Abortion is legal in the UK, but England and Wales are both experiencing a rise in abortion prosecutions; using a law that dates back to 1861. In the last 18 months, six women have been prosecuted and at least one woman has been jailed. Annette Young talks to Mara Clarke, a pro-choice activist based in London, as to why this is happening. Also in France, there is a boom in self-defence courses for women while they also learn how to avoid legal ramifications. Plus anger over the decision to...

How the ban on skin-lightening products in Ivory Coast has not stopped thousands of women from buying these creams. This as health officials warn of risks such as diabetes and hypertension. Also we head to the Anbar region in Iraq which is undergoing massive reconstruction after the collapse of the Islamic State group and where local women are attempting to pursue interests outside of the family home. Plus a Paris photographic exhibition celebrates the work of famed author, Annie Ernaux, who...

Most of us have heard about the 'glass ceiling'. But do you know anything about the 'Glass Cliff'? UK author, Sophie Williams, talks to Annette Young about the phenomenon where women are frequently hired to lead organisations only when they are on the cusp of complete failure.

In a special edition about the dangers artificial intelligence poses to women, we're focusing on how AI has been automatically set up to reinforce gender discrimination along with the rise of deepfakes. These days, AI is used for a growing range of tasks yet while being based on data that comes from a world full of bias and inequity. Plus a special FRANCE 24 investigation on the rise of deepfake pornographic images which specifically targets women. Annette Young also talks to lawyer, Tsitsi...

A global gender divide is emerging between young women and men under the age of 30 with research revealing that young women are becoming more progressive as their male peers become more conservative. Our team in Berlin report on how the divide is becoming very much apparent in Germany as the far right targets young men. Annette Young also talks about how worried we should be about this research with Kelly Beaver, the CEO of Ipsos UK and Ireland and Daniel Guinness, the managing director of...

In recent years, Argentina has led Latin America in the struggle for gender equality and LGBTQ rights. But with the election of Javier Milei as president last December, many Argentinians fear all that progress is now being derailed. Annette Young talks to noted feminist journalist and author, Luciana Peker, who has gone into self-imposed exile after facing a series of threats. She warns what is happening in Argentina could easily happen elsewhere in the world. Also as the French capital...

A special report here in France on the con artists who prey on the women suffering from endometriosis; a painful disease that affects millions and can sometimes lead to fertility problems. Also the Spanish government seeks to increase the number of mixed gender prisons with the aim of helping prisoners to get used to being in a society where women and men co-exist. Plus the Italian blockbuster movie with a distinct feminist message. And no, it is not 'Barbie'. 'There's Still Tomorrow' is now...

In a special joint edition of arts24 and The 51 Percent, we focus on whether the #MeToo movement has reached an inflection point in French cinema. The film sector in France has been shaken after actress, Judith Godrèche, accused director, Benoît Jacquot, of rape and sexual abuse during their relationship; which, she says, started when she was 14 years old and he was 39. Annette Young and Olivia Salazar-Winspear are joined by French talent agent, Solène Edouard and Ariane Labed, actor and...

As Israel's war against Hamas continues in Gaza, pregnant Palestinian women are facing dire conditions as they give birth due to damaged hospital facilities along with restricted access to medicines. Also Annette Young talks to journalist, Josie Cox, who has written a book entitled “Women, Money and Power” focusing on the battle for financial equality. Plus renowned cartoonist, Posy Simmonds, becomes the first British illustrator to win the Grand Prix at the Angouleme comics festival in France.

Despite undeniable progress towards ending female genital mutilation, it still exists on six continents, mostly in the Middle East and Africa. The United Nations has set the ambitious goal of eradicating all forms of the practice by 2030, but that will require changes to existing methods on confronting it. Among them: providing more funding to grassroots, local activists and including postcolonial critiques and a better human rights framework in anti-FGM laws. Erin Ogunkeye spoke to Dr. Wisal...

The need to rethink our history or her-story, rather. Annette Young talks to journalist and author, Annabelle Hirsch, who has corrected our not-so-perfect 20/20 rear vision by writing a book entitled "A History of Women in 101 Objects." Also France and Germany come under fire for failing to decide on a legal definition of rape which could mean the European Union's first ever directive on violence against women, will not include the crime. Pressure is now on both nations to reconsider their...

