Self-care note: This wrap-up includes discussion of women’s health, anti-LGBTQIA+ policies and behaviours, gender based violence, and more. If you find this distressing or triggering, remember to take it at your own pace. You may prefer to read small sections, wait until you feel ready to read it all, or choose not to read it at all.
1. Trans people face barriers and inequality in healthcare, new report finds 🏳️⚧️
According to a new report by TransActual, transgender people in the UK face widespread inequalities in healthcare settings.
The Trans Lives Report (2025) revealed that 43 per cent of respondents had experienced transphobia, with many saying they were refused treatments and tests such as routine cervical screening or prostate exams because of their identity.
Many trans people also said they avoid seeking help from medical professionals due to low confidence. For instance, 35 per cent said they had avoided going to A&E.
The survey was conducted with more than 4,000 people between December 2024 and January 2025.
Source: TransActual
2. Anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime amendment passes House of Lords 🏳️🌈
The UK House of Lords has passed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would classify anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes as aggravated offences.
If approved by the House of Commons, the change would place offences motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity on the same legal footing as racial and religious hate crimes, potentially leading to tougher sentences.
Campaigners, including LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, say the move is an important step toward equal protection under the law. Official figures show more than 18,000 hate crimes related to sexual orientation and over 2,500 linked to trans identities were recorded in 2024.
Source: Attitude
3. One third of Gen Z men think wives should “obey” their husbands, new survey reveals 📊
According to a new global study, 31 per cent of Gen Z men believe that women should “obey” their husbands and 33 per cent think that husbands should have the final say on important decisions.
Also, 21 per cent of Gen Z men think a “real woman” should never initiate sex, and more than half believe that men are expected to do too much to support equality.
Based on a survey of more than 23,000 people in 29 countries, the study found that Gen Z men were twice as likely as boomer men to have traditional views about marriage and relationships.
Source: King’s College London
4. At-home urine tests could detect breast cancer, endometriosis and PCOS 🧪
As part of new developments in women’s health research in Wales, “game-changing” tests to detect early-stage breast cancer could soon be released.
The tests will use a lateral flow urine sample and could help reduce waiting times.
The testing kits are among the projects funded by the Welsh Government to improve women’s health research. Researchers believe it could take around 18 months to develop the prototypes and up to five years to test them for accuracy.
A similar test that could help diagnose endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is now being explored.
Source: BBC News
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5. Women’s rights are threatened and regressing worldwide, UN warns ⚖️
According to a new report released by UN Women, we are witnessing “an increasingly organised pushback at gender equality and regression of women’s rights,” as UN gender equality chief Sarah Hendriks described it.
The report estimates that women have 64 per cent of the legal rights of men, and 54 per cent of countries do not have consent-based legal definitions of rape. Women face more barriers to justice than men in almost 70 per cent of the countries surveyed, and 44 per cent of countries do not have legislation guaranteeing equal pay. Almost all organisations working to end violence against women and girls have also reported having to suspend or shut down essential services.
The rise in global conflicts is further threatening women’s rights, with millions
of women and girls living in countries affected by conflict.
Source: UN Women
6. Italian pharmacies distribute drink-spiking detection kits 🍹
Pharmacies in several Italian cities are distributing free kits that can detect drugs commonly used in drink spiking, including GHB and ketamine.
The initiative, organised by Federfarma for International Women’s Day, allows people to place a drop of their drink onto a testing strip to check for sedatives, narcotics or other psychoactive substances within seconds. The campaign follows a previous rollout that distributed more than 2,000 kits during last year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
In Venice, participating pharmacies are also handing out disposable bracelets that change colour if a drink contains certain drugs, aiming to raise awareness and provide practical tools to prevent drug-facilitated sexual violence.
Source: Rai News
7. Menstrual stigma influences daily life, new study finds 🩸
A new study conducted in Spain involving more than 4,000 people explores how menstrual stigma may influence daily life, social participation and well-being.
Published in the journal BMC Women’s Health, the research found that menstruation still affects everyday activities, with only 15.4 per cent of participants saying they can maintain their routine without change.
The most common adjustments include avoiding certain types and colours of clothing, limiting sports activities or not going to the beach. The research found these changes are not solely driven by physical discomfort but also by anxiety and fear of being judged and stigmatised.
Many participants also said they had to go to work or school despite experiencing severe pain, nausea or fatigue, while others reported that menstruation had been used to discredit their emotions and decisions.
Source: News-Medical
8. Meta sued over smart glasses privacy concerns 👓
Meta is facing a class action lawsuit over its AI-powered smart glasses after reports that contractors reviewed users’ footage containing sensitive moments, including nudity and sex.
The lawsuit follows an investigation by Swedish media which found workers at a subcontractor in Kenya were reviewing images captured by the glasses as part of Meta’s AI training process. Plaintiffs argue the company’s marketing — which promised the devices were “built for your privacy” — did not make it clear that human reviewers might see the footage.
Meta says content remains on users’ devices unless they choose to share it with Meta AI, but confirmed that shared material may be reviewed by contractors to improve the system. Regulators in the UK have also opened an investigation into the technology.
Source: TechCrunch
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