Girls and young women in Kenya are facing serious and increased risks of sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) amid fears of a sixth successive year of drought and an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Girls and young women in Kenya are facing serious and increased risks of sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) amid fears of a sixth successive year of drought and an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Girls and young women in Kenya are facing serious and increased risks of sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) amid fears of a sixth successive year of drought and an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Imagine waking up before dawn every day to fetch water for your family. You trek to the nearest water source, miles away, with only a jerrycan to carry the precious liquid. You brave scorching heat or heavy rain, while trying to avoid dangerous animals and strangers along the way.
SOURCE: UNFPA East and Southern Africa
ZAMBEZIA PROVINCE, Mozambique – Tropical Cyclone Freddy and widespread flooding have swept through Mozambique, killing 183 people and leaving more than 640,000 homeless. Making matters worse, in the aftermath of the storm, the country has been forced to confront its worst cholera epidemic in two decades.
The climate crisis is not gender-neutral.
Source: The Citizen
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has resolved to recommend Justice Mahube Molemela for the position of president of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).
Source: Tanzania Daily News
THE Government will table the proposed new marriage bill to increase the minimum legal age of marriage for women from 14 to 18, people familiar with the developments say the minimum age could be 21 years.
Source: Nigeria Health Watch
Listening to women’s voices, needs and unique perspectives is paramount to improving access to quality, respectful maternal healthcare.
In its "Women, Business and the Law 2023" ranking on economic parity, the World Bank gave Gabon a score of 95, making it one of the countries in Africa with the greatest potential for economic development for women.
Eramet has a historic presence in Gabon through its two subsidiaries: Comilog, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year, and Setrag, which has held the concession for the Transgabonese railway since 2005.
As a major player in the Gabonese economy, the Group is committed to contributing to the country's development, with a particular focus on the socio-economic development of women.
OUR ACTIONS…
For female entrepreneurship
As part of the partnership signed with Women in Africa alongside the Gabonese government, Eramet launched "Femmes d’avenir" (Women of the future) last year, the first women's business acceleration program in Gabon.
A total of 130 Gabonese women SMEs will be supported through training, mentoring, and financing assistance over a three-year period (2022-2025). The first 30 selected companies are currently being mentored, and the recruitment of the second class of 50 women's companies is underway.
The extension of the Women of the Future program to Senegal is planned for 2024.
For the inclusion of women in the digital professions
In an effort to promote the feminization of digital professions in Gabon, Eramet and Comilog are carrying out numerous actions aimed at including women in this traditionally male field.
In 2021, the Journée de la Femme Digitale (JFD), sponsored by Comilog, was set up in Libreville. Thanks to this networking and training space dedicated to women, 500 Gabonese women have been trained in digital professions in 2 years, and 5 start-ups have been created by women.
Each year, the Margarets Prize, organized by JFD, rewards women entrepreneurs in Europe and Africa, whose projects and innovations respond to the major challenges of our society. Last year, Ariane Akeret, won the award for her mobile payment solution, CA PAY, which received dedicated support and funding from Comilog.
Comilog is also behind the Fab Lab, an incubator in Moanda that introduces people to digital tools and the digital environment. It has 12 women out of 22 students. Every year for the past three years, the company has organized an ICT Women's Day, which aims to awaken an interest in digital professions among young girls in the town's secondary schools.
For the education of girls in local communities
Locally, scholarships, mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships are set up to train the Gabonese women of tomorrow.
Through its contribution program, Eramet is providing specific support for the education of young girls in Africa. In 2023, 500 young people, 50% of whom are girls, will receive assistance (scholarships, mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships).
For women’s health
Every year for the past three years, for Pink Month, an international highlight in the fight against breast and cervical cancer, Comilog and Setrag have been mobilizing: mixed sports activities, awareness-raising conferences, free screening campaigns, etc. In 2022, 182 women received screening.
Angolan security forces have again been implicated in serious abuses against migrant women from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Angolan security forces have again been implicated in serious abuses against migrant women from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The media reported that Angolan security force personnel and others raped Congolese women and children and otherwise abused them during mass expulsions of migrant workers over the past six months. A United Nations investigation has reportedly confirmed the abuses.
Angolan authorities were quick to deny the allegations. But the security forces' long track record of abuses against migrants have been extensively documented. In 2012, Human Rights Watch documented that gang rape and sexual exploitation of women and girls were common practices during roundups of undocumented migrants and while they were in custody before deportation.
The seriousness of these new reports of sexual violence requires much more than a simple denial from the Angolan government. Under the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), which Angola in ratified 2007, the government has obligations to prevent, investigate, prosecute, and punish those responsible for abuses as well as provide timely, accessible, and effective remedies to victims and survivors.
