For decades, reproductive policy in China was closely tied to state objectives, with authorities first seeking to limit births through the one-child policy and now attempting to encourage larger families as the country confronts a sustained decline in births.Interviews with women across China, combined with academic research and demographic data, suggest that the legacy of the one-child era continues to influence family decisions even as government priorities have shifted.

While authorities now promote childbirth through subsidies and policy incentives, many women cite economic pressures, changing social expectations and personal autonomy as key factors shaping their choices.Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, family planning and population management have played a significant role in public policy.

During the decades-long one-child policy, which was formally implemented in 1980 and largely ended in 2016, many families were restricted to a single child. Enforcement methods varied across regions, but reports from several parts of the country documented fines, mandatory birth-control procedures and, in some cases, forced abortions and sterilizations.

In Shen County, located on the outskirts of Liaocheng in eastern China’s Shandong province, memories of some of the most stringent enforcement measures remain vivid among older residents.One woman in her 60s, identified only by the surname Li, recalled being subjected to a tubal ligation after giving birth in 1991. According to Li, local authorities were enforcing what became known as the “childless 100 days” campaign, a policy intended to prevent births during a designated period beginning in May of that year.

Li said she was heavily pregnant when local officials transported her and other women to a hospital for procedures intended to terminate pregnancies. She said she went into labor before doctors could carry out the abortion and gave birth to a son inside the hospital.

Afterward, she was fined 6,500 yuan and ordered to undergo sterilization.The Guardian was unable to independently verify all aspects of Li’s account. However, researchers and activists familiar with the period say similar reports emerged from the region during that time.Another Shen County resident, now in her 70s, said she was one month away from giving birth when she received an injection that induced labor and ended her pregnancy.

She said women who resisted family-planning directives faced threats that included property demolition, detention and restrictions on employment.Shandong, China’s second-most populous province, has long been viewed by scholars and activists as a region where central government policies were often implemented rigorously.

Human rights activist Yang Jianli, who is originally from Shandong, described the “childless 100 days” campaign as one of the most extreme examples of one-child policy enforcement that he had encountered.The Shandong provincial government did not respond to a request for comment regarding the historical accounts.

Although comprehensive data on the campaign are unavailable, demographic analysis by Yi Fuxian, a senior scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a longtime critic of China’s population policies, indicates that birth numbers in Shen County and neighboring Guan County fell sharply during the period in question.

More than a decade after China began dismantling birth restrictions, policymakers face a different demographic challenge. China’s birth rate has continued to decline despite efforts to encourage larger families. Official data show that the birth rate fell to 5.63 births per 1,000 people last year, marking a record low.

The government has introduced a range of measures aimed at increasing births, including financial incentives and tax benefits. However, researchers say economic realities and evolving attitudes toward family life have limited the effectiveness of those initiatives.A growing body of academic research suggests that decades of restrictive family-planning policies reshaped social expectations about ideal family size.

One study published last year found that growing up as an only child contributed to a significant reduction in the number of children people expected or desired to have.For many younger Chinese adults, concerns about housing costs, education expenses and financial security appear to outweigh policy incentives.Wang Yixuan, a 26-year-old practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, said she does not currently plan to have children.

She said achieving financial independence remains a higher priority.Jia, the filmmaker based in Beijing, said women today possess greater freedom in making decisions about reproduction than previous generations. She said many no longer view motherhood as an obligation and increasingly approach family planning as a personal choice.Recent survey data point to a significant shift in attitudes among younger women.

One study found that nearly half of women aged between 18 and 24 reported that they did not want children, compared with just 6% in 2012. The proportion of men expressing the same view also increased during the period, although at a lower rate, reaching nearly 20%.In Shen County, restaurant worker Chen Ying said economic considerations play a decisive role in family decisions.

While earlier generations faced penalties for having additional children, she said many families today are limiting family size because of the financial burden associated with raising children.Yun Zhou, a social demographer at the University of Michigan, said the one-child policy left a lasting imprint on perceptions of reproductive rights and family planning.

According to Zhou, generations of state intervention contributed to a broader understanding that reproductive decisions were subject to government influence rather than being viewed solely as personal choices.

The effects of those decades remain visible across China, where a generation raised largely as only children is now making decisions about marriage, parenthood and family size under a dramatically different demographic reality.

