Elchin Mammad"I was beaten every day for months and handcuffed to my iron bed" For over three decades, Elchin Mammad has fought for human rights in Azerbaijan. Now in exile, the journalist and former political prisoner explains…
Ani TovmasyanHow to become an exile Amiry Maisam only planned to be away from his family home in Afghanistan for three months. Three years later, Ani Tovmasyan talks to him about…
Anonymous 1Turning the tables For people suffering from Parkinson's, a table festival in France offers a chance to forget their illness and make new friends.
Dipesh KhanalDegrees of prejudice Abandoned by their families, trans people in Nepal are heading to university to escape the street - only to discover more prejudice. Dipesh Khanal…
Claudia Pacheco AraozBolivian Women Take Center Stage Emi Chavez Ríos is breaking down gender barriers in Bolivia’s theatre world by becoming the first female president of Santa Cruz’s actors’ union.
K. L.Impossible Odds: the brave lawyer standing up for Russia’s political dissidents In Russia today, defending those charged with anti-government crimes has almost no chance of success, but one brave lawyer believes it’s his duty to…
Noor Esam Al-Khateeb‘When life gets hard, you must be harder’: running a takeaway kitchen in an Iraqi border town Alhan al-Salmani has lived through conflict and personal trauma, but she’s never given up. Now she has opened a kitchen, giving other women work and…
Elias HatimiThe Untold Stories of Afghan Immigrants Through his ‘Hidden Hero’ storytelling project, Elias Hatimi celebrates the lives and contributions which Afghan people are making in Germany. Having…
Anonymous 2Everything is a mess, even my own thoughts. Our author is a Palestinian journalist who managed to escape from the sealed-off Gaza Strip a few months after the start of the war in Gaza and…
Ayodhya Krishani AmarajeewaProtest leads to prison in Sri Lanka Dileepa Manawadu wanted to show her children the power of dissenting against her government, only to find herself charged under anti-terror laws.…
Elizabeth OdondiI told my high school friend we’d battle sickle cell together. But she didn’t make it past 18 Sickle cell is an agonising blood disease that kills thousands of children each year in Africa. As a ‘sickler’ in my 30s, I’m one of the lucky ones
Ayodhya Krishani AmarajeewaWhy did the organic farming movement fail in Sri Lanka? After a day’s hard work in the paddy field, his face beaten by the weather, Chandrasena sits down to talk about his 40 years of experience working as…
Rawan Baybars‘We searched for ladies over 70’: on the trail of Jordan’s forgotten folk music An arts organisation has been seeking out and recording the region’s traditional music and is teaching the lyrics to young singers
Alaiza PashkevichReaping what we sow: raising a militarized patriot in today’s Russia In the former USSR, patriotism and military education were an indispensable part of teaching at all levels, from public schools to compulsory army…
Ismayil FataliyevHolding the line in the Hyrcanian forests Azerbaijani economist Javid Gara founded the non-governmental organisation Ecofront in 2018 to fight the exploitation of native forests, including the…
Ismayil FataliyevThe catwalk with a difference: adaptive fashion comes to Azerbaijan An enterprising student and a designer want to make attractive clothes that disabled people can wear – and model too.
Alaiza PashkevichThe new war generation The young people in these portraits are forced to grow up between the front lines. They live with death, among the ruins, without a clear future. A…
Rawan BaybarsForests in the desert Jordan is one of the driest nations on the planet, but Deema Assaf believes that with time, patience and new conservation techniques she can turn it…
Zineb Bettayeb‘I live on crumbs’: why older Algerians are risking the small boats to Spain Nouara is 65 but ready to join thousands of others who burn their ID and pay traffickers for a chance of a new life in Europe.
Norma SchneiderI am the most dangerous woman in the world Selma Selman, born in 1991, grew up as a child from a Roma family in a Bosnian village. Today, she is one of the most renowned performance artists in…
Marlene Auer‘How did he die and I didn’t?’ People injured in crashes involving Hungarian police are being pushed back to Serbia from hospital, say human rights groups.
