Women Leaders in Seven Arab Countries ... were asked what political, social and economic changes they expect to see in 2013. Most expected to see political infighting, backsliding in women’s status, or an economic downturn in their respective countries. Women in Iraq and Lebanon projected a deterioration in the security situation if the Syrian conflict spills over. Yemeni women said their country’s democratic transition hinges on a successful national dialogue scheduled for March. Two … [Read more...]
VDAY, Dear All… A Letter From Eve Ensler in Congo!
March 6, 2013 by
Dear All... A Letter From Eve in Congo Eve Ensler has been in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the last month. Here she shares with you all her experiences with the women at City of Joy, life on the V-World farm, and how she ROSE with women and girls of Congo on 14 February. Dear All, First let me begin with the deepest thank you to all of you who believed in City of Joy and have stood by us with your confidence and support. I have spent the month here and … [Read more...]
CONGO – Indigenous ‘pygmies’ excluded from maternal health
March 5, 2013 by
BRAZZAVILLE, March 2013 (IRIN) - Indigenous Women in the Republic of Congo, better known as 'pygmies' - a minority group threatened with extinction - are virtually excluded from reproductive health services. They mostly give birth at home and are exposed to related health risks, according to a 2012 study conducted by the Ministry of Health with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). The study, Determinants of the Use of Reproductive Health Services by Indigenous Peoples, was … [Read more...]
KENYA prepares to go to the polls on Monday
March 5, 2013 by
March 2013 – As Kenya prepares to go to the polls on Monday, a senior United Nations official has called on authorities to ensure the protection of civilians, especially women and girls, recalling that thousands of cases of rape and other forms of sexual assault were documented during the violence that followed the 2007 elections. “I urge the authorities in Kenya to ensure that civilians of all ethnic and political backgrounds can exercise their right to vote in safety and security, and to … [Read more...]
Afghan Women Taking Action in Business
March 5, 2013 by
MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan (ILO News) – Afghans have been immersed in a conflict that has affected every aspect of their ordinary lives. For Khalida Yaqobi, the conflict has been an obstacle, not an obstruction. After graduating in engineering from Balkh University, she secretly studied English at a time when women seeking an education risked being executed by the Taliban. “I was studying English in a private house, without textbooks or notebooks, going in a burqa to a hidden English … [Read more...]
Gender and Food Security, Empowering Women for Global Food Security
March 4, 2013 by
Feed the Future Policy Analysis – Empowering Women for Global Food Security – In spite of persistent global efforts to address food security, it still remains an urgent problem. Women are heralded as the key players in solving the food crisis, however these crises are the result of inequities in the food distribution system; and therefore broader gender dynamics and relations of power need to be considered. By focusing only on women’s economic empowerment, USAID’s Feed the … [Read more...]
Kenya goes to the Polls on Monday, MAR 4, 2013 – Brookings
February 28, 2013 by
On Monday, Kenyans will head to the polls to elect their fourth president in the most crucial election the country has held since its independence. This is first election since 2007, when post-election violence erupted, killing over 1,000 Kenyans. In this week's Global Update, my colleagues and I from the Brookings Africa Growth Initiative weigh in on Kenya’s upcoming election, reflecting on 2007, and asking important questions about Kenya’s future as a democracy. This historic event … [Read more...]
SYRIA, displacement giving way for serious gender-based crimes
February 27, 2013 by
February 2013 – A senior official with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today warned of the enormous humanitarian impact of the ongoing Syria crisis, particularly on civilians who have been displaced and face threats such as Gender-based Violence. “This displacement is not only about loss of homes and economic security. It is also, for many, accompanied by gender-based crimes, deliberate victimization of women and children and a frightening array of assaults on … [Read more...]
