Sub Saharan Africa

Efforts to make Burkina Faso only the second country in West Africa after Benin to legislate against all forms of violence against women and girls get underway next week. A two-day consultation organized by the Burkinabè parliament and IPU on 14-15 June with MPs, parliamentary staff, government ministries, law enforcers, civil society, women’s and human rights groups will mark the first step in the drafting of a new bill on tackling violence against women in the country.

In a meeting with UN Heads of Agencies in Kenya, the incoming United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon concluded his first visit to Africa with a strong message on promotion of women's leadership and zero tolerance for sexual violence and exploitation.

UNIFEM, Zimbabwe's National AIDS Council and other partners launched an advocacy dialogue on 30 January 2007 with the parliament's portfolio committees on Gender and Health: "Facing the Challenges of Home-Based Care

In a meeting with UN Heads of Agencies in Kenya, the incoming United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon concluded his first visit to Africa with a strong message on promotion of women's leadership and zero tolerance for sexual violence and exploitation.

Date: 5 February 2007 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=555

Civil society groups all over the West African region have called on top officials of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to mainstream women's issues in its policy formulation and implementation, to ensure peace and security in the region.
For more information, please visit All Africa's Website.

"In terms of the number of women in government, yes, we are making progress. But if you dig deep about why these women were appointed you will find that they are only important when it is voting time," says Zhean Gwaze, a gender activist and journalist.
For more information, please visit All Africa's Website