Source: InDepth News
Despite the hurdles women continue to face in Zimbabwe, this country has made significant headway in achieving gender equality in line with Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be attained by 2030.
Source: UN
Concluding a three-day visit to Côte d'Ivoire, the United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict has welcomed progress made thus far by the Government, and in particular by the national armed forces, in addressing sexual violence crimes in the country.
“I have been able to interact with the national authorities and [Forces Républicaines de Côte d'Ivoire] FRCI leadership, and see for myself the practical and operational steps being taken to prevent and respond to sexual violence crimes,” said Zainab Hawa Bangura, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.
“We have been able to identify remaining challenges in the implementation of the FRCI Action Plan to combat conflict-related sexual violence and discussed the way forward towards the delisting of the FRCI from the annex of the annual report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence,” she added.
The Special Representative noted that the FRCI was included in the annex of the annual report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence in 2012 as a party credibly suspected of being responsible for committing rape and other sexual violence crimes during the post-electoral crisis in 2010-2011.
As part of her official visit, Ms. Bangura met with senior Government and UN officials to discuss the progress being made in Côte d'Ivoire to address sexual violence crimes committed during the post-electoral crisis and beyond.
During her stay in Abidjan, she met with Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan; the Minister of State on Interior and Security; Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals; Minister on the Promotion of Women, Family and Children Affairs; the Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Cohesion and Victims Compensation; the Chief of Army Staff; Head of the Gendarmerie; the leadership of the UN's Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI); and the UN country team.
In meetings with the national authorities and military leadership, the Special Representative noted the progress made, including the development and implementation of the FRCI Action Plan, training and sensitization of FRCI soldiers, signing of undertakings by senior commanders of the FRCI, and the review of the code of conduct of the FRCI.
“It is important that such positive steps are shared with countries facing similar challenges. For this reason, later this year my Office will convene a meeting in Côte d'Ivoire, which will bring together African national armies from countries where we work – namely, the Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Somalia and South Sudan – to facilitate an exchange of good practices in addressing conflict-related sexual violence,” the Special Representative said.
Ms. Bangura also discussed remaining challenges faced by Côte d'Ivoire, including the need for legal reform to harmonize national laws with international standards, prosecution of perpetrators of sexual violence crimes committed during the post-electoral crisis of 2010-2011, the provision of reparations to victims, and the improvement of multi-sectoral services to survivors.
“The political and military authorities in Côte d'Ivoire have confirmed my long-held view that when national authorities demonstrate leadership and responsibility, they create an environment in which sexual violence crimes can be prevented and addressed,” Ms. Bangura noted.
“My Office, through the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law/Sexual Violence in Conflict, will build on this progress and support the Government in addressing the remaining challenges of justice and accountability,” she added.
Source: UN News
At a Security Council debate today on sexual violence in conflict, senior United Nations officials stressed that in the past decade, the world has witnessed a fundamental shift in the way the issue is understood and addressed as a peace and security concern.
Source: UN Women
In our mountain village here in Kissane, in Morocco's Taounate Province, we can see the impact of climate change. People notice it and say, ‘Before, the wheat was higher and didn't need to be sprayed’.
Source: The Daily Vox
The recent furore around Lerato Kganyago, True Love magazine and Photoshop reminded LIZEKA MADUNA of the days when she was mocked for her weight, and made her realise that body shaming still threatens the self-esteem of many women. She’s sick of it.
Source: Daily Trust
Women groups have called for opportunity to be more involved in peace building and development in the country.
Source: Times Lives
The BBC in January this year published a story with the headline: “Why are teenage pregnancies rising in Africa?” Africa Check‚ an independent‚ non-partisan organisation which assesses claims made in the public arena‚ said it had proved this headline not to be based on fact‚ prompting the BBC to change it.
Source: CS Monitor
In 24 sub-Saharan African countries, there is a serious gender imbalance when it comes to the arduous, time-consuming task of water collection.
Source: The Herald
On May 15, 2016 Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of Families under the theme: “Families, healthy lives and sustainable future”. The theme suggests that families are the custodians of a sustainable future but in order for them to successfully play this role, they have to be healthy.As each and every one of us is a member of a family, this year’s theme challenges us to reflect on whether or not we are playing our part in the families that we belong to ensure the health and well-being of other family members. In particular, whether or not we are making a positive contribution towards building a sustainable future for the young members of our families.
Source: AllAfrica
United Nations — When Lebogang Brenda Motsumi was 16 years old she fell pregnant, terrified about what her life would look like, she went to a backdoor clinic for an abortion.
The abortion failed, and she gave birth to a baby who later passed on.
Source: UN Women News
Following the signing of the Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, between August and September 2015, and since discussions around its implementation began at the National Women’s Peace Dialogue (November 2015); more than 500 women from all States of South Sudan have adopted a 7-point agenda on how to implement a gender-responsive peace agreement.
Source: Daily Monitor
Government and banking institutions have been urged to come up with policy interventions that will fully integrate women and youth in formal financial services.
Source: Thomson Reuters
The need to walk long distances to find water puts women and children at a higher risk of sexual abuse.
Source: Inter Press Service
When Lebogang Brenda Motsumi was 16 years old she fell pregnant, terrified about what her life would look like, she went to a backdoor clinic for an abortion.
Source: The South African
Researched by Liesl Pretorius
There is no evidence that teenage pregnancies in Africa are rising. Is the situation in South Africa any different?
Source: NATO
This is almost revolutionary!’ This was the reaction to the information that NATO is establishing a mechanism to secure sustained dialogue with civil society on its policy in pursuit of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Source: Destiny Connect
The Global Slavery Index has released a report that found there are 248 700 modern slaves in South Africa
South Africa ranks in the top 50 in the index, sharing the 27th place with Trinidad and Tobago. The foundation examined practices such as forced labour, human trafficking, debt bondage, child exploitation and forced marriage.
Source: Destiny Connect
The Global Slavery Index has released a report that found there are 248 700 modern slaves in South Africa.
South Africa ranks in the top 50 in the index, sharing the 27th place with Trinidad and Tobago. The foundation examined practices such as forced labour, human trafficking, debt bondage, child exploitation and forced marriage.
Source: Ecologist
Sharing and saving seed is a crucial part of traditional farming all over Africa, writes Heidi Chow. Maybe that's why governments, backed by multinational seed companies, are imposing oppressive seed laws that attack the continent's main food producers and open the way to industrial agribusiness. But Ghana's women farmers are having none of it.
AFRICA: Get To Know Yasmin Belo-Osagie, Co-Founder of African Woman-Led Enterprise, She Leads Africa
Source:OkayAfrica
A team of savvy, African women entrepreneurs are leading a movement to empower women in the Diaspora to transform their ideas to profit—one business at a time. She Leads Africa (SLA) is a women’s social enterprise based in Nigeria, seeking to address challenges women on the continent face in creating, growing, and sustaining their businesses and professional services.