Noël James

CFR Staff

Noël James

Research Associate, Women and Foreign Policy

Noël James is the research associate for the women and foreign policy program at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). She holds a BA in international studies with minors in legal studies and women's, gender, and sexuality studies from American University. She is currently pursuing an MA in gender, sexuality in global politics at SOAS University of London.

Climate Change

Women This Week: First Woman Appointed as Ukraine’s Prime Minister in Wartime Reshuffle

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers July 12 to July 18.

by Linda Robinson and Noël James July 17, 2025 Women Around the World
Inequality

Women This Week: Multilateral Organizations Increase Pressure on Taliban Over Oppression of Women and Girls in Afghanistan

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers July 5 to July 11.

by Noël James and Janelle Umana-Limon July 14, 2025 Women Around the World
Military Operations

Women This Week: Denmark to Expand Open Lottery to Draft Women

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers June 28 to July 3.

by Noël James and Janelle Umana-Limon July 3, 2025 Women Around the World
Peacekeeping

Women This Week: Indigenous Women Fight Wildfires in Bolivia

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers June 21 to June 27.

by Noël James and Janelle Umana-Limon June 27, 2025 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Three Years Since the Overturn of Roe v. Wade: Where Abortion Access Stands

Access to abortion has remained unsteady in the wake of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Read how the courts have redrawn the lines around reproductive care.

by Linda Robinson and Noël James June 24, 2025 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: British Vote to Expand Abortion Rights

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers June 14 to June 20.

by Noël James June 20, 2025 Women Around the World
Elections and Voting

Women This Week: Female Voters Propel Liberal Presidential Candidate to Victory in South Korea

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers May 31 to June 6.

by Noël James June 17, 2025 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: Rising Rates of Acute Malnutrition in Gaza

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers May 24 to May 30.

by Noël James May 30, 2025 Women Around the World
Foreign Aid

Women This Week: Funding Cuts Threaten Lifesaving Work in Crisis Zones

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers May 10 to May 16.

by Noël James and Diya Mehta May 27, 2025 Women Around the World
Elections and Voting

Women This Week: Labor Candidate Ali France Ousts Incumbent Opposition Leader in Australia

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers May 3 to May 9.

by Noël James and Diya Mehta May 9, 2025 Women Around the World
Peacekeeping

Women This Week: Hegseth Announces End to Women, Peace and Security Program 

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 26 to April 2.

by Noël James and Diya Mehta May 2, 2025 Women Around the World
Demonstrations and Protests

Women This Week: Women Escalate Efforts Against Mining Company in Guinea-Bissau

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers April 19 to April 25.

by Noël James and Diya Mehta April 25, 2025 Women Around the World
Inequality

Women This Week: Colonel Nicole Malachowski’s Historic Thunderbird Flight Removed From Air Force Website

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers April 12 to April 18.

by Linda Robinson and Noël James April 18, 2025 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: Preventable Complications Responsible for Most Maternal Deaths

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers April 5 to April 11.

by Noël James and Diya Mehta April 16, 2025 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: Cuts to Title X Family Planning and Women’s Health Clinics

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 29 to April 4.

by Noël James and Diya Mehta April 7, 2025 Women Around the World
Heads of State and Government

Women’s Power Index Shows Stalled Progress for Women’s Political Participation

New data from CFR’s Women’s Power Index tracks countries’ continued progress toward gender parity in political representation.

by Linda Robinson and Noël James April 3, 2025 Women Around the World
Namibia

Women This Week: Namibia Inaugurates Its First Woman President

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 8 to March 14.

by Noël James and Diya Mehta March 31, 2025 Women Around the World
Demonstrations and Protests

Women This Week: Iran Using Electronic Surveillance to Enforce Veiling Laws

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 15 to March 21.

by Noël James and Diya Mehta March 24, 2025 Women Around the World
Demonstrations and Protests

Women This Week: Protests Held in Multiple Countries for International Women’s Day