Emiliia DieniezhnaA Voice for Women in Afghanistan For twelve years, Negina Yari has been fighting for women's rights in her home country. With her organisation, she has succeeded in helping hundreds…
Sandro GvindadzeWe are used to being used Sam Olazabal is an LGBT+ activist from Cuba. Nine months ago, Cuba’s authoritarian government held a referendum on a law that gave same-sex couples…
Diana BergLast time Andriy was in high heels - now he’s taken up arms It was a week when Ukrainians saw their lives upturned. The celebrated artist reveals her fears but also the pride felt in the resilience of her…
7 voices on Ukraine Activists from seven neighboring countries of Russia and Ukraine share their views on the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
Álvaro MontoyaThose who engage live dangerously Melina Risso is the Research Director of the Igarapé Institute in Brazil, where she works on violence prevention and gun control, police violence and…
Max Jean LouisIn the gunsights of the gangs Haiti is beset by the rising power of super-violent gangs. Not even local priests are safe.
Marlene AuerDeath at the border Milica Švabić offers help and legal advice to refugees at Serbia’s border with Europe – but the dangers are great and many go missing.
Gulbarchyn Toialieva Unwanted Girls In the central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan, giving birth to more than two girls in a row can result in women being subjected to terrifying pressure…
Ehsan HosseinzadehThose who disobey go to prison – "Iranian women need the world's help" The current protests in Iran were triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by Morality Police officers outside a Metro…
Diwakar RaiDigging for an education After a successful career with the United Nations, Madan Rai returned to his native Nepal to set up a school to help children from backgrounds as poor…
Rawan BaybarsNina Fuchs: Not a victim Ten years ago, Nina Fuchs was raped after someone spiked her drink. Although her alleged attacker was identified by his DNA five years later, Munich’s…
Adil MagomedovBlack and Trans in Colombia Mauri Balanta Jaramillo, 36, is a human rights activist and filmmaker from Cali, Colombia. Her work empowers marginalised communities in Latin America…
Diwakar RaiWriter in exile Journalist Emilia Dieniezhna fled Ukraine when Russia invaded her country in 2022. Now she is giving her people a voice in Germany.
Natalia SergheevLife on the edge of war: the Moldovan activist helping Ukraine’s refugees find new homes Three-quarters of a million refugees have crossed Ukraine’s border with Moldova since Russia invaded. A year ago, Constanta Dohotaru volunteered to…
Sandro GvindadzeDifficult neighbours Russians fleeing mobilisation are putting huge pressure on Georgia’s citizens, in a country already wary of its neighbour’s might.
Alaiza PashkevichFreedom of Speech or «Extremism»? Lukashenko’s ongoing crack-down on independent media in Belarus Attention has shifted to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, while little is known about the human rights violations in Belarus. This article highlights…
Muhammad AbuzarEscaping the chains of debt In Pakistan, the poor turn to a sophisticated network of philanthropists to avoid the shame of borrowing from family and friends.
Ziad AliPet rescue in Gaza: one man’s mission to care for abandoned animals Horrified by an official campaign to kill strays, Saeed al-Err has made it his life’s work to care for cats and dogs in the city.
Ismayil Fataliyev‘They gave me a chance’: refuge where abused Azerbaijani women find hope The Baku shelter, run by someone who spent years homeless and on the streets, helps 650 mothers and children annually.
Muhammad AbuzarGiving voice to Pakistan’s transgender community In the closed world of Pakistani society, Sonia Naz is a strong and supportive voice for the transgender community - but it took a terrible attack to…
Zineb BettayebOfarin Organization between the Taliban’s takeover and scant financial funding Ofarin Organization between the Taliban’s takeover and scant financial funding
Ziad AliThe Gaza ladies’ bicycle club After helping her daughter survive cancer, Rania Shaik dedicated herself to bringing joy to the women of Gaza by setting them loose on two wheels.
