Slowly changing, but unmoving: The plight of FGM in The Gambia, Africa A Stop FGM – Female Genital Mutilation sign in Bakau New Town, Gambia gives a phone number to reach for those women who want talk with someone about FGM. Image: Nichol Brummer/Flickr London, UNITED KINGDOM, WESTERN EUROPE: Rainy season in upcountry rural Gambia, is green. It is a warm, inviting blend of a thousand greens; a mixture of beautiful, calm, peaceful mingling greens. As I look around and soak in the reality … [Read more...]
Shea butter nourishes opportunities for African Women
August 1, 2013 by
Fair trade brings decent profits to millions to African Women Women packing soap made from shea butter at a processing unit run by the Nununa Federation of Shea Producers in Burkina Faso. Photo: Roel Burgler/Hollandse Hoogte/Redux In a fancy Manhattan hotel in New York, women in colorful traditional African gowns make their way to one of the conference rooms. Their outfits provide a fascinating contrast to the grey and black business suits surrounding them. The crowd is diverse, but is … [Read more...]
World Pulse: Wipe Out Breast Ironing with Women Like Leina
May 9, 2013 by
What if this Mother’s Day you could change the future for millions of grandmothers, mothers, and daughters by giving them a chance to be heard? You can. Donate today and our board chair, Ellen Wingard, will match your gift dollar-for-dollar. Your donation to World Pulse will support the leadership of women like Leina. Chi Yvonne Leina gathered the courage to write an article about the devastating, little-known practice of breast ironing that affects 3-4 million girls in her … [Read more...]
Statement – UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS, Executive Board Director 2013
February 5, 2013 by
At the First Regular Session of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board 2013 Mister President, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Partners in civil society, Colleagues and friends, It is my pleasure to address the Executive Board on its first regular session in 2013. My colleagues and I congratulate you, Ambassador Olhaye, on your election as the President of the Executive Board. We also congratulate the other members of the Bureau on their election: Mr. Boyan Belev (Bulgaria), … [Read more...]
Mali: Shea tree empowers women
August 22, 2012 by
Many women in Mali know all about the benefits of the shea tree. They've been gathering its fruit for years to produce soaps and various products to sell. Now, production hovers at 80,000 tons per year – but it has the potential to reach 250,000 tons and improve lives. Vitellaria paradoxa (previously Butyrospermum parkii), commonly known as shea tree, shi tree, /ˈʃiː/ or /ˈʃiː.ə/, or vitellaria, is a tree of the Sapotaceae family indigenous to Africa, occurring in Mali, Cameroon, Congo, Côte … [Read more...]
FAO-IFAD-WFP: Celebrating momentum closing gender gap in agriculture
March 19, 2011 by
FAO-IFAD-WFP: Celebrating momentum closing gender gap in agriculture This year, in celebrating the centenary anniversary of the International Women’s Day we paid tribute to the achievements of women who for 100 years have inspired both men and women. Over the last 100 years, females made a compelling case to achieve equality. While we’ve made great strides there is still lot to be achieved to close the gender gap on many fronts. On Monday 8 March, on the occasion of the presentation … [Read more...]
UN Women Awards Nearly $1.5 million in Small Grants
March 17, 2011 by
UN Women Awards Nearly $1.5 million in Small Grants towards Realizing Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS United Nations, New York — UN Women, under the Fund for Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS, today announced approximately US$1.5 million in small grants to twenty grassroots and community-based organizations in sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen women’s property and inheritance rights as a critical strategy for … [Read more...]