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 8 to March 14.

by Noël James March 17, 2025 Women Around the World
Foreign Aid

Women This Week: United States Slashes All Funding for UN Agency Focused on Women and Girls Health

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 1 to March 7.

by Noël James and Diya Mehta March 7, 2025 Women Around the World
Inequality

The Status of Women in the World’s Parliaments

We sat down with Zeina Hilal, IPU’s Manager for Gender and Youth Programmes, on the eve of the 69th UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York to discuss the IPU’s work with the UN and 181 parliaments.

by Linda Robinson and Noël James March 7, 2025 Women Around the World
Sexual Violence

Women This Week: Russia’s War Against Ukraine Reverses Progress for Women and Girls

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers February 22 to February 28.

by Noël James and Diya Mehta March 3, 2025 Women Around the World
Sexual Violence

Women This Week: Girls Experiencing Significant Rate of Sexual Violence in Guatemala

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers February 15 to February 21.

by Noël James and Diya Mehta February 25, 2025 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: New Report Outlines Staggering Impact of Gangs on Children in Haiti

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers February 8 to February 14.

by Noël James and Diya Mehta February 14, 2025 Women Around the World
Inequality

Women This Week: Trump Administration Restricts Scientific Research Aimed at Improving Lives of Women and Minorities

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers February 1 to February 7.

by Noël James February 11, 2025 Women Around the World
Inequality

Women This Week: Crime of Femicide May be Removed From Argentina’s Penal Code

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers January 25 to January 31.

by Noël James January 31, 2025 Women Around the World
Sexual Violence

The Revenge of the Me-Too Martyrs

In his cabinet picks, Trump is revealing not just an apathy towards sexual assault and harassment, but seemingly a celebration of it.

by Jacob Ware and Noël James January 28, 2025 Women Around the World
Mexico

Women This Week: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Responds to Executive Orders and Threats from President Trump

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers January 18 to January 24.

by Noël James January 24, 2025 Women Around the World
Technology and Innovation

Women This Week: UK to Pass Legislation Criminalizing Deepfake Images 

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers January 11 to January 17.

by Noël James January 21, 2025 Women Around the World
Religion

Women This Week: First Woman Appointed to Top Position in the Holy See

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers January 4 to January 10.

by Noël James January 10, 2025 Women Around the World
Human Rights

Malala Yousafzai Honored for Her Efforts to Combat Gender Apartheid Ten Years After Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize

Calls to formally recognize gender apartheid as a crime against humanity increase amidst growing edicts targeting the freedoms of women and girls by the Taliban

by Catherine Powell and Noël James January 9, 2025 Women Around the World
Elections and Voting

Women This Week: Indian Politicians Court Women Voters

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers December 14 to December 20.

by Noël James December 20, 2024 Women Around the World
Elections and Voting

Women This Week: Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang Elected as Ghana’s First Female Vice President

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers December 7 to December 13.

by Noël James and Uma Fox December 16, 2024 Women Around the World
Sexual Violence

Women This Week: New UN Report Finds Women Most At-Risk of Violence in Their Own Homes

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers November 23 to December 6.

by Noël James and Uma Fox December 6, 2024 Women Around the World
Climate Change

Women This Week: Deadlock at COP29 to Update UN Action Plan on Gender and Climate

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers November 16 to November 22.

by Noël James and Uma Fox November 22, 2024 Women Around the World
Sexual Violence

Women This Week: Online Abuse Against Women Surges After U.S. Election

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers November 9 to November 15.

by Noël James and Uma Fox November 15, 2024 Women Around the World
Elections and Voting

Women This Week: Maia Sandu Wins Reelection in Moldova

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers November 2 to November 8.

by Noël James November 8, 2024 Women Around the World
Georgia

Women This Week: President Salome Zourabichvili Leads Protest Against Pro-Russia Ruling Party

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers October 26 to November 1.

