Liberata, a mother of 5, volunteered to answer questions from supporters on Facebook about her life on the run from violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Copyright: WFP/Martin Penner While visiting families fleeing violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Web Editor Martin Penner met a woman named Liberata, who agreed to take some questions from our supporters on Facebook. Here is what she said. GOMA — On my first day in eastern DR Congo, I went to … [Read more...]
Nigeria launches anti-human trafficking campaign
October 11, 2012 by
Nigeria launches anti-human trafficking campaign, as two Goodwill Ambassadors are named October 2012 - The Government of Nigeria, jointly with UNODC and the European Union, has launched a nationwide three-year anti-human trafficking campaign. Entitled "I am Priceless", the campaign is aimed at raising awareness about the reality, dangers and possible impact of irregular migration, as a consequence of either being smuggled or being a victim of trafficking in persons. UNODC also … [Read more...]
UGANDA: Family planning pledges need on-the-ground action
October 4, 2012 by
KAMPALA, October 2012 (IRIN) - Family planning advocates in Uganda have scored some major financial and policy wins this year, but experts remain concerned that inadequate political commitment and poor health services will continue to impede women’s and girls’ access to contraceptives. At a global family planning summit in July, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni announced that his government would increase its annual expenditure on family planning supplies from US$3.3million to $5million for … [Read more...]
ZAMBIA, actions to meet the Millennium Development Goals
September 25, 2012 by
Identifying good practices that lead to greater equity in reproductive health The UN agencies known as the H4+ support priority countries that take concerted actions to meet the Millennium Development Goals on maternal and child health. UNFPA has identified Zambia as one such country. The following feature shows some of the "Good Practices" the country has undertaken to expand access to reproductive health. When Mabvuto Zulu returned to Zambia after studying medicine in Cuba, he worked … [Read more...]
AFRICA: Kenya moves to increase women in its police force
September 22, 2012 by
Kenya moves to increase women in its police force, and improve their work environments ~ Celebrate! To boost and empower women in the security and legal system, Kenya is setting up an association of women police officers to promote their role in law enforcement and security reform. The National Women’s Police Association will be a platform where policewomen can develop leadership skills, support one another and advance gender sensitive policies and practices throughout the force. An … [Read more...]
World Pulse, Ending Violence Against Women Campaign Update
September 20, 2012 by
The Power of Your Stories "While there is breath in this body I will speak the truth." Aoife | Ireland It has been two weeks since we announced our Ending Violence Against Women Digital Action Campaign, and we have already received over 240 community submissions from all over the world. From a witness to the horrors of acid violence in Bangladesh, to a South African man determined to redefine masculinity and address the root causes of violence, to a journalist grappling … [Read more...]
Ethiopian Fistula Surgeons Train Physicians in Mozambique, Women’s Maternal Health
September 18, 2012 by
BEIRA, Mozambique — Following a successful fistula repair surgery, 25-year-old Esther Joakim Chimoio envisions a better life. Although her husband abandoned her because of her condition, she now has ambitious plans that will allow her to take care of her children on her own. "I want to go back and start my own banana and orange business to support my children. Before I was working in the fields for a woman in my area due to my limited strength because of fistula," she says, beaming. Esther … [Read more...]
UGANDA, “Option B+” prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, (PMTCT)
September 15, 2012 by
KAMPALA, September 2012 (PlusNews) - The government of Uganda has launched the UN World Health Organization's (WHO) "Option B+" to boost the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT). Uganda currently uses a PMTCT system similar to WHO's Option A, which involves single-dose antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for the mother - if her CD4 count, a measure of immune strength, is over 350 - from the 14th week, as well as ARVs during labour, delivery and one week post-partum. Pregnant women … [Read more...]
Africa and “sisterhoods” formed to provide a common voice to women
August 30, 2012 by
JOHANNESBURG, August 2012 (IRIN) - Boys learning new ideas of masculinity around campfires in rural Africa and “sisterhoods” formed to provide a common voice to women are starting to change attitudes about African women farmers, say the authors of a forthcoming book about gender and agriculture. But it will take many more such efforts to support women food producers, who make up 43 percent of the agricultural labour force in developing countries. In some countries, that number rises to 70 to 80 … [Read more...]
RAPE: Eve Ensler ~ ‘Dear Mr. Akin, I Want You to Imagine …’
August 22, 2012 by
Dear V-Activists, I posted this letter on The Huffington Post and I have been flooded with thousands of emails, tweets, texts, stories of terrible rapes and profound emotion. There is a loud trembling unspoken story of women about to break to the surface of the world. It must break through if we are to survive as a species. It must break through. I want to thank each and every person (woman and man) who shared their story of violation with me. Your courage, your support, your anger, … [Read more...]
Agnes Maluki – WOMAN of ACTION™
August 20, 2012 by
A Celebration of Women™ is elated to Celebrate the Life of this powerhouse of a woman, one with a life journey filled with experience. Her mission and passion at this time is The Journey To The Revelation of My Soul, walking on her Spiritual Path. WOMAN of ACTION™ Agnes Maluki Studied International Business & Finance at European University Barcelona Lives in Reykjavík, Iceland From Watamu I am Harmonious.... One of a … [Read more...]
Abby Osoba – WOMAN of ACTION™
August 11, 2012 by
A Celebration of Women™ is elated to Celebrate the Life of this powerhouse of example for female empowerment, offering her life to helping other women learn, as her Mother taught her: “You have to be twice as good.” In her own words, "I would empower women, because the empowerment of women has a powerful effect on any society, because if women are empowered in a society, it is a proxy for every positiveness going on in that society." WOMAN of … [Read more...]
