STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- A new law expands the definition of gender-based violence (GBV) and increases or institutes punishments to tackle the scourge of GBV.
- An overhaul of health regulations improves women’s access to reproductive health, including contraception, particularly for youth in youth-friendly facilities.
- The World Bank is supporting Benin through a multi-faceted program to improve the lives of women and girls.
director for Central Asia in July 2021. In my introductory meetings with heads of state, governments, and major cities across the region, I and other World Bank officials were usually the only women in the room.
potential or meet the challenges of the 21st century without the full and equal participation of women and men, girls and boys. This is particularly true in developing countries supported by the 
Netherlands for the World Bank 