ZA'ATARI, Jordan — In a tent hospital bed, a Syrian woman who was four months pregnant when she fled her country's civil war cradles one of the newest residents of this dust-swept refugee camp: Her newborn son, just delivered by Caesarean. Around a dozen babies are born every day in Za'atari camp, which is home to 120,000 Syrians and counting – and there's only one, overworked Moroccan doctor performing C-sections. Still, the clinic where he operates and several other field hospitals here … [Read more...]
World Pulse: Wipe Out Breast Ironing with Women Like Leina
What if this Mother’s Day you could change the future for millions of grandmothers, mothers, and daughters by giving them a chance to be heard? You can. Donate today and our board chair, Ellen Wingard, will match your gift dollar-for-dollar. Your donation to World Pulse will support the leadership of women like Leina. Chi Yvonne Leina gathered the courage to write an article about the devastating, little-known practice of breast ironing that affects 3-4 million girls in her … [Read more...]
Safe Cities program implemented in New Delhi, India
Better lighting, wider pavements: steps towards preventing sexual violence in New Delhi A young woman from Bilaspur camp, in the Molarband area of south Delhi, says she never goes to the community toilets alone. “Near the community toilet complex we have a banyan tree where boys are always standing. They harass every girl who goes to the toilet. I never go to the toilet alone, especially when it is dark,” she said, echoing the 24 other women who took part in a focus group discussion last … [Read more...]
South Sudan: UN official urges key role for women in drafting new constitution
Women in Juba, South Sudan. Photo: UNMISS May 2013 – Women must play a greater role in South Sudan’s political life, from drawing up the country’s constitution to translating it into law, a United Nations official has urged, as the African nation prepares to draft its first legal framework. In a statement marking the opening of a UN-backed women’s national conference on constitutional development held in the South Sudanese capital of Juba, Raisedon Zenenga, the Deputy Special … [Read more...]
RAPE: Mali Sexual Assault Survivors – No Support, No Justice
Little support, no justice for Mali rape survivors GAO/BAMAKO, May 2013 (IRIN) - During the rebel takeover of northern Mali in April 2012, many women said they were subjected to rape or sexual assault. Since then, little or no support has come through for these women, say aid workers. Aminata Touré* was on her way to her uncle’s house in the city of Gao in June 2012 when she was stopped by two men on a motorbike. “I had no choice. They were armed and threatened to kill me,” she … [Read more...]
Iraqi Women do not have equal opportunities, Take Action!
DUBAI, May 2013 (IRIN) - In the 1980s, the UN says, Iraqi Women enjoyed more basic rights than other women in the region. But years of dictatorship, sanctions and conflict, including the US-led invasion one decade ago, led to deterioration in women’s status. “Across the board, women are suffering more [than they used to],” said Sudipto Mukerjee, deputy head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq. Despite steps taken towards gender equality since 1990, Iraqi women today do not … [Read more...]
WFP Food Key For Vocational Trainees in Afghanistan
In a vocational training center in the western Afghan city of Herat, WFP food assistance is helping more than 300 men and women learn marketable skills. A few months ago, they were so-called “returnees” – Afghans who had lived as refugees in neighboring Iran for many years, and who had come back to their home country. Now, they are aspiring tailors, plumbers, bakers and beauticians, ready to look for jobs in the bustling town of Herat. Ayoub, who lived as a refugee in Iran as a child, is … [Read more...]
Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Nigeria
Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Nigeria: The Desirability and Inevitability of a Pragmatic Approach KELLY BRYAN OVIE EJUMUDO, Ph. D Abstract Promoting gender equality has become a globally recognized and an acceptable reality. Gender issues have also been identified as critical to the achievement of national development goals. In fact, the attainment of gender equality is not only seen as an end in itself it is equally a catalyst to, and a sine-qua-non for the achievement … [Read more...]