Speaking at a synagogue in Toronto, Carney said antisemitism had reached levels not seen in the post-war era. Government data showed that about 70 percent of religion-based hate crimes reported in 2024 targeted the Jewish community, despite Jews accounting for roughly 1 percent of Canada’s population.

The new Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality, and Inclusion will examine the causes of antisemitism, improve hate-crime data collection and assess the effectiveness of government programs aimed at prevention and community safety.

Carney also highlighted recent funding for security at religious institutions and legislation designed to strengthen protections for places of worship, schools and community centers.

The global water crisis is intensifying as population growth, climate pressures and infrastructure gaps strain already limited freshwater resources, according to policymakers, scientists and humanitarian organisations.

Experts warn that water scarcity is no longer confined to traditionally arid regions but is increasingly affecting urban and rural populations worldwide. “We are reaching a point where water scarcity is no longer a distant threat but a daily reality for millions,” said a senior water policy analyst involved in international resource management discussions.

Hydrologists say shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures are altering water availability across continents. “Climate variability is disrupting the predictability of water systems,” said a climate scientist specialising in hydrological cycles.

“Regions that once depended on seasonal rainfall are now experiencing prolonged dry spells, followed by intense but irregular precipitation that is difficult to capture and store.”According to development agencies, demand for water is rising rapidly due to urbanisation, industrial expansion and agricultural needs.

“Agriculture alone accounts for the majority of freshwater use globally,” said a representative from a multilateral development institution. “Without improvements in efficiency, the gap between supply and demand will continue to widen.

”In many cities, ageing infrastructure is compounding the problem. Urban planners say that significant volumes of treated water are lost through leakage before reaching consumers. “In some systems, up to a third of water is lost due to outdated pipelines and poor maintenance,” said an infrastructure specialist working with municipal authorities.

“This represents a critical inefficiency at a time when every drop counts.”Access to safe drinking water remains uneven, particularly in low-income and conflict-affected regions. Humanitarian workers report that millions of people still rely on unsafe or distant water sources.

“Communities are often forced to travel long distances to collect water, which affects health, education and livelihoods,” said a field coordinator working in water-stressed areas.Public health experts emphasise the link between water scarcity and disease.

“Limited access to clean water increases the risk of waterborne illnesses,” said a medical researcher focused on environmental health. “It also undermines sanitation and hygiene practices, which are essential for preventing outbreaks.

”Groundwater depletion is emerging as a critical concern in several regions. Hydrogeologists warn that excessive extraction is lowering water tables at unsustainable rates. “In many places, groundwater is being used faster than it can be replenished,” said a researcher studying aquifer systems.

“This creates long-term risks for food security and drinking water supply.”Industrial use of water is also under scrutiny. Environmental analysts say that without stricter regulation and monitoring, industrial consumption can place additional stress on local water resources.

“Industries must adopt more sustainable practices and invest in recycling and treatment technologies,” said an environmental policy expert.In response to these challenges, governments and international organisations are implementing a range of measures, including conservation campaigns, infrastructure upgrades and policy reforms.

“Water management needs to be integrated across sectors,” said a government official involved in national water planning. “Fragmented approaches will not be sufficient to address the scale of the crisis.”Technological solutions are being explored, including desalination, wastewater recycling and smart water management systems.

Engineers caution, however, that such solutions require significant investment and may not be accessible to all regions. “Technology can play a role, but it is not a substitute for sustainable resource management,” said a water systems engineer.

Financial constraints remain a major barrier. Development experts say that investment in water infrastructure has not kept pace with demand. “There is a substantial funding gap in the water sector,” said an economist specialising in public utilities.

“Bridging this gap is essential for ensuring equitable access.”Communities are also being encouraged to adopt conservation practices. Environmental groups stress the importance of behavioural change alongside policy measures.

“Water conservation starts at the household level,” said a sustainability advocate. “Small changes in usage patterns can collectively make a significant difference.”Despite these efforts, experts caution that progress is uneven and often slow.

“The challenge is not just technical but institutional,” said a governance specialist. “Effective water management requires coordination, transparency and long-term planning.”As pressures on global water resources continue to mount, stakeholders agree that urgent and coordinated action is required.

