The expanded Mexico City policy is yet another US "effort to circumvent negotiation processes and agreed standards" on gender equality at the UN. I spoke yesterday with @elissamio.bsky.social & experts on the policy's implications for the UN. Video & write-up here: www.devex.com/news/an-enti...

As the UN ploughs towards merging @unwomen.bsky.social & @unfpa.org there are concerns about whether combining entities will benefit UN gender work and whether adequate thought is given to how and why a merger should happen. I shared thoughts w/ @passblue.bsky.social passblue.com/2026/04/08/m...

The CSW drama has extended past its intended shelf life (at least one member state just keeps coming back for more). I talked to @pass_blue about why. passblue.com/2026/03/19/w...

The US recently introduced a policy that not only aims to force the UN's gender equality work to fit the US mold, but also unilaterally circumvents standards that have been agreed in the UNSC and GA. In this Q&A, I explain how these conditions could look in practice.

NEW Q&A | New U.S. Aid Conditions Threaten UN Work on Women, Peace and Security The Trump administration is imposing conditions on U.S. aid that could have profound effects on women and girls. @cristaldowning.bsky.social explains the potential fallout. www.crisisgroup.org/qna/global-u...

To complement @EroComfort top reads for #IWD2026 - here are mine. One on toddlers, the other on AI. The common thread between them: a data-driven approach to understanding terrifying things that are developing far too fast and without regulation. @profemilyoster.bsky.social @crisisgroup.org

I was grateful to discuss challenges currently facing gender equality in conflict at the @bmeia.gv.at WPS conference last week. I highlighted the need to tie short-term conflict termination to longer term peacebuilding to ensure women's contributions to stable peace don't fall by the wayside.

MAÑANA | Conflicto y personas LGBTQI+ en Colombia 📅 18 de Febrero ⏰ 9:30 Bogotá | 9:30 Nueva York | 15:30 Bruselas Con @cristaldowning.bsky.social, Arlene Tickner, Juanita Vélez, Wilson Castañeda y @renatasegura.bsky.social Regístrate acá 🔽 us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Mis co-panelistas en este evento mañana presentarán sus perspectivas sobre cómo el conflicto en Colombia afecta a la población LGBTQI+, sus roles en la construcción de la paz y la importancia de la protección que les debería ofrecer el estado. Registrate: www.crisisgroup.org/node/27145

EVENTO EN LÍNEA | Conflicto y personas LGBTQI+ en Colombia 📅 18 de Febrero ⏰ 9:30 Bogotá | 9:30 Nueva York | 15:30 Bruselas Con @cristaldowning.bsky.social, Arlene Tickner, Wilson Castañeda, Juanita Vélez y @renatasegura.bsky.social Regístrate acá: www.crisisgroup.org/node/27145

The new US “human flourishing policy” claims to seek better use of taxpayer $ & less meddling w/ nations’ sovereignty. It will do the opposite, forcing other govs, NGOs & @UN to align their programming with US anti-equality posture. I spoke to @Reuters about its possible impact.

Me alegra mucho poder compartir la info de este evento basado en nuestra reciente publicación sobre violencia contra personas LGBTQI+ en el marco del conflicto en Colombia.

Entre la fragmentación del conflicto colombiano, los grupos armados han intensificado sus esfuerzos de control territorial. Este informe analiza las implicaciones para la seguridad de las personas LGBTQI+ y ofrece recs. sobre protección, rendición de cuentas y prevención 🧵 shorturl.at/rWIsc

In Colombia’s conflict, armed groups have upped efforts to entrench community control. Marginalised groups inc. LGBTQI+ people pay the price. This briefing shows what this means for LGBTQI+ safety & makes recs. on protection, accountability & prevention🧵https://shorturl.at/2COxw

@UnitedNations WPS month is underway. Here are some thoughts on the challenges the WPS agenda is facing (spoiler: gender equality is under attack) and how countries can and must use this month to defend women’s rights. passblue.com/2025/10/05/t...

Our highlights at #UNGA2025 so far. 🇺🇸 Trump’s fiery speech 🇵🇸 Gaza: UK, France and others recognise Palestine; Israel responds. 🇸🇾 Syria: President Al Sharaa addresses the General Assembly 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Trump & Zelenskyy’s most positive meeting yet. @mayaungar.bsky.social explains more. ⬇️

Some beautiful and haunting photos here of people and communities affected by conflict, taken during Crisis Group fieldwork around the world over the last few years. www.crisisgroup.org/global/life-...

Shutting down the Internet amounts to shutting off a window to the world. Internet access was key in efforts to continue education for at least some Afghan women & girls. It was also central to livelihoods like selling handicrafts and clothes online. thediplomat.com/2025/09/inte...

US aid cuts have reduced global access to sexual & reproductive health. Take Afghanistan, where women are dying in labour after clinics close. As medical supplies are destroyed & aid cuts continue, efforts to reduce women's access to care are increasing. www.bbc.com/news/article...

As we highlighted in the below UN-focused piece, UN agencies and NGOs offered to buy these contraceptives to serve life-saving purposes. But no, not on this admin’s watch. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/h...

Amid global pushback against gender equality, some topics are more unequal than others. Sexual & reproductive health is one. Here’s our take on what that means for @UN work for women & girls in war, among other challenges the org will face in 2025-26. www.crisisgroup.org/global/sb13-...

Great timing from Denmark - new National Action Plan. Glad to see that not everyone has completely lost the plot on WPS. um.dk/en/foreign-p...

For #IWD2025 @comfortero.crisisgroup.org shared this list of Crisis Group & external publications that explore some of the ways that gender & conflict interact, from India to Haiti, and from seats in parliament to artificial intelligence. www.crisisgroup.org/global/comfo...

Wondering what @crisisgroup.org's work on gender & conflict looks like? Wonder no more. We've visualised it in this (might I say very impressive) map, complete with interactive timeline and links to publications. www.crisisgroup.org/global/crisi...

In @justsecurity.org ahead of #IWD2025 I highlight how the Mexico City policy (also known as the global gag rule) impacts women & girls in conflict even beyond the damage done by recent aid cuts. Past experience shows that this restriction reduces access to essential health care.

US aid cuts are having drastic effects in war. Funding for gender equality has been singled out as misaligned with the US administration's values. Within this, sexual & reproductive health is particularly at risk. With it, so are women & girls in conflict. www.crisisgroup.org/global-unite...

"We are in the middle of a very violent decade." @comfortero.bsky.social in @economist.com. www.economist.com/the-world-ah...

If you'd like to follow my @crisisgroup.org colleagues here on BlueSky, here's a lovely starter pack prepared by @paulfranz.bsky.social