The U.S. ranks as the 19th most dangerous country for women, 11th in maternal mortality, 30th in closing the gender pay gap, 75th in women’s political representation, and painfully lacks paid family leave and equal access to health care. But Ms. has always understood: Feminist movements around the world hold answers to some of the U.S.’s most intractable problems. As the world continues to reel from Trump’s haphazard tariffs—for which women, families and everyday citizens will pay the price—Ms. Global is taking note of feminists worldwide.

United Kingdom

+ England to offer free morning-after pill at pharmacies nationwide time

The morning-after pill will soon be free at pharmacies across England, under a new government plan to end what officials call a “postcode lottery” in reproductive care. Currently, while emergency contraception is free at most GPs and sexual health clinics, some pharmacies charge up to £30 ($38.97 USD), creating financial and regional disparities in access.

The initiative, set to launch later this year, is designed to reduce pressure on general practitioners and improve access for women in underserved and low-income communities. Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said equal access to contraception is “a cornerstone of a fair society,” and emphasized that cost or location should never determine a woman’s ability to access essential care.

Pharmacies will be reimbursed for consultation time through the NHS. The National Pharmacy Association welcomed the move, calling it good news for both patients and providers.

Sudan

+ Women fight to keep hospitals alive amid war

After nearly two years of conflict between Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the regular army, Dr. Safaa Ali remains one of the last obstetricians in the country’s capital at Al-Nao Hospital, located in the only functioning hospital in Omdurman. She is among a group of women who have continued working despite continuing hospital bombings and the deaths of colleagues.  

In 2023, Dr. Ali’s husband and four children fled to Egypt, while she made the difficult decision to stay to care for patients. According to Sudan’s doctor’s union, over 90 percent of hospitals in conflict areas have shut down, with at least 78 health workers killed since the fighting began.

As the hospital’s director, Dr. Ali helped establish mobile clinics and a temporary maternity ward when Al-Nao briefly closed after bombings caused part of the ceiling to collapse. In October, the World Health Organization recorded 119 attacks on health facilities. 

In the face of war, Dr. Ali and Al-Noa’s staff remain committed to their patients and the hospital. “We find strength in our love of our country, our passion for our work and the oath we swore,” she told AFP.

Canada

+ Canada scraps Gender Equality Minister

Prime Minister Mark Carney axed the Minister for Women and Gender Equality on March 14 — part of a broader cull that slashed a third of his cabinet. The move, framed as a push for a leaner government amid economic uncertainty, has sparked outrage from feminist groups who warn it sidelines critical work on gender-based violence, pay equity, and reproductive rights.

The portfolio now falls under the Ministry of Canadian Culture and Identity. While Women and Gender Equality Canada, a federal government department, will continue to operate, critics say the absence of a dedicated minister weakens oversight and political clout. Under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the role spearheaded major initiatives like the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and the country’s first 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan.

In a joint statement released after the announcement, several feminist groups said: “Gender equality demands dedicated leadership, accountability, and sustained attention — none of which can be adequately achieved when it is treated as an afterthought within a larger, unrelated ministry.” They urged Carney to reinstate the ministerial role and reaffirm Canada’s international leadership on gender rights.

Brazil

+ Rio de Janeiro celebrates transgender rights at Carnival 

A Carnival procession in Rio de Janeiro spotlighted the harrowing story of a transgender woman Xica Manicongo who narrowly escaped being burned alive in the 1500s, shedding light on the enduring violence faced by trans individuals in Brazil—the country with the world’s highest recorded trans murder rate.

The parade, which rode on March 4, was led by Paraiso do Tuiuti, one of Rio’s elite samba schools competing in the famed Sambadrome. Carnival director Jack Vasconcelos aims to center trans women in Brazilian history, stating, “They are not people on the margins of what has happened in the world and what is happening now.”

Brazil remains one of the most dangerous places for trans people—2024 marked the 17th consecutive year it held this title, with 106 murders reported, according to Transgender Europe. As trans rights face growing attacks globally, events like this highlight both resilience and visibility. 

