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"WOMEN and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) Zimbabwe has urged government to respect women's right to actively participate in elections by creating an enabling environment This comes as the nation heads towards 2023 elections and no single woman is vying for the Presidential seat..."

"On Thursday, 29 June 2023, dozens of females particularly women and girls of the Y.E.D community, have protested at the Brewerville Magisterial Court demanding justice in the case involving Ms. Marie Nallon, and Cllr. Johnny Momoh. Ms. Marie Nallon, the fiancee of renowned Liberian lawyer, Johnny Momoh, has accused him of allegedly violating womanhood. She provided a video footage to the Brewerville City Court Stipendiary Magistrates against Cllr. Momoh's alleged action Wednesday, 21 June 2023 during a hearing..."

"Only one woman has ever occupied any of the top four positions in Nigeria's governance - a five months stint as Speaker in 2007. Furthermore, no woman has ever been elected governor. The challenges faced by women in the Nigerian political ecosystem range from funding, sexual harassment, male monopoly and even societal and religious perception..."

"A woman has been arrested in Anambra State for allegedly trafficking some underage girls for prostitution in the state. The woman, Ekpereamaka Okonkwo, was arrested on Tuesday in Awka, the state capital. Mrs Okonkwo, popularly known as Ukwu Venza, hails from Otolo Nnewi, a community in Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state..."

"The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said that sexual exploitation of minors and female migrants in border communities in Akwa Ibom State is on the increase. The state's Controller of NIS, Francisca Dakat, stated that the menace was predominant in the state due to the presence of many borders, and directed operatives to arrest any minor predisposing herself or anyone looking for minors at the borders for sexual exploitation..."

"President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera on Monday received rare applause from delegates when he made a passionate plea to African leaders to include youth and women in development agenda if the continent is to have accelerated development. Chakwera was speaking on Monday in Accra, Ghana during a panel discussion titled Delivering the Vision: The benefits of strong continental financial institutions. Answering a question on how and where innovation could be used to influence national investment rules, he said as a start to the development of the region, there is need for governments to encourage inter trading especially amongst youths and women who are usually on the forefront...."

"A new hate crimes bill is inching closer to the possibility of becoming law in South Africa. The bill entrenches human dignity as a foundational value of the country by providing for penalties for explicit acts of violence and discrimination motivated by prejudice and intolerance. However, prejudice and intolerance can also be expressed and experienced in everyday ways that are often taken for granted. The bill does not necessarily acknowledge this. It's crucial to acknowledge that acts of discrimination happen not only in obvious forms of hate speech and violence in public spaces. They also happen in the everyday private spaces that form part of our homes, faith spaces, workplaces and, in particular, the bathrooms available in these spaces..."

"According to the 2016 Seychelles Gender-Based Violence National Baseline Study, about four in 10 Seychellois women have experienced physical violence by intimate partners, and more than one in four have suffered sexual violence (Gender Secretariat, 2016; Seychelles Nation, 2016). The study found that women are also disproportionately affected by psychological and economic forms of gender-based violence (GBV). A study by the Commonwealth Secretariat (2019) estimated that violence against women and girls costs Seychelles 1.2% of its gross domestic product..."

"Terrorists late night yesterday killed and set ablaze the house of Mallam Nabanje, the vigilante leader of Danmusa Local Government Area, Katsina State. The hoodlums who stormed the community in large numbers also inflicted gunshot wounds on two other members of the community and carted away three women whom they reportedly had carnal knowledge of before setting them free..."

"The Lagos State government has through its Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, (DSVA) opened the Eko Haven, a 30-bed shelter for survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). The Executive Secretary of DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, in a press statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday said the move is part of the state government's commitment in ensuring holistic support is provided for survivors of SGBV..."

"This week, South Sudan finalized ratification of the African Union's Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), ending years of delay. While this ratification signals a commitment to gender equality, South Sudanese authorities need to adopt effective policies and strategies to ensure the protocol makes a difference in people's lives..."

" According to the 2023 Africa.com Definitive African Women CEOs list, Ms Patricia Obo-Nai, the Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Ghana, has been named among the top 93 women Chief Executive Officer's (CEOs) in Africa. The list, sponsored by Standard Bank Group, is unique in its focus on African businesswomen leading large-scale businesses and is based on data-driven research, with data provided by Bloomberg..."

" At the 5th edition of the Egba Dialect Debate and Choral Competition for Secondary Schools in Ogun Central Senatorial District, in Abeokuta, Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday, advocated for a female presidency in Nigeria. The event which featured a debate session with the theme: "Nigeria is ripe for a female president", was organised by the Pro-Chancellor of University of Lagos, Dr. Lanre Tejuoso..."

