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Why is the manosphere on the rise? UN Women sounds the alarm over online misogyny

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Why is the manosphere on the rise? UN Women sounds the alarm over online misogyny

With more than 5.5 billion people connected online – nearly all of them active on social media – digital platforms have become central to how people interact, UN Women highlights.

However, they are also being weaponised to spread misogyny and hate. Once confined to fringe internet forums, the manosphere now reaches into schoolyards, workplaces, and is sometimes upending intimate personal relationships.

“We are seeing an increasing trend of young men and boys looking to influencers for guidance on issues like dating, fitness, and fatherhood,” said Kalliopi Mingeirou, Chief of the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Section at UN Women.

Looking for answers to feel more secure about themselves, these boys encounter “strength” in online communities who also promote harmful attitudes that distort masculinity and fuel misogyny.

Boys are looking for ‘validation online’

“These spaces are really taking advantage of those insecurities and a need for validation…very often circulating messages that are very dismissive of women and girls’ positions in society and are often very misogynistic, portraying a very bad picture of women’s rights activists, for example,” Ms. Mingeirou told UN News.

According to the Movember Foundation, a leading men’s health organization and partner of UN Women, two-thirds of young men regularly engage with masculinity influencers online.

While some content offers genuine support, much of it promotes extreme language and sexist ideology, reinforcing the idea that men are victims of feminism and modern social change.

The most recent UN Secretary-General’s report on violence against women and girls notes that groups within the manosphere are united in their rejection of feminism and their portrayal of women as manipulative or dangerous.

These narratives are increasingly being amplified by social media algorithms that reward provocative and polarizing content.

Misogynistic content harms girls and boys

Stressing that anonymity makes amplification of sexist and hate speech on platforms easier, Ms. Mingeirou told us the abuse not only damages their mental and physical wellbeing but also poses “a serious risk for democracy in general”.

“Women and girls are feeling less comfortable to be exposed to the risks and threats when they engage in digital platforms – and we often see women journalists, women politicians who tend to not engage, because they are afraid of the impact it has on them”.

Underlying that stereotypes create anxiety and harm boys and men alike, Ms. Mingeirou added that safe spaces need to be created, so everyone can look for guidance without being subjected to harmful content.

A threat beyond the internet

The manosphere’s toxic narratives are no longer confined to obscure online spaces. Their influence is seeping into broader culture and politics, trivializing gender-based violence and reinforcing discriminatory stereotypes.

In extreme cases, these ideologies intersect with other forms of radicalization, including racism, homophobia, and authoritarianism. Misogyny online quickly becomes misogyny offline.

“We have growing evidence that in some of the community mass shootings or extreme incidents against the community, very often the perpetrators were also heavily engaged in such misogynistic online platforms, conveying messaging connecting with broader ideologies that puts all of us at risk”, Ms. Mingeirou continued.

These communities do not all speak with one voice, but they are united in portraying feminism as dangerous, women as manipulative, and men as victims of social change. Their ideas are gaining ground, particularly among boys and young men, amplified by algorithms that prioritize sensational and extreme content. The manosphere’s narratives are no longer confined to niche corners of the internet. They are shaping how people think, how they vote, and how they treat others.

© Unsplash/John Schnobrich

With more than 5.5 billion people connected online, digital platforms have become central to how people interact.

A rights-based response

As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, UN Women is warning that the rise of online misogyny poses a direct threat to the progress made toward gender equality.

In response, the agency is scaling up efforts to counter toxic digital environments. Their multi-pronged approach includes:

  • Research and data collection on the spread and impact of online hate.
  • Policy advocacy for digital safety and regulation.
  • Support for survivors of online abuse.
  • Public education campaigns challenging toxic masculinity.
  • Youth-focused programming aimed at building digital resilience and promoting gender equality.
  • Calling on the media to take a more active role in addressing this issue.

Education as Prevention

Ultimately, education is one of the most effective tools for dismantling the foundation of misogynistic ideology. Talking to children and adolescents about gender equality, healthy relationships, and digital citizenship is crucial to preventing harmful attitudes from taking root.

“It’s not just about protecting girls,” Ms. Mingeirou said. “It’s about creating a world where boys and girls alike can grow up free from the toxic pressures of harmful gender expectations.”

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Why is the Manosphere increasing? UN women seem the alarm on online misogyny

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With more than 5.5 billion people connected online – almost all active on social networks – digital platforms have become central to the way people interact, United Nations Strengths.

However, they are also armed to spread misogyny and hatred. Once confined to the Internet forums Fringe, the Manosphere now reaches school lessons, workplaces and sometimes upsets intimate personal relationships.

