A women from Syria with her baby as they have just arrived in Münich. @ picture-alliance/dpa/S. Hoppe

Refugee crisis is still a big topic in Europe. As governments obviously not able to find a way to solve this problem, normal people have been working as volunteers to help refugees with food, clothing, toys for children and one woman even saved a refugee’s by taking him to her boat in the Aegean Sea. Read more about her and other news about women here.

Greek woman and her husband rescue Syrian refugee

Sandra Tsiligeridu was on vacation in Kos when she noticed something in the sea that would change her life — and save another.

See more here from CNN.

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FGM: Tackling a trauma

Millions of women all over the world have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM). A center in Berlin is trying to help women to put the pain and trauma behind them.

Read more here.

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For some Egyptian women, FGM is not all bad

It’s neither a lack of education, nor a religious custom that allows female genital mutilation (FGM) to prevail in Egypt. Three mothers explain their motivation for getting their daughters cut.

Read more here.

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Living in fear of FGM in Sierra Leone: ‘I’m not safe in this community’

Girls in Sierra Leone are under huge pressure to be initiated into all-female secret societies that practise female genital mutilation. Mariatu* describes her struggle to escape FGM while Plan International worker Aminata Sheriff, who helps young girls like Mariatu, recalls the horror of being cut at the age of 16. Two soweis, the highest ranking figures in the secret societies, speak about the cultural traditions and financial pressures that perpetuate FGM.

Read more here from the Guardian.

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Chinese human rights lawyer: ‘You might disappear at any time’

Wang Yu was the most high profile of the lawyers arrested in July 2015 in a crackdown on rights campaigners in China. She was held on suspicion of inciting subversion after one of her last cases, a sexual assault involving six underage girls and their school headteacher in Wanning City. Despite pressure on the girls’ parents to stay quiet, Wang Yu took up their case, risking her safety to inform the public about their rights, and fighting for the incident to be classified as rape.

See more here from the Guardian.

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Why German women tend to work part-time

One of the SDGs calls for the acheivement of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls everywhere in the world. How advanced is Germany? Listen here to find out.

Read more here.

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World in Progress: Why the MDGs matter for girl’s education

Gender equality and education for all will be part of the new sustainable development goals. The NGO “She’s the first” provides scholarships for girls in many different countries. Co-founder Christen Brandt told DW what role the Millenium Development Goals have played for her work and what will change with the new development agenda.

Read more here.