AFRICA

Within this region, PeaceWomen is currently monitoring 23 countries (Angola, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Chad, Cote d' Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Western Sahara, Algeria) within five sub-regions.

According to the Human Development Index (HDI), Africa is home to countries with both high levels (Libya 53) and low (Zimbabwe 169) rates of human development, in addition to multiple protracted internal conflicts. According to the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI,) which measures and ranks the level of equality between genders at a country level, countries in Africa rank from 8 (Lesotho) to 133 (Chad).

Currently, there is seven United Nations peacekeeping mission in the region, United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), and the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)

For information on National Action Plans in the region for SCR 1325, please click here.

PeaceWomen focuses our updates on materials related to women, peace and security and therefore our resources should not be seen as a comprehensive source on the broader situation in these countries.

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May 23, 2012 (Safe World For Women)
DRC: Families in Camp Scattered by DRC Fighting “We were together in the forest when the fighting forced us to flee,” Mukakarimba said in tears, cradling her little boy to protect him from the lashing rain in this transit camp close to the Congolese border. She was separated from her husband and a second child in the chaos sparked by the fighting between soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo's army and mutineers – who were until recently rebel soldiers.
May 21, 2012 (Washington Post)
EGYPT: Egyptian Women Feel Excluded, Despite the Promise of the Revolution After Egyptian women stood shoulder to shoulder with men in the protests that toppled Hosni Mubarak, many looked forward to a role in the revolution's next steps. But 15 months later, as Egyptians prepare to vote for a new president this week, rights activists complain that women are being excluded from key decisions.
May 21, 2012 (Heritage (Monrovia))
LIBERIA: More Calls against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in collaboration with several civil organizations has ended a week-long sensitization campaign on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) in the Borough of New Kru Town on the Bushrod Island, outside Monrovia. The week-long campaign, which was climaxed at the D. Tweh Sports Pitch on Saturday, May 19, 2012, was occasioned by live stage performances of drama, culture, comedy and music. Speaking at the occasion, the Governor of the Borough of New Kru Town, Mr. Richard S.N. Tobii, urged Liberians to stop every act of SEA, especially against girls and women.
May 18, 2012 (Al Jazeera)
LIBYA: Libyan Women Hope for Gains in Elections Buoyed by the winds of change sweeping the region, Libyan women are eyeing a far greater role for themselves after next month's national assembly elections. The June 19 poll - the first since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi - will see the country electing 200 candidates to the body that will draft the country's constitution.
May 16, 2012 (UN News Centre)
ALGERIA: Increase of Women in Parliament is a Step Towards Gender Equity in Algeria The head of the United Nations entity mandated to promote gender equality today welcomed the increase in women's representation in Algeria's new parliament as a result of elections held last week, and stressed that it represented a step towards democratic reform and gender equality.