As policymakers in least developed countries address COVID-19’s social and economic consequences, they must ensure recovery efforts are gender responsive. Although the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per capita have been lower in least developed countries (LDCs) than expected, the socio-economic fallout for their populations has been dire, pushing an estimated 32 million more people...

Last year, the Asia-Pacific region recorded its worst economic performance in decades. With the pandemic far from over, the region’s recovery is slow, fragile and highly uneven both across and within countries. As the region struggles to recover, how can countries rebuild their economies and revive their development? The answer can be found in the...

Africa has noted that despite positive achievements registered recently in decision-making, women, as the largest proportion of our population; remain vulnerable, at-risk and impoverished due to the challenges caused by social, economic, cultural and political marginalisation, gender-based violence and discrimination against women, terrorism, conflict, and fundamentalism. Africa is committed to resolve and ending violence against...

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION Long-term complications • urinary problems (painful urination, urinary tract infections); • vaginal problems (discharge, itching, bacterial vaginosis and other infections • menstrual problems (painful menstruations, difficulty in passing menstrual blood, etc.) • scar tissue and keloid • sexual problems (pain during intercourse, decreased satisfaction, etc.) increased risk of childbirth complications (difficult delivery,...

From the 1930s onwards, several African women who were ahead of their time made their mark in a fiercely male-dominated society. In her remarkable essay, Géraldine Faladé Touadé revives the memory of these pioneers who have been unjustly forgotten by history for far too long. Madeleine Ly, Marie Madoé Sivomey, Jeanne Martin Cissé, Sita Bella…...

Female Genital Mutilation Immediate complications • severe pain • excessive bleeding (haemorrhage) • genital tissue swelling • fever • infections e.g., tetanus • urinary problems • wound healing problems • injury to surrounding genital tissue • shock • death

Africa has noted that despite positive achievements registered recently in decision-making, women, as the largest proportion of our population; remain vulnerable, at-risk and impoverished due to the challenges caused by social, economic, cultural and political marginalisation, gender-based violence and discrimination against women, terrorism, conflict, and fundamentalism. Africa is committed to resolve and ending violence against...

For many people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and sex characteristics, acts of resistance, support, and healing are a way of life. A dream held fast, a fist raised in solidarity, a listening ear—these life-preserving acts, seen and unseen, big and small, are performed each day in the face of stigmatization, discrimination,...

Female Genital Mutilation Key facts • Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. • The practice has no health benefits for girls and women. • FGM can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections,...

Shirley Chisholm, the first Black US Congresswoman once said: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair”. The future is better with women at every table where decisions are being made. Trailblazing women like Shirley Chisholm have been claiming their space and demanding women’s inclusion and equality throughout history,...