Flora Bagenal is a British journalist and film maker. She has reported from four continents, living in Beijing, Washington, Nairobi, London and Bangkok over the past ten years. Her work has been used by The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Reuters, AFP and Channel 4 News. https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/contributor/flora-bagenal/rss en Data & Peace Women & Peace Fri, 25 May 2018 13:50:00 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/peacebuilding/articles/2018/05/25/rise-of-the-far-right-renews-the-power-of-protest-in-poland https://www.newsdeeply.com/peacebuilding/articles/2018/05/25/rise-of-the-far-right-renews-the-power-of-protest-in-poland Poland’s shift to the right has made the country more fragile and raised concern in Europe. It has also sparked a grassroots protest movement that could eventually help bring voters back to the center. Data & Peace Stability & Development Thu, 10 May 2018 13:20:00 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/peacebuilding/articles/2018/05/10/fragile-states-index-the-trump-effect-on-u-s-stability https://www.newsdeeply.com/peacebuilding/articles/2018/05/10/fragile-states-index-the-trump-effect-on-u-s-stability The U.S. is the fourth most-worsened country on the 2018 Fragile State Index. Trump’s presidency embodies the country’s current political deadlock and instability, and is likely to impact this upcoming midterm elections. Crisis and Conflict Mon, 20 Mar 2017 10:25:33 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/03/20/covert-project-help-mothers-push-back-taliban https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/03/20/covert-project-help-mothers-push-back-taliban As part of our series “Women and Jihad,” we look at how one charity in Pakistan’s Swat Valley worked undercover with mothers of young Taliban recruits to help them spot signs of radicalization and find ways to intervene before their sons carried out acts of violence. Crisis and Conflict Wed, 15 Mar 2017 05:00:16 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/03/15/just-mothers-changing-roles-women-extremism https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/03/15/just-mothers-changing-roles-women-extremism Fauziya Abdi represents a network of women’s organizations in Kenya working to prevent violent extremism. Speaking to us for our “Women and Jihad” series, she says women’s increasingly diverse roles within radical groups call for a more sophisticated approach to the problem. Crisis and Conflict Mon, 06 Mar 2017 10:36:16 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/03/06/selling-militant-dream-come-live-not-die https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/03/06/selling-militant-dream-come-live-not-die How ISIS depicts women in its official propaganda tells us a lot about the role it sees for female members of the group. In “Women and Jihad,” we speak with researcher Charlie Winter about the power of the extremist promise. Crisis and Conflict Wed, 01 Mar 2017 12:30:20 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/03/01/east-london-kenya-women-waging-war-extremism https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/03/01/east-london-kenya-women-waging-war-extremism The role of women in countering violent extremism has gained momentum over the past few years. Next in “Women and Jihad,” we look at the people and programs challenging the male-dominated security scene and offering new ways to combat the threat of radicalization. Crisis and Conflict Wed, 01 Mar 2017 12:08:56 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/03/01/10-women-leading-way-counter-extremism https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/03/01/10-women-leading-way-counter-extremism The latest in our “Women and Jihad” series highlights women who have committed to combating the spread of extremist ideology, from saving Yazidi Kurds in Iraq to deradicalizing Boko Haram members in Nigeria. Crisis and Conflict Wed, 22 Feb 2017 09:37:45 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/02/22/women-jihad-converts-casualties-violent-extremism https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/02/22/women-jihad-converts-casualties-violent-extremism Next in our series, we take an in-depth look at the diverse ways in which women are affected by radicalization – as victims, perpetrators and peacemakers – while experts call for a gender shift in the way governments deal with women’s growing role in global terrorism. Crisis and Conflict Tue, 21 Feb 2017 12:50:43 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/02/21/parents-murder-one-activist-fights-back-tolerance https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/02/21/parents-murder-one-activist-fights-back-tolerance For some, being the target of racism can lead to radicalization. For Kenza Isnasni, it did the opposite. In our “Women & Jihad” series, she says the killing of her parents by a right-wing radical inspired her to fight extremism in all its forms, political and religious. Crisis and Conflict Mon, 20 Feb 2017 12:54:53 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/02/20/one-womans-tale-radicalized-utopian-promises https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/02/20/one-womans-tale-radicalized-utopian-promises Now a mentor for girls at risk of radicalization, Yasmin Mulbocus was once a recruiter for an Islamic terrorist organization. In the first