A coalition of leading women's rights organizations has submitted concerns to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, accusing the United States of failing to uphold the human rights of women and girls. The submission highlights issues such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, online sexual exploitation, and sex-based discrimination. The coalition calls for significant legal reforms, including the recognition of the Equal Rights Amendment, to ensure compliance with international human rights standards. The article features statements from various activists and representatives advocating for stronger protections and legal reforms.

Despite affecting over 513,000 women and girls in the U.S., nine states lack specific laws against female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C). The U.S. End FGM/C Network and Equality Now have launched new tools, including an interactive map and a training manual, to promote comprehensive legal protections across all states. These resources aim to foster effective legislation that prioritizes survivors' needs and promotes prevention. The initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 5.3, which seeks to eliminate harmful practices like FGM/C by 2030. The organizations emphasize the need for state-level legislation and public awareness to address FGM/C within diverse communities in the U.S.

Hundreds of equal rights activists gathered at the ERA Centennial Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and to push for its ratification as the 28th Amendment to the US Constitution. The event emphasized a more inclusive, intersectional movement for equality, advocating for the rights of all genders, including marginalized communities. The ERA aims to guarantee equal rights and legal protections regardless of gender and address gender-based discrimination. The text highlights the urgency of enshrining the ERA in the Constitution to protect against recent rollbacks on women's and LGBTQ+ rights and to meet international human rights obligations. Key figures like Congresswoman Cori Bush and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are leading legislative efforts to affirm the ERA.

Anne Amuzu, CEO of Nandi Mobile, shares her experiences as a female entrepreneur in the tech industry, where she has faced challenges due to gender biases. Despite these obstacles, she has successfully co-founded Nandi Mobile with partners Michael Dakwa and Edward Amartey-Tagoe. The company's first application, Infoline, was developed after extensive customer feedback and refinements. Amuzu has also been involved in the #ILookLikeanEngineer campaign to highlight gender disparity in tech. In addition to her CEO role, she is committed to teaching coding to young Ghanaians and believes in the startup potential within everyone.

The article explores the cellphone recycling industry in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, where entrepreneurs like Adama Tesoubi buy old phones, extract valuable chips containing rare earth minerals, and sell them to foreign buyers. The piece highlights the environmental and economic aspects of the trade, with insights from Tesoubi and Asim Poisséis of the Ivoirienne NGO M.E.S.A.D., which has partnered with French telecom company Orange for a phone recycling project. The article also touches on the global competition for rare earth minerals, with China being a major producer, and the increasing interest from other countries in mining and recycling these valuable resources.