Cairo - Population and development in the Arab region were issues discussed this week in Cairo, during a three-day conference that ended with a declaration highlighting the need to empower women, promote gender equality, and step up efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals. “The status of women is the measure of a nation,” said Sima Bahous, Regional Director of Arab States from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the opening of the event. “A truly developed and truly … [Read more...]
UK’s new Visa Policy, Meetika Srivastava
THE news broke, Monday, that the UK government plans imposing a visa bond on nationals of some countries intending to travel to the UK. According to the report, from November, nationals of Nigeria, India, Ghana, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will have to post a bond of N723,000 or £3,000 ($4,600 or 3,500 euros at current exchange rates). The Home Secretary, Theresa May, made the proposal which targeted nationals of the countries tagged as “high-risk.” Home Secretary Theresa May who last … [Read more...]
Italy donates $1.9 million for women and youth in Kenya and South Sudan
Project to support access to market for marginalized farmers June 2013, Rome - Poor women and youth in marginalized areas of Kenya and South Sudan will gain improved access to markets for their agricultural produce, under a new project agreement. The $1.9 million project falls under a broader FAO-Italy programme of food security through commercialization of agriculture, in Eastern Africa, West Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. The project represents one of the major areas of … [Read more...]
Lily Safra – WOMAN of ACTION™
A Celebration of Women™ is elated to Celebrate the Life of this power of example for all Women Taking Action. Through all the twists and turns of 'life', including family death and divorce, this woman has achieved a thriving life in the world of philanthropy that has bettered the lives of women and children in over 40 countries in areas of education, science and medicine, religion, culture, and humanitarian relief. WOMAN of ACTION™ Lily … [Read more...]
The World’s Most Powerful Black Women 2013 with 30% from Africa!
A couple of weeks ago, FORBES published its 2013 annual list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. Of the 100 women featured, 11 are black, of whom 3 are Africans. They include political leaders, corporate executives, heads of non-governmental organizations, top government functionaries and a first lady. These are the 11 black women who matter the most: Ertharin Cousin Executive Director, World Food Programme, United Nations, U.S.A The World's Most Powerful Black Women 2013 Three of them … [Read more...]
Graça Marcel – WOMAN of ACTION™
A Celebration of Women™ is elated to Celebrate the Life of this nominated powerhouse, a woman that lead the charge in both Mozambique widow of Mozambican president Samora Machel and as third wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela, always supporting as advocate for issues of women and children. Through her own scholarship program for girls and women's education, this woman believes that an open and just society free from discrimination is best achieved through education and … [Read more...]
UNESCO peace prize for Action in Africa
French President François Hollande awarded UNESCO peace prize for Action in Africa “What was targeted in Timbuktu was not just the heritage of one region or people, it was World Heritage,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova during the award ceremony on Wednesday, when French President François Hollande was awarded the 2013 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize. “It’s a symbol of ancient Islamic wisdom, spanning all of the Sahel, and of a common culture spanning all of West Africa,” … [Read more...]
Japan Taking Action to combat illicit drugs and human trafficking
June 2013 – The United Nations and the Government of Japan today agreed to enhance regional cooperation to fight the trade of illicit narcotics and human trafficking, as well as terrorism and cyber crime in Africa and Southeast Asia. The Joint Action Plan of Action between the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Japan was signed at the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), which concluded earlier today in Yokohama, Japan. “The United Nations Office … [Read more...]
Breaking the Silence, Violence against Indigenous Girls
Joint UN statement read by John Hendra for the launch of the inter-agency study on breaking the silence on violence against indigenous girls Joint UN statement read by John Hendra, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director Policy and Programme, UN Women at the launch of the inter-agency study: “Breaking the Silence on Violence against Indigenous Girls, Adolescents and Young Women: A call to action based an overview of existing evidence from Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin … [Read more...]
Women in Tunisia are Taking Action!
The Code of Personal Status (CPS) (Arabic: مجلة الأحوال الشخصية) is a series of progressive Tunisian laws aiming at the institution of equality between women and men in a number of areas. It was promulgated by beylical decree on August 13, 1956 and came into effect on January 1, 1957. This Code is one of the best known deeds of Habib Bourguiba, who was Prime Minister and later President. He gave women a unique place in Tunisian society, notably abolishing polygamy, creating a judicial … [Read more...]