“Water is fundamental to every aspect of life and development,” said a senior official at an international organisation. “Ensuring its availability is one of the defining challenges of our time.”

Field observations and expert assessments indicate that without sustained investment, policy coherence and public awareness, the gap between water availability and demand is likely to widen further, increasing the risks to health, food security and economic stability.

Cases of abuse following the end of a relationship continue to present challenges for law enforcement and support services in England and Wales, despite recent legal reforms aimed at addressing coercive and controlling behaviour beyond separation.

Advocates say post-separation abuse, which includes harassment, stalking and ongoing coercion by former partners, is frequently underestimated by authorities. Victims may no longer be in a relationship with their abuser, but the threat can persist or escalate, particularly in cases involving shared parenting arrangements.

Charlotte Eastop, senior operations manager at the domestic abuse charity Refuge, said the issue is often misunderstood by frontline responders. She noted that victims are sometimes categorised as “historical survivors,” leading to a diminished perception of immediate risk.

According to Eastop, this mischaracterisation can result in inadequate responses from both police and support agencies.She added that separation is a critical period in which the risk of escalation is heightened.

While post-separation abuse is now recognised as a criminal offence, Eastop said greater awareness and mandatory training are needed across policing and judicial systems to ensure the law is applied effectively. She emphasised that legislative change alone does not immediately translate into improved protection, as institutional understanding takes time to develop.

The legal framework has evolved in recent years. Coercive and controlling behaviour was first criminalised in England and Wales in 2015. This was expanded under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which explicitly recognised abusive behaviour by former partners after separation.

The provision came into force in April 2023, extending legal protections to victims experiencing continued control outside of an ongoing relationship.However, practitioners say gaps remain in implementation. Eastop said a significant proportion of calls received by Refuge involve post-separation abuse, indicating its prevalence.

She added that the issue is not always recognised as a distinct and ongoing form of harm, despite its frequency.Individual accounts highlight the persistence and evolving nature of such abuse. Sasha, a survivor who requested anonymity, said she has experienced stalking and harassment since separating from her partner in 2012.

Although they were not living together at the time of separation, she said her former partner continued to exert control through repeated, unannounced visits and demands to see their child.

According to Sasha, these incidents often coincided with specific occasions such as holidays, when her former partner would insist on access. She said the behaviour continued even after she relocated, indicating the difficulty of breaking contact in such situations.

In one instance, Sasha said she shared photographs of her son with her former partner at his request during the Christmas period. He later used embedded metadata from the images to identify her location and track her home address.

The use of digital tools to facilitate tracking has become an increasing concern among support organisations dealing with stalking and harassment cases.Sasha also described being followed to public and family events, including gatherings tied to her cultural background.

She said these incidents had a significant personal impact, ultimately leading her to withdraw from activities that were important to her identity and her child’s upbringing.She described a turning point when her former partner made threats of suicide, which she initially took seriously.

When she visited him to ensure his safety, she said he appeared to treat the situation as a form of manipulation, undermining her trust and reinforcing a pattern of psychological control.

Support organisations say such behaviour reflects broader patterns in post-separation abuse, where emotional manipulation, surveillance and intimidation replace or accompany physical violence. Eastop noted that children are often central to these dynamics, with abusers using contact arrangements as a means to maintain influence over their former partners.

This can include repeated demands to see children, attempts to undermine the victim’s relationship with them, or using communication about parenting as a channel for continued harassment. In some cases, family court processes themselves can be used as a tool of control.

Eastop said abusers may exploit court-ordered arrangements by failing to adhere to schedules or by introducing uncertainty, making it difficult for victims to maintain stability in their daily lives.She added that such tactics can have cumulative effects, restricting victims’ ability to plan social activities or maintain routines, thereby extending the impact of abuse into multiple aspects of life.

Despite the existence of legal provisions, enforcement remains uneven. Eastop said there is a need for consistent recognition of post-separation abuse as an ongoing risk rather than a resolved issue. She stressed that improved training for police officers and judicial authorities is essential to ensure that patterns of coercive behaviour are identified and addressed appropriately.

The persistence of these cases suggests that while legislative frameworks have expanded, practical challenges remain in translating legal definitions into effective protection on the ground.