Atrocious rape and murder shows need for comprehensive approach to sexual violence in South Africa: Human Rights chief The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday expressed her shock and deep sadness at the atrocious rape, mutilation and murder of Anene Booysen, a 17-year-old South African Woman. And Navi Pillay has called for a more comprehensive approach to tackling the "pandemic of sexual violence" affecting tens of thousands of women every year in South Africa. She said … [Read more...]
World Pulse Joins V-Day !!!
January 31, 2013 by
World Pulse Joins V-Day in calling for the world to rise against gender-based violence. V-Day's Campaign, One Billion Rising began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls. On 14 February 2013, V-Day's 15th Anniversary, activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities and women and men across the world will … [Read more...]
Neema Namadamu, Congolese grassroots women leaders
January 24, 2013 by
The Democratic Republic of Congo was recently dubbed 'a never-ending nightmare' by the New York Times, but over 200 Congolese grassroots women leaders---- self-identified as the Maman Shujaa, or 'Hero Women'---- have emerged from the shadows to organize a movement denouncing violence and demanding peace.They have utilized our platform to request a voice in the decisions that affect their lives, and the world is taking notice. As the 20th African Union Summit kicks off this week, with Hero … [Read more...]
Ugandan HIV campaign targets “cheaters”
January 24, 2013 by
KAMPALA, January 2013 (PlusNews) - A new Ugandan HIV-prevention campaign that frankly addresses sexual infidelity is generating heated debate over the direction the country's HIV strategy should take. Billboards erected in various parts of the capital, Kampala, by Uganda Cares - a programme of the US NGO AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) - bear the image of a broken heart and the lines "Cheating? Use a condom" and "Cheated on? Get tested". The campaign aims to address the growing … [Read more...]
Future of Healthcare in Africa
January 22, 2013 by
Improving health outcomes in Africa will require a shift to preventive care and less reliance on international aid, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit A wholesale restructuring of Africa’s healthcare systems will be necessary over the next ten years, including measures to expand access to healthcare, to focus on primary care and prevention, and to manage chronic conditions. These reforms can be achieved by giving local communities more control over their healthcare, by using mobile … [Read more...]
Tanzanian women take matters into their own hands, pooling resources
January 17, 2013 by
“You need to join forces if you want to stand strong,” explains Batuli Massawe, a 46-year-old mushroom farmer who has become a respected entrepreneur due largely to training and solidarity lending in the community of Morogoro, 190 km west of Tanzania’s capital. In a country where agriculture provides the main source of livelihood for a large majority of the population — accounting for more than two-thirds of employment and almost half of Tanzania’s GDP — the the agricultural sector is … [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...]
Taking Action against Lord’s Resistance Army, Invisible Children, Security Council
December 20, 2012 by
The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), also known as the Lord's Resistance Movement, is a Christian fundamentalist, militant new religious movement cult operating in northern Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. It has been accused of widespread human rights violations, including murder, abduction, mutilation, child-sex slavery and forcing children to participate in hostilities. Initially it was an outgrowth and continuation of the larger armed … [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...]
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...]
