Aasna Sijapati sramashwar July 16, 2026 Senior Research Assistant
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Libya: ICC Greenlights First Case to Move to Trial
Click to expand Image Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri appeared before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, December 3, 2025. © 2025 International Criminal Court (The Hague) – The International Criminal Court (ICC)’s confirmation of war crimes and crime…
Human Rights WatchJul 16global
Aasna Sijapati
Aasna Sijapati sramashwar July 16, 2026 Senior Research Assistant
Guttmacher InstituteJul 16breakthroughs
This Black-Owned Wellness Retreat Reminds Us To Honor Our Bodies At Every Age
Imagine yourself at 90 years old. You can do the splits, dance, and maintain a high quality of life. Seems impossible, right? It’s not. Founder of Ageless Mobility Aliya M Brooks’ grandmother, Millie Cruzat, lived to be 94 years old and could do it all.
EssenceJul 16global
What would it take to end child marriage? There’s a new federal push to limit it.
Genevieve Meyer describes her childhood in the 1980s as being filled with “a lot of violence, a lot of volatility and a lot of instability.” She was raised in Southern California by a single mom who suffered significant mental health issues and, later, she had an abusive stepfather.
The 19thJul 16safety
‘The Wrong Kind of Girl’: Feminists Warn of the Fallout From Supreme Court’s Trans Sports Decision
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Tuesday, June 30, that states may prohibit transgender students from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity, holding that the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment does not prohibit such bans.
Ms. MagazineJul 16equality
The Dangerous Unraveling Of The United States’ Family Planning Safety Net
The Dangerous Unraveling Of The United States’ Family Planning Safety Net Policy Analysis jloewenberg July 16, 2026 July 14, 2026 Exclude from search No Automatic Redirect Off
Guttmacher InstituteJul 16breakthroughs
Keeping Score: Feminists Denounce Supreme Trump Anti-Trans Ruling; Trump Tries to Hijack America 250; Camp Mystic Will Not Reopen; Birthright Citizenship Safe for Now
In every issue of Ms. , we track research on our progress in the fight for equality , catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones . We’re Keeping Score online, too—in this biweekly roundup.
Ms. MagazineJul 16immigration
The public’s view of the Supreme Court
One of the more controversial topics concerning the Supreme Court is how attuned justices should be to public opinion. An even more fundamental question, however, is how closely public opinion matches the Supreme Court’s decisions.
SCOTUSblogJul 16politics
A Mom Said Infant Formula Killed Her Baby. The Manufacturer Closed the File.
In September 2016, a distraught mother sent infant formula maker Mead Johnson a message: “REMOVE ME FROM YOUR LIST!!!! DO NOT EMAIL OR MAIL ME ANY MORE! “It is because of your animal based pre-term artificial baby food crap that you peddle to hospital NICU’s that my son is dead from NEC.
Rewire News GroupJul 16activism
US Communities Face Broken Promises on Air Pollution Monitoring
Click to expand Image Robert Taylor in Reserve, Saint John the Baptist Parish, in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. October 17, 2023. © 2023 Eli Reed for Human Rights Watch On July 13, the Trump administration again clawed back a crucial rule that would have expanded monitoring of hazardous air polluta…
Human Rights WatchJul 16activism
Ukraine: Russian-Run Schools Violate Children’s Rights
Click to expand Image A mother hugs her children after their return from the occupied territory of Ukraine via the Ukraine-Belarus border, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Volyn region, Ukraine, on September 3, 2023.
Human Rights WatchJul 16activism
Pakistani Strikes in Afghanistan Raise Civilian Casualty Concerns
Click to expand Image Residents walk through the rubble from Pakistani airstrikes that killed civilians in the village of Mandokhail, Chamkani district, Afghanistan, June 29, 2026. © 2026 Saifullah Zahir/AP Photo On June 29, Pakistani airstrikes in three provinces in eastern Afghanistan killed …
Human Rights WatchJul 15global
For Black women hit by anti-DEI backlash, this election is personal
ATLANTA — Kecia Ellick doesn’t see herself as having much in common with Keisha Lance Bottoms, beyond them both being Black women in their 50s who are mothers and neighbors — and having names that sound the same. Ellick is a laid-off public health researcher trying to rebuild her career.