Among the parade’s participants are Brazil’s first trans lawmakers, Duda Salabert and Erika Hiltona, alongside leaders from Antra, the country’s largest trans rights group. Thanks to advocacy from trans lawmakers and advocates, Brazil’s trans rights movement has secured critical healthcare and legal protections, and public celebrations like this only strengthen the fight for equality. 

Africa

+ WHO overlooks woman for top post in Africa

For the second time in a row, the World Health Organization (WHO) nominated an all-male slate of candidates for its African regional office, despite facing criticism for the same exclusionary approach in the past.

The vacancy arose after the death of Tanzanian politician Dr. Faustine Ndugile. In response, the WHO called on African governments to put forward candidates for the regional director election. Yet, once again, no women were included in the selection. 

Interim executive director of the international NGO Women in Global Health Dr. Magda Robalo called the decision “disheartening,” pointing to the worsening gender imbalance in leadership. In the WHO’s African country offices, only five of 47 directors last year were women. Similarly, Dr. Githinji Gitahi, CEO of Amref Health Africa, expressed disappointment, stating that the exclusion of qualified women proves “we still have a long way to go” in achieving gender equity in global health leadership. 

Robalo stressed that there is no justification for this ongoing exclusion. While her organization is eager to collaborate with the new director, she called on regional leaders to prioritize diverse, balanced leadership, rather than reinforce systemic barriers for women in global health.

Japan

+ Japan’s broadcasting scandal exposes in media’s gender culture

A damning third-party investigation has concluded that major Japanese network Fuji TV facilitated sexual violence “as an extension of work,” following allegations that celebrity host Masahiro Nakai assaulted a former female announcer in June 2023. The 148-page report, released March 31, accused senior executives of prioritizing Nakai’s interests, delivering hush money to the survivor during her hospitalization, and perpetuating a culture of impunity for powerful male talent.

The report confirmed that Nakai lured the woman to his apartment under the pretense of a group dinner, which never existed. Investigators cited a “clear power imbalance,” noting that the woman feared professional retaliation if she declined. Although no Fuji TV staff directly participated in the assault, the committee found the incident occurred in a professional context, making it a form of “workplace sexual violence.”

The committee also uncovered two similar cases dating back a decade, where female staff were left alone with male celebrities after being invited by Fuji TV executives. In one instance, an announcer was groped in a hotel room after male colleagues intentionally left her alone with Nakai. In another, a woman reported a talent exposed himself after everyone else mysteriously disappeared from the dinner.

Despite the severity of the findings, only a few executives have stepped down. The report called for sweeping industry reform, stating that Fuji’s practices reflect structural problems across Japanese media. Public trust has plummeted, with ad revenue nosediving and nearly 70 percent of sponsors halting commercials as of April.

Afghanistan

+ UN confronts Taliban’s gender apartheid, while U.S. refuses to act

At the UN’s annual Conference on the Status of Women this March, the Economic and Social Council addressed “Upholding the Rights and Afghan Women and Girls: Peace and Security.” Under Taliban rule, Afghan women face a fundamental crisis—one that feminist organizations and advocates have described as gender apartheid. Yet, while many nations have condemned these violations, the U.S. has refused to follow suit. 

Since regaining control, the Taliban have systematically erased women from public life. Universities are closed to women, barring 80 percent of school-age girls from education. Most workplaces have banned female employees, and strict dress codes ensure women remain unseen and silenced. 

Despite mounting oppression, Afghan women persist — running businesses, uniting communities and demanding equality. UN Women, backed by the EU, recently released Afghanistan’s first Gender Country Profile since the Taliban takeover, offering strategies for international support — including flexible funding for women-led civil society, a 30 percent gender-focused aid minimum, and safeguards against legitimizing Taliban policies.

As hard-won gains in gender equality erode worldwide, from Afghanistan to the U.S., the fight for women’s rights is far from over.