Source: Yahoo News
African Union Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will not run for a second term in office of the 54-member bloc, her spokesman said Friday, and will leave the post in July.
Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation
Twenty soldiers from Democratic Republic of Congo went on trial this week for alleged rape and other crimes committed while serving as U.N. peacekeepers in neighbouring Central African Republic, the Congolese government said on Thursday.
Source: Women's eNews
More than a decade after the Rome Statute recognized rape as both a war crime and crime against humanity, the International Criminal Court delivered its first rape convictions against Jean-Pierre Bemba, the former vice president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC.
Source: Catholic News Agency
The Holy See paid homage to all women and girls who have selflessly served others in education, healthcare, and forming the youth and upheld the four Missionaries of Charity murdered in Yemen as an example of women with unwavering dedication to peace.
Source: Open Democracy
In a cynical ploy, conservative religious groups based in the Global North now frame reproductive rights advocacy in the Global South as the neocolonialist imposition of a uniquely western value system.
Source: Standard Media
Africa has made progress towards democracy, respect for the rule of law and human rights.
There is now greater knowledge and understanding of human rights resulting in increase in demand for accountability when violations occur.
Across the continent, countries have set up institutional and legislative frameworks for the entrenchment of good governance and democratic ideals; a clear demonstration of tolerance for pluralism.
Regional accountability mechanisms aimed at addressing Africa’s unique concerns and realities are now in place.
Source: BBC
Kenya's parliament has approved a bill which would force companies to set aside special breastfeeding areas for employees with children.
Source: CTV News
A U.S.-based advocacy group said Wednesday that 98 girls in Central African Republic reported they were sexually abused by international peacekeepers, and three girls told UN staff they were tied up, undressed, and forced to have sex with a dog by a French military commander in 2014.
Source: Aljazeera
The mild-mannered woman who zips around a farmhouse packed with knick-knacks and insists her guests eat a meal before any introductions, presents a character at odds with her fearsome reputation of being Malawi's top marriage terminator.
Source: The Souther African Times
On 21 March South Africa celebrated Human Rights Day, commemorating the 1960 shooting of police upon peaceful protestors, which killed 69 people.
Source: Huffington Post
This year marks the 60th anniversary for the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), an annual, global forum that takes place in March. The 2016 theme was “Planet 50-50: Step it up for Gender equality” with a call to “Pledge for Parity.” Many pledges connect to Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) 5, which strives for gender equality. Nestled within its target is 5.b, which aims to enhance “the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology (ICT), to promote the empowerment of women.”
Source: Tanzania Daily News
Zanzibar — Good news has been emerging from some parts of Zanzibar that incidents of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), slowly declining.
The positive news is attributed to vigorous sensitization campaigns conducted by gender activists at village level in collaboration with community leaders and effective use of Information and Knowledge Centers (IKCs).
Source: Sonke Gender Justice
Human rights have taken another knock. On 16 March 2016, Nigeria’s Senate rejected the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, aimed at eliminating “all forms of discrimination” against women. The Bill was set to promote women’s equality in marriage, inheritance and education.
Source: One
This week we’ve had the honour of speaking to Ghana Code Club founder Ernestina Edem Appiah about her rise from IT secretary to kick-ass coder, business owner, NGO founder and spearhead of coding in Ghanaian schools!
Source: Nyasa Times
Andrew Longwe co-founded Capital Financial Services, a youth microfinance program in Malawi, with an ambitious goal -- to bring about socio-economic empowerment to youth and women in low-income groups through financial services.
Source: The Point
Gambega Ltd on 24 March held the official launching of its third batch of 5 by 20 Women Group, a Coca-Cola Company initiative that intends to train and set up 5 million women entrepreneurs by the year 2020.
Source: Angola Press Agency
Luanda — Women united in scientific research: "an assumption for technological development and innovation" is the event that will guide the 7th activities under the celebration of March-Women, to take place on Thursday in Luanda by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Source: The Herald
Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Deputy Minister Abigail Damasane has challenged the Zimbabwe Staff College to embrace gender equity by enrolling more women at the Zimbabwe Defence Forces-run institution.
Source: Relief Web
Women must be placed at the centre of efforts to prevent or resolve conflict in Africa, speakers said today as the Security Council took up the “women, peace and security agenda”, considering the role of women in creating more peaceful and equitable societies on the continent. Read more...
Source: UN Women
UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality launched new research on women’s economic empowerment in fragile States this week on the sidelines of the 60th Commission on the Status of Women in New York.