Weekly Highlight of WPS on the Continent from 21st to 25th June 2021

Women Train to fight GBV In Kenya

The fight against GBV has gotten intense as women have now taken up the charge to defend themselves against abuses of any form. The voices of women pastoralists have been silenced over the years as a result of tradition exposing them to gender-based violence. Patriarchy is still very dominant in Tana River County and surrounding communities as women are not allowed to speak in meetings or speak close to men. The WPS Agenda speaks to gender equality and women have to be seen as equals to men and important segments of communities.

Further Details: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2021/6/5/our-bodies-are-crime-scenes-south-africas-murdered-women

Half a Million Refugees in Cameroon

United Nations High Commission for Refugees called on host communities to be more empathetic towards refugees. The agency stated that no one flees from home except home is not safe noting the effect of the current pandemic in making homes even less safe. . Cameroon is home to 2 million refugees, asylum seekers from Nigeria and the Central African Republic, Niger, Chad as well as internally displaced Cameroonians. There is a need for the protection of women and girls who are refugees from host countries as they can be the target of gender-based violence or trafficking

Further Details: https://www.voanews.com/africa/un-agency-says-cameroon-home-half-million-refugees

Hunger on the Rise in Northeast Nigeria

Appeals have been made by the United Nations for 250 million dollars in other to provide life-saving food assistance to millions of people in Northeast Nigeria as they risk death through starvation. The crisis in the region has left millions incapacitated and unable to fend for themselves. 4.4 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. These figures include women who have had to live with the insurgency situation and looming famine in the region.

Further Details: https://www.voanews.com/africa/northeast-nigeria-facing-acute-life-threatening-hunger

First Female Deputy Chief Fight Gender Inequalities in Cameroon

The status quo is changing in the council of traditional rulers in Northern Cameroon which has opened up to the need to allow women leaders in communities. This has come at a time when the pandemic is threatening to erode the gains that have been made over the years. The women chefs are focusing on battling early marriage as the region has experienced the highest rate of child marriage in recent years.

Further Details: https://www.voanews.com/episode/cameroons-first-female-deputy-chiefs-fight-gender-inequalities-4725411

Eritrea Committing Crimes against Humanity in Ethiopia

In the report of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights submitted to the Human Rights Council, the Rapporteur noted that the unfavorable role the Eritrean government played in its involvement in the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia. The report stated that the Eritrean troops committed serious human rights violations against Eritreans who have sought asylum in Tigray. These abuses include abductions and enforced disappearance.

Further Details:   www.voanews.com/africa/new-un-report-accuses-eritrea-committing-heinous-crimes-ethiopia

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