"The Senate has passed a bill seeking to mandate authorities of secondary schools to include lessons on how to prevent sexual and gender-based violence in their curriculum for students. The bill was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Ibrahim Gobir, and titled "Mandatory Inclusion of Preventive Measures on Sexual and Gender Based Violence into the Curriculum of all levels of Secondary Schools in Nigeria Bill, 2023."

"On the morning of 12 May, 2022, Deborah Yakubu, a young Christian student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was surrounded by a braying mob of Islamic fanatics and lynched before rolling cameras on the allegation that she had blasphemed against Islam. Her killers filmed themselves in the act, and circulated this across various social media platforms - a spectacle that would continue to traumatise anyone who watches the gory video. Eight days later, on 20 May, 2022, the Nigerian authorities, in Bauchi, arrested another Christian woman, Rhoda Jatau, on another allegation of blasphemy. She was alleged to have shared a message in her work WhatsApp group, condemning the murder of Deborah. The message denouncing Yakubu's murder, which Jatau shared, was a reaction of conscience to the trauma of watching a fellow human being lynched before rolling cameras. No one in their right conscience would be unmoved in the face of such jolting inhumanity..."

"Terrorists have killed twenty-five farmers and abducted several women and girls from various communities in the Rafi Local Government of Niger State. The attack reportedly took place on Friday in five villages. A community leader, who asked not to be named, said the terrorists had intensified their attacks on villages in the area in the last two weeks.."

"Caleb Ng'ombo, Director of People Serving Girls at Risk (PSGR), a frontline NGO in Malawi that supports vulnerable women whose lives have been devastated by the record-breaking tropical storm warns on "Cyclone Freddy" as a terrible experience, exposing women who lost their homes and their livelihoods at increased risk of sexual exploitation and abuse..."

"The Gambia, a small West African country, faces several challenges in the education sector, including limited access to quality education for girls. Despite these challenges, many young Gambian women are striving to obtain better education and improve their lives. In 2018, the Gambian government launched the Girls' Education Policy and Strategy, which aims to increase girls' enrollment and retention in school. The policy includes measures such as providing free education for girls up to the age of 18 and increasing the number of female teachers in schools..."

"The Global Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Learning Forum has commenced in Kigali, marking a significant milestone in the pursuit of assessing and advancing gender equality and social inclusion. Co-hosted by World Vision Rwanda and the Government of Rwanda, in coordination with World Vision USA, this forum has brought together stakeholders and thought leaders from ..."

"South Africa is observing Child Protection Week from 29 May to 5 June to shine a spotlight on the rights of children as enshrined in the Constitution and the Children's Act. The campaign aims to ensure the rights, safety, and well-being of children - aiming to foster a safer environment. To foster a safe environment, however, children must not only feel physically safe but also emotionally safe. Yet teenagers often do not have a safe space to speak to trusted people about the confusion they face around their gender..."

"On April 27, 2023 at the first event of the series titled Where is the joy? Portrayals and Depictions of LGBTIQ+ Persons - Dr Beverly Ditsie (they/them), led a conversation on being joyful and un-apologetic as a queer person. Ditsie is a gender non-conforming lesbian activist, award-winning film maker, reality tv director, writer and musician. They have directed more than 20 documentaries, nationally and internationally. Ditsie says there is a stereotype that all gay people are hairdressers. There are rarely gender non-conforming lesbians and there is rarely a representation of gender non-conforming lesbians and they continue to remain invisible because someone is making a decision about what is put on air about them. "Those of us who have the power to change it have to constantly be at war to be able to put any representation of us that makes any sense to us, and we are still not in charge of our own narratives, we are constantly told who we are. And so for me it continues to be a fight", says Ditsie..."

"Dodoma — THE International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is currently implementing a project to restore and increase the productivity and profitability of key food and oilseed crops to enhance market access for rural women and young farmers in Tanzania. Dubbed 'Supporting and Strengthening Community Resilience in Tanzania (SSUCORETA)' the two -year project is set to support the recovery of priority food crop value chains from the effects of Covid-19, strengthen community resilience, markets and trade development in Tanzania. The project is funded by the Ministry of Finance of the People's Republic of China through International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).."

"Monrovia — As part of the country's strategy aimed at tackling the menace of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) under the European Union (EU) funded project with support by Oxfam Denmark, several women 's advocacy group have completed a two-day refresher training on SGBV and are now set and ready for implementation. The project titled: Enough!, is in a transitional phase with the Foundation for Community Initiatives (FCI) taking over from Oxfam's Liberia Country Office as lead implementer of the project..."

