Despite constitutional guarantees and international commitments, women and gender-diverse communities in Pakistan face a severe human rights crisis driven by institutional failure, rising physical and cyber violence, parallel customary justice systems and the weaponisation of penal laws.
This article examines the arrest and detention of women participating in the 2026 Aurat March in Islamabad, Pakistan, and analyses the events through the lens of international human rights law. It argues that the authorities’ use of preventive legal provisions to block peaceful demonstrations reflects a broader pattern of suppressing women-led activism, drawing parallels with previous crackdowns on protesters. The article highlights potential violations of the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and legal representation under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
GHRD addressed the human rights crisis in Afghanistan, highlighting institutionalized discrimination against women and girls, which has led to their exclusion from public life and essential services. The statement emphasized the compounded discrimination faced by women from ethnic and religious minorities and those in rural areas, along with severe justice barriers and a lack of judicial independence. GHRD urged the Human Rights Council to support accountability measures and enhance evidence-collection for gender-based persecution, reaffirming its commitment to advocate for Afghan women’s rights in international forums.
Members of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights conducted a mission to the Republic of Türkiye to assess human rights, the rule of law, and democratic governance within EU Türkiye relations. Led by rapporteur Isabel Wiseler-Lima, the delegation met governing and opposition parties, civil society organisations, journalists, and independent media. The mission evaluated implementation of European Parliament resolutions and examined conditions affecting political rights, judicial independence, and freedom of expression. Meetings and prison visits informed a critical assessment, highlighting democratic backsliding, misuse of terrorism legislation, and prolonged detention of political figures, while emphasising Convention obligations under international human rights.
The persistence of violence against women remains a global concern, yet it represents only one dimension of a broader reality. Across historical and contemporary contexts, women have developed complex emotional and cognitive competencies that have mediated crises and contributed to social resilience in measurable ways. Understanding these capacities as empirically grounded forms of leadership, rather than as culturally assigned roles or innate attributes, allows for a more accurate assessment of women’s contributions to social stability and collective recovery.
The comfort women system was a systematic sexual slavery operation of Japan during the Second World War. Hundreds of thousands of Asian women were kidnapped and put into military brothels, and forced to sexually entertain Japanese soldiers. Several decades later this is still a major dispute between Japan and South Korea and the issue does not seem to be resolved any time soon.
In an interview with GHRD, Mariam Shaw, a Sudanese activist and President of TYFA, discusses her motivation to advocate for women and children affected by armed conflict in Sudan. Shaw, who has experienced war and displacement since childhood, highlights the dire situation in Sudan where millions are displaced, facing trauma, hunger, and a lack of basic necessities. She emphasizes the oppression by military factions and the urgent need for humanitarian aid, calling out the blocked support and atrocities against civilians, especially women who endure sexual violence. Shaw criticizes the international community’s inadequate response and implores for justice and protection for those suffering in Sudan.
Women’s rights in North Korea are discussed, showing a contrast between the country’s legal commitments to gender equality and the harsh realities of women under state policies and social norms. Including systemic discrimination and limited opportunities amongst others.
Introduction: The rise of reported cases of violence against women during the pandemic Since the beginning of 2021, following the
Author: Elia Duran-Smith 06-01-22 Introduction This article outlines the findings of the official report of the historic abuses of the