Annette Young meets Ruby Raut, the Nepalese teenager who grew up to become the founder of WUKA; the first British company to manufacture reusable period pants. Also a French female MP receives a standing ovation at the nation's parliament as she returns months after she accused a senator of having drugged her with the aim of sexual assault. The man is now facing preliminary charges. Plus how Tunisian women are using platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to promote gender equality.

It’s our first show for 2024 and after a turbulent year in 2023, the United Nations' role has become even that more crucial yet the global body has never had a female secretary-general. Annette Young talks to Susana Malcorra, the former Argentinian foreign minister, who with others, is campaigning for a woman to be appointed to the job in 2026.

To mark the show's tenth birthday, Annette Young is joined by Anita Bhatia, founder of Impact Commons, and former Deputy Executive Director at UN Women; Anya Neistat, the legal director at the Clooney Foundation for Justice and Rebecca Amsellem, a French-Canadian feminist and creator of Les Glorieuses newsletter, to take a look back at the progress, or otherwise, of women's rights since 2013.

In a special edition, Annette Young meets Dr Jane Goodall, viewed as the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, to talk about the "now or never moment" for the COP28 UAE climate talks; and how the battle to save the environment is inextricably entwined with the fight for equality.

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among industrialised countries. Our reporters head to Louisiana where Black women are four times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth complications than White women. Also #MeToo finally reaches Taiwan where a growing number of women have been speaking out about their experiences working with sexual predators. And for the first time ever, the prize for the best pastry chef in the world has been awarded to a woman and a French...

In a special edition marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, we report on a programme here in France which is educating men accused of domestic abuse, about how to rewire their behaviour. Also Annette Young speaks to Sal Naseem, a former director for London at the Independent Office for Police Conduct and who is now an inclusive culture specialist. He is campaigning publicly about the need to address male violence.

In this special edition, Annette Young heads to South Korea, which, despite its impressive economic record, consistently scores poorly for gender equality among advanced nations. It has the worst gender pay gap among OECD nations, while its traditional workplace culture results in many women giving up their careers after childbirth. Now the country has recorded the lowest fertility rate in the world, with women of reproductive age having fewer than one child on average. Sex crimes against...

It's one of the biggest challenges facing education systems worldwide: gender inequality. Though improvements have closed or even reversed gender gaps in schools in recent years, there's still significant room for progress, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. According to UNESCO, more than half of all girls out of primary and secondary school are on the African continent. Erin Ogunkeye spoke to Fabricia Devignes, programme manager at the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning....

It's time to take another look at the story of evolution, especially from a feminist perspective and how women's bodies are not male bodies with a few additional extras. Annette Young talks to author, Cat Bohannon, about her book aptly entitled; 'Eve: How the female body drove 200 million years of evolution.' Also following the demise of Roe v. Wade in the US, French President Emmanuel Macron promises to enshrine a woman's right to an abortion in the nation's constitution by next year. Plus...

As Israel's war with Hamas continues, thousands have been killed as the region teeters dangerously on the edge of a wider conflict that could result in direct US and Iranian involvement. At a moment when peace seems so incredibly far away, where does this leave women peace activists on both sides? Annette Young talks to Dr Yael Braudo-Bahat from Israel's Women Wage Peace and Palestinian activist Nivine Sandouka from the Alliance for Middle East Peace; both are calling for an immediate end to...

We report on an investigation into French thermal spas who claim to treat infertility in women. This despite no medical proof that the procedure called vaginal irrigation, is indeed effective. Also the dark side of microfinancing... and how millions of Indian women are now facing spiraling debt from a system which was meant to lift them out of poverty. Plus a Togolese music trio has wowed Europe with a unique beat that combines voodoo incantations and electro rhythms.

In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, women are to vote for the first time at the Synod of Bishops, later this month. Annette Young asks Kate McElwee, the executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference, if we are moving closer to the possibility of having Catholic women priests. Also abortion laws in Argentina are under threat with a far-right presidential candidate declaring if he wins, he will seek to repeal the right to abortion while eliminating the Ministry of Women....

How to make the world a kinder place? Many would say it begins with the young and as France starts to teach empathy in the classroom, we take a look at Danish schools which already have it on the curriculum. Also Annette Young talks to Dr Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, a specialist on leadership as to why we still see empathy as a feminine quality. Plus we head to Somalia where women are making small but significant gains in traditionally male-dominated sectors such as construction and engineering.