"A bill seeking equal rights for women, men and persons living with disabilities has passed the second reading at the Senate. Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South) sponsored the bill. The bill was introduced in the Senate in 2021 but was frustrated by some senators who objected that it was against the Islamic perspective and some socio-cultural norms. The lawmakers agreed that the concerns raised against the bill should be erased before consideration and passage.."

"Officials from Blantyre District Health Office say over 3000 girls and women carried out unsafe abortions in Blantyre in the year 2022, leading to four deaths, renewing calls for legalisation of abortion in the country. The Blantyre Health Office says the figures are representing the number of women who have gone for post abortion care in the city. The statistics released by the office show that 60 cases involved girls in the age group of 10-14, and about 570 cases are for the girls in the ages between 15-19..."

"United Nations — A few weeks ago we celebrated the Girls in ICT Day and I am wondering how can we keep moving the digital equality needle so that more women out of the 259 million that are disconnected today can log in and become creators and not only beneficiaries in the digital economy? UNDP is using AI-based algorithms in Uruguay, the Philippines, Uganda and Colombia, to track social media, monitor gender hate speech and send signals to governments and civil society organizations. It's to protect women's rights defenders, women politicians and women journalists who are increasingly experiencing cyberbullying and other forms of digital violence including doxing, trolling and flaming." https://allafrica.com/stories/202306020093.html

"The Leading Ladies Network (LLN), a women's leadership development organisation, has advised parents and guardians against discouraging their wards from having political ambitions. According to the group, many Ghanaian families alleged some politicians were corrupt people and did not encourage their children or wards, especially girls, to develop interest in venturing into politics in future. "Young girls must be allowed to chase their dreams of becoming political leaders because there are many honest and selfless politicians in the country who are worthy of emulation," the Network noted.."

"Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has signed one of the world's toughest anti-LGBTQ laws, including the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", in defiance of Western condemnations and potential sanctions from aid donors. Same-sex relations were already illegal in Uganda, as in more than 30 African countries, but the new law goes much further. It imposes capital punishment for some behaviour including transmitting a terminal illness like HIV/AIDS through gay sex, and stipulates a 20-year sentence for "promoting" homosexuality. "The Ugandan president has today legalised state-sponsored homophobia and transphobia," said Clare Byarugaba, a Ugandan rights activist. "It's a very dark and sad day for the LGBTIQ community, our allies and all of Uganda."

"UN Special Representative, Pramila Patten, expressed her 'deep concern' on Thursday over increasing allegations of sexual violence against women and girls being carried out in camps for the internally displaced (IDPs) around Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). "Allegations of grave cases of sexual violence against civilians, including children, in particular affecting IDPs fleeing conflict in the eastern DRC, is a matter of profound concern which requires immediate action," said the top UN official who advocates for women and girls impacted by sexual violence...."

"Electorates in Ghana, have been encouraged to vote for more women in the District Assembly elections slated for October this year, to promote inclusion at all levels. Currently women's representation in District Assemblies stands at less than five per cent. According to Mary Ankomah, Senior Programmes Officer of Abantu for Development, a Women's Group Organisation,.."

"The monetisation of politics in Africa is impeding the effective participation of women in political and electoral processes. Many women do not have the ability to raise the needed capital to fund their political activities. Ayisha Osori, the Director of Open Society Foundations, a civil society organisation, made the observation at a two-day conference organised by the Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa at the University of Ghana on 'Increasing Women's Political Presence in West Africa.'..."

"Former president of Liberia Ellen Johnson - Africa's first democratically-elected female head of state - arrived in Luanda, Wednesday to attend the First International Women's Forum between 25 and 26 May. Ellen Johnson, 84, was welcomed at Luanda's International Airport by the minister of State for the Social Affairs, Dalva Ringote Allen. Ellen Johnson led Liberia from 2006 to 2018, during which she focused in fight against unemployment, public debt and the Ebola epidemic. Among other deeds, in 2011 she won the Nobel Peace Prize for fighting for women's safety and rights, as well as the Ibrahim Prize..."

"The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved an empowerment policy for women in the country. The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, who disclosed this to State House correspondents, on Wednesday in Abuja, expressed the hope that the new policy, WEE, would help bring about optimal development in the country. She said: "Yesterday, the Federal Executive Council approved the WEE Policy. The WEE Policy is Women Economic Empowerment. It is a policy dialogue that we've been working on for over one year..."