by Linda Robinson and Noël James November 1, 2024 Women Around the World
Sexual Violence

Women This Week: Rate of Women Killed in Conflict Doubles in 2023

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers October 19 to October 25.

by Noël James October 25, 2024 Women Around the World
Demonstrations and Protests

Women This Week: Women Demand that President Erdoğan Act to Address Domestic Violence

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers October 12 to October 18.

by Noël James October 18, 2024 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: Georgia Supreme Court Reinstates Highly Restrictive Six-Week Abortion Ban

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers October 5 to October 11.

by Noël James October 11, 2024 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Taking Stock on the International Day of the Girl Child

Colombia, Sweden, and the United Nations to convene the First Global Ministerial on Ending Violence Against Children.

by Linda Robinson and Noël James October 10, 2024 Women Around the World
Corruption

A Conversation with Agather Atuhaire, Executive Team Lead at Agora Discourse

Ugandan lawyer, journalist, digital activist, and 2024 laureate of the International Women of Courage Award describes work using the digital space to expose corruption and advocate for social justice.

by Noël James and Linda Robinson October 8, 2024 Women Around the World
Sexual Violence

Women This Week: Women This Week: Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan Disproportionately Impacts Women and Girls

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers September 28 to October 4.

by Noël James October 4, 2024 Women Around the World
Sexual Violence

Women This Week: Gisèle Pelicot is France’s New Feminist Hero

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers September 21 to September 27.

by Noël James September 27, 2024 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: Women’s Deaths Cited as ‘Preventable’ in Georgia

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers September 14 to September 20.

by Noël James September 20, 2024 Women Around the World
Sexual Violence

Women This Week: UN Projects Climate Crisis will Increase Intimate Partner Violence Rates

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers September 7 to September 13.

by Noël James September 13, 2024 Women Around the World
Sexual Violence

Women This Week: Thousands Protest Murder and Rape of Female Doctor in India

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers August 17 to August 23.

by Noël James August 22, 2024 Women Around the World
Afghanistan

How the Taliban’s Rule Is Fueling the Movement to End Gender Apartheid

The Taliban’s outright denial of women’s rights in Afghanistan has spurred a global push to combat gender-based oppression.

by Clara Fong and Noël James August 21, 2024
Peacekeeping

Women This Week: Sudanese Women Participate on Peace Talks

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers August 10 to August 16.

by Noël James August 15, 2024 Women Around the World
Demonstrations and Protests

Women This Week: PM Sheikh Hasina Flees Bangladesh Amid Protests

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers August 3 to August 9.

by Noël James August 8, 2024 Women Around the World
Elections and Voting

Women This Week: María Corina Machado Leads Protests in Venezuela

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers July 27 to August 2.

by Noël James and Imaan Mirza August 1, 2024 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: UN Reports on Sexual Violence and Other Crimes Against Sudanese Refugees

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers July 20 to July 26.

by Noël James and Imaan Mirza July 25, 2024 Women Around the World
Gambia

Women This Week: Gambian Parliament Rejects Effort to Allow Female Genital Mutilation

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers July 13 to July 19.

by Noël James and Imaan Mirza July 18, 2024 Women Around the World
Elections and Voting

Women This Week: Historic Number of Women Lawmakers Elected in Britain

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers July 6 to July 12.

by Noël James and Imaan Mirza July 11, 2024 Women Around the World
Inequality

Women This Week: Women Excluded From UN-led Talks on Afghanistan

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers June 29 to July 3.

by Noël James July 3, 2024 Women Around the World
Elections and Voting

Women This Week: Women Positioned to Lead the European Union in Top Jobs

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers June 22 to June 28.

by Noël James June 28, 2024 Women Around the World
Elections and Voting

Women This Week: Female Candidates Targeted Online in the United Kingdom

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers June 15 to June 21.

by Noël James June 21, 2024 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: Milei Administration Dissolves Argentina’s Ministry of Women

