insert_link Africa Former Banyana Banyana captain scores major first at AFCON 2023 By Joel Omotto, bird story agency At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), there has been a distinct female voice in the commentary box. For those who don't know, it's the voice of Amanda Dlamini, the former South African football national team captain and the first woman to commentate a game at the men’s AFCON. In yet another major score for women at this tournament, Dlamini’s […] todayFebruary 8, 2024 6
insert_link Opinion Pieces Irish referendum: how the Catholic church shaped Ireland’s constitution to define the status of women By Caitriona Beaumont, London South Bank University It has been 87 years since feminist and activist Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington declared that the new 1937 Irish constitution was based on a “fascist model, in which women would be relegated to permanent inferiority”. Several clauses were labelled “sinister and retrogressive” by women’s groups who feared gender bias embedded within the constitution would restrict Irish women to their domestic roles as wives […] todayFebruary 7, 2024 10
insert_link World According to Ireland’s constitution, a woman’s duties are in the home – but a referendum could be about to change its sexist wording Shutterstock/Everett Collection Laura Cahillane, University of Limerick On March 8 – International Women’s Day – Irish citizens will vote in a referendum on whether or not to replace the so-called “woman in the home” clause in the Irish constitution. This clause, which dates from 1937, specifies that: “The State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot […] todayFebruary 7, 2024 6
insert_link Africa Burundi’s quota for women in politics has had mixed results, but that’s no reason to scrap it By Reginas Ndayiragije, University of Antwerp; Petra Meier, University of Antwerp, and Stef Vandeginste, University of Antwerp Since 2005, Burundi has set quotas to ensure that the country’s three ethnic groups (Hutu, Tutsi and Twa), as well as women, are represented in its parliament, central government and municipal administrations. Its constitution states that women should make up at least 30% of these institutions. The senate, Burundi’s highest chamber […] todayJanuary 31, 2024 5
insert_link Business / Economics Women still face gender inequalities at work post-pandemic Women are still feeling the effects of COVID-19 , which resulted in job losses and reduced opportunities for women in the workforce. (Shutterstock) Claudine Mangen, Concordia University The COVID-19 pandemic brought the longstanding economic inequalities between women and men into sharp focus. From the onset of the pandemic, up until the summer of 2022, economic gender gaps continued to widen. Lockdowns and economic uncertainties created a perfect storm, leading to […] todayJanuary 29, 2024 3
insert_link Business / Economics New Global alliance for women’s health could help boost global economy by $1 trillion annually by 2040 A new World Economic Forum report released today shows that closing the women’s health gap would allow more women to live healthier, higher-quality lives, and provide an unprecedented boost to the global economy. Closing the Women’s Health Gap: A $1 Trillion Opportunity to Improve Lives and Economies, developed in collaboration with the McKinsey Health Institute, analyses the health conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women and quantifies the health gap […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 8
insert_link Namibia Government promotes education for marginalized communities Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare deputy director of marginalized communities, Rebekka Namwandi, has encouraged learners from marginalized communities to improve their academic performance through the Namibia College of Open Learning. According to the Namibia Press Agency, only three out of 51 learners in the ministry's program for marginalized communities qualified for tertiary education in the 2023 exams. The ministry provides financial and psychosocial support to learners […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 9
insert_link Africa Mozambique: EIB Global and Moza Banco provide €20 million to grow women-led businesses The EIB Global and Moza Banco initiative, as part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, will offer financing for small and medium-sized businesses in Mozambique, with a focus on businesses owned or run by women. Women are less likely to be able to access appropriate finance for their business, and the EIB-Moza Banco facility will address that financing gap. The project will support economic growth, […] todayDecember 21, 2023 25
insert_link 6 Namibia Local labour expert weighs-in on paternal leave following milestone ruling Following the South African High Court's decision to allow new parents to share four months of parental leave, previously exclusive to mothers, and the global trend of countries offering paid leave to fathers increasing from 25% in 1995 to 63% in 2022, we reached out to local Labor Expert Herbert Jauch, for comment. todayDecember 13, 2023 7 6
Paying it forward: Kenyan coastal doctor Bashrahil Mohammed Mafudh has made it his life’s work to care for the most vulnerable in his community, at no cost.