Source: RNW
The plight of child soldiers in Africa has grabbed the headlines in recent weeks, first with the 'Kony 2012' video from the Invisible Children pressure group, and this week with the conviction of former Liberian President Charles Taylor for aiding the recruitment of child soldiers. But what is overlooked by many is how many of those children are girls.
Source: The Daily Observer
A collaborative initiative dubbed 'Empowering Rural Women Mobile Phone Project' by the American Embassy in Banjul and the Forum for African Women Educationalists The Gambia (FAWEGAM) was recently launched in Nyakoi Taibatu village in the Wulli West District, Upper River Region (URR).
Source: The New Times
It is often said that educating the girl child is equal to educating a nation. In most developing countries, Rwanda included, the girl child, has historically had a raw deal in regard to access to education.
Source: Tanzania Daily News
THE number of female students majoring in science and technology related subjects in colleges remain low due to gender stereotypes.
As the gap between promise and delivery of continental and international treaties grows larger, African women and girls are growing cynical by the day
Source: Vancouver Sun
ABIDJAN—It took a mother’s last wish, and a man to make it happen, but Ivory Coast now has it’s first all-women orchestra in what is hailed as a little "revolution" in this fiercely patriarchal society.
Source: Coastweek
As the gap between promise and delivery of continental and international treaties grows larger, African women and girls are growing cynical by the day.
The entry into force of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women on Nov. 25, 2010 provided an opportunity to enact legislative frameworks across the continent that build and extend the freedoms of women.
In the remote east Kenyan village of Makutano, Jane Mutinda Maingi is feeding maize to her Friesian dairy cow, bought just a week ago with proceeds from selling produce grown on her one-hectare plot.
Source: East Coast Radio
The number of ambulances that are dedicated to maternity emergencies are set to be increased as part of a continent-wide campaign to prevent the death of mothers and babies in childbirth.
Source: Nernama
The percentage of women in the Mozambican armed forces has risen from 4.5 to five per cent in recent year but is still low in comparison with other southern African countries, according to the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Source: Eurasia Review
The Sudanese government forces are conducting indiscriminate bombings and abuses against civilians in the Nuba Mountains area of Southern Kordofan, Human Rights Watch said today. Such attacks may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, and are creating a humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by the government's denial of access to humanitarian agencies outside government-controlled towns, Human Rights Watch said.
Source: The Daily Observer
A four-day capacity building training workshop for women and political representatives organised by West Africa Network for Peace-Building (WANEP)-Gambia ended on Thursday at the Jenoi Agricultural Farmers Training Center, Lower River Region.
Source: The Herald
The UN Children's Fund on Tuesday called for "an immediate end" to the abduction and rape of girls and women and the recruitment of child soldiers in Mali. "Human Rights Watch issued on Monday a compelling report that details testimony about abductions and rapes of girls and women by armed groups in northern Mali and the recruitment and use of children by armed groups," Unicef Executive Director Anthony Lake said in a state- ment.
Source: Namibia Economist
The importance of empowering girls from a very young age was again emphasised at the Southern Girls Conference which was held from 26 to 30 April.
Source: Daily Trust
The National Centre for Women Development, Abuja has commenced a gender training course for top government officials and women in top management positions across the country.
Source: Vanguard
NIGER Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has said it would work assiduously with the Federal Government to encourage participation of women in politics which would lead to success of President Goodluck Jonathan's transformation agenda.
Source: Daily Trust
A group of rural women in Adamawa State recently vowed to end poverty in their respective communities by engaging in skill acquisition training in domestic trades. The women made the resolution during a five-day skills training workshop, organised by the Women Education and Empowerment Initiative (WEEIN) in Yola, Adamawa State capital. Correspondent Ibrahim Abdul'Aziz was at the venue of the event and filed in this report.
Source: Tanzania Daily News
ANGLICAN Church Mara Diocese is scheduled to launch a massive campaign against gender based violence (GBV) and HIV/Aids in Serengeti District on Saturday. The function will take place at Maburi village, according to the Programme Manager, Ms Rhobi Samweli.
Source: Gender Links
This year World Press Freedom Day on 3 May marks 21 years of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Media. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the Windhoek Declaration in 1991. This year's celebrations take place under the banner "New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies."
Source: UN News Service
A top United Nations official has voiced her concern about the latest wave of fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), especially in areas that have previously witnessed sexual violence committed against civilians by members of armed groups.