Women in Iran, Miscarriage cradle, Zoom bombing

This episode of Woman's Hour explores three powerful and interconnected themes: the human cost of war in Iran, the emotional and medical realities of miscarriage, and the persistent threat of Zoom bombing. The programme opens with a harrowing discussion of the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, highlighting the devastating impact on civilians—particularly children as young as 12 being drawn into military roles—and the tragic bombing of a school in Minab that killed over 100 girls. BBC correspondents Lise Doucette and Gonche Habib reveal how the war has deepened existing social fractures, intensified fear, and eroded trust, even within families. The conversation then shifts to a deeply personal and compassionate segment on miscarriage, featuring engineer Laura Corcoran and Professor Siobhan Quemby, who discuss the emotional trauma of losing a pregnancy and the innovative 'Miscarriage Collection Cradle' designed to restore dignity and agency during a painful process. The device, now used in 28 UK hospitals, has the potential to save NHS resources while offering psychological relief. Finally, the episode confronts the ongoing issue of Zoom bombing, with businesswoman Lou Roby recounting her traumatic experience during an International Women's Day event, and Professor Gina Neff emphasizing that online abuse—especially against women—is systemic and demands tech companies to embed safety by design, not leave it to individual users. The episode closes with a hopeful story of Janet Wilona, the 'tree-growing granny,' whose environmental activism inspires collective action. Key takeaways include: 1) Women and children in conflict zones face compounded trauma, with war crimes like child conscription and attacks on civilian infrastructure requiring urgent international accountability; 2) Medical dignity during miscarriage is not a luxury—it’s a necessity, and devices like the Miscarriage Cradle can reduce emotional suffering and improve clinical outcomes; 3) Online safety must be a default, not an afterthought—platforms like Zoom and Eventbrite must collaborate to protect users, especially marginalized voices; 4) Personal stories of grief and resilience, from loss to environmental stewardship, remind us of the power of individual action; 5) Systemic change requires both policy reform and corporate responsibility, particularly in how tech platforms handle user safety.