Angela Merkel famously shied away from calling herself a feminist — but Chile's first female president embraces the term, saying that feminism is for everyone. DW spoke to Bachelet about her remarkable history.

As the Taliban make rapid gains in Afghanistan, women in the country are concerned about their future. An Afghan women's rights activist told DW her life may be in danger if the Islamist militants attack Kabul.

Local media have reported the Taliban fired tear gas and used batons to break up the second day of protests demanding that women's rights be protected.

"The fact that the women are so disliked by these men is beyond belief, I don't understand why," says Afghan women's rights activist and CEO of Afghan Women's Network Mahbouba Seraj. "We should sit down and have a conversation."

Women represent half the population in Iraq, but are almost invisible in the public sphere. In this ultra-conservative society, a woman's place is neither at school nor at work, but out of sight at home. Yet some brave women have decided to fight against these traditions, despite the danger. Our reporters went to meet them.

Women represent half the population in Iraq, but are almost invisible in the public sphere. In this ultra-conservative society, a woman's place is neither at school nor at work, but out of sight at home. Yet some brave women have decided to fight against these traditions, despite the danger. Our reporters went to meet them.

FRANCE 24 spoke to Mahbouba Seraj, a leading women's rights activist in Afghanistan. She told us the Taliban have to "give in" on "red lines" such as women's access to education and work in order to "continue governing". With Afghanistan in dire need of financial assistance, Seraj said she was "angry at the whole world", especially US President Joe Biden. "You cannot let the people of this country die," she said in an emotional plea to the international community.

As media attention focuses on a group of women sexually assaulted in Milan on New Year's Eve, we take a look at efforts to combat sexism in Italy. Also human rights activists say accusations of sorcery are being used in Kenya to force elderly widows off their land. Plus we've all heard the jokes about women drivers. So in an attempt to end stereotypes, Argentina has included mandatory gender awareness training in its driving school programs.

For over a century, Afghanistan's rulers and ethnic groups have been arguing about what women should do and how they should be. Women haven't had much say.

France has never had a woman as president. With a number of female candidates in the election race this time, could that finally change? Challenges range from a #MeToo campaign to an "invisible" barrier to the top job.

Domestic violence is on the rise, but under-reported in Cameroon. Campaigners say official figures account for only a fraction of the women who have suffered - or even died - at the hands of their partners. And for those seeking justice, advocates say successful prosecutions are rare due to the failings and corruption within Cameroon's judicial system.

Unprecedented pictures of public burnings of the hijab, and no let up in Iran's biggest protests since 2019. Despite disruptions to the Internet, popular unrest has flared for a sixth day across Iran over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year old Kurdish woman detained by the morality police for improperly wearing her hijab. In today's debate, we ask our panel: how far will the this women's rights movement go?