Podcast Transcript March 6, 2026— (Guest Interview) From 18 Women to 80,000: How Sambhali Trust is Empowering Girls in India | International Women's Day 2026
Episode Description: This episode is dedicated to Badan Kanwar. In the early 1990s, a woman named Badan Kanwar was widowed in Rajasthan, India. Her world shrank the way it does for widows there — she lost status, voice, and belonging. Her son, Govind Singh Rathore, watched. Years later, he Read More...
Why turning support into action matters on International Women’s Day
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM International Women’s Day arrives each year with a familiar mix of brightness and gravity. On March 8, communities around the world celebrate women’s achievements: the breakthroughs, the leadership, the care work, the creativity, and the stamina it takes Read More...
France sets a global precedent, guaranteeing abortion as constitutional right
French parliamentarians passed a historic bill to include abortion rights in the country's constitution, demonstrating strong support for women's reproductive rights. France is now the only country that specifically guarantees a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy. President Emmanuel Macron Read More...
France pledges to embed abortion rights in constitution
President Emmanuel Macron pledged to enshrine a woman's right to choose abortion in the French constitution by next year. This steadfast commitment comes as France responds to stringent measures placed on reproductive rights in other nations, highlighting its unflinching commitment to abortion Read More...
Meet Sara Khadem, an international chess master fighting for freedom
In a world where conformity may squash ambitions, an Iranian chess champion, Sara Khadem, took a courageous step that echoed a cry for independence. She accomplished something spectacular last December in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Sara, an International Master, competed without a hijab, which was a Read More...
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Iranian women's rights activist Narges Mohammadi
Narges Mohammadi, an outspoken campaigner for women's and human rights in Iran, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023. Her dedication to democracy, freedom, and equality garnered international acclaim and support. A voice from behind bars Despite serving numerous sentences totaling about 12 Read More...
A historic bill passes: One-third of Indian Parliament seats to be reserved for women
The Lok Sabha, India's lower house of Parliament, passed a revolutionary bill that guaranteed one-third of seats in both the parliament and state assemblies to women. This historic decision comes after years of debate and criticism, and it represents a big step forward in Indian politics toward Read More...
The Senate is on the verge of enacting new protections for pregnant workers
After 10 years of effort, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which would mandate reasonable workplace accommodations to allow pregnant workers to safely work, is likely to pass. The Senate voted 73-24 to add it as an amendment to the must-pass omnibus government spending measure, and the Read More...
In India, all women have the right to safe and legal abortions
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Women's rights advocates applauded the Supreme Court of India's judgment, which stated that a woman's lack of marital status could not restrict her ability to choose to terminate a pregnancy at any time up to 24 weeks. The historic Roe v. Wade ruling, Read More...
Sierra Leone backs bill to legalize abortion—a “monumental step forward”
The current laws surrounding maternal health, abortion, and contraceptive services in the West African country of Sierra Leone were adopted in 1861—a century before it won its independence from Britain. In the past, there were attempts at reforming the colonial-era legislation, including in 2015 Read More...