By Donna Nyadete
May 22 2025 – I was researching the role of the church in addressing contemporary issues such as gender-based violence, climate change, and social justice when I came across the #ChurchToo movement—and I got really excited. Not because the stories were easy to read (they weren’t), but because this movement was a bold, necessary conversation that faith communities could no longer ignore.

Understanding #MeToo and #ChurchToo

In 2017, the #MeToo movement exploded on social media, shedding light on the widespread reality of sexual harassment and abuse across various industries. What started as a conversation about workplace misconduct quickly evolved into a global reckoning, as survivors from all walks of life began sharing their stories.

Inspired by #MeToo, the #ChurchToo movement emerged as survivors began to share their experiences of abuse within religious spaces. Some had suffered at the hands of clergy or church leaders. Others had been dismissed, shamed, or told to “pray about it” when they sought help

The movement forced institutions—corporations, entertainment industries, governments—to confront uncomfortable truths about power, silence, and complicity.

Soon, faith communities began to ask: what about the church?

The church has long been seen as a place of refuge, a sanctuary for the weary and wounded. Yet, for many survivors of sexual violence, it has been anything but safe. Instead of finding support, many survivors were met with silence, blame, or even the protection of their abusers.

Inspired by #MeToo, the #ChurchToo movement emerged as survivors began to share their experiences of abuse within religious spaces. Some had suffered at the hands of clergy or church leaders. Others had been dismissed, shamed, or told to “pray about it” when they sought help. Many had been taught that submission and silence were godly responses, even in the face of harm.

What Made #ChurchToo Unique?

While #MeToo exposed abuse in secular spaces, #ChurchToo was distinct because it confronted the deep moral and spiritual betrayal that occurs when abuse happens within faith communities. Religious institutions are built on trust, authority, and sacred teachings. When these are manipulated to justify or conceal abuse, the damage is not just physical or emotional—it is spiritual.

The movement forced churches to grapple with difficult questions:

• Why had so many cases of abuse been covered up?
• How had misinterpretations of scripture contributed to silence and victim-blaming?
• What structures needed to change to ensure that churches became places of safety, not harm?

One of the most significant outcomes of #ChurchToo was the exposure of systemic cover-ups in high-profile religious institutions. Investigations revealed patterns of churches protecting abusers rather than survivors, prioritizing reputation over justice. This led to increased calls for accountability, transparency, and survivor-centred approaches to handling abuse allegations.

The Positive Outcomes of #ChurchToo

Though painful, the movement has led to tangible changes in many faith communities:

• Survivors Found Their Voices: Many who had been silent for years felt empowered to share their stories, knowing they were not alone. This broke the isolation that often surrounds abuse.
• Churches Began to Take Accountability: Some denominations implemented stricter policies for handling abuse cases, ensuring that allegations were taken seriously and not dismissed under the guise of “forgiveness.”
• Harmful Theologies Were Challenged: The movement prompted deeper theological reflection on teachings that have enabled abuse—such as distorted views on submission, purity culture, and male headship. More pastors began re-examining how scripture is taught, ensuring that messages of justice, dignity, and equality are at the forefront.
• Women’s Leadership Was Amplified: Recognizing that silencing women had contributed to a culture of impunity, many churches made efforts to include more women in leadership, decision-making, and pastoral care roles.

The Church as Part of the Problem—And the Solution

For the past six years, I’ve worked with churches through SASA! Faith, helping them prevent GBV from a faith perspective. And I’ve seen both sides of this issue. On one hand, churches can be places of healing, community, and radical transformation. On the other, they have often been complicit—whether through silence, harmful teachings, or outright cover-ups.

But here’s the truth: the church doesn’t have to be part of the problem. It can be part of the solution. And in many places, we’re already seeing that happen.

Change Starts in Local Communities

In our work with SASA! Faith, we’ve seen firsthand how churches can move from passive bystanders to active responders. I remember one pastor who, after engaging with the program, realized that his past sermons had unintentionally discouraged women from speaking out about abuse. He made a commitment to preach differently, to listen more, and to ensure that his church became a place of refuge, not a place of shame.

In another community, women who once felt invisible in church decision-making are now leading conversations on governance, shaping policies that prioritize safety and inclusion. Men, too, are engaging—not just as allies, but as co-labourers in the fight against GBV.

