Effect of Gender Based Violence in MENA Region
According to a report by Amnesty International, women in the Northern Africa continue to face discrimination and violence as a result of failure on the part of government to end arbitrary arrest, abductions, assignation, honour killings and other forms of gender-based violence that women are faced with on a daily basis.
Further Details: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/03/mena-gender-based-violence-continues-to-devastate-lives-of-women-across-region/
Libya Making Progress towards Gender Equality
The Libyan government has appointed 5 women into high political offices in the country. This is the first of its kind in the country’s history. This has marked progress for women political inclusion in the country. the WPS Agenda has evolved over the last 20 years as more women participation in leadership has been called on. Women being elected to high positions in a country experiencing instability is a plus for the WPS Agenda and for Libya.
Further Details: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/next-20-years-women-peace-and-security-agenda
Inter Communal Violence in South Sudan
A 36-page report by the UN Commission for Human Rights has showed that military and political officials in South Sudan have fuelled the well-armed conflict perpetuated by Militia in Jonglei region. Over 700 people were killed, 626 women and children abducted, and women consistently raped between January to June 2020. The United Nations has held the South Sudan government accountable and mandated the government of South Sudan to hold to account local chiefs, military and political leaders and perpetuators of killings and rapes fuelling the conflict.
Further Details: https://www.voanews.com/africa/south-sudan-focus/un-south-sudan-political-military-leaders-blame-inter-communal-violence
Dozens of Villagers Killed in Eastern Congo.
Suspected Islamic insurgent have killed dozens of women and men in an overnight raid on village in the Democratic Republic of Congo as victims were executed in the most horrifying manner ever and the Army did not respond to this violent attack. According to the UN, this Islamist group killed over 850 people in 2020 and more of these killings have resurfaced.
Further Details: https://www.voanews.com/africa/suspected-islamists-kill-least-dozen-villagers-eastern-congo
The Rights to Health is at Risk in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region
The rise in the conflict in Tigray region is trampling on the right to health of refugees and internally displaced people in the region. Humanitarian group Doctors without Borders has estimated that 70% of 106 health care facilities has been looted and more than 30% damaged and only 13% are functioning. This is having a devastating impact on the population especially women who are lacking access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights resulting to an infringement on their rights.
Further Details: https://www.voanews.com/africa/group-reports-health-facilities-looted-ethiopias-tigray
Drought Affecting Millions in Somalia
The OCHA has reported that an estimated 2.7 million Somalis are at risk of severe food shortage over the coming months as drought continues to ravage the most areas in the country. Thousands of Somalis have had to migrate from their homes in search for food and better living. This drought is affecting the lives and livelihood of women farmers who depend on their produce to feed their families living women in poverty.
Further Details: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARTj5ixwau8
Children Rescued from Traffickers
Separatist movements in Cameroon are reportedly infringing on the rights of women and girls especially through the rape of girls and women as well as denying the rights of girls to education. Traffickers have further taken advantage of the insecurity caused by the separatist movement to traffic girls and women. The police have rescued 26 children that were trafficked to the city and were being tortured.
Further Details: https://www.voanews.com/africa/cameroonian-rights-groups-helping-children-rescued-traffickers
