Africa: How to Ensure Election of the First Woman Secretary-General - a Daunting Challenge Before the United Nations

Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury is former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the UN and Chairman of the UN's Administrative and Budgetary Committee in 1997-1998… Read more »

Africa: CGIAR Gender Accelerator - a Tool to Advance Gender Equality Research in Agri-Food Systems

To advance the participation of women, the youth, and minority communities in the agricultural sector, measures must be taken to recognize and break down the barriers that hold… Read more »

Africa: CGIAR Gender Impact Platform Needs a 'Bold Approach' in Agriculture Research

Women farmers face structural issues that prevent them from realizing their full potential, from societal perceptions that dictate their limitations to poor land. Read more »

Tanzania: Trapped By Tradition - the Widows of Ukerewe and the Ritual They Cannot Escape

The night after her husband was laid to rest, 24-year-old Vivian Magesa sat in the dimly lit brick-walled house, surrounded by women from her late husband's family. She had spent… Read more »

Africa: Empowering Women in Agriculture - Breaking Barriers for a Thriving Future

On March the 8th, the world celebrated International Women's Day. This year's theme was "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment" and called for actions that aim to… Read more »

Gambia: Addressing the Scars of Abuse - a Global Call to Protect Girls and Secure Their Futures

In March 2000, 15-year-old Binta Manneh was eager to test her skills at an out-of-town interschool sports competition. That night, as she stepped out to buy biscuits from a nearby… Read more »

Africa: International Women's Day, 2025 - UN: Women's Rights Face 'Unprecedented' Pushbacks

Girls and women worldwide are facing growing threats to their security and rights, from threats to their education access to severe poverty and multiple forms of violence. In 2024,… Read more »

Africa: International Women's Day, 2025 - the Quest for a Female UN Secretary-General: Assessing the Probability

The United Nations has chosen "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment." as the theme for International Women's Day on March 8, 2025. This theme emphasizes the… Read more »

Sierra Leone: Our Silence On Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone Will Not Protect Us

Over 200 million women and girls around the world have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). This is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for… Read more »

Africa: International Women's Day, 2025 - It's Time for a Feminist Woman Secretary General At the UN

In 2025, the United Nations will celebrate 80 years of shaping global policies, fostering peace, and driving international development. Yet, in those eight decades, not a single… Read more »

Tanzania: International Women's Day, 2025 - in Zanzibar, Women Turn the Tide With Sponge Farming

In the early morning, as the tide pulls away, Zulfa Abdallah ties her scarf tightly around her head. She adjusts her goggles, places a snorkel across her forehead, and wades into… Read more »

Africa: International Women's Day, 2025 - New Report Finds Sexist Laws Persist Worldwide

A new global report analyzing sex discrimination in laws reveals that while some commendable gains have been achieved in strengthening legal protections for women and girls over… Read more »

Africa: The Impact of US Funding Freeze On Civil Society Around the World

The U.S. administration has the prerogative to review and adjust public expenditure policies, including foreign aid. However, this power must be exercised responsibly, adhering to… Read more »

Africa: Where Do UN Member States Stand On a Feminist Secretary-General?

The selection of the next UN Secretary-General (UNSG) will be a pivotal moment in global efforts to resist authoritarianism and work together to address shared problems. Where do… Read more »

Namibia: Namibia's Drought Crisis - Building Resilience for Women and Girls

Communities in the Kavango West region of northern Namibia have firsthand experience of the severe impacts of climate change. The dry, cracked soil and emaciated livestock provide… Read more »

Africa: Ending FGM Requires Strengthening Partnerships and Advocacy Efforts

February 6 is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). A practice deemed a gross violation of human rights, tragically the practice persists… Read more »

Tanzania: Pemba's Woman Salt Farmers Forge Livelihoods Amid Climate Woes

For female artisanal salt farmers in Pemba, salt production is both their livelihood and their struggle. In this deeply patriarchal Muslim community, the gleaming piles of white… Read more »

Zimbabwe: In Zimbabwe, Women Are Leading the Battle Against Climate Change

When Susan Chinyengetere started to focus on farming in her home village in south-eastern Zimbabwe, she wondered if she could earn a living and raise her children. Read more »

Tanzania: How an App Transformed Farming for Rural Tanzanian Women

In the sun-scorched soils of Moshi, where every drop of rain counts, two female farmers have defied the odds through technology. Mwajuma Rashid Njau and Mumii Rajab, once locked in… Read more »

Sudan: Sudanese Women & Human Rights Defenders Call for Solidarity to Stop the Bloodshed

On 15 April 2023, the outbreak of war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) drastically altered the face of Sudanese society. The fighting left thousands of… Read more »

Africa: 60% of Femicides Are At the Hands of a Partner or Family

Every 10 minutes, one woman or girl is killed at the hands of their partner or other family member. This is only scratching the surface on how femicide, one of the most extreme… Read more »

Africa: Expand Choices for Women, Prevent New HIV Infections in Africa

Ahead of World Aids Day 2024, with the theme Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!, IPS looks at options for prevention for women and girls in Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa. Read more »

Africa: UNiTE - Violence Against Women - a Plight That Spares No Country Across All Continents

Despite the 1,583 legislative measures in 193 countries around the world, violence against women has not been eradicated or even abated. Read more »

Sudan: 'The International Community Must Stop Turning a Blind Eye to the Suffering of Sudanese Women'

Content warning: this interview contains details some readers may find distressing. Read more »

Africa: Stand Up, Speak Out - a Global Call to Men On the 25th Anniversary of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

In 1960, the Rafael Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic assassinated the Mirabal sisters-- renowned and respected for their courage and activism against dictatorship. To give… Read more »