The fact that security force abuses have been committed over more than a decade is a clear sign the Angolan government has not done its duty to protect migrants and refugees, especially women and girls, from harm.
There is a growing need to bridge the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Despite the significant progress made in many areas of gender equality, women remain underrepresented in STEM, with only 28% of women currently holding positions in STEM jobs.
Earlier this year, Vodafone Ghana launched the latest edition of its “Code Like a Girl” initiative. It is a free coding programme for girls between the ages of 7 and 18 that aims to address this issue and empower more girls to pursue STEM education and careers. The initiative will run for five weekends and provide an opportunity for girls to learn basic coding skills in a supportive and inclusive environment.
The virtual program kicked off on April 1, with the aim of helping 1000 girls explore the world of coding. They were introduced to programming languages such as Python and JavaScript and worked collaboratively on coding challenges.
“Our program aims to inspire and empower girls to pursue their passions and develop the skills they need to succeed in the technology industry. We hope to promote gender equality in STEM by providing a safe and inclusive space for girls to learn and grow,” Hannah Ashiokai Akrong, Human Resource DirectorVodafone Ghana, said.
Source: AllAfrica
Social Development Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu is on a drive to help raise awareness of cancer and women's health issues.
In collaboration with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and PinkDrive, the Deputy Minister will lead an outreach campaign at the Mahwelereng Stadium in Mokopane, Limpopo, on Saturday. The Department of Social Development said the outreach seeks to raise awareness and provide education and health-related services to communities, particularly on cancer and women's health issues.
"PinkDrive will be providing a basket of services on the day, including free education on women's health, free pap smear, free clinical self-breast examinations, free mammogram, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for men over the age of 40," the department said in a statement on Friday.
Cancer is a major public health concern in South Africa and is the second leading cause of death after HIV and Aids. Breast and cervical cancer are prevalent among women, with cervical cancer being the most common cancer among women in South Africa.
The 2019 National Cancer Registry (NCR), which falls under the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) at the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), estimates that one in every 27 women is at risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
"As alarming as this is, breast cancer treatment can be highly effective, achieving a survival probability of 40% in South Africa, particularly when it is detected early.
"The lack of awareness about cancer and women's health issues, coupled with inadequate access to healthcare, has resulted in many preventable deaths.
Therefore, it is crucial to raise awareness about cancer and women's health to ensure women have the information and resources they need to take control of their health and prevent cancer-related deaths," the department said.The department plays a crucial role in this initiative by providing essential services to communities.
The department will offer substance abuse support through the Siyalulama Programme, which will provide on-the-spot admission for alcohol and drug rehabilitation. Other support measures in place are the registration and compliance of non-profit organizations (NPOs), including disability unit services. Additionally, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will be educating and registering illegible social grant beneficiaries including the education of the Child Support Grant top-up for orphans in the care of relatives.
The National Development Agency will also provide customer care services, information sharing on the establishment of cooperatives, and NPO support.
Other government departments that will be present on the day include the Departments of Home Affairs, Health, and Employment, and Labour.
"The Department of Social Development is committed to reducing the burden of disease on families, empowering women, and educating both male and female about breast cancer and other male-related cancers, spreading the message that the early detection of cancer saves lives," it said.
Source: The Point
Seraphine Wakana, UN Resident Coordinator for the Republic of the Gambia has said that they have heard from prospective female candidates that they face cyber bullying and online attempts at character assassination, thereby affecting their participation and inclusion in the political space.
Source: WeeTracker
The growth of Africa’s digital landscape is fast-paced, brimming with the potential needed to drive economic growth, development, and transformation throughout the continent. Despite this rapid rise, gender equality remains one of the sector’s critical challenges, as women’s participation in the ecosystem is below the minimum.
Source: Leadership
The first elected female Senator in Nigeria, Franca Afegbua, has died. Aged 81.
Source: Monusco
On the occasion of the celebration of the International Women's Rights Day, the MONUSCO/Goma office, in collaboration with the association RAPDFEM (Network of Associations for the Promotion of Women's Rights), organized on 8 March 2023 a meeting marking the launch of the project aimed at supporting the strengthening of women's leadership in conflict resolution and security governance, through the network of women mediators and peace ambassadors in Petit-Nord, in the province of North Kivu.
Source: SA News
Cabinet has approved the gazetting of the draft Policy on Women in Sport for public comment.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced this during a media briefing on Thursday in Pretoria, while outlining decisions taken at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting.
The policy outlines a set of measures that will promote and support women in sport and ensure programmes are in place to address gender disparities in sporting codes and structures.
Source: Morocco World News
While Morocco lags behind worldwide in terms of creating an enabling business and legal environment for women, the country remains a top performer at a regional level.