"THE Zimbabwe Gender Commission has revealed that women's participation in all political parties is regressing with no gender equality in practice. This is despite an elaborate legislative and policy framework in Zimbabwe pushing for their participation. Addressing delegates during a High-Level lnter-Generational dialogue on women's political participation on Monday, the commission's chairperson Margret Mukahanana-Sangarwe said: "Statistics from the 2018 harmonized elections reveal regressing low women representation with 31.5% in the National Assembly (85 women, 60 of them coming in through the quota, making those directly elected, effectively only 11.9%) and a mere 13.3% in Local government (267 women against 1689 male councillors)..."

"Egyptian authorities have arbitrarily detained women and girls related to suspected members of the Islamic State (ISIS) affiliate in North Sinai, some for months or years. Some were themselves victims of abuses by the ISIS-linked group, including rape and forced marriage, and were detained after they escaped and sought help from the authorities...."

"Midwives educated to international standards, who are licensed, regulated, fully integrated into health systems and working in interprofessional teams can help avoid about two thirds of all maternal and newborn deaths. Delays in the detection or treatment of postpartum haemorrhage can result in complications or death. A new solution, known as E-MOTIVE, could provide a major breakthrough in reducing deaths from childbirth-related bleeding, according to a landmark study published by researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Birmingham..."

"Women in Awka, Anambra State, on Thursday, staged a peaceful protest against "barbaric widowhood practices" in the state. They demanded the stoppage of the ritual where widows were forced to drink from the water with which their late husband's corpse was bathed preparatory to a burial...."

"The WEF research revealed that AI overtaking domestic chores could close the gender gap, noting that about 40 per cent of time spent on domestic chores could be automated within a decade. The WEF's conclusion stemmed from the research showing that advancements in automation and AI would allow robots to take over a significant proportion of domestic chores over the next decade... "

"The government of Malawi has demonstrated its commitment to advancing gender equality by ratifying international and regional agreements such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development..."

"The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has expressed gratitude to Nigerian women, members of the diplomatic community and partners for support and cooperation she received as a mother of the nation. Mrs Buhari said this on Monday when she hosted members of the diplomatic community and some Nigerian women to commemorate the end of the 2023 Ramadan period in Abuja... "

"Over the last decades, the global share of women among teaching staff in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) has increased from nearly 35% in 1990 to close to 45% in 2020. Yet, behind this overall positive trend lies a different reality for women as their career progression is often impeded by a series of 'glass ceilings and sticky floors'. In recognition of International Women's Day last month, UNESCO-IESALC has published a policy brief to outline the current situation of gender inequalities in academia and to propose policy measures to increase women's access at all levels of academic positions.."

"At least 11 female Members of Parliament were on Thursday arrested by police while they protested the continued harassment of colleagues by security agencies. The MPs on Thursday morning marched from parliament to march to the Ministry of Internal Affairs headquarters along Port Bell to deliver a petition to the minister... "

"Fresh from undertaking a six-month training in "Internet of Things" (IoTs) at the Catholic University of Rwanda (CUR) in the country's Huye and Gisagara Districts, 24-year-old Clemence Uwamutarambirwa developed a mobile phone application that uses sensors to monitor soil quality and temperature and can automate irrigation.. "

"Nimba County — A senior female student of Geolinda Community School in LMPC Community, Ganta City, Nimba County has been stabbed to death. 20-year-old Lucelia Gonleseh was pronounced dead by medical Doctor after she was rushed to hospital. The late student Lucelia Gonleseh met her demise in Ganta over the weekend after reportedly being stabbed multiple times by her former boyfriend."

"An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 women and girls were raped in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. For ages, millions of women in wartime and armed conflicts have endured the burden of being the targets of specific forms of gender-based violence, including rape, sex slavery, genital mutilation, and more..."

"The Gauteng high court has issued a court order upholding the right of all pregnant and lactating women, and children under the age of six, to access free health services at all public health institutions in South Africa, irrespective of nationality or documentation status. The order, handed down on 14 April, requires the amendment of a policy issued by the Gauteng Department of Health in 2020 -- the Policy Implementation Guidelines on Patient Administration and Revenue Management -- so that it expressly reflects this right.."

"Advocates for inclusive democracy have expressed concerns about the low number of women, youth and persons with disabilities elected into the National Assembly. They raised the concerns on Thursday during a workshop organised by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) on the outcome of the 25 February presidential and National Assembly elections."

"The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Social Development, and Family Affairs is expected to stage the final round of public hearings in April on the three petitions received by the National Assembly (NA) regarding the legalization and non-legalization of abortion. The final hearings commenced in Khomas region constituencies and tertiary institutions on 15 April, concluding on 27 April."

