Ethnic violence which has claimed over 400 lives and displaced thousands of people in Kenya has been condemned by the United Nations. The latest attack is reported to have occurred at dawn on Thursday on a village in the Tana River Delta in which at least 10 people, including five children, were killed. Many people were injured in what has been described as a revenge attack in south-eastern Kenya. UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky says the Office of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Kenya … [Read more...]
Africa, Top Priorities for the Continent in 2013
January 11, 2013 by
Africa, Top Priorities for the Continent in 2013 Africa starts 2013 with hope and optimism. Africa has dropped its mantle as a “doomed continent” and has weathered several global economic crises fairly well. Today, the continent is a land of opportunity both for Africans and international investors. Many now see the region as “emerging Africa” because of the "positive changes" that have taken place and continue to take place across the continent. Each year, the Africa Growth … [Read more...]
Egypt’s draft constitution to ensure equality and women’s rights
December 15, 2012 by
Head of the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and pratice Kamala Chandrakirna. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré December 2012 – A group of United Nations human rights experts today voiced deep concern about Egypt’s draft constitution, and called on its Government to ensure equality, non-discrimination and protection and promotion of women’s rights in the final text. “Key opportunities have so far been missed,” stressed independent expert Kamala Chandrakirana, who … [Read more...]
MADAGASCAR: Traditional midwives back in fashion
December 13, 2012 by
BETRAKA, December 2012 (IRIN) - Madagascar’s traditional midwives, or ‘matronnes’, are often thought to undermine safe childbirth practices, delivering babies in unsanitary environments and without provisions to manage complications. Yet they are now being recruited to a campaign to get women to deliver in clinics or hospitals, part of a move to lower maternal and newborn death rates. “We have more work than ever,” said matronnes Bertine, 52, and Marnette, 51. The women, who are cousins, … [Read more...]
DRC: Surge in sexual violence in North Kivu* – Take Action!
December 7, 2012 by
MINOVA, 7 December 2012 (IRIN) - Sexual violence is on the rise as armed groups continue to move across the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) North Kivu Province, officials say. Since mid-November, the provincial capital, Goma, has been a site of battle, with rebel group M23 taking control of the city on 20 November. Following negotiations with neighbouring countries, M23 relinquished control of the city on 1 December, and the Congolese national army, FARDC, is back in charge. … [Read more...]
SOUTH SUDAN: Women and children bear brunt of Jonglei violence
December 6, 2012 by
SOUTH SUDAN: Women and children bear brunt of Jonglei violence Women and children are increasingly being caught up in violent attacks Women and children disproportionately affected Disarmament stalled in Pibor Fears of violence grow as dry season arrives JUBA, December 2012 (IRIN) - Women and children are increasingly being caught up in violent attacks related to cattle rustling and inter-communal rivalries in South Sudan’s Jonglei State, say officials.Photo: Hannah … [Read more...]
COTE D’IVOIRE: Marital equality law sparks controversy
December 5, 2012 by
ABIDJAN, December 2012 (IRIN) - The adoption by Côte d'Ivoire’s parliament of a law on equality between legally married couples has sparked anger, especially among religious people. For them, this law will create more problems in the home than it will solve. Adopted on 21 November, the law says family affairs should be managed jointly by both spouses in the interests of the household and children. The previous law stated that the husband was the sole head of the family. "To remove this … [Read more...]
Women’s Rights in ACCRA – 16 days of activism, Visiting an “outcast” home
December 5, 2012 by
December 2012 - They number about 600, including women, children and men. They have come to Tindang, a small community in Gnani outside Yendi, out of fear from accusers who threaten them as witches and murderers. The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) on Wednesday said it was conducting checks on reports alleging that 20 girls selling iced water had been arrested by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) taskforce on various streets of Accra. The Ministry also said … [Read more...]
UN Security Council condemns M23 at Goma
November 30, 2012 by
The UN Security Council, acting under the enforcement provisions of the Charter of the United Nations on Wednesday strongly condemned the M23 and all its attacks on the civilian population, MONUSCO peacekeepers and humanitarian actors. The Council also strongly condemned the M23 abuses of human rights, including summary executions, sexual and gender based violence and large scale recruitment and use of child soldiers. It further condemned the attempts by the M23 to establish an … [Read more...]
Save our Congo Sisters, ‘we call upon our global sisterhood to Take Action’
November 30, 2012 by
"We have had enough. We call upon our global sisterhood to take action. We will not be quiet until REAL Peace is upon us." ----Neema Namadamu, DRC On November 20th M23 rebels seized Goma, a major city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, reigniting a war that has ravaged the region for 16 years. World Pulse Correspondent Neema Namadamu and our community of 200 Congolese women who call themselves the Mama Shujaa ('Hero Women' in Swahili) are calling on you and women leaders at the White … [Read more...]
WORLD AIDS DAY, Success motivates action
November 30, 2012 by
Success motivates action. All of us are much more willing to continue to invest in something that has produced results than in something that hasn’t. As we approach World AIDS Day, we now have a tremendous track record of success from U.S. investments in fighting global AIDS. A decade ago, an HIV diagnosis in Africa was essentially a death sentence. Today, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the American people support nearly 5.1 million people on … [Read more...]