Building on this momentum, we also implemented the Speak Out Campaign in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD). This advocacy initiative sought to normalize conversations on GBV within faith spaces, encouraging church leaders and congregants to break the silence and address the issue openly. Through sermons, discussions, and media engagements, the campaign challenged harmful beliefs that perpetuate violence and promoted a theology that upholds the dignity and safety of all people. The response was powerful—many faith leaders who had previously avoided the topic began speaking out, survivors felt heard, and churches started taking concrete steps toward becoming safer spaces. Check here

A Necessary Discomfort

The #ChurchToo movement has been uncomfortable for many faith communities, but that discomfort is necessary. It forces us to ask hard questions:

• Are we truly reflecting Christ’s love in how we respond to survivors?
• Are we willing to challenge traditions that have allowed abuse to go unchecked?
• Do we see women as equal partners in the life and leadership of the church?

There is still so much work to do, but we cannot afford to ignore this moment. The modern church has an opportunity—no, a responsibility—to be a leader in ending GBV. That starts with listening. It starts with believing survivors. And it starts with creating communities where justice, healing, and dignity are not just preached but practiced.

I’d love to hear from others doing this work. How has your faith community responded to #ChurchToo? What changes have you seen—or what challenges remain? Let’s keep the conversation going.

Donna Nyadete is a development practitioner specializing in the intersection of gender and faith

By Alison Kentish
DOMINICA, May 22 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme’s 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) says crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic have contributed to ‘the flatlining of decades of progress in the Human Development Index,’ with Latin America and the Caribbean facing unique challenges and opportunities.

Despite these challenges, the document, titled “A matter of choice: People and Possibilities in the age of AI,” states that artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool to improve lives and close persistent gaps.

Lead author Pedro Conceiçāo described a ‘triple development squeeze’ affecting many countries.

“Difficulties accessing external financing, shrinking job creation opportunities and increased trade volatility,” he explained. “The opportunities of many countries to export to international markets, which is an important driver of development or has historically been, those opportunities are also narrow.”

Amid these pressures, AI emerges as a double-edged sword. According to a recent UNDP survey, “Up to two-thirds of people in low, medium, and high HDI countries expect artificial intelligence to become an important part of their lives within the next year—in health, education, and standard of living,” Conceição noted. He said the report and survey emphasize that “what matters less is the technology and more the choices that are made to ensure that AI advances human development.”

The report’s recommendations are clear:

• Build a complementary economy where AI empowers, not replaces, people.
• Drive innovation with intent, using AI to boost creativity and scientific progress.
• Invest in digital capabilities so everyone can thrive in an AI-driven world.

The Latin America and the Caribbean Situation

UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Michelle Muschett outlined the region’s progress and pressure points.

“Latin America and the Caribbean consolidated its second year of recovery after the pandemic, moving from 0.783 in 2022 to 0.8 in the Human Development Index regionally in 2023,” she said. However, she cautioned, “Progress continues, but it remains slower than before the pandemic.”

The region stands out for its high human development scores—19 countries are classified as high, and 10 as very high. But Muschett warns, “Both development and democracy are under probably unprecedented pressure in the history of development of our region.”

She said this should serve as both a warning and a call to action.

“It’s a clear call to thinking and rethinking those institutions, public policies, processes, and the tools we have so that that pressure can become a positive force that moves us along the line of progress and shared prosperity.”

Muschett is candid about the region’s digital disparities. “We see already today the deep difference in terms of coverage when we compare rural areas with urban areas in Latin America and the Caribbean,” she says. “The highest quintile in terms of income has more than twice the access to AI than the lowest quintile. So we have a warning signal that is very important.”

To address digital gaps, the report calls for closing connectivity gaps, especially in rural and low-income areas; investment in digital literacy and lifelong learning; and ensuring that data is reliable and free from bias through strong, inclusive governance frameworks.

“This has to be a central priority of public policies,” Muschett urges. “Strategic alliances with other sectors of society—academia, private sector—become absolutely essential.”

A Resilient Future

Muschett says the UNDP is preparing to launch an “atlas of AI focused on human development,” offering policymakers tools to make informed, inclusive choices.

The message is clear: While the region faces significant challenges, deliberate action can shift the view of AI as a pressure point into a powerful driver of progress.

“The difference between one and the other is precisely in the deliberate decision we make as a region… whether it’s a huge threat or an unprecedented opportunity,” she said.

The message is clear: by fostering innovation, empowering individuals, and putting inclusion at the forefront, Latin America and the Caribbean have the potential to transform current obstacles into future possibilities—and become a worldwide model for leveraging technology to benefit all.

IPS UN Bureau Report

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By Benson Kunchezera
LILONGWE, May 22 2025 – Women in fishing communities in Malawi’s lakeshore districts of Nkhotakota and Mangochi are frequently targets of sexual exploitation for fish, a practice commonly known as ‘sex for fish.’ A recent report by the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has unearthed disturbing accounts of women being coerced into transactional sex to access fish from male boat owners, exposing a widespread violation of their rights.