"On Friday, the 24th of March 2023, Nigeria Health Watch convened the second edition of the Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala themed "Elevating Women's Voices for Quality Maternal Healthcare". The Art Gala brought together multi-sectoral stakeholders from the health sector and beyond to advocate for the inclusion of women's perspectives and experiences with maternity care in the design and implementation of sustainable policies and programmes to improve maternal health."

"A secret, military-run mass abortion program was alleged to have been carried out by the Nigerian army as part of its fight against extremist group Boko Haram in the country's northeast. An investigative report released in December last year claimed the military had overseen approximately 10,000 abortions on women and girls who were detained and raped by the Islamist militants...."

"Angolan security forces have again been implicated in serious abuses against migrant women from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. The media reported that Angolan security force personnel and others raped Congolese women and children and otherwise abused them during mass expulsions of migrant workers over the past six months. A United Nations investigation has reportedly confirmed the abuses.."

"The UN in The Gambia is supporting initiatives to bridge the gender disparity gap in STEM through raising awareness and capacity-building support to women-owned businesses In the heart of The Gambia, an intrepid young woman called Fatou Juka Darbor is blazing a trail for women fuelled by her fiery passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).."

"In a new report, FAO says that gender inequalities such as less access for women to knowledge and resources, and a higher unpaid care burden, account for a 24 per cent gap in productivity between women and men farmers on farms of equal size. Women employees in the agricultural sector are also paid nearly 20 per cent less than their male counterparts. "If we tackle the gender inequalities endemic in agrifood systems and empower women, the world will take a leap forward in addressing the goals of ending poverty and creating a world free from hunger", said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu..."

"In August 2018, a group of women activists who first congregated through a WhatsApp group began holding meetings at their respective homes to discuss the need to work together to mobilize for women's rights. They worked to keep the meetings safe and secure as the security forces of Al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan from 1989 to 2019, were notorious for cracking down on any political dissent and political association, women's rights included. The women came to organize under an entity called Sudanese Women in Civic and Political Groups, known henceforth as MANSAM..."

"AN Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expert, Asha Abinallah has urged women and girls in the country to grab opportunities in the social media platforms to transform their lives. According to her there are numerous opportunities in the social media platforms of which when well used can help to change the life of an individual woman and contribute positively to the development of the society..."

"A total of 40 women with disabilities and refugees trained in climate smart agribusiness by Social Enterprise Ghana, were on Friday presented with start-up kits to enable them grow their own businesses. The programme under the Social Enterprise Ghana's "investing in women in Green Venture" Project, is supported by the Australian High Commission's Direct Aid Program (DAP), and it aim to support community-led development projects to empower women in agribusinesses and Small and Medium Enterprises..."

"The Parliamentary Women Caucus--a grouping of all elected female Members of Parliament of the Malawi National Assembly--has condemned the "shocking and sad behaviour" of Senior Chief Chulu of Kasungu District, who paraded naked a woman she suspects is having a love affair with her husband. Senior Chief Chulu, whose real name is Ester Kalasa, meted out the degrading treatment on the woman, Eliza Douglas, on 28 March at Chulu Trading Centre in Kasungu..."

"Rwanda's ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), on Sunday elected its first woman vice-chairperson as President Paul Kagame retained the chairmanship position. Consolee Uwimana was elected by 1,945 votes - about 93% of the votes cast..."

"As Burundian authorities turn a blind eye to the growing cases of violence and spousal murder, women's rights activists are increasingly vocal..."

"Johannesburg — From the Tigray conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia to the ongoing Somalia Al-Shabaab crisis, to civil wars in South Sudan and the military coup in Sudan, one thing is clear - women and girls suffer the most..."

"Monrovia — The Liberian Women Forum (LWF), a non-governmental organization responsible to seek the welfare of women, has urged women to come out and get their Voter Identification Card in order to elect credible leaders in the October legislative and presidential elections. "LWF, in a statement quoting its president, Madam Kadi Porte, described apathy in the collection of Voter Identification Card as a threat to the sustenance of good governance in the country..."

"In many parts of the world, men dominate the higher education sector. A 2022 UNESCO report found that, globally, fewer than two out of five senior academics are women. In an earlier report it showed that less than 30% of the world's researchers are women. Ghana is no exception. The country has made some progress in improving gender parity and inclusion through various national policies..."

