Africa: Challenges, Progress in Women, Peace and Security Agenda Brought to Light - Part 2

Between the Covid-19 pandemic, regional conflicts, aggravated sexual and gender-based violence, as well as continuous economic hardship, women of Africa face hardships that require… Read more »

Africa: Progress and Challenges to Women, Peace and Security Agenda Brought to Light - Part 1

Between the Covid-19 pandemic, regional conflicts, aggravated sexual and gender-based violence, as well as continuous economic hardship, the women of Africa face hardships that… Read more »

Africa: Africa Cannot Silence The Guns If Women Are Excluded From Peace Processes

"We can not silence the guns in Africa without the inclusion of women in peace processes. - these were the opening remarks by the African Union Special Envoy Bineta Diop at the… Read more »

Kenya: Shining Light on Slums to Unlock Girls' Talents

The dusty road leading to the heart of the Mathare settlement in Nairobi's north-west corner passes metal-roofed homes that seem to spill down hillsides, packed closely… Read more »

Africa: AU Peace Envoy, Namibia Deputy PM Stress Need for Women Peacebuilders Ahead of AU Forum on Women, Peace and Security

While much of the world has been mesmerized by the United States election amid an out-of-control pandemic, the African Union (AU) special envoy @AUBinetaDiop has been thinking… Read more »

Africa: Go After The Laws that Hold African Women Back

We must change the status quo, dismantle and go after laws that hold women back and create inequalities, Senait Fisseha, Director of Global Programs at the Susan Thompson Buffett… Read more »

Nigeria: #EndSARS Activists Turn Attention to 2023 Election

A leading civil society body organising around the ongoing protests against police brutality has called for supporters to stop sending donations to assist protesters. The Feminist… Read more »

Benin: Feed the People! The Audacious Ambitions of Rural Benin Women

Produce innovative versions of a staple food for a regional market. Feed hungry people, now and in the future. While you're at it, train farmers - mostly women - in improved… Read more »

Nigeria: Leading the World Trade Organization - The Case for Nigeria's Okonjo-Iweala

The selection process for the leadership of the World Trade Organization in Geneva is down to two finalists. Both are women – Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria's former minister… Read more »

Africa: Essential Women's Health Services at Risk Amid Covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is setting back important progress on women's health across Africa. There are many reasons for this, including lockdown restrictions which are keeping women… Read more »

Kenya: Denying Education to Pregnant Teens and Young Mothers Harms Girls and Reduces Nation's Potential

"I didn't go back to school, because I didn't have anyone to give me advice," "Harriet" told me. "I wish someone would've come to talk to me about school and encourage me." We were… Read more »

South Africa: Organisation Against Gender-Based Violence Calls for AU Action on Mukwege Threats

South Africa Women Fight Back (SAWFB), an organisation aimed at keeping all women safe from gender based violence, has sent a letter to the President of the Republic of South… Read more »

West Africa: How Covid-19 Affects the Reproductive Health of Young People

The reproductive health of adolescents in West Africa, like so many regions, is being negatively impacted by Covid-19 with maternal mortality being the second cause of death among… Read more »

Africa: The African Women Leaders Network – A Movement for the Transformation of Africa

The year 2020 began on a high note for the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN). As the world was preparing to mark 25 years since the Fourth World Conference on Women, AWLN sought… Read more »

Africa: Progress for Women and Girls Is Essential Amid Covid-19 – Dr. Senait Fisseha

Women and girls are hardest hit by social and economic circumstances stemming from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19, according to analyses by multiple international… Read more »

Africa: Breastmilk for Premature Babies Encourages Economic Revival

This week is World Breastfeeding Week, a flagship campaign of the International Confederation of Midwives. Read more »

Ghana: Gender Ministry Must Provide Roadmap For Shutting 'Witch Camps, Healing Centres'

The practice of magical skills, spells, and abilities is deeply ingrained in the Ghanaian culture - witches and wizards are believed to hold powers for fortunes or mishaps, hence… Read more »

Africa: 'There Can Be No Empowerment Without Peace; and No Peace Without Gender Equality'

The women and young peacebuilders' agenda cannot be siloed from the gender equality agenda. Read more »

Africa: COVID-19 Jeopardises Gains Made Towards Protecting Women and Girls from Violence

The passing of laws to end child marriage resulted in blocking thousands of child marriages and enabling second chance education for girls. However, these gains made over the years… Read more »

Africa: Unprecedented Crisis Presents Unique Opportunities for Unprecedented Action - Machel, Okonjo-Iweala, Songwe, Ramos

COVID 19 has unearthed massive inequalities within our societies and brought to glaring light the unique burdens which women carry the world over. As we respond to the impacts of… Read more »

Africa: Women and Children Will Pay For This Pandemic – Unless We Act

Wherever COVID-19 strikes, it magnifies unfairness and inequality. In every nation and every community touched by the virus, hard-won progress for women, newborns and young people… Read more »

Africa: What Ending Gender-Based Violence Means for Sustainable Development in Africa

As 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence nears, it has been revealed that 35% of women in the world and 45% in Africa have experienced gender-based violence in their… Read more »

Africa: Will Men Respond to COVID-19's Health Call?

The   latest data from New York tells us that the novel coronavirus is killing men at twice the rate of women. Death rates are higher around the world, including China,… Read more »

Africa: Triple Threat - Conflict, Gender-Based Violence and COVID-19

The new coronavirus, officially called SARS-CoV-2, has infected more than three million people worldwide – 31,000 in Africa by 26 April – with Egypt, South Africa,… Read more »

Sierra Leone: 'Radical Inclusion' Approach to Education an Extraordinary Victory for Pregnant Girls

Mariatu Sesay was still a schoolgirl in Sierra Leone when she fell pregnant. Had it not been for her principal and class teacher, she would not have been able to finish her… Read more »