Based on figures from the International Labor Organization (ILO), at least 90 million women in the Middle East and North Africa are today part of what has been called the “Third Billion”, which is the approximate number of women worldwide who will be claiming their place as employees, producers and entrepreneurs in the global economy by 2030.
Tunisian women are rising up against a proposed article in the new constitution seen by many as an Islamist ploy to reverse the principle of gender equality that made Tunisia a beacon of modernity in the Arab world when it was introduced six decades ago.
President Jacob Zuma says the Gender Equality Bill must be fast tracked if the country is to further level the playing field for women.
Woman-power swept onto the Southern African scene in a visible way in 2012. First, Joyce Banda unexpectedly assumed the post as the first woman President of Malawi in April. She also has the distinction of being the first woman Southern African Development Community (SADC) head of state. Next, South Africa's Minister of Home Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma worked her way through several barriers to become the first woman chair of the African Union Commission after a tough fight in July.
“We, the women of South Africa, wives, mothers, working women and housewives, Africans, Indians, European and Coloured, hereby declare our aim of striving for the removal of all laws, regulations, conventions and customs that discriminate against us as women and that deprive us in any way, of our inherent right to the advantages, responsibilities and opportunities that society offers to any one section of the population.”
Landmark ruling paves the way for strengthening women’s access to justice for conflict-related crimes.The ruling made by the International Criminal Court this week regarding reparations to victims in the case of convicted former Congolese militia commander Thomas Lubanga reflects a growing recognition in international law that justice must go beyond mere prosecutions and a focus on perpetrators to include an equal focus on victims’ rights to redress and reparation.
The gathering in a well-lit Sierra Leone classroom comes off as remarkably joyful. “By my side… by my side…” chants a group of vibrantly-clad women, swaying and clapping in unison. “No longer men in front and the women at the back, but women and men walking side-by-side.”
At the Kakonko Health Centre, about 250 kilometres from the nearest hospital in Kigoma Region, Western Tanzania, assistant medical officer Abdu Mapinduzi prepares to operate on Joanitha, a young pregnant mother.
Source: World Bank
Every day, 800 women die from pregnancy-related causes during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. Over 99% of these 287,000 annual deaths occur in developing countries, and most are avoidable, as the health-care solutions to prevent or manage complications are well known. About 56% of the deaths occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa with another 29% in South Asia – these two regions together account for 85% of maternal mortality in the world.
Source: New Era
Despite the progress made, Namibian women are still confronting an increased prevalence of HIV/AIDS, high rates of gender based-violence, baby dumping and teen pregnancies.
Source: Daily Maverick
Like brawling over it, talking about violence against women isn't enough to stop the tidal wave of gender abuse sweeping South Africa.
Source: Operation 1325
In 2008, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) adopted a Gender and Development protocol, where detailed goals and indicators concerning women's increased participation and leadership in developmental processes are present. The last article in the document, number 28, deals with women, peace and security as well as women's leadership in democratic process; everything according to the standards of resolution 1325. An evaluation of this document's impact was recently conducted, revealing an interesting picture of the status of women's power in peace and security processes in Southern Africa.
Source: Gender Links
South Africans will celebrate National Women's Day on 9 August. As the country prepares for this historic celebration, United States (US) Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton arrived in South Africa on 6 August. It's a fitting metaphor that Clinton, who's arguably the world's most politically powerful woman, is visiting South Africa at this time and it provides the space to talk about political power and women's role in it.
Source: South Africa.info
Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has challenged South African women to focus on removing the barriers to their economic emancipation.
Source: Economic Community of West African States
ECOWAS Commission and the Africa Unite Campaign are rallying ECOWAS Member States to help end violence against women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa. To this end, the 5th Regional Committee Meeting of Africa Unite held at the ECOWAS Commission's Abuja headquarters on 2nd and 3rd August 2012 agreed on the joint implementation of Africa Unite's communication strategy by the two organizations.
Source: Afriquejet
Protocol on rights of Women - The Working Group on Gender Justice in Africa Tuesday called on the African Union (AU) to encourage member states that are yet to ratify the protocol on the rights of women in Africa to do so.
Source: SAPA
Police should have no more excuses for their disregard of the Domestic Violence Act (DVA), National Assembly police committee acting chairwoman Annelize van Wyk said on Tuesday.
Source: Leadership
Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Home Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has challenged women to this month concentrate their activities on making sure that they remove barriers to their economic emancipation.
Source: LA Times
CAIRO — When Islamist President Mohamed Morsi was elected in late June, he promised to represent all Egyptians by forming a government inclusive of women, Christians, youth and even artists and intellectuals.
Source: Alert Net
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AlertNet) – In 2006, when the Asian Development Bank (ADB) decided to launch a multi-million dollar rural water project in eastern and north central regions of Sri Lanka, there was one overriding requirement – women would be placed in key positions.