The Women's Global Development Policy (W-GDP) initiative was launched under the leadership of Ivanka Trump, aiming to empower 50 million women across the developing world by 2025. In its first year, the program reached 12 million women and provided over $1.6 billion in government-backed loans to 9,000 women-led businesses. The initiative also adopted a storytelling approach to showcase its impact on girls and women globally. Despite the Trump administration's efforts, the issue of women's empowerment remains a priority under President Joe Biden's administration, which has established the Gender Policy Council to focus on gender equity and equality in both domestic and foreign policy. To ensure the success of such initiatives, experts recommend that the incoming administration reinstate W-GDP, assign the White House as the leading coordinating role, and expand impact measurement beyond dollar amounts spent to encompass a more holistic approach. Additionally, they suggest incorporating the role of men and boys in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment by raising awareness about its importance in schools, encouraging men to enter professions like nursing and teaching, and providing mental health support for boys and men.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/ensure-effective-foreign-policy-reengage-womens-economic-empowermentA throwback video has emerged from Kate Ritchie's early days as a child actress on Home and Away, sparking concerns about the potential impact of her long-running role on her well-being. The video, posted on the Instagram page 'Home and Away The Early Years', shows scenes from 1988 in which Kate's character, Sally, is belittled and neglected by other characters. In one scene, a young Sally is sent outside to play in the dark, while another shows her being told she is too young for adult conversations.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14203355/Shocking-video-shows-Kate-Ritchie-suffered-result-child-actor-Home-Away.htmlSinger Lily Allen has shared an amusing anecdote about being referred to a child psychiatrist as an adult after expressing concerns about her mental health. The incident occurred when Allen was seeing a therapist, who she liked, but the therapist then referred her to another specialist from their office, a child psychiatrist, approximately 18 months into their sessions.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14204989/Lily-Allen-child-psychologist-adult-marriage-rocks.htmlThe New Zealand government has announced that it will provide financial compensation to children and teenagers who were abused at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital in the 1970s. The abuse, which included unmodified electroconvulsive therapy and paraldehyde injections, was acknowledged by an enquiry released in July as a form of torture. As part of its apology, the government has also agreed to issue written letters to those affected, explicitly acknowledging their suffering.
https://www.asiaone.com/world/new-zealand-announces-payouts-children-and-teens-abused-carePrisha Mosley, a young woman who underwent sex reassignment surgery and other irreversible changes, has spoken out about the consequences of being fast-tracked into transitioning without full awareness of the potential outcomes. Her case is similar to that of Keira Bell, another former patient at the Tavistock Institute in London, who described her treatment as "experimental at best, destructive at worst". Mosley is now suing the medical professionals she claims pushed gender-change as a solution to her mental health problems, citing numbness and scars on her chest as a result of a double mastectomy. The UK government has recently banned puberty blockers for children under 18 without additional safeguards, amid growing concerns about the issue in the country.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14202885/transitioned-boy-17-suing-medical-professionals-encouraged-me.htmlA new study from Columbia University Irving Medical Center suggests that sexism is a contributing factor to women's higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The research, led by Dr. Justina Avila-Rieger, found that women in the US states with the most pronounced sexism experienced nine extra years of cognitive decline compared to those living in less sexist states. The study, which analyzed data from over 21,000 people, indicates that addressing social inequalities may be a key strategy for reducing the burden of Alzheimer's among women.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14201893/Study-blames-sexism-causing-dementia-women.htmlMegan Thee Stallion has spoken out about the psychological warfare she claims she has endured at the hands of Tory Lanez, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting her in the feet during a drunken argument at Kylie Jenner's house in 2020. According to court documents, Lanez made a $1 million bribe attempt to silence Megan and engaged in a "coordinated effort" with his father to harass her. The relentless campaign has taken a toll on Megan's mental health, leaving her depressed and distanced from friends.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14203671/megan-thee-stallion-restraining-order-tory-lanez-jail.htmlThe number of people receiving disability benefits in the UK is expected to rise to 4.7 million due to an older and sicker population, increased awareness of mental health issues, and a growing cost of living crisis. According to Office for National Statistics estimates, rates of depression remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, with charity Citizens Advice reporting that over 430,000 people are awaiting Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reviews, some facing delays of up to two years.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14205171/Record-half-million-adults-claim-disability-benefits-anxiety-depression.htmlWalmart has implemented new guidelines for employees to handle aggressive customers, advising them to record incidents using the "ethics and compliance" app. The initiative comes as retailers struggle with how to manage customers who may have mental health issues or be attempting to steal merchandise. In response to this issue, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Retail Worker Safety Act, which requires merchants with 50 or more employees to install panic buttons by January 2027. These panic buttons will alert law enforcement to immediately respond to a store in distress. The use of body cameras by law enforcement has been cited as an effective deterrent against bad behavior, with some experts noting that the ability to see oneself on camera can prompt individuals to change their actions.
https://nypost.com/2024/12/17/business/walmart-tests-body-cameras-for-store-employees-as-retail-crime-surges/