Source: BBC
Women's rights activists in Morocco have welcomed plans to change and article of the penal code that allows rapists of underage girls to avoid prosecution by marrying their victims
Source: AWID
Sudanese teacher and activist Jalila Khamis Koko, who was arrested by the National Security Service in March 2012, was released from detention after a court hearing today.
Sudanese teacher and activist Jalila Khamis Koko, who was arrested by the National Security Service in March 2012, was released from detention after a court hearing today.
Source: openDemocracy
Human rights instruments have enabled women’s movements to access a normative and analytic framework for fighting discrimination, and rights discourses have been deployed to legitimise women’s demands for social and economic rights, political representation and well-being. Maxine Molyneux spoke to Deniz Kandiyoti about the new trends and threats to women’s rights and UN frameworks.
Source: Ventureburn
The clamour for innovation in the African society today is loud. In the era where there is a lot happening in ICT, innovation and entrepreneurship, why are there still very few women involved in these areas? Past research reports and workshops have openly addressed female participation issues and the need to build more capacity of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics); to give them a chance to contribute to the growth of the economy.
Source: Un Women
In response to the Secretary-General’s call to move towards a paperless UN system and reduce the organization’s costs and carbon footprint, UN Women went Paper-Smart at its Executive Board session from 28-30 November, 2012 – and the initiative is now being replicated during the First Regular Session of the UN Women Executive Board, 23-24 January, 2013.
Source: Huffington Post
I am often asked about sustainability - it has become a 'buzz' word in the international development sector and rightly so. Our donors and partners want to know how we at Tostan ensure that the learnings from our program continue to be built upon, years after our program has been implemented.
Source: IRIN
Improved maternal healthcare and better family planning programmes have led to a sharp decrease in the Republic of Congo’s maternal mortality rate over the past decade.
The rate declined from 781 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2005 to 426 deaths per 100,000 live births at the end of 2012, according to a demographic and health survey conducted with the support of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
Source: The Star
Women and children are the worst hit by the Tana Delta clashes. Out of the 163 people killed, 90 are women and children. Fifty one women and 39 children were killed in the violence compared to 64 men who lost their lives.
Source: Shabelle Media Network
Somali authorities should immediately release a journalist and three others linked to the case of a woman who reported being raped by state security forces, Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Human Rights Watch said today. The detainees have now been held for more than a week – one for 12 days – without charge.
Source: Radio Dabanga
A group of armed militias carried out random attacks at the El-Shaheed town, in Kabkabiya locality, North Darfur. Sources confirm that a woman was raped and that other citizens were severely beaten.
Source: allAfrica
When the chair of the African Union (AU), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma walked into the 21st bi-annual Gender is my Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) meeting on Tuesday she was given a reception, I am sure, she does not usually receive when carrying out her official business. Women, who represent the 55 civil society organisations that make up the GIMAC movement, welcomed her with song.
Source: allAfrica
A total of five candidates have been nominated to contest for the Butaleja district Woman parliamentary seat. Three candidates - Betty Hamba (Independent), Felista Namwihiri (FDC) and Perusi Munaba (Independent) - were nominated on Monday to contest in the by-elections scheduled for February 11.
Source: allAfrica
President Goodluck Jonathan and the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, have said this year will be "a tipping point for change" and global awareness for saving more lives, especially those of women and children. The two leaders, who are co-chairs of the United Nations Saving Life Commodities for Women and Children, in a joint report presented in Oslo, Norway Tuesday, also praised Nigeria's initiative of saving one million lives.
Source: allAfrica
THE ARRIVAL IN Liberia of a team of illustrious women rights campaigners, including Nobel women laureates, not only defines Liberia's place in women empowerment but also refocuses the nation to the last vestiges of discrimination and abuse still lingering in the social space.
Source: allAfrica
National and traditional leaders, as well as many other stakeholders in the Kavango Region yesterday began a specially convened two-day conference at Kamutjonga, 25km from Divundu, to deliberate on burning issues such as teenage pregnancies and malnutrition in the region.
Led by the Deputy Prime Minister Marco Hausiku the conference is taking place at the Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute.
Source: UN Dispatch
This post was co-written with Carol by Jason Warner, a PhD student in African Studies and Government at Harvard University.
You may have missed it, but 2012 was a very a big year for African women.
Source: UNFPA
Africa has many accomplishments in which to take pride and confidence. Progress on many fronts is dramatic with a new sense of optimism right across the continent. Economic growth is strong, feeding through into increased incomes and better living standards.
Will the increasingly vocal support for education, economic empowerment and a change of attitudes help in the struggle for gender equality?
Source: UN Women
“We need millions of men as agents of change and we have many rivers and oceans to cross before we get there,” says Antonie de Jong, Director of Resource Mobilisation at UN Women and one of the 15 men who rode as part of a motorcycle caravan across nine countries in southern Africa.
Source: East Africa Business Week
Winifred (winnie) Byanyima, a Grassroots activist, human rights advocate, senior international public servant, and world recognized expert on women's rights, has been appointed Executive Director of Oxfam International - a role that provides strategic direction and coordination for the worldwide confederation of Oxfam affiliates.