This is a hard article to read, but I hope you'll do so. I've spent some time reporting on widespread rape and other sexual violence of Palestinian male and female prisoners by Israeli authorities, and the article is now published. The assault victims were warned not to give speak of what they endured -- they were sometimes told they would be killed or raped if they gave interviews -- but they found the courage to do so. One man described being raped three times in a single day in Israeli prison, the third time after he tried to protest. A young woman said the guards would come in at the beginning of each shift and strip her naked and abuse her. Another reported that she was shown photos of herself being raped and warned they would be released unless she cooperated with Israeli intelligence. Even three children who had been detained told me they had been sexually abused. Look, whatever our position on the Middle East, we should be able to agree on being anti-rape. Sexual assaults were horrific when Israeli women were targeted on Oct. 7, and they're equally horrific when Israeli authorities use them against Palestinians day after day after day. We should be able to find common ground in opposing rape. Here's a gift link to the article: nytimes.com/2026/05/11/opini…

Join us this Thursday for our X Space conversation on the #MarriageBill2024. This is Uganda’s only legislation that directly criminalizes #ChildMarriage. We will unpack its key clauses and discuss how they protect children and strengthen child rights. 📍lnkd.in/d3-NdjPH

Hoy estuve en la Conferencia Mundial para la Eliminación de la Violencia Contra la Niñez 🌎✨, donde tuve la oportunidad de compartir un panel sobre la erradicación de la mutilación genital femenina con grandes aliadas en esta causa en el mundo 💜: Indrani Sarkar, especialista en protección infantil en la Oficina Regional de @UNICEF para África Oriental y Meridional @Sarkarii10; María Paula Suárez, asesora de políticas globales y promoción de la protección contra la violencia en Plan International @PlanGlobal; Isata Mahoi, ministra de Género de Sierra Leona @IsataMahoi; Divya Srinivasan, líder mundial en la lucha contra las prácticas nocivas en Equality Now @sdivya91; Francia Elena Giraldo, lideresa de la comunidad Emberá de Risaralda ✊; y Viviana Vargas @VivianaVargasVi, coordinadora del grupo de género y diversidad del @MinInterior💼. ¡Seguimos uniendo esfuerzos para erradicar la violencia y darle a cada niña una vida digna! 🌟💫💜 #VocesContraLaAblación

Excited for the launch of our new report on CEFM in Eurasia. Of the 7 countries studied, only 2 have set minimum age of marriage at 18 without exceptions and only 1 has a holistic national action plan to end child marriage

This week, we are excited to be part of multi-stakeholder conversations on addressing FGM in The Gambia through safeguarding Gambia’s anti-FGM law. #EndFGM

📢 We are proud to support the launch of former @_AfricanUnion Goodwill Ambassador Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda’s exit report on ending #ChildMarriage in #Africa, sharing her experiences, achievements & challenges, including recs to the next mandate holder. equalitynow.org/resource/afr…

The votes are in our favor! #TheGambia will maintain the ban on FGM. #EndFGM220 Gambian girls won today.

We were at #HRC56 with @GPtoEndFGM @UNHumanRights @UKMissionGeneva @GMGenevaMission and the PM of @BurkinaFasoGov for an in-depth discussion on cross-border and transnational FGM side-event yesterday.

At @UN_HRC 56th session today, the PM of The Gambia reaffirmed it's commitment to eliminate harmful practices and expresses support for the existing legal bans on FGM and child marriage @equalitynow @GamcotrapG

Pains me to open #HRC56 w/ the cruelty of war Data gathered by my Office shows: in 2023 civilian deaths in conflict soared by 72%; the proportion of women killed doubled, children tripled Leaders can't keep pushing the limits of war & trampling rights We must restore peace now

The expected outcome for this meeting is to discuss cutting-edge ideas and develop concrete strategies to counter this pushback, including activating core influential women and religious leaders within the next 90 days. #ENDFGM #ACHPRatWork #ACHPR79OS

Hear, hear!

Presentation of GAMCOTRAP Position Paper to the National Assembly Members on its stand on the Women Amendment Bill 2023, Flag, Gambia Bar Association and GAMCOTRAP

MERCI Monsieur le Président ! Définitivement STOP aux MGF En marge du Sommet de l’Organisation de la Coopération islamique (OCI), tenu les 4 et 5 mai 2024 à Banjul, République de Gambie, j’ai attiré la haute attention de Son Excellence Président Adama Barrow sur le danger que constituerait une éventuelle abrogation de la loi contre les mutilations génitales féminines (MGF). En rappelant la place historique de la République de Gambie dans la lutte pour l’élimination des mutilations génitales féminines, j’ai dit au Président que des opportunistes en quête de notoriété politique, ne pouvaient pas ramener la Gambie quarante (40) années en arrière et menacer la vie de millions de jeunes filles et femmes. Le Président Adama Barrow a été clair, concis et catégorique en ces termes : << Je ne laisserai personne toucher à la loi contre les MGF. C’est un acquis intouchable.>> Au nom de tous les acteurs qui luttent contre ce fléau, je félicite le Président Adama Barrow et l’assure du soutien de tous. Ne nous trompons pas de cible ; le Président, son gouvernement et les populations gambiennes sont nos alliés pour combattre l’obscurantisme appliqué aux MGF.

Members of the European Parliament urge the Gambian Parliament to reject a proposal to repeal the current FGM law and to uphold the practise’s criminalisation @EUinTheGambia europarl.europa.eu/news/nl/p…

‘Right to freedom from torture’: UN experts urge the #Gambia not to decriminalise #FGM theguardian.com/society/2024…

We applaud the signing of the Anti-FGM Bill by the Galmudug State president @MrQoorqoor, making it law. This marks a significant step towards protecting the rights of Somali girls. We extend our congratulations to the #GalmudugStateParliament, state president,@MoWHRDGalmudug .1/2

The bill to repeal the #antiFGM law in #TheGambia has been referred to Committee for consideration @equalitynow

Preparation to face the National Assembly Members not to repeal the Anti-FGM Bill tomorrow the 18th of March 2024. We stand by the Law and the State shall hold on to its obligation to protect the rights of women and Girls

“My reminder to the Government of The Gambia, development partners, and international communities is that The Gambia is taking retrogressive steps as far as women’s rights are concerned. Just one woman suffering consequences on their health and wellbeing as a result of being subjected to FGM is enough for us to question such practice but also put in place effective mechanism to ensure that other women and girls are protected from such practice.” Activist @haddijatoujonga, @thinkyoungwomen, #TheGambia #FGM #EndFGM #ProtectOurGirls #EndFGMGambia @ENDFGM_Network @acerwc @achpr_cadhp @NgbvTheGambia @gamcotrap @jahaendFGM @IHRDAfrica @NHRCGambia @UNFPA @GPtoEndFGM