“We note an increasing trend of young men and boys who seek to influence advice on questions such as dating, physical form and paternity,” said Kalliopi Mingerou, head of the end of women of violence against women and girls of the UN.

In search of answers to feel more security towards themselves, these boys encounter a “force” in online communities which also promote harmful attitudes which distort the masculinity and misogyny of fuel.

Boys are looking for “online validation”

“These spaces really benefit from these insecurity and a need for validation … Very often messages in circulation which are very disdainful of the positions of women and girls in society and which are often very misogynist, depicting a very bad image of the rights of women’s rights, for example,” said Mingeirou. UN News.

According to the Movember Foundation, a leading male health organization and partner of UN women, two thirds of young men regularly engage with influencers of online masculinity.

Although some content provides real support, a large part promotes extreme language and a sexist ideology, strengthening the idea that men are victims of feminism and modern social change.

Most recent Report of the UN Secretary General on violence against women and girls Note that groups within the Manosphere are united in their rejection of feminism and their representation of women as manipulative or dangerous.

These stories are increasingly amplified by social media algorithms which reward provocative and polarizing content.

Misogynum contents harm girls and boys

Stressing that anonymity facilitates the amplification of sexist and hatred discourse on platforms, Mrs. Mingeirou told us that the abuse damages not only their mental and physical well-being, but also presents “a serious risk of democracy in general”.

“Women and girls feel less comfortable to be exposed to risks and threats when they get involved in digital platforms – and we often see women journalists, politicians who tend to commit, because they are afraid of the impact that it has on them.”

A underlying that stereotypes create anxiety and harm boys and men, Mingeirou has added that safe spaces must be created, so that everyone can look for advice without being subjected to harmful content.

A threat beyond the internet

The toxic Manosphere stories are no longer limited to obscure online spaces. Their influence infiltrates a wider culture and policy, trivializing gender -based violence and strengthening discriminatory stereotypes.

In extreme cases, these ideologies intersect with other forms of radicalization, including racism, homophobia and authoritarianism. Online misogyny quickly becomes offline of misogyny.

“We have increasing evidence that in some of the community mass fire or extreme incidents against the community, the authors were often strongly engaged in such misogynous online platforms, transmitting messages connecting with wider ideologies that put us in danger,” said Mingeirou.

These communities do not all speak of one voice, but they are united to portray feminism as dangerous, women as manipulators and men as victims of social change. Their ideas are gaining ground, especially in boys and young men, amplified by algorithms that prioritize sensational and extreme content. Manosphere stories are no longer limited to internet niche corners. They shape how people think, how they vote and how they treat others.

© UNSPLASH / John Schnobrich

With more than 5.5 billion people connected online, digital platforms have become central to the way people interact.

A rights based on rights

While the world marks the 30th anniversary of Beijing declaration and platform for actionUN women warn that the rise of online misogyny is a direct threat to progress made towards gender equality.

In response, the agency increases efforts to counter toxic digital environments. Their several component approach includes:

  • Data research and collection On the spread and impact of hatred online.
  • Political advocacy for digital safety and regulations.
  • Support for survivors online abuse.
  • Public education campaigns Deterpate toxic masculinity.
  • Programming focused on young people aimed at strengthening digital resilience and promoting gender equality.
  • Call on the media To play a more active role in solving this problem.

Education as prevention

In the end, education is one of the most effective tools to dismantle the foundation of misogynistic ideology. Talking to children and adolescents about gender equality, healthy relationships and digital citizenship is crucial to prevent harmful attitudes from taking root.

“It’s not just about protecting girls,” said Mingeirou. “It’s about creating a world where boys and girls can freely grow toxic pressure from harmful gender expectations.”

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

From the world’s world to the stars: a new space race

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The exploits of the longtime established space nations-in particular the United States-can still dominate major titles, but countries as diverse as Zimbabwe, Honduras and Malta signal their intention to take advantage of the advantages of activities related to space.

These small states, and many others, ask belonging to the United Nations organization which helps to shape internationally agreed rules on the peaceful use of space and to avoid a new “Wild West” free for everything, which could potentially lead to conflicts.

Why the countries turn to the sky

What attracts countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia and Maldives to space? Although their motivations are varied, the advantages of space quickly become obvious to everyone. Spatial technologies allow access to critical data and services that support climate resilience, response to disasters and sustainable development. In the development states of small islands, for example, satellite data help monitor the level of sea level and improve early alert systems for hurricanes and floods.

