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.

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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

In Brief 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post 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.

Blog Post by Noël James March 8, 2024 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.

Blog Post 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.

Interactive by Linda Robinson and Noël James August 21, 2024 Women and Foreign Policy Program

United Nations

The UN Security Council

The UN Security Council is the premier global body for maintaining international peace and security, but it faces steady calls for reform to better meet twenty-first-century challenges.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors September 9, 2024

United Nations

The Role of the UN Secretary-General

The United Nations’ top leadership position has broad authority to steer the organization’s agenda, but its impact has varied widely since 1946.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors August 29, 2024

United States

Foreign Policy at the U.S. National Political Conventions

Foreign policy issues regularly come to the fore at the national political conventions, especially during periods of global instability. Sometimes the events are marked by bitter disagreements within the parties.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors August 21, 2024

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