September 27, 2022
Africa: Abortion in Kenya and Benin - Women and Girls Need to Feel Safe Socially and Medically
Safe abortion and post abortion care are essential health services. But until the publication of the 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) abortion care guidelines there was a… Read more »
September 21, 2022
South Africa: 12% Percent of Working Women Are Domestic Workers - Yet They Don't Receive Proper Maternity Leave or Pay
Most of the world's domestic workers - (76%) - are women. They mainly do housework like cleaning, washing clothes, cooking and childcare, usually in private households. Domestic… Read more »
September 15, 2022
Benin: The Woman King Is More Than an Action Movie - It Shines a Light On the Women Warriors of Benin
The Woman King is a big-budget Hollywood movie that has been anticipated since 2018, when US star Viola Davis was announced as the lead in the story of the "amazons" of Dahomey.… Read more »
September 11, 2022
Nigeria: Ovarian Condition That Can Cause Missed Menstrual Periods and Infertility Is Going Undetected
Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common gynaecological endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. It affects between 4% and 20% of women globally and is influenced by… Read more »
September 08, 2022
West Africa: West Africa's Fisher Women Are Experts At Coping With Job Insecurity
All along West Africa's coastline, women play a vital role in the fisheries sector as processors, traders and distributors. Read more »
September 05, 2022
Africa: Antarctic Stations Are Plagued By Sexual Harassment - It's Time for Things to Change
In October 2017, Antarctic science had its own #MeToo moment. Science magazine published a piece on allegations of abuse of female geoscientists in Antarctica - the most remote… Read more »
September 01, 2022
Africa: Four Lessons From Serena Williams for Sportswomen in Africa
US icon Serena Williams, considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, is retiring from professional tennis. Williams has won 23 grand slam singles titles, more than… Read more »
August 28, 2022
South Africa: Want to Get More Women to Start Their Own Businesses? Here's What It Takes
Globally, men are twice as likely as women to start a business. Most research into how to start a business has been focused on men. Not much has looked at why women are not fully… Read more »
August 25, 2022
South Africa: Women Refugees Fleeing Violence Seek Safety in South Africa - But They Don't Find It
When I ran away from home there was no safety, and when I came to South Africa there is no safety; it's also happening here. Read more »
August 24, 2022
Zimbabwe: Study Challenges the Idea That Women Are Inherently Close to Nature
In Zimbabwe, it's mainly women who collect and use fuelwood. The more women cut down trees for household energy needs, the longer it takes to find and fetch wood. Women are thus… Read more »
August 18, 2022
Kenya: Will Women's Rights Be Safe Under William Ruto? Why They Might Not Be
William Ruto has been declared the winner of Kenya's presidential election. The final outcome, however, remains in the balance following a challenge from his main competitor, Raila… Read more »
August 11, 2022
Tunisia: Former President Bourguiba Did a Lot for Tunisian Women. But Was He Their Emancipator?
Tunisia's National Women's Day is often associated with Habib Bourguiba, the country's first president, who pursued the policy of state feminism. Bourguiba ruled the country for 30… Read more »
August 08, 2022
South Africa: Women Have Always Trailed Men in Research Output - How Covid Made the Situation Worse
The under-representation of women in research is well documented. Emerging evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this inequality and disrupted the research… Read more »
South Africa: Lilian Ngoyi - an Heroic South African Woman Whose Story Hasn't Been Fully Told
Despite her key role in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, details about Lilian Ngoyi's life remain sparse. The short paragraphs on her legacy repeat a few well-worn… Read more »
August 03, 2022
Nigeria: Poverty-Driven Unequal Power Relations Fuel Sexual Violence in Lake Chad Region
There have been multiple instances of sexual violence against women and girls in the Lake Chad region since terrorism activity started in the area in 2009. The region includes… Read more »
July 28, 2022
Africa: Women Entrepreneurs in Africa Face More Climate Risks Than Their Male Peers
The world's climate is changing. All of us will ultimately be affected by climatic shifts - but some will be hit harder than others. Read more »
July 12, 2022
Africa: US Abortion Restrictions Are Unlikely to Influence International Trends, Which Are Largely Becoming More Liberal
The Supreme Court's June 24, 2022, ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade is already having profound effects across the United States, from Florida to Wisconsin. And the ruling also… Read more »
July 24, 2022
Nigeria: Lifesaving Maternal Health Services Are So Close, Yet So Far For Pregnant Women Living In Sub-Saharan Africa's Largest Metropolis
Every year around the world, 295,000 women die due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Seven in 10 of these maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. These deaths are… Read more »
July 19, 2022
East Africa: Why Sexual and Reproductive Law for East African Countries Is Being Resisted
Six of the countries of the East African Community - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania - recently concluded public hearings on a new sexual and reproductive… Read more »
Africa: Women's Football Enters a New Era at #WAFCON2022
This weekend's Women's African Football Championship (Wafcon) final between Morocco and South Africa in Morocco marks a new era. With it women's football in Africa has reached a… Read more »
July 13, 2022
Zimbabwe: Six Ways to Improve HIV Prevention Pill Uptake Among Young Women
Adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa have a very high risk of acquiring HIV. The latest global AIDS update report suggests that a staggering six out of seven new… Read more »
July 11, 2022
Ethiopia: Why Factory Jobs for Women Haven't Translated Into Greater Participation in Politics
Until the war in Tigray started in November 2020, Ethiopia was a favoured investment destination. It had experienced strong economic growth for the previous decade. Read more »
July 08, 2022
Africa: There Is No One Islamic Interpretation On Ethics of Abortion, but the Belief in God's Mercy and Compassion Is a Crucial Part of Any Consideration
As a scholar of Islamic ethics, I'm often asked, "What does Islam say about abortion?" - a question that has become even more salient since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed 50 years… Read more »
July 07, 2022
Africa: Women's AFCON Final Stage Under Way With a New Challenge - Testosterone Testing
The 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) opened in Morocco with several storylines that include challenges to perennial giants, broadcast to a global audience, increased… Read more »
June 29, 2022
Nigeria: 'Gain a Child, Lose a Tooth' - Old Saying Holds True for Women in Northern Nigeria
Childbearing has an impact on the health of women, and the impact grows with the number of times a woman has been pregnant for longer than 24 weeks. Pregnancy and breastfeeding put… Read more »