Women's rights

Ayten Osmanova arranges a colourful hijab in her atelier in Azerbaijan's capital Baku. The designer started her fashion business to cater for the increasing number of liberal believers who, like her, sought a modest apparel with a modern, colourful twist. © Lamyia Adilgizi

Azerbaijani Women Embrace The Headscarf

Islam is on the rise in the oil-rich, secular South Caucasus country and the hijab is a way to make a statement.

26 Jul 22

High migration and low birthrate are the key causes of Armenia's depopulation. For the first time since 1998, in the first quarter of 2022, the number of deaths registered exceeded the number of births by 609 people. © Gayane Markosyan

Armenia Faces Demographic Risks

For the first time since 1998, deaths outnumber births, escalating the country’s demographic crisis.

13 Jul 22

Departure of Ukrainian women with their children abroad affected relationships and problems in families. © Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Russian Invasion Overshadows Domestic Violence in Ukraine

Experts fear that a fall in reported cases obscures a hidden epidemic.

11 Jul 22

Turkmenistan's authorities have introduced severe restrictions on women's appearance, banning beauty practices like dyed hair, manicure and fake nails and eyelashes. Since April, women are also no longer allowed to sit in the front seat of taxis and male drivers are barred from offering rides to women who are not family members. © Igor Sasin/AFP via Getty Images

Turkmenistan: Car and Beauty Bans Further Erode Women’s Rights

Fresh prohibitions have crushed hopes that newly appointed 40-year-old president Serdar Berdymukhamedov would pursue a more enlightened path.

9 May 22

Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Gagauzia

How a girl’s dream to become a police officer raised the bar of gender equality in a conservative region.

24 Mar 22

A lake in the scenic Pamir mountains.

Tajikistan: Women Mountain Guides Scale New Peaks

An almost unheard job for a woman in the conservative Central Asian country.

8 Mar 22

Actor Saikal Zhumalieva and her co-writers brought the idea for It’s Like This in My World to Theatre 705.

Kyrgyzstan’s Feminist Theatre

Bishkek centre provides rare platform to explore social issues from new perspectives.

8 Mar 22

A woman holds a sign that reads, "Thanks feminism for my rights."

Kazakstan: Fighting to March

Attempts to hold an annual rally has become a highly symbolic tradition for the feminist movement.

8 Mar 22

Despite being outlawed, young girls are still being subjected to FGM in southern parts of Nigeria. © Erick Gibson/Wikimedia

Nigeria: FGM Rises Amid Pandemic

Campaigners warn that lockdown left many girls and young women vulnerable to the practice.

8 Mar 22

A woman holds the sign "Women are Dying, Ratify the Convention" during a demonstration in front of Moldova's Parliament in the capital Chisinau, ahead of the vote to endorse the Istanbul Convention. © Tatiana Kebak

Moldova Ratifies Istanbul Convention Amid Disinformation and Opposition

Conservative parties obstructed its adoption for supposedly eroding “traditional family values”.

14 Dec 21

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Women's rights

Azerbaijani Women Embrace The Headscarf

Armenia Faces Demographic Risks

Russian Invasion Overshadows Domestic Violence in Ukraine

Turkmenistan: Car and Beauty Bans Further Erode Women’s Rights

Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Gagauzia

Tajikistan: Women Mountain Guides Scale New Peaks

Kyrgyzstan’s Feminist Theatre

Kazakstan: Fighting to March

Nigeria: FGM Rises Amid Pandemic

Moldova Ratifies Istanbul Convention Amid Disinformation and Opposition

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