The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Rwanda office has concluded a two-week campaign that was aimed at creating awareness on the plight of women and girls who are affected by Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and defilement. The campaign dubbed “Against my will Campaign” or” Ntibiri mu bushake bwanjye” in Kinyarwanda started from June 30 and ended...

Kenya’s Senate is considering a reproductive healthcare bill, which seeks to address reproductive health gaps. This is the second time the bill has come before the senate. It has, once again, drawn fire from religious groups, some politicians and civil society lobbies opposed to its proposals. Anthony Ajayi and Meggie Mwoka unpack the bill and...

Alice Mukashyaka was involved with research in a refugee community in her native Rwanda, now she is co-founder of edtech social enterprise Starlight, which is using solar lamp kits and other projects to help teach young people –especially girls– how to pursue a career in STEM. “Currently, at Starlight, we are designing a ‘build your...

The COVID-19 pandemic affects everyone, everywhere, “but it does not affect everyone equally”, the UN chief said in his message for World Population Day, on Sunday. “It is deepening existing inequalities and vulnerabilities, particularly for women and girls”, said Secretary-General António Guterres. “With many countries on lockdown and health systems struggling to cope, sexual and...

Women have traditionally pioneered the field of computer technology, yet as we move forward in the 21st century the technology sector is still seen dominated by men. Diversity is critical in technology just like any other industry to create better and safer products and services for the benefit of society. A report from McKinsey highlighted...

Keeping an eye on global trends and priorities for children’s health is important to ensure that appropriate interventions are put in place  Emerging priorities for children’s health Congenital anomalies, injuries, and non-communicable diseases (chronic respiratory diseases, acquired heart diseases, childhood cancers, diabetes, and obesity) are the emerging priorities in the global child health agenda. Congenital...

Professor Opoku-Agyemang, former Vice-Chancellor of University of Cape Coast, Ghana, was the first female Vice-Chancellor of a state University in Ghana. She assumed duty on October 1, 2008, succeeding Emmanuel Addow-Obeng. Biography Born on 22 November 1951 in Cape Coast, Ghana, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang attended Anglican Girls’ Secondary School at Koforidua and Aburi Presby Girls’...

Canada has announced additional funding for its ongoing Women’s Voice and Leadership project in light of the COVID-19 pandemic The 500,000 Canadian dollar increase, equivalent to approximately 1.3 million Ghana Cedi, will help to reduce the negative impact of COVID-19 on the rights of the poorest and most marginalized women and girls in Ghana. This...

Two years ago, South Africa’s government announced it would scrap taxes on sanitary pads from April of the following year. It was part of its plans to address an issue now referred to as period poverty and for which online and offline protests are frequent in South Africa. Period poverty is simply the inability to...

DDP Patience Baffoe – Bonnie, a member of the Women’s Commission of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has emphasized that women and girls must be active participants and leaders in sports organisations, clubs and federations. She noted that the impacts of COVID-19 are already being felt very hard by women and girls in many areas...