In Ghana And TongaTHE United Nations Office for External Space Affairs (UNOOSA) recently helped develop capital “digital twins” using satellite and AI data. These virtual models can simulate flood scenarios, allowing governments to identify vulnerable infrastructure, strengthen emergency intervention plans and react more effectively when disasters strike.

Many actors in emerging space face significant obstacles, including high technical and financial obstacles, as well as underdeveloped national regulations and legal frameworks. Unoosa helps to fill these shortcomings by advising national space legislation and helping the countries to sail Space treaty and the Registration congresswhich aims to provide a precise image of all the objects launched in space.

© NASA Earth Observatory / Michal

Three storms active in the South Pacific – Image of the NASA earth observatory (February 2025)

THE Access to space for all programsFor example, helps non -spatial nations to launch useful charges, carry out experiences and access the data from space missions. Kenya, Mauritius, Guatemala and Moldova have all successfully launched their first satellite in partnership with the Kibocube JAXA / UNOOSA programWho collaborates with teams from developing countries to deploy small cubic satellites from the international space station.

Unoosa Space law for new space players The project supports emerging space nations to develop robust legal and political frameworks for outdoor space activities, and the Space4Women The initiative developed the Gender temporary tool box for the space sector To help organizations engage in equity in sex, to promote equal opportunities, to empower women and girls through dedicated programming and to follow measurable progress. Another flagship initiative, Unadderoffers capacity building specializing in the use of space applications for disaster risk reduction and emergency response.

The Maldives archipelago – Images of the Nasa Terre Observatory

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

For too long, ‘unbound horrors’ have unfolded in Sudan

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For too long, ‘unbound horrors’ have unfolded in Sudan

Since civil war erupted in April 2023 between the generals of the national army and their former allies-turned rivals, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, vast areas of the country have been left in ruins.

The conflict has fuelled the world’s largest displacement crisis, with more than 12 million people forcibly displaced, the majority of them women and children.

The recent escalation poses a grave risk of further deterioration in what is already a “brutal and deadly conflict”, raising serious concerns for civilian protection, said Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in a statement.

Displacement camps under siege

Following a year-long siege, the RSF launched a renewed assault on the displacement camps around El Fasher on Monday, after months of intensified mobilisation, including the recruitment of children across Darfur.

The operation echoed the RSF’s ground offensive on Zamzam camp in April, which resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths, widespread sexual violence, and a deepening humanitarian emergency.

Between 10 and 13 April alone, the RSF reportedly killed more than 100 civilians in areas around El Fasher.

Trapped civilians

In South Kordofan state, fighting between the parties vying for control of the strategic town of Al Debibat has trapped thousands of civilians.

Meanwhile, in North Kordofan state, the RSF have reportedly surrounded the city of El Obeid, which is currently held by the SAF and allied groups.

The RSF commander has announced that the group may attack the city in the coming days.

“We know where further escalation will lead,” said Mr Türk.

For too long, “the world has witnessed the unbound horrors unfolding in Sudan”, he said, “civilians must be protected at all costs.”

Duty to protect

The UN rights chief urged “the parties to ensure civilians can safely leave El Fasher, Al Debibat, and El Obeid,” as well as other locations where people may be trapped.

Mr. Türk called on all parties to refrain from “attacking civilian objects,” and to ultimately lay down their weapons and put an end to hostilities.

OHCHR also called on “all States to exert their influence to press for a durable political solution,” and to ensure that parties to the conflict respect international humanitarian law, calling for an end to the flow of arms into the country.

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“A fire that no one can control”: the UN warns of spiral the Iran-Israel war

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In an address at the UN Security advice Friday, Mr. Guterres argued urgent for de -escalation, qualifying the confrontation in a spiral a decisive moment for the future of world security.

“” We do not derive towards the crisis – we run towards it“He said.

“It’s a moment that could shape the fate of nations …The expansion of this conflict could light a fire that no one can control“He warned.

Generalized panic, destruction

The secretary general’s remarks occurred in the midst of a civil report in Israel and Iran, and as several nuclear sites in Iran have made direct military assault.

More than 100 objectives have been achieved through Iran, including military and nuclear infrastructure such as nuclear installations in Natanz and Isfahan and the heavy water reactor in Khondab.

Iranian officials report more than 224 civil deaths, with some estimates twice as high. More than 2,500 would have been injured – while major cities like Tehran have seen mass travel, fuel shortages and general panic.

Iran responded with its own damage missile strikes on Israel, striking cities like such Aviv, Haifa and Beersheba. Critical civil sites, including the Soroka Medical Center and the Weizmann Research Institute, have been damaged. Twenty-four Israelis are confirmed dead, with more than 900 injured.

