Dear JOhn,

It’s update time! See what our team of human rights lawyers and advocates have been working on around the world in February to #MakeEqualityReality for women and girls. All thanks to your support.

Celebrating the youth movement to end FGM on International Day of Zero Tolerance

Ahead of International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Equality Now spoke with young activists from the global movement to end FGM. From Aarefar Johari, the co-founder of Sahiyo, an organization working to end FGM/C in Asian communities, to Esther Lankeu, a Kenyan survivor and anti-FGM activist, one message is crystal clear. FGM is a violation of human rights that millions of girls still face globally, and it’s up to us to ensure that this harmful practice comes to an end.

Read our recent blog post highlighting youth activist's commitment to ending FGM

#SaferInternetDay: Together for a better and safer internet

February 11 was #SaferInternetDay which aims to create both a safer and a better internet, where everyone is empowered to use technology responsibly, respectfully, critically and creatively. This is particularly important as the instances of online sexual exploitation are increasing and adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable.

Read our recent blog post discussing the dangers of online exploitation and what Equality Now is doing to create a safer internet

We also created a quiz to test your internet savvy, see how you do!

Thank You to the Six brave women who did the hard work of holding Harvey Weinstein accountable

“Today, a man who had long been sheltered by his wealth, power, and a culture of blaming and shaming the victim, was found guilty of rape by a jury of his peers. This monumental victory is a direct result of the bravery of the women who risked their personal and professional lives to speak publicly about the sexual violence they experienced at the hands of Harvey Weinstein.” - Global Executive Director Yasmeen Hassan

Read our response to the verdict this week from the New York case against Harvey Weinstein

#MakeEqualityReality Today:

Take action to urge the Sierra Leone Government to lift the discriminatory ban on pregnant school girls!

Coming up next:

In March, Equality Now will launch two very important reports concerning global legal equality and the globalization of FGM. As an Equality Now supporter, you’ll be the first to see these exciting reports. Thank you for your constant support.

March 9th also marks the start of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations in New York. Equality Now and many of our partner organizations from around the world will be hosting, speaking at, and attending numerous events during this two-week period. It’s a crucial opportunity for direct advocacy with world leaders, and networking and amplifying the impact of our partners’ and our work. Follow us on social media to stay tuned and learn more about where to find Equality Now staff during CSW.

Equality Now in the News

They were sent to a shelter for safety. Instead, these women say they were sexually abused. The story of systematic sexual exploitation in Uganda.

Harvey Weinstein Verdict is #MeToo Milestone but Changes Little for World’s Sexual Assault Survivors 

Internet Needs New Global Regulations Against Online Sexual Exploitation

Thank you for being a huge part of our work, which would not be possible without your constant support and activism.

In solidarity,

Bryna Subherwal
Advocacy Campaign Manager