The social and economic burden of COVID-19 has fallen disproportionately on women around the world, the Red Cross has warned, in a stark analysis of the impact of the pandemic.Women were particularly affected by the loss of income and education, rises in domestic violence, child marriage and trafficking, and responsibility for caring for children and sick relatives, according to a comprehensive report published by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on

Beaten, kicked in the groin and threatened with sexual violence – a young Myanmar teenager detained by the junta's security forces has described the treatment suffered by some women and girls behind bars.Ma Chaw, 17, and her mother were arrested on 14 April in Yangon, Myanmar's commercial capital, which has been blanketed with heavy security since the military seized power in a coup.As they were walking to a friend's house from a morning protest, she said, they were stopped by

Just last year when over half of humanity was confined to their homes due to COVID-19 preventive measures, Karex, a Malaysian contraceptives manufacturer predicted a global condom shortage as the pandemic shuttered factories and disrupted supply chains. This came as Malaysia, one of the world’s top rubber producers and a major source of condoms, imposed a nationwide lockdown – known locally as the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Media headlines and stories of domestic abuse and violence against women are, unfortunately, common these days.

8 March every year marks the much-celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD). Its aims are to highlight women’s achievements and increasing visibility, while calling out inequality.

An estimated eight million children are reported missing every year. However, it’s not just the young that have disappeared, but adults too. Unfortunately, when it comes to missing people, sometimes they are gone without a trace with no successful lead.According to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), over 800 children and teenagers have been reported missing from 2014 to 2019.

In 2019, Zuraidah Daut, a social activist in the east coast state of Kelantan in Malaysia initiated an investigation into the mystery of a girl’s absence from school. What she discovered was appalling. The girl was too poor to buy sanitary products and missed out on days of school. This motivated the activist to start the “Projek Oh! Bulan” (Oh! Moon Project) where she would set empty boxes at grocery stores and salons for people to donate menstrual supplies for those in need.

At the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, participants promised to advance the rights of women and girls everywhere. Part of that promise, set out in the historic Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, was to ensure education for all girls.

Social media has become an essential communication tool for most people.

Abortion is an extremely taboo topic in some parts of conservative Southeast Asia.ASEAN member states such as the Philippines and Lao do not permit abortion. Whereas Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand only allow abortion if a medical practitioner deems that continuing the pregnancy poses a danger to the mother’s life and health. As many countries criminalise abortion, some women and girls with unwanted pregnancies could resort to unsafe abortions to terminate their pregnancies.