Give a chance to peace

Mr. Guterres urged the two parties to give diplomacy a chance, reiterating the need for complete Iranian cooperation with the United Nations Nuclear Energy Dog, Aieaand warn that The “only predictable thing about this conflict is its unpredictability”.

He also called for unit within the Security Council and to membership of Charter of the United Nations.

“The non-proliferation treaty is the cornerstone of international security,” he said. “Iran must respect it. But the only way to fill the gap of trust is by diplomacy – not destruction. ”

A broad view of the Security Council meeting on the Israeli-Iranian crisis.

Expansion of regional benefits

Rosemary Dicarlo, United Nations Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, has echoed these concerns, offering an overview of violence and the increase in human toll.

“The vast majority are civilians,” she said, warning of a “real-time humanitarian crisis”.

The regional repercussions develop, the airspace restrictions now extending to Lebanon in Iraq. The missiles of the Houthi forces of Yemen have targeted Israel and occupied the Palestinian territory, while the armed groups in Iraq would have mobilized.

“Any new expansion of the conflict could have enormous consequences for international peace and security,” said Dicarlo.

It also underlined the global economic implications, noting that trade in the Vital Strait of Hormuz dropped by 15% in the midst of increasing tensions.

Serious warnings in nuclear security

The most alarming update, however, came from the director general of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, who warned the council that Israeli attacks against Iranian nuclear installations degrade critical security systems and placing millions with potential radiological risks.

In Natanz, the destruction of electrical infrastructure and direct strikes in enrichment rooms have led to internal contamination. Although no radiological release has been detected outside the establishment, Mr. Grosi warned that uranium compounds are now pose significant health risks.

In Isfahan, several buildings – including a uranium conversion plant and a metal processing installation – have been affected. On the Khondab reactor site of Arak, the damage was suffered, although the installation is not operational.

The greatest risk, however, is the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which remains operational.

A direct strike, warned Mr. Grosi, “could lead to a high election of radioactivity to the environment”.

Million at risk

Even the disruption of his external diet could lead to a central collapse. In the worst case, the influence would affect populations hundreds of kilometers and would require massive evacuations.

Grossi also warned of any attack on the Tehran nuclear research reactor, which could endanger millions in the capital.

“” Nuclear installations and materials should not be surrounded by the fog of war“He said.We must maintain communication, transparency and restraint.“”

Stand

By concluding his briefing, Mr. Grossi promised that the AIEA would continue to monitor and report on the nuclear security conditions in Iran and reiterated his desire to mediate.

He stressed that the agency “can guarantee, through a system of waterproof inspections”, that nuclear weapons will not be developed in IranUndering dialogue.

“The alternative is a prolonged conflict-and an imminent nuclear threat that would erode the global non-proliferation regime.”

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Of Syria, the head of the United Nations refugees calls for greater solidarity with displaced people

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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, sounded the alarm on Friday, World Refugee DayIn a message of Syria.

He declared that the abject failure to put an end to conflicts – including in Sudan, Ukraine, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gaza – continues to create immense suffering.

Difficulty looking for a shelter

“However, the innocent people running for their lives while the bullets fly and the missiles are unjustly stigmatized, which makes it more difficult to escape danger and find a place to recover and rebuild,” he said.

Their situation is still aggravated by brutal cuts with humanitarian aid, affecting millions that desperately need help.

“” At this critical stage, it is essential that we reaffirm our solidarity with refugees – not only with words but with urgent action“He said.

He added that inspiring examples already exist, countries that continue to welcome and welcome refugees, to local communities which “open their houses, their workplaces and their heart”, as well as “the countless individual acts of kindness and compassion that reveal our common humanity”.

Share

Grandi said that the international community can and must support these countries and communities by sharing the responsibility of protecting refugees, calling in particular the action of richer states, development banks, businesses and others.

The High Commissioner spent the day in Syria, where some 600,000 people returned from neighboring countries after 14 years of war. Overall, more than two million Syrians have returned home and their communities since the fall of the Assad regime last December.

“In a region that has suffered so much violence – and even suffers from it now – we are nevertheless presented on the occasion of helping Syrians reach stability and prosperity. We must not let him pass“He said.

Mr. Grandi met Syrian families who have spent more than a decade as refugees, whose deep joy to be among the faces and the familiar environment recall the desire for refugees for the house.

“Now more than ever, we must support ourselves with refugees to keep their hope for a better future alive,” he said.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

WHO warns of a health financing emergency

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WHO warns of a health financing emergency

Speaking at the regular Friday press briefing in Geneva for humanitarian agencies, she warned that as wealthier nations make deep spending cuts, both international aid and national health systems are facing serious disruption.

