France voted to ban it, and a handful of other European countries are considering the same. Roja Heydarpour on how the law drives conservative Muslim women into their homes.

Afghan women fear their opinions won’t be heard as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits the Kabul Conference, reports Gayle Tzemach Lemmon—and they worry new deals with fighters will roll back their hard-fought rights.

Rome is scrambling to undo damage from changes to church law that lumped ordination of women priests with child sex abuse. Michelle Goldberg on the church's shameful legacy.

A rash of honor killings in India has left Westerners to condemn the act as a brutal relic. But former police chief Kiran Bedi says it's actually a knee-jerk reaction to modernization, and Indian law must play catch-up.

Both sex workers and typical moms benefit from access to birth control, writes actress and activist Ashley Judd. How safe sex builds economies and advances societies around the globe.

A new report highlights the widespread—and brutal—practice of female genital mutilation in northern Iraq, even as the country stabilizes. How the U.S. can help now.

Up to 60 percent of Chinese suicides are caused by a toxic pesticide banned in many countries. Megan Shank on how rural women are paying the ultimate price.

As Hillary Clinton released a report ranking countries on human trafficking, actress Emma Thompson was in New York, speaking out against the scourge. By Rebecca Dana and Benjamin Sarlin.