The MHRC inquiry, which focused on fishing hubs along Lake Malawi, reveals how deeply entrenched the practice is, with minimal intervention from authorities to address the systemic abuse. According to the report, the lack of targeted policies and enforcement mechanisms within fishing communities has created an environment where women are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and left without recourse when faced with unwanted pregnancies or abuse.

“The women are often left to shoulder the burden alone, while the men deny responsibility for the pregnancies or disappear altogether,” reads part of the report. “There is a need for coordinated efforts to end these abuses and protect women who are vital players in the fish trade.”

One of the women who shared her story is 42-year-old Joyce Issa, a seasoned fish trader from Mangochi. Having been in the business for over 15 years, Joyce recounts how she was coerced into sex several times just to be able to purchase fish.

“There were times when the only way to buy fish was by giving in to their demands,” Joyce told IPS. “It was humiliating, but the pressure to feed my family and keep my business running left me with no choice.”

Issa adds that scarcity of fish has worsened the situation, as competition among traders grows. “Business is much slower than in previous years. Fish is difficult to come by, and when it is available, the prices are high—and for women, the price often includes sex,” she explained.

However, she acknowledged that the situation has seen some slight improvements recently, particularly due to the efforts of the HeForShe campaign—a global solidarity movement for gender equality that has begun to gain ground in the region.

“The HeForShe initiative has helped in reducing some of these abuses. Now we can report cases, and there are people who will follow up,” Joyce added.

Authorities Respond

Laston Chikopa, the Assistant Gender Officer for Mangochi district, confirms that “sex for fish” is a well-known and persistent issue in the area. He says their office is working closely with local fishermen and community members to encourage reporting and protect women involved in the trade.

“In Mangochi alone, we receive over 15 cases annually of women being denied access to fish because they refused to engage in sexual acts with the fishermen,” Chikopa said. “These figures are likely just the tip of the iceberg since many cases go unreported due to fear of retaliation or stigma.

To combat the problem, the district gender office has introduced confidential reporting mechanisms, including two toll-free numbers—116 and 5600—that victims can use to report abuse or discrimination.

“These lines allow victims to share their experiences discreetly, and we work with law enforcement and other stakeholders to ensure justice is served,” Chikopa emphasized.

MHRC to Monitor Action

The MHRC report highlights the problem and proposes concrete steps forward. The Commission plans to engage relevant authorities, including the Malawi Police Service, to investigate the findings and take immediate action against the perpetrators.

“After three months, we will review how well the relevant authorities have responded to the inquiry,” the Commission’s report states. “If there’s no visible progress, we will escalate the matter to ensure accountability.”

The MHRC also recommends that the government and its partners develop gender-sensitive policies that specifically address the vulnerabilities of women in fishing communities. These include the creation of women-led fishing cooperatives, alternative economic opportunities, and public awareness campaigns that denounce gender-based exploitation.

A Broader Issue

The “sex for fish” phenomenon is not unique to Malawi. Similar cases have been reported across various parts of sub-Saharan Africa, especially around major lakes where fishing is a dominant economic activity. However, Malawi’s case underscores the urgency of addressing the structural imbalances that leave women at the mercy of more powerful men in resource-dependent communities.

“This is about power and survival,” said a local gender rights activist in Mangochi, who asked to remain anonymous. “When women lack bargaining power and the state fails to protect them, these abuses become normalized.”

The activist called on the government to ensure that policies are not just written but also enforced. “We need more women in leadership roles within these communities, and we need the law to work for them.”

Hope Amid Hardship

Despite the grim realities, stories like Issa’s offer a glimmer of hope. Women are increasingly speaking out, and initiatives like HeForShe are beginning to create safe spaces for dialogue and action. With increased public attention and stronger institutional backing, there is growing momentum to dismantle the system that has for too long exploited the vulnerability of women in Malawi’s fishing communities.

But as the MHRC emphasized, real change will require sustained commitment—from local leaders, law enforcement, policymakers, and the communities themselves. Only then can the women of the lakeshore truly reclaim their dignity and safety.

IPS UN Bureau Report

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By Andrew Firmin
LONDON, May 22 2025 – The new pope, the latest in a line dating back almost 2,000 years, was quickly subjected to a very modern phenomenon: no sooner had Pope Leo XIV delivered his first address than people started trawling his social media history for clues about his views. In the context of an ongoing culture war, the fact that far-right grievance entrepreneurs were quick to decry the new pope as ‘woke’ seemed reason enough for progressives to welcome him. But for civil society and the global human rights community, it’s how Leo acts that matters.

