Violence against women

The Latest

The Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, which houses the meeting room of the UN Human Rights Council.

Holy See to UN: Children should not be ‘collateral victims’ of violence against women

Jul 8, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican reaffirmed the right to life of “children conceived as a result of sexual violence.” Read more

Vatican COVID-19 commission: Church can help combat rising violence against women

Mar 8, 2021

The Vatican COVID-19 Commission called on Monday for the Catholic Church and governments to increase support for women suffering from... Read more

Pro-life group in Mexico offers aid to domestic violence victims

Jun 8, 2020

With reports of domestic violence on the rise during the coronavirus lockdown in Mexico, one pro-life platform is offering women... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Jan. 1, 2020.

Pope Francis: Honor the dignity of women for a better world in 2020

Jan 1, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis began the new year with a call for the dignity of women to be honored -- not exploited... Read more

Holy See to UN: More must be done to end violence against women

Oct 9, 2019

Violence against women remains a global concern for the Vatican, an official told members of the United Nations this week,... Read more

Essure coil.

Sales of controversial birth control coil halted everywhere...except the US

Oct 4, 2017

German pharmaceutical company Bayer announced recently that it has suspended from all non-US sales the Essure coil, a controversial form... Read more

Nun at the prayer vigil for consecrated life in St. Peter's Square, Jan. 28, 2016.

Nun killed in Democratic Republic of Congo

Dec 2, 2016

A nun in the Democratic Republic of Congo was murdered earlier this week by unknown suspects in an apparent robbery,... Read more

Essure coil.

Metal coil birth control gets strictest possible warning

Dec 1, 2016

By Mary Farrow

Angela Desa was 28 years-old when she got Essure, a form of permanent birth control made of flexible metal and... Read more

Photo

Horror over massive gang rape case leaves Brazil reeling

Jun 1, 2016

The reported gang rape of a 16-year- old girl by more than 30 men in Rio de Janeiro has sparked... Read more

Nun attacked in South Sudan dies from gunshot wounds

May 23, 2016

A Slovak nun and medical doctor died Friday from gunshot wounds she suffered in an attack in Yei, South Sudan... Read more

Photo via Unsplash.

Women stunned at FDA's failure to remove Essure from market

Mar 3, 2016

The FDA announced Monday that it will add its strictest warning to the label of Essure, a sterilization device in... Read more

Cardinal Marx at the German Bishops' press conference at the Teutonic College on October 5, 2015.

After week of silence, German bishops respond to Cologne attacks

Jan 11, 2016

A week after hundreds were attacked in Cologne on New Year’s Eve, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising... Read more

FDA Building in Silver Spring, MD.

Exclusive: Essure victims plan hunger strike in front of FDA during Pope's visit

Jul 28, 2015

By Mary Farrow

Last month, it looked like the thousands of women who have suffered detrimental side effects from the birth control device... Read more

High price tags and ugly secrets – how surrogacy preys on poor women

Jul 26, 2015

By Elise Harris

Women from a poor demographic have become an increasing interest in the multi-billion dollar surrogate industry, with most mothers being... Read more

The dark side of living 'childfree'

Jun 25, 2015

By Mary Farrow

A few months ago, several writers opened up a conversation they felt was long overdue in a book titled “Selfish,... Read more

Pope urges bishops in African nation to oppose violence toward women

May 7, 2015

Pope Francis on Thursday encouraged Christians in the west African nation of Mali to provide a strong witness of the... Read more

Women praying Jamaah.

Tears for Farkhunda: Catholics join fury over savage killing of Afghan woman

Mar 25, 2015

By Adelaide Mena, Matt Hadro

After last week’s horrific mob killing of a young woman in Afghanistan, Catholics are calling for a re-dedication to religious... Read more

A women's shelter or a graveyard – how '50 Shades of Grey' ends in real life

Feb 11, 2015

By Mary Farrow

Valentine’s Day plans do not typically include domestic abuse.  Read more

Young women walk along a street in Bangalore, India.

Holy See to UN: stop ignoring attacks on Christian women, girls

Feb 3, 2015

The Holy See’s delegation to the United Nations has warned that Christians face “extinction” in some regions of armed conflict,... Read more

Sr.Franciose Jiranonda (seated center) with participants of the anti-violence against women seminar in Bangkok, Nov. 22, 2014.

How the Church in Thailand fights trafficking, violence against women

Nov 28, 2014

The Church in Thailand observed the Nov. 25 celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women... Read more