The 19thJul 15politics
You’ll Be Able To Buy Non-Toxic Braiding Hair At Sephora Soon
Whether you’re a diehard boho braids lover or a queen of crochet, the innovation in braiding hair has been little to nonexistent. But Ruka, a Black-owned brand , is completely flipping the industry upside down.
EssenceJul 15breakthroughs
How The National Coalition Of 100 Black Women Is Building Opportunity Through Sisterhood And Service
Courtesy of Coca-Cola® At the ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola®, Dr. Virginia W. Harris, National President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women , reflected on how the organization’s decades-long commitment to advocacy has transformed sisterhood into a powerful leadership m…
EssenceJul 15empowerment
Ciara And Her 2-Year-Old Are Already Sharing Beauty Rituals
When women think of their earliest beauty memories, their mothers often come to mind. From watching them put on their lipstick (then sneaking some when they’re not looking) to stealing their favorite perfumes off their vanity, a mother’s beauty rituals are too tempting to not try out ourselves.
EssenceJul 15equality
Senator Cory Booker Reflects On Love And Hope As America Celebrates Its 250th Year
While United States Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey joined the Global Black Economic Forum’s (GBEF) Business Summit and Public Convention during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, helping shape conversations about politics, democracy and economic justice, his reflections on love revealed what h…
EssenceJul 15politics
Domestic violence groups fear survivor services could disappear without warning
Domestic violence organizations are raising the alarm over a proposed federal rule change that policy analysts say politicizes the federal grantmaking process and clears the way for officials to cancel funding without cause.
The 19thJul 15safety
The court’s criminal law term: overview and observations
Approximately two weeks after the final opinion of the 57 argued cases decided by the Supreme Court in the October 2025-26 Term was filed, this column presents an overview of the “pure” criminal law decisions the court issued.
SCOTUSblogJul 15politics
Tia Williams’ ‘The Missed Connection’: Inside The Author’s Hot New Romance Novel
The summer months are a perfect time to lose yourself in the pages of a juicy page turner . Even if your bank account or PTO balances are coming up short, the right book allows you to easily escape without ever leaving your zip code.
EssenceJul 15global
‘I Don’t Want To Die’: Texas Patients Are Afraid to Get Pregnant
The fear of losing their lives is precisely what many pregnant Texas residents say they’ve experienced after four young women died in the state when they were unable to access medically necessary abortions. Three died while doctors delayed their care for hours as they miscarried.
Ms. MagazineJul 15choice
You Will Hear These 10 False Narratives About Abortion. Here’s All You’ll Need to Fight Back
Misinformation about abortion care is rampant and being weaponized at state and federal levels to justify wide-ranging restrictions across the United States. Ensuring awareness of these narratives, and combatting them with rigorous data and evidence, is critical both for preventing them from becomin…
Ms. MagazineJul 15choice
This AI Chatbot Pushes Conversion Therapy on Trans Users
Editor’s note: This story contains sensitive content, including depictions of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments and transphobic extremism, conversion practices, and discussions of suicide. If you or a loved one need mental health support, you can call or text one of these hotlines .
Rewire News GroupJul 15resilience
FCC Officials Took Pricey Gifts From Paramount as the Company Needed Approval for Billion-Dollar Deals
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 2025 Kennedy Center honors gala. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images The rich and famous who filed into the Kennedy Center’s opera house in December were there to enjoy one of the nation’s most exclusive celebrations of the performin…
ProPublicaJul 15global
Justices Kagan and Barrett testify before Congress
In the first appearances by members of the Supreme Court before Congress in seven years, Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified on Tuesday in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
SCOTUSblogJul 14politics
Effortlessly Chic: The Ultimate Guide To Shopping Luxury Flip-Flops This Summer
Havaianas may have laid the groundwork, but they’re no longer the only flip-flops defining the category. Once reserved for beach vacations and poolside afternoons, the simple sandal has evolved into one of fashion’s most essential summer shoes.
EssenceJul 14equality
At a health clinic built ‘for women,’ patients say their pregnancies went undetected
This story was reported in partnership with LA Public Press , an independent nonprofit newsroom advocating for a better Los Angeles. When Areli Ramos arrived for her appointment at the women’s health clinic Tia in June 2022, she was showing signs of pregnancy.
The 19thJul 14health
Why everyone will bring Ken Paxton’s abortion record up in his Senate race
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is so staunchly anti-abortion that his office observes June 24, the anniversary of the overturn of Roe v. Wade, as a holiday. The Republican’s actions to block abortion stand out.