"Uganda passed a bill on Wednesday that made some homosexual acts punishable by death - a law the White House in the United States has labelled as "extreme". Only two of the 389 members of the Ugandan parliament abstained from the vote passing the anti-homosexuality bill, which outlined life imprisonment sentences for gay sex and "recruitment, promotion and funding" of same-sex activities..."

"Washington DC / London — Women health workers are more than two thirds of the health workforce and represent 90% of the world's frontline health workers, yet hold less than a quarter of senior leadership roles - a situation which is unfair..."

"While there are increasingly more African women in leadership roles, they are still significantly under-represented but there are a number of things businesses can do to change this..."

"At current rates, it will take almost another three centuries to bring about equality for women and girls, according to the United Nations (UN). That is why every year in March, the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) convenes to discuss the.."

"After suffering years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband, including a denial of resources, Aluel was considering taking her own life. Then members of her community told her about the One-Stop Centre at Juba Teaching Hospital and assured her she would get the assistance she needed. "The staff understood the violent situation I had gone through and were helpful, says Aluel..."

"Harare — As we mark international women's history month, we assess our progress toward achieving gender equality, a basic human right and the cornerstone of a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. Despite efforts by the global community, gender stereotyping and employment barriers continue to affect millions of young women around the world. According to the most recent projections from the United Nations (UN), achieving complete gender equality will take 300 more years if we continue on our present course...."

"Confederation of African Football (Giza) 1998 Women's Africa Cup of Nations winning coach Ismaila Mabo passed away on Monday, 13 March 2023 in Jos, after a protracted illness, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed. He died in the early hours of Monday aged 80..."

"Aishatu Dahiru. popularly called Binani, is the only female governorship candidate of the ruling APC and is considered the main challenger to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the PDP in Saturday's governorship election in Adamawa State In Saturday's governorship election in Adamawa State, North-east Nigeria, voters principally face a choice between the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aishatu Dahiru, popularly called Binani, and the incumbent governor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ahmadu Fintiri. But the choice is not as straightforward as it may seem: Binani is not just facing an incumbent, she is also running against religious and cultural biases that have long stood against women in contests for power in the more conservative part of Nigeria..."

"Two female candidates of APC, Mrs Comfort Nwuchola and Mrs Omotayo Adeleye-Ishaya, have won Ibaji and Ijumu seats respectively in the Kogi State House of Assembly. The returning officer in Ijumu, Mrs Grace Abalaka Haruna, said Adeleye-Ishaya scored 8,568 votes to defeat other contestants...."

"Anti-gender-based violence interventions have yielded positive results at higher learning institutions with over 700 000 students currently linked to health, wellness and psychosocial support and care services. This has been made possible through HIGHER HEALTH's toll-free helpline 24/7.... "

"Results of the recent national elections showed a general decline in female representations at the National Assembly. Advocates for inclusive democracy have expressed concerns about the low number of women, youth and persons with disabilities elected into the National Assembly... "

"As Tanzania women on Wednesday joined their colleagues in the world to celebrate the International Women's Day, the Marriage Law Act of 1978 has been cited as an obstacle for women's rights activists in freeing girls from child marriage in the country. The observation was made on Tuesday during the International Women's Day (IWD) intergenerational dialogue....."

"Equal opportunities and conducive environment should be created for wom­en to rise to management level positions as well as lead corporate businesses, Prudential Life Insur­ance Ghana has said. "Women have always been the bedrock of any society, be it here in Africa or all across the world.."

"A new indicator developed by the International Labour Organization finds that women’s access to employment, working conditions and pay gap have barely improved in the past two decades...."

"Days after Uganda's parliament ordered an investigation last month into the alleged promotion of homosexuality in schools, a video appeared online identifying Kampala resident Eric Ndawula as gay. Ndawula, 26, said..."

"Lagos electorate have hailed a brave woman yet to be properly identified for going back to vote after thugs allegedly attacked her face with bottles at a polling unit in the state. It was gathered that the woman went back to vote after thugs allegedly attacked her face with a broken bottle at a polling unit in Surulere area of the state... "

"Men who are not embarrassed and have sexual intercourse with our children must leave Dunoon" About 50 people, mostly women, marched from the Dunoon taxi rank to Parklands on Friday. Marchers included members of community organisation's including Ilitha LaBantu from Gugulethu, Khumbulani from Khayelitsha, Dunoon Women for Gender Equity, and Thethanathi Mngani from Witsand in Atlantis..... "

"In a move which goes against the grain of tradition, a KwaZulu-Natal traditional leader has decided to replace male headmen with women to curb violence in his village. Inkosi Nathi Maphumulo's bold move is already starting to reap success for the community of Mbumbulu.... "

