Source: WLP
In April 2012, Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP) published Strategizing for Democracy: Challenges and Opportunities for Women in the MENA Region.
Source: AllAfrica
Ghana has made significant progress in increasing access and utilisation of maternal health services. And although statistics from the Ghana Health Services (GHS) show some reduction in Maternal Mortality ratio of 740 per 100000 lives birth in 1990, to 590 in 1996 with a further reduction of 540 in 200, to 541 in 2005 and finally to 350 in 2010, the reducing trend falls short of the 5.5 percent annual decline required to achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of 185 per 100,000 by 2015.
Source: IRIN
Daughters as young as 12 in the villages surrounding Antsohihy, the capital of Sofia Region, in Madagascar's remote, traditional north, often suffer the harmful consequences of falling pregnant and giving birth too young when parents accept zebus (cattle) or cash as a dowry.
Source: allghananews
The Islamic Peace and Security Council (IPASEC), on Thursday launched a peace project dubbed: “Ensuring Violence Free 2012 Election in Zongo Communities in Greater Accra Region,” in Accra.
"It is now more dangerous to be a woman than to be a soldier in modern wars." These words were spoken by Major General Patrick Cammaert, the Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 2008, as he described the the terrifying scorched earth rape strategy being employed in that country (and others like it).
Severe overcrowding, poor sanitation, a lack of resources and brutal violence continue to blight prisons across the continent.
Source: All Africa
The proposed law results from consultations between the state and traditional leadership structures. It ignores the voices of millions of rural women disenfranchised by those structures.
Source: All Africa
People in northern Uganda have misinterpreted culture and traditional values, which has led to a high incidence of gender-based violence, especially against women.
Source: All Africa
The only two female heads of state in Africa, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Malawian President Joyce Banda, have just committed to using their positions to improve the lives of women across the continent.
Two South African women have taken top honours at the prestigious Oliver Empowerment Awards, which recently took place in Johannesburg, by being named the Top Black Business Leader of the Year and Top Black Entrepreneur of the Year respectively. Designed to shine the spotlight on and recognise leadership and innovation in empowerment, the awards are hosted by Topco Media's annual empowerment publication Impumelelo.
While women constitute the majority of food producers, processors and marketers in Africa, their role in the agricultural sector still remains a minor one because of cultural and social barriers.
The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has advocated a review of all work place conditions that militate against women saying more women are being marginalised and discriminated against by employers of labour in both the government and private sector.
Government has been urged to empower rural women to enable them to fully participate in economic production.
The ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), on Wednesday donated 30,000 US dollars to three rural women groups in Ghana who engage in agricultural production to assist them acquire materials and other logistics to support their farming activities.
The Ministry of Family and Women Promotion (Minfamu), the Norwegian Embassy to Angola and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)Wednesday in Luanda signed a protocol aimed at promoting and monitoring efforts focused on empowerment of women.
Source: AllAfrica
West Africa Network for Peace-Building (WANEP)-Gambia under its Women and Peace Building Programme (WIPNET) joined the people of Lower River Region to celebrate International Women's Day on 27th April, 2012 at the Agricultural Rural Farmer Training Centre in Jenoi, Lower River Region (LRR).
Many women's rights to inherit property, especially in villages, are violated, a survey conducted by Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe, an umbrella organisation of women NGOs in the country has shown.
African economies have made important strides in improving their economic environments in recent years, but much remains to be achieved to ensure that recent strong growth continues. In particular, African governments must better harness the region’s resources through stronger integration into international trade and finance, improved educational systems, enhanced entrepreneurial opportunities for women and developing their tourism sectors.
The World Economic Forum has always provided a platform for constructive discussion on complex issues, even in challenging times. I welcome this chance to collaborate and expect this year's World Economic Forum on Africa to explore issues of critical importance to the people of Africa, and to further the dialogue that leads us to durable solutions.
The vital role of women in creating a green economy will be highlighted at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held in Brazil in June.