredith Walker later this month: equalitynow.org/culture.

10/09/2026

From challenging apartheid to transforming international law, Navi Pillay has dedicated her life to making justice possible. Today, we celebrate her recognition with the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

Born under apartheid in South Africa, Navi went on to become one of the world's most influential human rights jurists. Among her many achievements, she helped secure the landmark Akayesu judgement, which established that r**e can constitute genocide under international law.

In 1992, Navi co-founded Equality Now alongside Jessica Neuwirth and Feryal Gharahi, with a shared determination to ensure that discrimination and violence against women were recognised and addressed as human rights violations.

That founding vision remains central to our work today.

At a time when international human rights protections face growing pressure, Navi's Nobel Peace Prize is a powerful reminder of what strong laws and institutions can achieve, and why we must continue to defend them.
We celebrate Navi with immense pride and gratitude for everything she has contributed to making justice possible.

Read our tribute to Navi and her remarkable legacy: https://bit.ly/475CQjT

10/08/2026

Your donor-advised fund could unlock DOUBLE the impact for girls.

This (October 8), we're taking part in , and your gift to Equality Now could be matched dollar-for-dollar.

Hundreds of nonprofits will be randomly selected for matching grants of up to $5,000, and two will receive a $25,000 match. Every dollar helps us work toward ending child marriage and building a more equal future for girls everywhere, just in time for International Day of the Girl Child.

Here's how to get involved:
1️⃣ Recommend a grant to Equality Now through your donor-advised fund
2️⃣ Visit halfmydaf.com to see how your gift could unlock a match

Thank you for standing with girls everywhere.

10/06/2026

Girls deserve to experience the joy that comes with play, not be married as children.

This week, Equality Now is partnering with toy and children’s stores around the world to amplify this important message, and our staff are sharing their favourite toys growing up. Explore our list of participating stores to find one near you and visit this weekend to receive free Equality Now merchandise as supplies last. Visit equalitynow.org/IDGC to learn more.

Thank you to our participating stores:
*play
bbgb
Building Blocks Toy Store
Cloud & Bunny
Mommies and Babies
The Kids Company
World of Mirth

Own a store? We’d love for you to join our movement of joy next year. Email [email protected].

10/02/2026

Leadership isn't only about the power you hold. It's about what you make possible for others.

That principle is at the heart of Mona Sinha’s leadership of Equality Now, and last week it was recognised as Mona was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York.

The induction recognises a lifetime of work across philanthropy, advocacy and social enterprise. Throughout that work, Mona has focused on investing in people and ideas, building strong institutions and partnerships, and sharing power so that others can lead.

As she reflected during her induction:
“Power isn't a zero-sum game. Nobody becomes smaller by helping someone else grow. Open a door, invest in an idea, hand her the microphone and watch power grow through her.”

That philosophy also speaks to how we work at Equality Now. Lasting progress for women and girls is built collectively, through strong movements, partnerships across regions and sectors, and the leadership of those working to change laws, systems and societies.

Mona’s induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame recognises her contribution to that work, and the kind of leadership needed to keep building progress for generations to come.

Explore the legacy Mona joins: https://bit.ly/4rJpcfv

On 24 September 2026, Equality Now CEO Mona Sinha was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York, joining generations of women who have shaped history. As she added her signature to the pillar bearing those of the women inducted before her, it was a powerful reminder...

10/01/2026

California has banned child marriage.

After nearly a decade of advocacy, the state has established 18 as the minimum legal age of marriage, with no exceptions.

This is a significant moment for women’s and girls’ rights, and one made possible by the persistence of survivors, advocates and organisations who kept pushing for change despite repeated setbacks.

Until now, California had no minimum marriage age. Children of any age could be married with parental consent and judicial approval. That loophole has finally been closed.

Equality Now is proud to have worked alongside Unchained At Last, survivors and fellow advocates to support this change.

It shows that laws can change, even when progress takes time. Since 2017, 18 states, most recently California, have raised the minimum marriage age to 18 without exceptions, strengthening legal protections for children.

Learn more about child marriage in the US and our efforts to end it: https://bit.ly/3TWEhhv

Child marriage is currently legal in 34 states, and 4 U.S. states do not require any minimum age for marriage, with a parental or judicial waiver.* Nearly 300,000 children were married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018.

09/26/2026

This September, we are honouring Gloria Steinem, a feminist icon who spent her whole life working toward gender equality. Her books, ranging from memoirs to collections of essays to children’s books, continue to change lives.

📖 An Unexpected Life: A Memoir
Newly released as of Tuesday, September 22, An Unexpected Life is a reflection of Gloria’s early life, including her time in India, as well as her path to activism.

📖 My Life on the Road
A New York Times Bestseller, My Life on the Road follows Gloria’s travels throughout her life, starting with when she was a young girl and her family drove across the country each fall.

📖 Rise, Girl, Rise: Our Sister-Friend Journey. Together for All.
Rise, Girl, Rise is a children’s book by Gloria Steinem and Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee. In this book, Gloria and Leymah share their unique journeys as activists and encourage women and girls to support and uplift each other.

📖 Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions
With over half a million copies sold, Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions includes some of Gloria’s most famous essays. This updated third edition also includes a foreword by Emma Watson.

📖 Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem
Revolution from Within seeks to inspire self-confidence in its readers through personal stories. Throughout its pages, Gloria highlights the connection between the personal and political, and she outlines how systemic injustice can undermine self-esteem.

09/19/2026

Yesterday marked International Equal Pay Day, a day to recognise the pay gap that persists for equal work between men and women, particularly women of colour, and to acknowledge the impact of the care economy.

That's why this month we're recommending The Motherhood Penalty by Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed. The book discusses motherhood in the workplace and offers guidance on handling discrimination. Described by one Goodreads reader as inspiring both rage and hope, The Motherhood Penalty is essential reading for everyone.

To learn more about Joeli's work, check out episode four of Equality Now's We Change the Rules podcast.