"In March 2022, Nigerian women suffered backlash in their pursuit of gender equity. Five gender bills presented to the National Assembly were thrown out. The bills sought to advance women's rights on a number of fronts. These included: providing special seats for women at the National Assembly; allocating 35% of .... "

" 'Bazigaga', a short film that tells the story of Rwandan women who saved lives during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi was nominated for a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award (Bafta) that will be announced tonight, February 19. Written and directed by Jo Ingabire Moys, a survivor of the Genocide herself, the film was inspired by Zura Karuhimbi, a Hutu... "

"Members of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group killed at least twenty men and raped at least 66 women and girls in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in November last year, Amnesty International reveals in an investigation. In the last year, M23 has taken control of large territory in Nord-Kivu province, which borders Rwanda and Uganda, driving half .... "

"The Southern African Development Community (SADC) made considerable progress in supporting Member States' capacity to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) following the approval of tools and strategies to guide the regional response to GBV in August 2021. The European Union-funded programme on Support to Peace and Security in the SADC Region (SPSS), with extensive.... "

"The African Union International Centre for Girls and Women's Education in Africa (African Union CIEFFA) has convened the 7th High-Level Dialogue with discussions centered around "Leveraging the AfCFTA to foster Girls and Women's Education and Skill Development for Entrepreneurship Opportunities" on the margins of the 36th Heads of State and Government Summit. The meeting, which ..... "

"The Sahel Women's Empowerment and Demographic Dividend (SWEDD) project funded by the, World Bank funded in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund, in collaboration with the Center for African Family Studies in Population and Health and Sustainable Development (CEFA-PSD), is organising a regional experience-sharing workshop for the SWEDD project's legal platform at the Radisson Hotel in Dakar, Senegal, from 21- 24 February 2023. The SWEDD project seeks to ... "

Brighton, UK — "Since researching the experiences of gender discrimination against women in poverty who belong to religious minorities, many fellow feminists have turned their back on me".

"Dar El Salam / El Fasher / Mershing / Kereinik — Five women were raped by gunmen in North and South Darfur this week. One woman was shot near the Zamzam camp for the displaced near North Darfur capital El Fasher. Unidentified gunmen raped two young women near Tabit in Dar Es Salam, North Darfur, on Wednesday"...

'President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged African leaders move as a collective in efforts to curb the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) on the continent. The President made the call in an address he delivered during a presidential high-level advocacy breakfast of the African Union's (AU) Gender Pre-Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday'...

"I always thought that because I was a man, I had to have more privileges than my sisters, and I shouldn't do certain household tasks,". These were the words expressed by Vasco Cesar in a peer mentorship program held by Helton Bruno in Nampula Province of Northern Mozambique, and his views, towards women while growing up as a child. Cesar now leans toward a different perspective to the one he grew up with...

According to a 2022 survey published by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in its Gender-Based Violence Reporting Handbook, of 120 Nigerian journalists interviewed, threats were the second topmost challenge mentioned by those reporting GBV, after silence from victims and survivors...

The Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS), has identified national strategies to promote girls and women's participation in the green economy...

My father was very violent with me, and my mother treated me differently from my siblings. I thought that by getting married I’d escape my family’s violence. But it only got worse...

Two opposition MPs in Senegal have been given six-month jail sentences for kicking a pregnant colleague in the stomach during a budget debate....

Genital Mutilation is predominantly practised in Southern and East Africa. Zimbabwean's renowned "Dark" recounts of how some churches have adopted the lengthening of the labia minora into their doctrines and the constant, physical checking of minors' private parts, were shared with NewZimbabwe.com during the course of compiling their report.Dark recounts of how some churches have adopted the lengthening of the labia minora into their doctrines and the constant, physical checking of minors' private parts, were shared with NewZimbabwe.com during the course of compiling their report....

