Women’s rights have topped the agenda over the past week. Our video explainer spells out the implications of the “global gag rule”, which has just been reinstated by the Trump administration. Campaigners say it will deny access to life-saving family planning and sexual and reproductive health services, and endanger the lives of millions of women around the world.
Across Africa, where one in five women already lacks access to contraception, feminists are forming a united front and championing women’s rights. Our latest podcast highlights those working to bring about gender equality across the continent.
Elsewhere on the site
UK accused of failing to defend rights of Yemeni children
Number of Nigerian women trafficked to Italy almost doubled in 2016
Egyptian court upholds decision to freeze assets of women’s rights activists
Human rights abuses in Bahrain cast shadow over £2m UK aid support
Rise of populist leaders threatens democracy, says Human Rights Watch
World’s eight richest people have same wealth as poorest 50%
UN chiefs call for urgent access to civilians still under siege in Syria
UK government accused of falling short on pledges to fight corruption
Somalia urged to enforce law on sexual offences after gang rape of 16-year-old
Boko Haram’s legacy of fear and ruin delays return of displaced Nigerians
In depth
How the US global gag rule threatens health clinics across Kenya and Uganda
Sudan’s social media campaign of civil dissent boosts hope of change
Politics and protocol leave Indian teen’s life in the balance over TB drug ruling
Makeshift justice is the only recourse for ill-protected women at South Sudan camp
Iraq’s Marsh Arabs test the waters as wetlands ruined by Saddam are reborn
Bangladesh struggles to turn the tide on climate change as sea levels rise
‘How will we survive?’: Syrian refugees trapped in poverty in Thailand
Uganda’s sprawling haven for 270,000 of South Sudan’s refugees
Opinion
Gustavo Gonzalez: How do we meet the urgent needs of 11 million Syrians fleeing conflict?
Aditya V Bahadur: Adapting to climate change means adapting to Trump – here’s how
Multimedia
Rising seas sweep away land and livelihoods in Bangladesh – in pictures
On the climate change frontline: the disappearing fishing villages of Bangladesh
Surviving South Sudan’s escalating violence: life in a UN camp – in pictures
What you said
On Aditya V Bahadur’s opinion piece Adapting to climate change means adapting to Trump, IamCommenting wrote:
Convincing Trump to do anything may not be possible. Looking for ways to accomplish goals outside the administration will probably yield better results.
Top tweets
What's at stake at the #Helsinki launch of appeals to support #Syrians & neighboring host countries: https://t.co/iEnEM7UuP0
— Helen Clark (@HelenClarkUNDP) January 21, 2017
#IStandWithPP Why the fight for reproductive rights goes on: https://t.co/VF2JCmDKwq
— Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) January 21, 2017
Highlight from the blogosphere
Brianna Craft writes for the International Institute for Environment and Development on how the poorest countries can increase the impact of their climate diplomacy.
And finally …
Poverty matters will return in two weeks with another roundup of the latest news and comment. In the meantime, keep up to date on the Global development website. On Twitter, follow @gdndevelopment and the team – @LizFordGuardian, @BenQuinn75 and @karenmcveigh1 – and join Global development on Facebook.