Dr. Chalkidou highlighted recent decisions by the United States, several European governments, and EU bodies to freeze or scale down health aid.

WHO forecasts indicate that global health investment is likely to drop by up to 40 per cent this year, down $10 billion from just over $25 billion in 2023. The estimated $15 billion spent on health aid would bring the figure down to the lowest level in a decade.

Impacts in developing countries

This funding shortage is creating a health finance emergency in many developing countries – particularly in sub-Saharan Africa – which depend on external aid to finance their health systems.

In numerous countries, US-financed healthcare programmes were the primary source of external aid, accounting for as much as 30 per cent of current health spending in countries like Malawi, and around 25 per cent in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Since 2006, external aid per capita in low-income countries has consistently exceeded domestic health spending.

Many sub-Saharan nations face soaring debt burdens – some spending twice as much on debt servicing as on health – making reallocation of resources difficult.

The consequences are severe: Dr. Chalkidou referred to a survey by WHO showing that countries today are reporting health service disruptions “not seen since the peak of COVID-19”.

Solutions

To address this crisis, WHO is urging countries to reduce aid dependency, boost revenue through improved taxation—including health taxes on products like tobacco and alcohol—and work with multilateral banks to secure low-interest loans for cost-effective health investments.

WHO also plans to attend the upcoming International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, where global leaders are expected to address the health financing crisis and hopefully make new commitments.

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Gaza horrors continue as the weakest succumb to injuries and disease

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Gaza horrors continue as the weakest succumb to injuries and disease

“I met a little boy who was wounded by a tank shell at one of these sites on the final day of me leaving Gaza – I learnt that this little boy had since died of those injuries,” said UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spokesperson James Elder. “That speaks to both what is happening at these sites and what is not happening when it comes to medical evacuations.”

A recent online video featuring a dying 13-year-old Abed al-Rahman who Mr. Elder met while on mission in Gaza has been seen thousands of times since it was published on 6 June. In the clip, Abed explains that he has been asking for pain relief for his shrapnel wounds, but none is available.

Speaking to journalists from Amman, Mr. Elder explained that partly destroyed hospitals including Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis continue to treat wounded children, despite a shortage of medicine and medical supplies.

“Humanitarian aid is so much more than food in a box; it’s oxygen kits, it’s ventilators, it’s hygiene packs; it’s medicines, it’s incubators,” he explained. “It’s all those things the United Nations was doing just a couple of months ago.”

Mr. Elder added that parents whose children need oxygen have been leaving hospital “because of the fear that Nasser may come under attack again. As the doctors told me, if you have a child who needs oxygen and they leave without the oxygen, they will, over a matter of time, die in a tent.”

Desperation, starvation

The dire shortage of the most basic life-sustaining aid linked to Israeli restrictions continues to create desperation and starvation across Gaza.

“I spoke to a grandmother in tears saying, how am I possibly to get to these sites?” Mr. Elder explained. “I’ve met young men who’ve been seven times and never returned with anything. So, there’s a complete lack of equity. There’s a complete lack of sites. You cannot distribute aid in a militarised zone, in a combat zone, by one party to the conflict.”

Those most susceptible to the lack of fresh drinking water, food and fuel are the weakest Gazans: the young, pregnant women, the elderly and amputees, Mr. Elder said. 

It would be impossible for them to walk the long distances required to fetch scant supplies from controversial non-UN aid hubs.

Lethal choice

“You have half a million people facing starvation with a lethal choice of being forced into very small pockets where most people can’t access into what are officially known as combat sites,” the UNICEF spokesperson explained. “We know children [who have been] killed at these sites.”

Meanwhile, malnutrition and the impact of it on people’s weakened immune systems continues to take its toll, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned.

“The latest reports say 610 patients have been admitted due to severe malnutrition complications,” said WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier. “But what does that mean? That means these are the lucky ones who made it so far to get to a place. 

“This does not count the many who were too weak to reach any point, who are too weak, who cannot be transported because the roads are blocked, because there are no ambulances, or because the hospitals, some of the health emergency centres have been shelled and bombed and are being constantly shelled and bombed.”

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New EU labels to help consumers choose more repairable electronics

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New EU labels to help consumers choose more repairable electronics

Do you know what the reparability score labels mean? Repairability scores range from A (most repairable) to E (least repairable). How are they measured? They are based on 6 factors:  Disassembly depth Fasteners Tools Spare part availability Software updates Repair information   Source link

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New EU labels to help consumers choose more repairable electronics

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New EU labels to help consumers choose more repairable electronics

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