Source: IRIN
lack of awareness of the importance of skilled hospital deliveries in Ethiopia, cultural beliefs, and transport challenges in rural areas are causing a high number of deaths during childbirth, say officials.
Source: The Zimbabwean
Zimbabwe’s new constitution will provide for a Gender and Equality Commission aimed at dealing with women’s rights, a deputy minister has said. In an interview with The Zimbabwean, Women’s Affairs deputy Minister Jessie Majome said this would protect vulnerable groups.
A critical analysis of different ‘solutions’ to improve the situation for rural women in Africa within the context of an iniquitous global food system.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communication, on Thursday called on l stakeholders to develop policies and strategies to ensure that women are integrated into employment sector at all levels of responsibility.
UNITED NATIONS - Threats to international peace and security from illicit cross-border trafficking in drugs, weapons, terrorists and people have increased as the world has become more interconnected, the United Nations Security Council said on Wednesday.
Joyce Banda’s swearing in as president of Malawi this month made her the second female head of state in Africa - following Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s election victory in Liberia in 2005. Many see this as a key advance for women on a continent that has been dominated by male political figures.
ONE of the six wives of Goodwill Zwelithini, the present king of the Zulus, dispensed some expert advice for President Jacob Zuma’s sixth wife and fourth concurrent spouse. “What you did to get married, you’ll need to redo from scratch,” she warned Gloria Bongi Ngema at her traditional wedding to South Africa’s 70-year-old head of state on April 21st. “When you get to Zuma’s homestead, feed him and don’t talk too much. When he gets home he needs to rest.” She was advised also to pray for her husband’s finances, health, wives and libido.
Source: AllAfrica
Human rights are natural, intrinsic and are not given by governments, spouses, parents or institutions, says Nduta Kweheria, a senior programmes officer with the Kenya Human Rights Commission. Speaking to the press in Nakuru ton yesterday, Kweheria said it is the responsibility of governments, spouses, parents and institutions to help citizens access and enjoy human rights. "Every right goes hand in hand with responsibilities. Rights must be enjoyed in a manner that does not violate the rights of others," said Kweheria. "But the government bears the greatest responsibility of facilitating access to rights by all," she said. She said the recognition of vulnerable groups like women, the elderly, children, youth, minority or marginalised communities, ethnic, religious or cultural communities in the new constitution is a milestone that would safeguard their rights.
Source: CNN
Editor's note: Brima Sheriff lived in Sierra Leone throughout the duration of the armed conflict and was in Freetown when the Revolutionary United Front invaded. He has seen many of the atrocities of the war first hand and led a national campaign to have Liberian President Charles Taylor arrested. Sheriff started as a volunteer with Amnesty International Sierra Leone in 1994 and is now the Sierra Leone office's director.
Freetown, Sierra Leone (CNN) -- Millions of people will breathe a sigh of relief that Charles Taylor has finally been held to account for the years of violence, misery and suffering that he brought to the people of West Africa.
Source: AllAfrica
Participants to the 2012 Gender Justice and Local Government Summit have urged SADC Heads of State to sign an Addendum to the Protocol on Gender and Development on Climate Change this August when they meet in Maputo, Mozambique.
The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) has awarded 25 African women entrepreneurs and leaders at a special ceremony in Accra for their role in the fight against domestic violence.
The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) has awarded 25 African women entrepreneurs and leaders at a special ceremony in Accra for their role in the fight against domestic violence.
Seven of the eight suspects who are accused of taking part in a brutal videotaped gang-rape of a teenager will appear in a South African court Wednesday to ask for bail.
Supreme Court of Kenya judge Njoki Ndung'u yesterday decried the slow pace of the implementation of the African Union protocol on women rights. The judge said although the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, better known as the Maputo Protocol, has already been ratified, proper laws are yet to be enacted to ensure it is fully operational.
UK Equalities Minister and Champion for Tackling Violence against Women and Girls Overseas, Lynne Featherstone visited a women’s protection centre for victims of domestic violence in Mubende District.
Worldwide, women are largely responsible for managing family budgets, controlling 65 percent of global spending. But, women’s needs are often ignored when it comes to government budgeting, delegates at an international meet in the Turkish capital observed.
Kristin Palitza interviews NICKY NEWTON-KING, the first female chief executive officer of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.More than three years after the start of the global economic crisis, which has had a considerable impact on African trade, investments and gross domestic product, investment prospects on the continent are increasing.
The UN Security Council today held a meeting at which it heard of the need to strengthen the role of women in the area of peace and security, such as through increased participation in politics.
Graça Machel, the renowned humanitarian and activist, is to be the new president of the School of Oriental and African Studie at the University of London.
Economic policies should be more responsive to the needs of women and more instrumental to achieving inclusive development.