The 19thJul 14politics
My Sister, My Mother, and Me: How ESSENCE Festival Helped Us Find Joy While Caring for Our Mom With Alzheimer’s
I’m cold. Freezing in fact. I’m on a flight from Los Angeles to New Orleans and Delta insists on keeping the cabin temp at a balmy 58°. But my teeth-chattering, frigid plane flight will be soon worth the while, as I’m headed to the Essence Cultural Festival with my older sister, my only sibling, Tra…
EssenceJul 14resilience
Guttmacher Institute Opposes Proposed Federal Funding Rules That Threaten Reproductive Health Programs and Research
Guttmacher Institute Opposes Proposed Federal Funding Rules That Threaten Reproductive Health Programs and Research July 14, 2026 jloewenberg July 14, 2026 News Release Homepage featured title Guttmacher Opposes Federal Funding Rules That Threaten Reproductive Health Programs and Research Use link O…
Guttmacher InstituteJul 14breakthroughs
The nation’s largest school system is expanding special education for its youngest learners
Preschoolers with disabilities in New York City will gain access to an unprecedented set of programs and services thanks to a major expansion in special education announced Tuesday by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels.
The 19thJul 14childcare
U.S. Attorney General Nominee Todd Blanche and the Antiabortion Machine’s Pressure Campaign
Judges, lawyers and sexual abuse survivors have raised very strong reasons why it would be reckless and unconscionable for the Senate to confirm Todd Blanche to the post of Attorney General of the United States.
Ms. MagazineJul 14choice
Two cheers – but not three – for Roberts and Barrett
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett deserve high praise for the pivotal role they played at the end of the just-concluded term in two key cases. One is Trump v. Barbara , the monumental decision confirming that the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment guarantees birthri…
SCOTUSblogJul 14politics
“My Sex Life Came To A Screeching Halt”: Halle Berry Gets Unfiltered About Menopause
“I got plummeted into Hell and realized I was in perimenopause,” Halle Berry tells ESSENCE exclusively. Without warning, the rest of her body felt the changes, too. “I had vaginal dryness and it felt like I had razor blades in my vagina and my sex life just came to a screeching halt,” she says.
EssenceJul 14health
The biggest Supreme Court surprises this term
At the end of a recent talk on the Supreme Court’s latest term I was asked what surprised me most about the term. I was not surprised by the results in the most high-profile cases of the term, such as tariffs , presidential removal power , birthright citizenship , and restrictions on transgender ath…
SCOTUSblogJul 14equality
Executive Power and its Limits
Watch on YouTube Please note that this transcript has been edited for clarity. Zachary Shemtob: [00:00:00] So first of all, thank you so much to Amy. I’m really excited to have this conversation. There’s so much to talk about.
SCOTUSblogJul 14immigration
As Transgender Troops Leave the Military, California Seeks to Help Them Start New Lives
This story was originally published by CalMatters . Sign up for their newsletters. U.S. Navy sailor Chase Humes is moving back to his dad’s house in Texas. Last month, the 25-year-old was notified that his “voluntary separation” from the Navy, which he’d applied for in May 2025, had been approved—he…
Rewire News GroupJul 14lgbtq
What Trump’s AG pick has said about LGBTQ+ rights, abortion and the Epstein files
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday for a confirmation hearing to consider his official nomination to a post he has held since April. President Donald Trump fired Blanche’s predecessor , Pam Bondi, in April and appointed Blanche in the …
The 19thJul 14politics
What We Uncovered About the Sexual Assault of Alice Sebold and a City’s Buried Rape Crisis
Illustration by Vanessa Saba for ProPublica. Source images: The Washington Post/Getty Images, Leonardo Cendamo/Getty Images, Onondaga District Attorney, County of Onondaga, State of New York, Courtesy of Alice Sebold, New York Times.
ProPublicaJul 14resilience
Beyoncé and Rihanna Confirm Capris Are Back—Here’s How To Wear Them IRL
If you spent any time scrolling through your feeds this past weekend, you already know that Beyoncé and Rihanna completely dominated the internet during JAŸ-Z’s historic concert. While their presence alone was enough to cause a stir, it was their coordinated style choices that truly set the fashion …
EssenceJul 13equality