International Day of Rural Women focuses on gender equality and women empowerment in rural areas. These women include mothers, daughters, and grandmothers in rural areas who contribute by producing food and building agricultural and rural development worldwide. Brief History: In 1995, during the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, the idea of empowering and honouring women was put forward. Since October 16 was celebrated as World Food Day, it was suggested that October 15 be celebrated as International Day of Rural Women to appreciate the contribution of rural women in agriculture, food production, and food safety. Achieving gender equality and empowering women is not only the right thing to do but is a critical ingredient in the fight against extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition, hence, it is aimed at “giving women the same opportunities as men could rise agricultural production by 2.5 to 4 per cent in the poorest regions and the number of malnourished people could be reduced by 12 to 17 percent.” SIGNIFICANCE We often ignore or forget about the struggles faced by rural women thus this is a way to appreciate their hard work and contributions to the development of rural communities. Furthermore, it also reminds the rural women that they are not alone and they can always ask for a helping hand. There are millions of women in remote rural areas who need our help but cannot ask for it or do not have the means. We can help these women in various ways from basic amenities to financial aid. Similarly, it is a reminder to fight against stereotypes and help women break gender and social norms. We need to be the way to provide strength to these women fighting against prejudices and stereotypes. We need to help them move on from social discrimination and barriers. Therefore, the world cannot become progressive if rural society is ignored and left behind, hence, let us ensure we celebrate our women in rural and local communities, particularly those who are farmers or into animal husbandry; most of them dedicate their time, money, labour, sweat and blood to promote agriculture so humans will not starve of hunger. The theme for International Day of Rural Women 2022 is "Rural Women, key for a world free from hunger and poverty." The theme focuses on equality and women's empowerment and wants women to fight against the problems of hunger and malnutrition. AGTRC joins the rest of the global community to celebrate these women in different parts of the world today. We wish them well and we say thank you.

Women's Rights Organizations have Called on President George Manneh Weah to set a high standard for public officials in the country in a bid to promote accountability and more women's representation in active politics.

One of the world’s deadliest conflicts, entering its twelfth year, continues to have a devastating impact on children with disabilities. Children with disabilities caught up in the Syrian war are at greater risk of harm and lack access to the health care, education, or humanitarian aid needed to protect their basic rights, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The United Nations, the Syrian government, and concerned governments should urgently ensure protection and assistance to meet the needs of children with disabilities in Syria.

Senegal will break new ground Monday as West Africa's largest-ever proportion of women MPs take their seats in a newly elected legislature, raising hopes of change in a country where patriarchal laws and attitudes are entrenched.

A new Human Rights Watch report says that in nearly one-third of African countries, teenage girls who become pregnant face "significant legal and policy barriers" to continuing their formal education. The human rights body said it examined more than 100 laws and policies concerning education, gender equity, and reproductive health, that are detrimental to the education of teenage mothers.

In a historic first, the Africa Civil Society Regional Reference Group (CSRRG) gathered for their first in-person meeting from the 20-22 April in Nairobi, Kenya, to jointly agree on key priority areas towards ending all forms of violence against women and girls. Read more…..

A Tunisian man posing as a "spiritual healer" has been arrested after a television report in which he admitted to tricking hundreds of women into having sex with him. Read more…

The World Health Organization (WHO) is releasing new guidelines on abortion care today, in a bid to protect the health of women and girls and help prevent over 25 million unsafe abortions that currently occur each year. Read more…

Restrictive laws do not prevent women with unwanted pregnancy from resorting to abortion anywhere. This is true even in developed countries. It only makes the procedure dangerous and unsafe. It makes women seek abortions clandestinely at the hands of unqualified providers that could then result in death or disability. Read more …..

At night, classrooms in this northern Kenya school serve as dormitories to keep the students safe from early marriages. Read more….

I was shocked, I was 18... This was an attempted rape," Ms Byanyima said. The head of the UN Aids agency, Winnie Byanyima, has spoken for the first time about her experience of sexual assault and harassment.

Star Feminine Band are a group of teenage musicians living in Benin that make music to bring awareness to issues surrounding the rights of women and girls. They sing in multiple local languages to reach a wider audience and now they're getting recognition beyond Benin’s borders, touring internationally. Read more….

Did you know ... in the whole of West Africa there have only been three women heads of state since 1957 (Guinea-Bissau and Liberia), there are only two women speakers currently in the legislature (Togo and Benin) and there are only two countries with over 30% women's representation in legislative chambers (Cabo Verde and Senegal)? Read more…

In overturning Roe, the anticipated decision would not merely deprive women of reproductive control and physical agency as a matter of constitutional law, but it would also change their relationship with the online world. Read more….

In Kenya, 104 girls aged between 10 and 19 died as a result pregnancy-related issues last year, according to figures just released by the country's health ministry. This is a big increase from the previous year. In 2020, 31 girls died due to similar complications

West Africa: Women Excluded From Decision-Making But Do You Know Just How Much? Did you know ... in the whole of West Africa there have only been three women heads of state since 1957 (Guinea-Bissau and Liberia), there are only two women speakers currently in the legislature (Togo and Benin) and there are only two countries with over 30% women's representation in legislative chambers (Cabo Verde and Senegal)? Read more...