Women's Rights

On December 8, 2024, Syria entered a new political era after 54 years of the al-Assad family rule. While the end of the al-Assad era sparked broad optimism, early formal statements from the new rulers raised concerns, particularly regarding women’s rights.

Eleven outstanding feminists from around the world, who where selected as 2025 Feminist Foreign and Development Policy Fellows, participated in the 69th Commission on the Status of Women at the UN Headquarters. Here they share their main considerations.

As human rights funding shrinks, feminist movements struggle to sustain their work while meeting donor demands. How can feminist funding literacy help organizations secure resources without compromising their mission?

The withdrawal of state and private funding threatens feminist movements worldwide. Bureaucratic hurdles make access to resources difficult. Can feminist philanthropy help build sustainable structures for lasting change?

Halida Uzunović, a Bosnian war survivor, talks about her experiences during the Bosnian war, especially the harrowing events in Foča that became a byword for brutal ethnic cleansing. The former head of the Foča War Victims Association also reflects on her commitment to breaking the silence about these atrocities and to advocating for truth and justice for the survivors and victims, despite their ongoing social stigmatisation and the denial by some political actors that war crimes occurred.

Presidents’ column: Pregnancy termination is still a criminal offence in Germany under section 218 of the Criminal Code, with serious consequences for access to abortion and women’s right to self-determination. There can only be one answer to this.

Ajna Jusić’s mother survived conflict-related sexual violence during the 1992–95 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ajna is one of many children born as a result of such war crimes. Her organisation aims to improve the lives and legal situations of the victims and their children.

I am convinced that we also need gender mainstreaming in peace and security policy! Greeting from the Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Lisa Paus, MP