Congolese NGOs continue to commit to the protection of women and humanitarian action

Date: Monday, December 14, 2020

In the regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo most affected by humanitarian crises, eleven local NGOs and consortia of organizations have recently launched projects which have been financed by the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Action Fund (WPHF), including seven projects which have received funding through the WPHF and Spotlight Initiative partnership. The projects, selected following the Fund's second call for proposals, will receive a total of $1,660,309.91 USD between them, and...

Official Launch of the 16 days campaign in Cameroon

Date: Monday, December 14, 2020

Yaounde, November 25th, 2020, Hotel de ville  :  Organized by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family in partnership with UN Women Cameroon with the support of the Federal Republic of Germany , more than 400 people, including local authorities, development partners, civil Society, organizations and young people, attended the official launch of the 14th edition of the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence on Women and Girls campaign. This campaign, which contributes...

End of 11th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Date: Monday, December 14, 2020

On 18 November 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) and the Congolese Minister of Health declared the end of the 11 th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), nearly six months after the first cases were reported in Equateur Province, a north-western region at the border with Republic of Congo. The outbreak took place in communities scattered across dense rain forests as well as crowded urban areas, creating logistical challenges. The response to the 11 th Ebola outbreak...

Press Release - Inter-agency report: refugee women and girls in Uganda disproportionately affected by COVID-19

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2020

A report released today, titled “Inter-Agency Rapid Gender Analysis – COVID-19, confirmed that refugees in Uganda have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with women and girls paying a heavier price.

Providing scholarships to improve the enrolment and retention levels of child marriage survivors and girls who have dropped out of school due to early pregnancies in rural Zambia

Date: Monday, November 30, 2020

Child marriage in Zambia is a complex issue that has gained increased attention over recent years. In addressing its high incidence particularly in remote parts of the country, the Government of Zambia has developed some policies and legal instruments, including a national strategy designed in 2016 to reduce child marriages by 40 per cent by 2021.

Hand over the mic to: Aisha, Kenya

Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Aisha*, 12 years old, is now living in a shelter in the coastal region of Kenya, with 34 other children who have experienced gender-based violence. When schools closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, these girls fell victims to sexual abuse within their homes.

Take Five : "Achieving gender equality by 2030 will require bold and sustained action from the international community" Alberto Pieri, Ambassador of Italy to Kenya

Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2020

The urgency to end violence against women and girls has been stressed at the highest levels of the international community. Preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) is complex and requires a collaborative effort on a global scale. The Government of Italy is one of UN Women’s top donors and is committed to supporting Kenya in the fight and prevention of VAWG through a multi-year programme to strengthen survivors’ access to justice. In an interview, Ambassador of Italy to Kenya Alberto Pieri explains the importance the Government of Italy places in ending violence against women.

What Happened After Covid-19 hit: Kenya

Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2020

As a forensic scientist at the Forensic Science division of the government chemist, I am in charge of analyzing evidential materials from crime scenes in the cases of Gender-Based Violence. My role is important as it is this evidence that will link perpetrators or exonerate the wrongfully accused in the dispensation of justice.

What Happened After Covid-19 Hit: Ethiopia

Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Alegnta was an integral part of the efforts of our organization, Setaweet in combating gender-based violence. The project aims to address a gap in providing services to survivors of sexual assault and abuse who approach the center in increasing numbers.

What happened after COVID-19 hit: Malawi

Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2020

In Malawi, thirty-one-year-old Alepher Matemba Banda is a nurse responding to a hotline at Chipatala cha pa foni, a national health helpline. Banda was among 40 helpline nurses and technicians who received training in gender-based violence and health, through a UN Women initiative funded by the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office.

Hand over the mic to: Ali Dabaso, Kenya

Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2020

38-year-old, Ali Dabaso is a resident of Isiolo county in the northern part of Kenya and serves as a male champion. Cases of Female genital mutilation and physical violence are common in this region and heavily tied to cultural norms, traditions and beliefs that have disadvantaged women and girls.

Kenyan media powerhouse commits to new partnership for women's empowerment

Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2020

The Media Compact seeks to accelerate gender equality by providing a framework for media houses to strengthen gender-sensitive reporting and disrupt harmful stereotypes and biases that the industry often perpetuates. Standard Group reaches millions of Kenyans on a daily basis and as a signatory to the compact, will promote gender equality and support the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Government of Nigeria and UN Women Jointly Launch Generation Equality Campaign in Nigeria

Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Other dignitaries at the launch included the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare; Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas; Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), Ms. Hanna Tetteh; Assistant Administrator, Director, Regional Bureau for Africa, United...

Second Chance Education Project in Cameroon

Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Second Chance Education (SCE) Project leverages partnerships, holistic approach and innovative technology to break current trends, and provide a comprehensive solution for marginalized women and young women. In this Light, SCE Project was launched in Cameroon by UN Women on 27 th of May 2019 and later proceeded with the training and provision of Kits from the 10 th of July 2019 to 1340 women and girls including 500 beneficiaries of farming activity. These beneficiaries (refugees; IDPs and host...

International Women’s Day 2021 theme – “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”

Date: Monday, November 9, 2020

UN Women announces the theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2021 (IWD 2021) as, “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.”

Heads of Missions and Agencies in Liberia to attend high-level meeting on the 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 on women, peace and security

Date: Monday, November 9, 2020

The high-level meeting will be held as part of the activities organized by the Government of Liberia to celebrate the 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, a landmark resolution that was adopted on 31 October 2000 to affirm the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction. In 2009, Liberia became one of the first countries to implement the UN SCR 1325 by developing the...

Joint UN Health Programme Counters Maternal and Infant Mortality in Kenya

Date: Thursday, November 5, 2020

A newly published evaluation of the UN H6 Joint Programme on Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) found the number of women who utilised antenatal care services increased by over 32% in six of Kenya’s counties with the highest burden of maternal and infant deaths.

Take Five: Engaging grassroots women enhances the localization process of UNSCR 1325

Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Robinah Rubimbwa, is the Executive Director of Coalition for Action on 1325 (CoACT), an implementing partner of UN Women in Uganda. For over a decade, Robinah has developed training tools and manuals on localization and engaging young women in community-level peacebuilding, among others. Robinah is a member of Women Mediators across the Commonwealth (WMC), a network hosted by Conciliation Resources which connects women with a broad range of mediation knowledge and experience.

In the words of Gladys Koech: “It is not uncommon for husbands to leave their wives because the child has a disability.”

Date: Monday, November 2, 2020

Gladys Koech has been working as an occupational therapist for persons with disabilities in Kenya’s coastal region for more than 10 years. Through the Association of the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK), she also works with communities to strengthen their understanding of disabilities and combat widespread stigma.

From where I stand, Catherine Kwanje Micheal: "If more women are trained as peacebuilders, in the next 10 years the world will be more peaceful"

Date: Thursday, October 29, 2020

Catherine Kwanje Micheal aged 43 years is a 2-time refugee. In 1994, she fled into Uganda as a young girl, attended school in Uganda and in 2000 voluntarily returned back to her home town of Yei, in South Sudan hoping to settle down and rebuild her life. Four years ago, Catherine was forced to flee again and return to Uganda after heightened fighting in her community. Catherine now lives in Bidibidi refugee settlement in Yumbe District, with her 73-year-old mother and 6 nieces and nephews.