Sarah Johnson

@sajajohnson.bsky.social

Reporter, global development desk, the Guardian. My book 'A Nurse's Story' about life in A&E before & during Covid: http://bit.ly/30COVv7

Iran executes more women than any other country, mostly for killing their husbands in self-defense, or because of abuse. Yet no one tells the men, “If you want to live, don’t abuse your wife.” Perhaps they should. Glad that she was spared. Many were not. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Child bride spared execution in Iran after blood money is paid

Guardian story helped to draw attention to planned hanging of Goli Kouhkan over death of abusive husband

theguardian.com

I visited Lang'ata women's max security prison in Nairobi, Kenya to meet Ruth Kamande - convicted of murdering her boyfriend. She studied for a law degree in prison and helps other incarcerated women. I wrote about her for @theguardian.com Women in prison series www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

How Kenya’s jailhouse lawyer turned a life sentence into a legal career behind bars

After being incarcerated for murdering her partner, Ruth Kamande studied the legal system to understand her own case. Now she is fighting to reform Kenya’s laws

theguardian.com

I've spent the last year looking into women in prison around the world, with help from so many people. We @theguardian.com are running a series on the topic. Here is the first piece revealing some of what women, many of whom are ignored and forgotten, face. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Experts warn of ‘global crisis’ as number of women in prison nears one million

Number of women incarcerated around the world rising at nearly three times the rate of men, with female prisoners often subjected to sexual violence and forced labour

theguardian.com

I spent months trying to track down ten children in countries across Africa the Guardian last spoke to a decade ago, when they were 10 years old. I found three and sent in-country reporters and three photographers to visit them. Here are their stories: www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Africa’s children: 20 years on, what happened to the millennium babies?

In 2005, the Guardian documented the births of 10 babies as a way to tell the story of millions across the continent. We caught up with three of them, finding hardship – and hope

theguardian.com

This is a very moving and sobering feature about three 19 and 20-year-olds, from Ghana, Malawi and South Africa, almost two decades after they were profiled by The Guardian as babies and then 10-year-olds. All of them are struggling, but striving to live better lives.

Africa’s children: 20 years on, what happened to the millennium babies?

In 2005, the Guardian documented the births of 10 babies as a way to tell the story of millions across the continent. We caught up with three of them, finding hardship – and hope

theguardian.com

So sad to hear about the huge fire that has devastated Kantamanto market in Accra, Ghana. It is one of the largest secondhand clothes markets in the world. I visited in 2023 and found it a thriving and bustling place, albeit with problems. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Massive cleanup under way in Ghana after fire destroys one of world’s biggest secondhand markets

Thousands of traders face ruin after blaze razes two-thirds of Accra’s Kantamanto, which receives an estimated 15m used clothes from global north each week

theguardian.com

Possibly the most uplifting story I've written in 2024. Watermelon Fantasy, a song written by 3 people with learning disabilities and produced by 2 music pros, was sampled by Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre for Outta Da Blue from album Missionary. Happy New Year! www.theguardian.com/music/2024/d...

Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre sample song by London learning disabilities charity

Prolific US hip-hop artists have used the track Watermelon Fantasy, created in 2018 by Daylight Studio

theguardian.com