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Plans for women-only screenings of the Wonder Woman film premiere in the US and a festival primarily for black women in Paris have raised questions about the impact of dedicated spaces for marginalised groups. Some people have raised concerns that women-only groups may create even more division within society.

Celebrities including Emma Thompson and Jessie J share their period confessions (they might surprise you!) and remind us all why we should never be embarrassed by our periods. 

News research shows a shocking 1 in 4 UK women don't understand their menstrual cycle. So this Menstrual Hygiene Day, we’re determined to open up the conversation about periods - and put taboos to rest. 

Hamda is the deputy leader of a women's coalition in Somaliland. She is a survivor of female genital mutilation (FGM), and she works tirelessly to persuade people within her local community to stop carrying out FGM on their daughters, by sharing her experiences and how it could have destroyed her marriage. 

Emily, 42, is a local ActionAid worker who lives in West Pokot, Kenya. Committed to changing the lives of women and girls in the region, she works with a network of more than 100 women from surrounding villages to help stamp out female genital mutilation (FGM). Since ActionAid started working there, Emily says fewer girls are facing the cut and many more are staying in school. But, as she explains here, there is still much to do to end the practice for good.

Over the last week the criticism of international aid found a new target - the practice of giving money directly to some of the poorest and most vulnerable people, otherwise known as direct cash transfers. The allegation made was that this amounted to setting up UK-funded cashpoints for the poor. Aid money should never be misspent or wasted, but the criticisms of direct cash transfers - giving money directly to people in need - misunderstand the issue. Here's why.