The numbers alone make Leo’s appointment an event of global significance: Catholics make up over 17 per cent of the planet’s population, and they live predominantly in the global south. Catholicism remains overwhelmingly the dominant religion in Latin America, while the faith continues to grow, particularly in Africa.

This gives the pope great moral influence, which he can use for good – such as by urging climate action and mobilising compassion for migrants and refugees – or for ill, including by maintaining restrictions on women’s and LGBTQI+ rights. The pope is unquestionably a global leader. In an era dominated by right-wing populist and nationalist politicians who are attacking human rights, the pope’s voice can offer a vital counterweight.

Pope Francis’s progressive legacy

Pope Francis broke significant new ground. The first Latin American pope, the Argentinian lived modestly. He didn’t shy away from controversy, speaking out to defend the rights of migrants and refugees. He criticised right-wing populism, neoliberal economics and Israel’s assault on Gaza. He urged action on climate change and made moves to enable women to play a greater role in the church and open up the possibility of blessing for people in same-sex relationships.

ON his watch, the papal office became that of an international diplomat, helping negotiate a Cuba-US rapprochement, later reversed. Critics however pointed to his apparent reluctance to call out Vladimir Putin’s aggression as he sought to help negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine. He also maintained the church’s opposition to ‘gender ideology’, a term routinely used to undermine demands for women’s and LGBTQI+ rights, particularly trans rights.

Though Francis took many progressive positions, that offered no guarantee his successor would follow suit. Historically a pope seen as liberal is often followed by a more conservative one. Francis however moved to make this less likely, appointing 163 cardinals from 76 countries. Many were from global south countries, including several that had never received such recognition, such as El Salvador, Mali and Timor-Leste. He appointed the first Indigenous Latin American cardinal, and the first from India’s excluded Dalit community.

Francis chose 79 per cent of cardinals aged under 80, eligible to vote on the new pope – including Leo, elevated in 2023. For the first time, the conclave had a non-European majority, with Europeans comprising only 52 of the 133 electors.

Francis’s re-engineering may have foreclosed the prospect of a particularly regressive choice. The result was another piece of history, with Leo the first pope from the USA, while his dual citizenship of Peru makes him the first Peruvian one as well. Known as an ally of Francis but a less outspoken figure, he may have emerged as a compromise choice.

Early days: promise and controversy

Leo’s nationality had been assumed to count against him: with the USA being the dominant global power, received wisdom held that the pope should come from elsewhere. In this Trump-dominated era, it’s hard to avoid the feeling that some who picked a US pope were trying to send a message – although time will tell whether it’s one of flattery or defiance.

US right-wingers, many of whom embrace conservative Catholicism – as Vice President JD Vance exemplifies – made clear they knew what the message was, reacting with anger. Another conservative Catholic, Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon – who routinely vilified Pope Francis – had aggressively lobbied for a conservative appointment, such as Hungarian hardliner Péter Erdő. Trump supporters allegedly promised huge donations if the conclave selected a pope to their liking, then quickly mobilised outrage about the selection of their fellow citizen, vilifying him as a ‘Marxist pope’.

Among the pre-papacy actions they deemed controversial was Leo’s sharing on Twitter/X of a link to a comment piece that disagreed with Vance, who’d argued that Christians should prioritise their love for their immediate community over those who come from elsewhere. Leo had also shared a post criticising Trump and El Salvador’s hardline leader Nayib Bukele over the illegal deportation of migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

In other past posts, he’d supported climate action and appeared to back gun control, defended undocumented migrants and shown solidarity with George Floyd, the Black man whose murder by a police officer in 2020 triggered the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Leo’s choice of name also appears to indicate a reformist intent. But on the other side of the ledger, a history of anti-LGBTQI+ comments quickly came to light. Leo is also accused of mishandling past sexual abuse allegations against priests under his supervision.

A moral voice in turbulent times

For civil society, what Leo does next matters more than his social media history. There are some encouraging early signs. Leo has signalled a more sympathetic approach to Ukraine and called for the release of jailed journalists.

The likelihood, if Leo’s career so far is anything to go by, is that he’ll be less outspoken than his predecessor, and more inclined towards negotiation and compromise. But the papacy offers a very different platform to that of a cardinal. Leo should take account of the fact that he’s assumed office at a time of enormous conflict, polarisation and turmoil, where many of the established assumptions about how politics and governance should be conducted are being torn up, and when global institutions and the idea of a rules-based order are coming under unprecedented strain. There’s a moral leadership vacuum in the world right now. He should help fill it.

