Source: The New Times
'Ten years ago, all I did was sit in the kitchen and wait for my husband to fend for our home," says Aziza Bazubagera. "I could not even buy clothes for myself and my kids. My husband was the sole bread winner, and that was it".
Source: The Herald
Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Ltd, the country's largest media house, is set to introduce a gender policy in a bid to address gender disparities and improve its news content.
Source: The Monitor
A parliamentary committee is investigating security companies suspected of exporting Ugandans into domestic and sexual slavery abroad amid mounting concern over the country's complicity in human trafficking.
As the current session of the main United Nations human rights body began today, senior officials stressed that the Organization’s work in this area is as vital as ever, particularly at a time when men and women worldwide are rising up to demand basic freedoms and a life of dignity.
On 5 March an intrepid group of activists from across Africa will start the long climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, in the hope that they can reach its summit by International Women’s Day on 8 March. The group is as dynamic as it is diverse, consisting of 70 youth activists, sports personalities, human right lawyers, journalists, musicians, actors and doctors, among others; as well as staff from UN offices, NGOs, and governments across Africa.
The 56th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the principal global policy-making body committed to gender equality and the advancement of women, meets 27 February- 9 March in New York and is this year dedicated to rural women’s empowerment. Given the centrality of rural women in FAO’s work to eradicate hunger and poverty, the organization will play a major role in this year’s discussions.
Zambia is being praised for entrenching democracy and making good progress in increasing primary education enrolment, reducing maternal mortality and HIV-related deaths.
Civil Society groups, women rights activists as well as the Women Caucus in Parliament have expressed their reservations about the President's silence on women and children issues in his state of the nation's address to Parliament.
Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro today called for systematic and comprehensive strategies to empower women in rural areas to maximize their potential to combat extreme poverty and hunger, and help them facilitate sustainable development in their communities.
Source: Zambia Daily Mail
TWO Zambian women have taken the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) to a higher level: they will climb the 5,892 metre high Mount Kilimanjaro next week to raise awareness.
Source: GNA
Unite Africa Campaign, a Non-Government Organisation against gender-based violence, in collaboration with civil societies at the weekend organised a walk to raise national and global awareness on ending violence against women and girls.
Source: The Herald
A rapist yesterday stunned the court when he attempted to flee seconds after he was convicted of raping a deaf woman.
Source: Womens E-News
Women's rights groups are criticizing Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, for neglecting women's rights violations in an apparent rush to defend political Islam.
Source: Rwanda Focus
Having many children was previously considered a blessing in many African cultures, but with the rising cost of food, education and health; most parents and policymakers today think otherwise.
Source: Heritage
Newly inducted Gender and Development Minister, Julia Duncan-Cassell, has warned men, whom she says are abusive of women and children to "refrain from such act or face the full weight of the law." She sounded the caveat last Thursday, when she formally took over from outgoing Gender and Development Minister, Varbah Gayflor, at a well attended ceremony held at the Gender and Development Ministry in Monrovia.
Source: The Monitor
Gulu Resident Judge Wilson Musene has urged magistrates to expedite sexual and gender-based violence cases before their courts.
Source: Public Agenda
Women continue to be under- represented in public offices. Government has also reneged on its assurance of appointing at least 40 percent women to public offices.
Source: International Food Policy Research Institute
Washington, D.C. — A significant new breakthrough in the measurement of women's empowerment in developing countries is launched today. The "Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index" (WEAI) is the first measure to directly capture women's empowerment and inclusion levels in the agricultural sector.
Source: Gulf News
The status of women in the Arab uprisings is to be discussed by The Doha Debates, following concerns that political Islam might impose new restrictions on them.
Source: Tanzania Daily News
THE Women's Legal Aid Centre (WLAC) Director, Ms Theodosia Muhulo has underscored the importance of joint efforts from all people in the society in fighting gender based violence, saying that without cooperation from the grassroots the problem would remain unsettled.