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers June 8 to June 14.

by Noël James June 14, 2024 Women Around the World
Elections and Voting

Women This Week: Mexico to Elect First Woman President

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers June 1 to June 7.

by Noël James June 7, 2024 Women Around the World
Social Issues

Women This Week: Melinda Gates to Spend $1 Billion to Advance Women’s Issues

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers May 25 to May 31.

by Noël James May 31, 2024 Women Around the World
Child Marriage

Women This Week: Activists End Effort to Carry out Mass Wedding Involving Child Brides in Nigeria

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers May 18 to May 24.

by Noël James May 24, 2024 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: First Study Post Overturn of Roe v. Wade on Permanent Contraception

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers May 11 to May 17.

by Noël James May 20, 2024 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: Women and Girls Facing Severe Challenges as Israel Plans Rafah Invasion

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers May 4 to May 10.

by Noël James May 10, 2024 Women Around the World
Sexual Violence

Women This Week: Reparations for Survivors of Sexual Violence in Ukraine

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers April 27 to May 3.

by Noël James May 3, 2024 Women Around the World
European Union

Women This Week: European Parliament Combating Violence Against Women

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers April 20 to April 26.

by Noël James April 26, 2024 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: Shortages of Essential Goods for Women and Children in Gaza

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers April 13 to April 19.

by Noël James April 19, 2024 Women Around the World
Health

Women This Week: Heightened Levels of Malnutrition for Women and Children

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers April 6 to April 12.

by Noël James April 12, 2024 Women Around the World
Elections and Voting

Women This Week: Women Make Significant Gains in Turkey's Local Elections

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 30 to April 5.

by Noël James April 8, 2024 Women Around the World
Human Rights

Women This Week: Saudi Arabia to Chair the Commission on the Status of Women

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 23 to March 29.

by Noël James March 29, 2024 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: Gambia Moves to Reverse Ban on Female Genital Mutilation

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 16 to March 22.

by Noël James March 25, 2024 Women Around the World
Demonstrations and Protests

Women This Week: Thousands of Women Gather Despite Protest Ban in Turkey

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 9 to March 15.

by Noël James March 15, 2024 Women Around the World
Sexual Violence

Women This Week: International Women’s Day

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 2 to March 8.

by Noël James March 8, 2024 Women Around the World
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: Food Scarcity Having Severe Impact on Children and Pregnant Women in Gaza

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers February 24 to March 1.

by Noël James March 1, 2024 Women Around the World
Heads of State and Government

Women’s Power Index: Find Out Where Women Lead—and Why It Matters

New data from CFR’s Women’s Power Index tracks countries on their progress toward gender parity in political representation.

by Linda Robinson and Noël James July 20, 2023 Women Around the World
Iran

Women This Week: Women Journalists Tried for Undermining National Security in Iran

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers June 10 to June 16.

by Noël James June 16, 2023 Women Around the World
Women and Women's Rights

Women’s Power Index

Find out where women around the world wield political power—and why it matters.

by Linda Robinson and Noël James April 1, 2025 Women and Foreign Policy Program

Ukraine

Here’s How Much Aid the United States Has Sent Ukraine

Ten charts illustrate the extraordinary level of support the United States has provided Ukraine in its war against Russian invaders.

by Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow July 15, 2025

Sanctions

Three Years of War in Ukraine: Are Sanctions Against Russia Making a Difference?

The United States and its allies have imposed broad economic penalties on Russia over its war in Ukraine. As the conflict continues, experts debate whether the sanctions are working.

by CFR.org Editors July 14, 2025

United States

What Is Temporary Protected Status?

Temporary Protected Status has long been used as a humanitarian solution for migrants who are unable to return home safely. President Trump’s renewed efforts to scale back such programs have further fueled the debate over the immigration policy’s use and scope.

by Diana Roy and Claire Klobucista July 9, 2025

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