part of our series “Women and Jihad,” she says she joined as an idealistic teen drawn by the group’s utopian vision of the future. Crisis and Conflict Thu, 26 Jan 2017 13:25:20 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/01/26/untold-stories-closing-gender-gap-ground https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/01/26/untold-stories-closing-gender-gap-ground Even as Myanmar slowly adapts to democracy, the government shows little interest in furthering women’s rights, leaving progress to pioneering women working at a community level, says Jenny Hedström, gender adviser for Fortify Rights. Health Wed, 04 Jan 2017 12:09:18 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/01/04/first-steps-breaching-taboo-sgbv-children-africa https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/01/04/first-steps-breaching-taboo-sgbv-children-africa Recent research in East and Southern Africa indicates post-rape services are increasingly frequented by girls, some as young as 11. The Population Council’s Chi-Chi Undie explains how the region can adapt better to their needs. Crisis and Conflict Fri, 23 Dec 2016 12:42:15 +0000 Jumana Farouky, Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/12/23/women-girls-year-review-2016 https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/12/23/women-girls-year-review-2016 There were major setbacks – prolonged conflict, global health crises, patriarchal policies – but also victories, large and small. We look at some of the milestones, moments and issues that had an impact on women’s and girls’ rights over the past year. Education Politics and Policy Tue, 11 Oct 2016 13:11:48 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/community/2016/10/11/carolyn-miles-without-gender-equity-shift-wont-reach-sdgs https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/community/2016/10/11/carolyn-miles-without-gender-equity-shift-wont-reach-sdgs On International Day of the Girl, Save the Children has released a report detailing the five worst parts of the world to be young and female. Carolyn Miles, CEO of the organization, reveals their plans to ensure a brighter future for young girls in the developing world. Health Tue, 27 Sep 2016 13:59:51 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/27/why-the-fight-against-maternal-mortality-is-all-about-the-details https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/27/why-the-fight-against-maternal-mortality-is-all-about-the-details A major study on maternal health released by Lancet aims to help the U.N. achieve its development goals. Report co-author and expert in obstetric epidemiology Wendy Graham says change in maternal mortality will only come when we approach the problem at a local level. Crisis and Conflict Tue, 20 Sep 2016 10:44:58 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/20/in-jordan-women-more-vulnerable-to-effects-of-extremism-says-report https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/20/in-jordan-women-more-vulnerable-to-effects-of-extremism-says-report As Jordan struggles with rising extremism, a new U.N. report suggests women are much more vulnerable than men to the effects of radicalization, such as an increase in domestic violence and being blamed if their children join an extremist group. Crisis and Conflict Health Wed, 14 Sep 2016 09:32:05 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/14/mapping-fgm-building-a-global-picture-of-female-circumcision https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/14/mapping-fgm-building-a-global-picture-of-female-circumcision The practice of female genital mutilation is declining in 14 countries, according to a new report by the Population Council, which offers fresh insights into the way FGM is carried out and provides hope for activists campaigning for the procedure to be banned. Crisis and Conflict Health Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:24:32 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/08/love-marriages-between-nepali-children-mask-deeper-problems https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/08/love-marriages-between-nepali-children-mask-deeper-problems In Nepal, many children enter into so-called love marriages to escape desperate situations at home. But while these are marriages of choice, activists warn the damage to girls’ prospects is as bad as if they had been forced to marry. Health Mon, 29 Aug 2016 07:35:41 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/08/29/condoms-and-conservation-using-birth-control-to-help-save-the-planet https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/08/29/condoms-and-conservation-using-birth-control-to-help-save-the-planet Linking overpopulation to climate change can be a thorny issue, but on a local level some conservation charities are having great success integrating family planning advice into their environmental programming. Education Heroes Tue, 16 Aug 2016 11:35:36 +0000 Flora Bagenal https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/08/16/looking-up-the-astronomer-who-inspires-kenyas-kids https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/08/16/looking-up-the-astronomer-who-inspires-kenyas-kids Teaching children about the stars helps them learn to love and care for the natural world, says Kenyan astronomer Susan Murabana. And by taking her telescope to remote parts of the country, she hopes to also encourage more girls to get into science.