Could social media pose a solution to the female safety issue?
A missing 16-year-old girl was rescued in the US after using hand signals that went viral on TikTok to show she was in danger. How are these platformsβ users raising awareness and working to prevent violence against womxn? Last week, a teenage girl reported missing in the US was seen...
Current in People
Exclusive β Six climate activists give us the scoop on COP26
If this yearβs COP summit taught us anything, itβs that young people are the key to climate justice. For this reason, we asked a collection of changemakers about their expectations, concerns, and takeaways before, during, and after the event. Todayβs youth are the least to blame for the climate...
Nightclub boycotts planned as women report being spiked by injection
Police forces are investigating yet another harrowing setback in the fight for improved female safety across the UK. Despite several high-profile and public cases of violence toward women this year β namely the deaths of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa among many others β female safety remains in jeopardy...
Nigeria could ban under 18s from accessing mobile SIM cards
Following a decision earlier this year to ban Twitter indefinitely, Nigeria is now deliberating on a bill to ban citizens under 18 from using mobile phones. During a public inquiry, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) brought forth a plan to ban citizens under the age of 18 from registering and...
Opinion β Itβs time to talk about the toxicity of traditional gender roles
Despite an increase in gender fluidity, traditional narratives of what it means be male or female persist. At their most extreme, both ideals have potential to be extremely damaging. We tend to refer to toxic masculinity as displays of aggressive, dominant behaviours by men who make considerable efforts to become...
Londonβs historic blue plaques still neglect Black icons
Despite a five year effort to diversify Londonβs famous blue plaques, minority communities remain vastly underrepresented, but why? Dotted around the city of London are over 900 bright blue plaques, inscribed with names belonging to outstanding historical figures who have lived, worked, or temporarily lodged in buildings across the capital. The...
Paris Hilton is lobbying for youth home reform
The abuse survivor condemned a βsystemwide lack of transparency and accountabilityβ in the troubled teen industry and is part of a push to change laws governing congregate care facilities. From boot camps to boarding schools, congregate care facilities are often marketed as treatment for a broad range of adolescent behavioural and mental health issues including eating disorders, drug use, and defiance. For Paris Hilton, however, who recently revealed in a YouTube...
Same-sex marriage referendum to take place in Switzerland
Citizens will be voting on whether to legalize same-sex marriage this Sunday. If approved, it will be a huge step forward for a nation which has straggled behind its European neighbours. Update: Swiss voters weighed in. The law was passed to legalise civil marriage and the right to adopt children for same-sex couples by a nearly two-thirds majority.Β In most eastern European countries, same-sex marriage remains illegal. However, on the western side...
Englandβs new Covid travel rules are strangely selective
According to Englandβs updated travel policy, being considered βfully vaccinatedβ and exempt from quarantine isnβt as simple as having been double jabbed. What was proposed as βa new simplified systemβ that would make international travel βeasierβ is now causing global outrage for being xenophobic. As the new travel rules were unveiled, a clear pattern emerged, where double-vaxxed travellers from countries in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East were listed...
How can Africa respond to rising teenage pregnancy?
Teenage pregnancy and maternal deaths see substantial rises across Africa as a result of Covid-19. Is this now the second societal pandemic? According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), pregnancies among adolescent girls remain a global problem. An estimated 21 million girls aged 15β19 years in developing countries become pregnant and about 12 million of them give birth every year. African healthcare systems - including the provision of sexual and...
