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...]
CANADA is leader in global food security initiatives, celebrate!
May 25, 2013 by
ROME — Canada's leadership on food security and nutrition is contributing to the reduction of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition in developing countries. The Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of International Cooperation, participated today in a round table in Rome to discuss global food security and nutrition, and the role of private sector partnerships. "Ensuring access to safe and nutritious food is a priority of Canada's international assistance to developing countries," said … [Read more...]
Women Taking Action: NGOWG MAP – May 2013
May 3, 2013 by
NGOWG MAP - May 2013: BiH, Central African Republic, Central African region, DRC, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Yemen; Counter terrorism, WPS The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has released the May 2013 version of our Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council. For May, in which Togo has the Security Council presidency, the MAP provides recommendations on the situations in Bosnia and … [Read more...]
DAFUR, International donors pledge billions for recovery!
April 9, 2013 by
April 2013 – The International Donor Conference for Reconstruction and Development in Darfur wrapped up today with calls from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the Government of Sudan to demonstrate its commitment to the region and to facilitate humanitarian and development work there. “The Darfur Development Strategy acknowledges that while current conditions may not be perfect, ‘the people are ready for change’,” the Secretary-General said in his message to the Conference. The … [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...]
Fidelis Wambui Karanja – WOMAN of ACTION™
July 31, 2012 by
A Celebration of Women™ Celebrates the Life of this powerful human being that has offered her life to the bettering of the lives of others. Drawing from her inner strength and never giving up as she faced one obstacle after the next, this powerhouse is now the founder of an organization designed to provide women survivors of war, civil strife, gender based violence and young women in distress with tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and … [Read more...]
Women: Silent Players in a Silent Crisis in the Sahel
June 30, 2012 by
Thanks to recurrent drought and a dangerous combination of high grain prices and environmental and security degradation, there is a severe food and livelihood crisis, affecting millions of people who live within -- and around -- the Sahel region. In the Sahel, as in most of the world, women make up the majority of small-scale farmers. (..) According to the FAO, investing in women smallholder farmers would result in significant gains in the fight against hunger. Eight million people are … [Read more...]
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting – Tide is finally turning ‘against’ FGM
May 24, 2012 by
For centuries, female genital mutilation or cutting has been practiced throughout much of Africa. But dealing as it does with a very intimate subject, FGM/C was often spoken of, if at all, only in whispers. Today the movement against it is open, public and highly visible. And FGM/C seems to be out in the open and on its way out. Farmers in remote villages in Mali are listening to radio talk shows debating the issue. Community groups in Senegal talk about it in terms of human rights. Islamic … [Read more...]
Survivors Of Violence In South Sudan Tell Their Stories
February 1, 2012 by
Survivors Of Violence In South Sudan Tell Their Stories "We feel safe here," says Labakal Kalahin, an exhausted mother of four who lost one of her children while fleeing to the village of Pibor from the fighting which erupted late last year in South Sudan’s Jonglei State. She’s among tens of thousands of people driven from their homes by the fighting whom WFP is now moving to assist with food and basic necessities." Gumruk/Pibor - “We came here to look for food. Our … [Read more...]
Arab States Share Lessons in Improving Maternal Health
July 14, 2011 by
Arab States Share Lessons in Improving Maternal Health Morocco Serves as Model in Reducing Maternal Deaths RABAT, Morocco --- While high rates of maternal mortality continue to plague some Arab States, Morocco has made remarkable improvements in maternal health. The country is among a small group of low- and middle-income nations on track to meet Millennium Development Goal 5 – to reduce by three quarters the number of women dying during pregnancy and childbirth by 2015. Morocco’s … [Read more...]
Morocco Forum on Maternal Mortality: Sharing Experience and Sustaining
July 6, 2011 by
The Moroccan Ministry of Health hosted an international forum on maternal mortality in Rabat, from 29 June to 1 July. This scientific meeting, opened by Madame Yasmina Baddou, the Minister of Health and the Director of the Arab States Regional Office of the UNFPA, Mr. Hafedh Cheikh, was held to share Morocco’s experience in reducing maternal mortality and to gain expert input into the next phase of Morocco’s health policies. The meeting brought together leaders in research, policy, and … [Read more...]
PMO – Canada is Taking Action in maternal health issues!
May 28, 2011 by
PM announces new maternal, newborn and child health initiatives May 27, 2011 Deauville, France Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced support for new health initiatives to help save the lives of mothers and children in Africa and Asia as part of the Canadian-led Muskoka Initiative launched at the G-8 Summit in June 2010. Targeting the leading causes of mortality in mothers and children in countries such as Sudan, Tanzania, Nigeria, Mali and Afghanistan, the new … [Read more...]
