Amadou Mahtar Ba, a member of the Africa Policy Advisory Board of ONE, is sharing why debt relief is crucial for Africa to recover from COVID-19. The economic and health costs to Africa as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are unprecedented by any measure. With the death toll rising above 50,000 and more than 2 million confirmed infections so far, the continent has many reasons to be worried. So far, COVID-19 lockdowns have triggered the first continent-wide recession in 25...
No one has been completely immune to the impacts of COVID-19, although some groups have felt these impacts more acutely. Our recent coverage has highlighted COVID-19’s impact on girls and women: girls’ education is under threat; maternal and reproductive care is being compromised; women’s and girls’ unpaid work is increasing; and we’re seeing elevated rates of intimate partner violence. Here, we spotlight three different women-led grassroots organizations that are identifying COVID-19’s unique impacts on women and girls and are responding...
This year around the world, activists have stepped up to do their part to make the world a better, safer place for everyone, no matter where they’re from. Now, after a long year and tireless work from activists, it’s time to start preparing for the year ahead. Whether you’re a seasoned activist or if you’re just beginning your activism journey, it’s time to start thinking about how to affect change in 2021. Here are six resolutions for activists to consider...
This year, in the face of a global pandemic, the fight against global poverty and inequality became tougher, but more important than ever. Our tireless activists fought for fair deals on debt, vaccine access, aid budgets, and more. Hundreds of thousands of global activists signed petitions, completed surveys, tweeted at or sent emails to politicians, attended briefing calls, shared messages of solidarity, or danced to our anthem “Stand Together.” Here’s a quick look at some of what ONE and our activists...
Ending the COVID-19 pandemic and minimising its impact largely depends on finding effective ways to treat and immunise against the disease. Here’s the good news: so far, billions in funding has been mobilised in record time to fast-track research and development on COVID-19. Plus, there are over 500 treatment and vaccine candidates in development, with some COVID-19 vaccine campaigns already underway. But the bad news: this is only half the battle. A historic effort Delivering medication and vaccines at the speed and scale...
Megan Gieske is a storyteller and photographer based in Cape Town, South Africa. In South Africa, women are at risk. South Africa has one of the highest rates of violence against women and girls in the world, and a femicide rate that is five times the global average, with an estimated 12.1 in 100,000 victims each year. South Africa’s gender-based violence statistics (GBV) are equal to a country at war. South Africa held its yearly 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence,...
The best kinds of gifts are the ones that save lives! That’s why the (RED) Shopathon is back for the sixth year, offering up tons of ways to make your shopping count this holiday season. As a division of ONE, (RED)’s goal is to end AIDS by utilizing the power of people and companies. (RED) contributes profits of sales of (RED)-branded products and experiences to the Global Fund, which aims to end AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria as epidemics. As COVID-19...
In 2020, global health has gone from a fringe issue to the forefront of people’s mind, all thanks to COVID-19. The last time the entire world came close to being as focused on a pandemic threat was over two decades ago, when HIV/AIDS was killing almost 4,000 people every day and new infections doubled year after year. Since then, the global response to AIDS has become a success story, and AIDS-related deaths have been cut by more than half. Today,...
Africa launches the largest trials of treatments for mild and moderate COVID-19 cases, mayors join forces to tackle gender inequality, and UK cuts its aid budget. Plus, a look at which countries have gender-balanced cabinets. Here are six crucial stories you may have missed this month. Africa’s largest COVID treatment trial launches A network of 13 African countries joined forces with global researchers to launch Africa’s largest clinical trial of potential COVID-19 treatments. The Anticov study aims to identify treatments for mild...
Edith Esinam Asamani-Wasie, a GPE Youth Advocate in Ghana, is weighing in on the realities of gender-based violence, especially during COVID-19, and the steps everyone can take to achieve gender equality. The pandemic has socioeconomically affected more girls and women than boys and men. First, despite progress, there is still a gender disparity in access to education. The pandemic led to the closure of schools and movement of most physical classes to virtual platforms, where there is a gender digital...