Andrew Firmin is CIVICUS Editor-in-Chief, co-director and writer for CIVICUS Lens and co-author of the State of Civil Society Report.

For interviews or more information, please contact [email protected]

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By Megan Matthews
CHAMPAIGN, Illinois, May 22 2025 – When pioneering agronomist and father of the “Green Revolution” Norman Borlaug set out to breed a disease-resistant, high-yielding variety of wheat, he spent years laboriously planting and pollinating different specimens by hand. He manually catalogued every outcome until he landed on the variety that would transform farming and avert famine. The result was even greater than expected: it is estimated that he saved more than a billion people worldwide from starvation.

Megan Matthews

Today, computational tools like modeling can be used to inform and anticipate the expected outcomes of early-stage experiments, helping to prioritize which strategies to pursue and cutting down the time needed to achieve the same goal.

With the world facing the same existential need as during Borlaug’s time to transform agriculture to sustainably feed the global population, more efficient technologies and processes are critical. Computational biology and modeling offer tools that can guide scientists towards the most promising areas of emerging research and accelerate the breakthrough discoveries needed to make farming more equitable and sustainable. Combining data analysis, computer science and modelling, computational biology brings together these techniques to better understand biological systems.

An exciting possibility on the horizon for crop science is the early progress towards engineering cereal crops to source their own nutrients and reduce the need for fertilizer. Legumes like beans, peas and lentils already have this ability, but improving nutrient uptake and growth in non-legume plants would have a transformative impact on yields and sustainability.

Researchers, including those involved in the Engineering Nutrient Symbioses in Agriculture (ENSA) project working with funders like Gates Agricultural Innovations, are investigating plant interactions with a soil bacteria called rhizobia, as well as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which provide the plant with nitrogen and phosphorus through biological processes.

Harnessing this ability would reduce the need for inorganic fertilizers to provide these key nutrients, ensuring multiple benefits. For one, fertilizer is often a big expense for farmers, especially given price volatility over the last several years. This can be a prohibitive cost for farmers in low-income countries or communities.

Furthermore, the overuse of fertilizers can cause negative environmental impacts. Nitrogen fertilizer production and use accounts for around five percent of greenhouse gas emissions and the nitrous oxide produced is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Fertilizer run-off also causes dangerous algal blooms that develop in waterways, killing off aquatic biodiversity.

While the benefits of giving more plants the ability to source nutrients biologically are evident, it has not been clear until now what the exact effect of these nutrient symbioses would be on plants. More specifically, scientists know the interactions between soil bacteria or fungi and plants impact growth, but not by how much.

Recent research by my group has examined this for the first time using a metabolic model for maize. It analyzed the hypothetical growth rate of maize if it were to acquire the ability to interact with rhizobia, which it does not currently have. The model also assessed the growth rate when maize is associated with AMF.

Rhizobia aids in nitrogen fixation, pulling nitrogen from the air and sharing it with plants in exchange for carbon. AMF, instead, help plants access more nutrients in the soil beyond what can be accessed by their roots alone. The findings suggest that stacking these traits to allow for interactions with both rhizobia and AMF could more than double maize growth rates in nutrient-limited conditions. While the model does not predict changes in yield, it is reasonable to expect that higher growth rates under these conditions would also lead to higher yields.

The results of the modelling are particularly significant given the global importance of maize as a food security crop. For example, maize is one of the most important crops in sub-Saharan Africa, providing a third of all consumed calories, yet the region experiences chronically lower maize yields than other parts of the world. For an average smallholder maize farmer in sub-Saharan Africa with a two-hectare plot, doubling maize yields would equate to an additional $1000 each year.

Using a model that was developed and validated with experimental data, we were able to quantitatively highlight the potential of combining these two approaches, which may not have been prioritized otherwise. Without modeling, this kind of analysis would take years to collect, evaluate and classify, on top of the time needed to successfully engineer nitrogen-fixing maize, which does not currently exist.

Too often, modeling and experimental science are treated as separate and distinct from one another. And yet, when combined, the two offer enormous potential to accelerate crop science for the public good.

It does not take a vivid imagination to consider the many ways in which modeling can help validate and justify research priorities.

By uniting scientists across these disciplines at the Society of Experimental Biology’s annual conference later this year, I hope to ignite a conversation about how modeling can support and enhance translational experimental science. And by working together, we can compound the advances we are making towards more sustainable food systems for all.

Megan Matthews, a principal investigator with the Enabling Nutrient Symbioses in Agriculture (ENSA) project and Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois

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