Spotlighting Remarkable Women and Girls

  • info@raisingwomeninitiative.com

Beyond Measures

is our world a safe space for women

Is our World a Safe Space for Women?

By Florence Wele

Imagine a world where women can walk the streets without fear, be valued and respected, safe from harm. Sadly, that’s not the reality for millions of women across the globe. Gender-based violence, including femicide—the intentional killing of women simply because they are women—remains a terrifying daily threat.

Take the tragic case of Kiara Agnew, a Canadian woman found murdered in Mexico. She was killed in a resort in Playa del Carmen, and her body was discovered showing signs of violence. Though her boyfriend was initially arrested for femicide, he was later acquitted, leaving Kiara’s family shattered.

In Kenya, 33-year-old Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei was brutally attacked by her ex-boyfriend Dickson Ndiema Marangach, who set her on fire after a disagreement over land. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she died from severe burns. Her death sparked an outpouring of grief and highlighted the dangers many women face—even in their own homes.

Meanwhile, in Switzerland, Kristina Joksimovic, a former Miss Switzerland finalist, was strangled and dismembered by her husband. This horrific murder reignited debates on domestic violence and the urgent need for stronger measures to protect women.

Nigeria is also grappling with a surge in femicide. The stories are heartbreaking, especially when the perpetrators are those trusted by the victims. Christiana Okechukwu, a university student, was tragically killed by a male friend. Similarly, Damilola, a 100-level student, was strangled and her organs harvested by a man who demanded ransom from her family before killing her.

While precise figures are challenging to obtain due to underreporting and data limitations, a 2022 report by UN women revealed that around 48,800 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members, with 20,000 victims from Africa alone. This figure, though alarming, may represent only a fraction of the actual number of femicides, and the lack of comprehensive data makes it difficult to fully grasp the extent of this crisis.

“Some of these killings are motivated by ritualistic practices or financial gain, while others are purely acts of gender-based violence.”

Regardless of the reason, the complexity of femicide requires a multifaceted response. It’s not just about stopping violence; it’s about addressing the cultural, social, and economic factors that perpetuate it. It’s no longer enough to rely on weekly safety measures like pepper spray, AirTags, or curfews. As a society, we must actively speak out against violence and support the women in our lives.

At the same time, law enforcement must prioritize femicide investigations and ensure that perpetrators face justice. Beyond that, we need to challenge and change the cultural attitudes that perpetuate gender inequality and harmful stereotypes.

By raising awareness, demanding accountability, and advocating for real change, we can help build a safer, more just world for all women.

Let us remember the names of those who have been lost to femicide:

Christiana Okechukwu Damilola

Kiara Agnew Rebecca Cheptegei

And countless others whose stories remain untold.

Their lives were taken from them far too soon. Let us honor their memory by fighting for a future free of gender based violence.

Share:

Trending

Raising Women Magazine Issue 045 – June 2026

There is a difference between living and merely functioning.
Somewhere between the notifications, deadlines, responsibilities, ambitions, and endless demands of modern life, many of us have become exceptionally good at keeping going. We show up. We deliver. We carry. We cope. Yet beneath the appearance of productivity, an important question remains: are we truly well?
In this issue of Raising Women Magazine, we explore wellness not as a trend, but as a deeper conversation about humanity, health, purpose, and presence.
Our cover feature introduces Dr. Heidi Beilis, a pioneering physician helping to shape the future of healthcare through artificial intelligence. Her work reminds us that innovation is at its best when it serves people, particularly women whose lives may be transformed by earlier diagnoses and better outcomes.
Elsewhere, we explore grief, ambition, beauty, leadership, healthspan, rest, and the invisible burdens many women carry. We ask difficult questions about what it means to thrive, not simply survive.
As I wrote in this issue’s Find Her Light column, sometimes the rest we need is not sleep. Sometimes it is space. Sometimes it is perspective. Sometimes it is permission.
May these pages offer all three.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 044 – May 2026

There is something deeply revealing about the way a society treats its children. Not just in policy or parenting, but in the stories it tells them, the spaces it creates for them, and the kind of world it quietly prepares them to inherit. In this Children’s Day edition, Raising Women Magazine turns its attention to childhood itself, not as a sentimental phase of life, but as the foundation upon which identity, confidence, memory, and humanity are built.

Our cover star, Ms. Rachel, represents a refreshing reminder that gentleness still matters in an age of noise. Through patience, intentionality, and emotional safety, she has transformed songs and screen time into a global classroom for millions of children and families.

Across this issue, we explore the emotional architecture of childhood, from the girls who learn too early to shrink themselves, to the children quietly carrying adult burdens before they fully understand their own. We also interrogate modern parenting, digital culture, family, safety, and the futures young people are already shaping.

Because childhood is never just preparation for life.

In many ways, it is life itself.

The Family Tree Divide

What Women Are Given, and What They Build By Sipho Khumalo Two women walk into the same room. One is recognised before she speaks. The

Your guide to IVF and egg freezing in Korea

Empowering your family planning journey with curated fertility treatments at lower costs. Get our guide for Korea’s leading clinics, pricing and service breakdown.

Sign up for a free estimate

Recommended News

Raising Women Magazine Issue 045 – June 2026

There is a difference between living and merely functioning.
Somewhere between the notifications, deadlines, responsibilities, ambitions, and endless demands of modern life, many of us have become exceptionally good at keeping going. We show up. We deliver. We carry. We cope. Yet beneath the appearance of productivity, an important question remains: are we truly well?
In this issue of Raising Women Magazine, we explore wellness not as a trend, but as a deeper conversation about humanity, health, purpose, and presence.
Our cover feature introduces Dr. Heidi Beilis, a pioneering physician helping to shape the future of healthcare through artificial intelligence. Her work reminds us that innovation is at its best when it serves people, particularly women whose lives may be transformed by earlier diagnoses and better outcomes.
Elsewhere, we explore grief, ambition, beauty, leadership, healthspan, rest, and the invisible burdens many women carry. We ask difficult questions about what it means to thrive, not simply survive.
As I wrote in this issue’s Find Her Light column, sometimes the rest we need is not sleep. Sometimes it is space. Sometimes it is perspective. Sometimes it is permission.
May these pages offer all three.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 044 – May 2026

There is something deeply revealing about the way a society treats its children. Not just in policy or parenting, but in the stories it tells them, the spaces it creates for them, and the kind of world it quietly prepares them to inherit. In this Children’s Day edition, Raising Women Magazine turns its attention to childhood itself, not as a sentimental phase of life, but as the foundation upon which identity, confidence, memory, and humanity are built.

Our cover star, Ms. Rachel, represents a refreshing reminder that gentleness still matters in an age of noise. Through patience, intentionality, and emotional safety, she has transformed songs and screen time into a global classroom for millions of children and families.

Across this issue, we explore the emotional architecture of childhood, from the girls who learn too early to shrink themselves, to the children quietly carrying adult burdens before they fully understand their own. We also interrogate modern parenting, digital culture, family, safety, and the futures young people are already shaping.

Because childhood is never just preparation for life.

In many ways, it is life itself.

The Family Tree Divide

What Women Are Given, and What They Build By Sipho Khumalo Two women walk into the same room. One is

First, Believe

By The Lulu They said the sky’s the limit But what if you’re still underground, still digging through the dirt

Empowering and celebrating the achievements of women and girls worldwide, shining a light on their remarkable journeys every day.

Connect With Us

Segments