The Abuja Moment: When the City Rose for the Rights of Women
The concept that women’s rights activism and women’s empowerment are tasks for women and women-led organizations is indeed obsolete and largely condescending. In the fight against the global pandemic of violence against women, women have led the way, likely because
A Woman’s Place: The Nobel Peace Prize
In August of this year, the United Nations posted a picture online (see below) in celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is actually celebrated on February 11 to promote the participation of women in
Origin Capital: Financing Women to Improve Communities
Women in developing countries are generally well-served by microfinance institutions. As a result, women-run livelihood businesses make up a good chunk of the typical microfinance portfolio. However, when it comes to larger loan sizes, the number of female borrowers drops
The Stigmatisation of Rural Teen Mothers in Zimbabwe
Teen mothers in Seke Rural, a constituency of Zimbabwe, are speaking out about how society stigmatises and ostracizes them. The teen mothers spoke during a decision makers' dialogue held by Shamwari Yemwansikana (Exclusive Friend Of the Girl Child). They expressed
How A Truth Commission on Past Human’s Rights Violation has Started a Conversation on Sexual Violence in Gambia
The Gambia, one of the smallest countries in Africa with a population of under 2 million people, has set up a Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) to investigate the atrocities and abuse of human rights endured by Gambians during
“Revenge Porn”: The Understanding and Impact of Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII) Violence
The increased use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the past decade has led to the rise of a new form of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Due to the escalating use of technology and the internet, women are more vulnerable
UNFPA: Supporting Vulnerable, Displaced Women, Girls, and Newborns Amidst Ongoing Conflict in Tripoli
"We are a rich country but we are poor people," said one of the internally-displaced women who found shelter in a school in Tripoli. "How can I give a future to my girls? I am spending all my money on surviving
The Fight for a Woman’s Right to Property After Divorce in Kenya
In the case of a divorce in Kenya today, a female spouse is not automatically entitled to half of the couple’s marital property. The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA Kenya) last year challenged the constitutionality of section 7
#IAmToufah Makes the Message Clear: We Will Not Wish the Rape Crisis Away
In dealing with past human rights abuses and upholding standards of respect for human rights, the Gambia’s transition from an abusive regime to a democracy must also entail justice for victims of gender-based violence. The most illustrative example of addressing
Pastoralist Child Foundation: Ending Gender-Based Violence in Kenya
After I finished college, I came back home to stay with my family. In our village, I saw the need to educate my community on child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and the importance of education, which is why I
Is Gender Equality a Numbers Game?
When I was younger, my mother would not allow my siblings and me to sit at the dining table before my father arrived home for dinner. And, in his presence, only my brother could speak. I was always outspoken and
Uabalika, a Movement to Empower all Women: Interview with Andra Massamba
Goal 5 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. This goal remains as relevant and critical as when the UN first launched the SDGs in 2015. UNESCO reports that 31