- News
Mayon volcano eruption displaces pregnant women and new mothers in Philippines
“I was washing clothes near my house when I heard the eruption from Mayon Volcano,” Jiassal Balatinsayo told UNFPA. Eight months pregnant and residing just over 6 km from the volcano erupting in the village of Santa…
Read story
- News
Escaping violence, refugee mothers in Angola find relief in safe childbirth
Towards the end of Yvonne Mboi’s pregnancy, she recalled, “I realized I was too big. I was afraid.” These concerns loomed large after her harrowing flight from conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Read story
- News
Teen moms in Peru pinpoint need for sexuality education, health services
"I became pregnant at 14 years old,” Angie told UNFPA. Now 19, she lives with her son in a low-income area on the margins of Peru’s capital, Lima, in the densely populated Villa El Salvador District. Angie recalls…
Read story
- News
Mozambique programme empowers girls to fight gender inequality, child marriage
“We are equal to boys and can also contribute to society,” said 17-year-old Lidia Suale Saide. Lidia knows what it means to stand up for these beliefs. One year ago, she refused her mother’s attempt to marry her off.
Read story
- News
Mothers too young: Inequality fuels adolescent pregnancies in Thailand
“I had plans for my life, but since I got pregnant I had to plan for my life in a different way,” said Fern*, 18. “If I knew this was going to happen, I would have just focused on my studies. I would not have bothered…
Read story
- News
Displaced by crisis, South Sudan midwifery students focus on saving mothers
Nyomon Lilian will never forget the day she decided to become a midwife. A few years ago, in her hometown of Kajo Keji, in South Sudan’s Equatoria region, she watched as her neighbour bled out after giving birth.
- News
Ethiopian women and girls see “remarkable results” in ending child marriage
Not long ago, the sight of a 10-year-old bride was a common occurrence in Ethiopia’s Kolla Tembein District, said Daniel Hagos, the district’s chief administrator. But the community’s women and girls are mobilizing to…
Read story
- News
A safe pregnancy is every woman’s right: Midwifery care saves lives in Myanmar
Ngun Hlei was lucky to have seen a midwife during her third pregnancy. Many women in Myanmar don’t. “I felt very unwell for many months during that pregnancy. But what could I do? I carried on with my work making snacks…
Read story
- News
“I refused”: Brave women and girls take a stand against FGM
Latty's mom made a commitment to never subject her daughters to female genital mutilation. Today, advocate and singer Latty Compaoré is one of millions of girls around the world raising her voice to help end the…
Read story