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 17, 2013 (CNN)
SOMALIA: Inside the Rape Crisis Center Thats Helping Somalia's Women In a classroom tucked away from the world in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, students practice spelling. Ranging in age from 6 to 11, these girls all have one thing in common: They have either been raped or suffered through the rape of a loved one.
May 16, 2013 (AllAfrica)
LIBERIA: ERU Officers Gang Rape Woman Three officers of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of the Liberia National Police have reportedly ganged raped a 23-year-old woman in Yekepa, Nimba County.
May 11, 2013 (allAfrica)
SOMALIA: The First Lady On Violence Against Women Asha Haji Elmi was born in Somalia in 1962 where she graduated from the Somali National University in Mogadishu. She e also holds a Master's degree in business administration from the International University of the United States. And 'the wife of Abdi Farah Shirdon, current Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia in August 2012 and is herself Somali Federal Member of Parliament, one of the few MPs of the transition period (2004-2009) to be re-elected. She'was the founder of the Association for the salvation of Women and Children (SSWC) in 1992, at the height of the civil war, and in 2000 promoted the Sixth Clan Association, movement for the promotion of Somali women in the political life of the country. It has also committed to the banning of female genital mutilation, a practice widespread in Somalia. She is currently working in Somalia against sexual violence against women and held a discussion on the topic during the London conference on Somalia in which, for Italy, was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emma Bonino.
May 8, 2013 (biyka.news)
EGYPT: Egyptian Women Angry After President's Advisor Says Harassment Egyptian women are livid after an advisor to President Mohamed Morsi said that statistics on sexual harassment and sexual violence in the country are “exaggerated.” Omaima Kamel, on the Board for Women's Affairs, said on Wednesday that the Interior Ministry should “provide realistic numbers” on violence against women in the country.
May 7, 2013 (AllAfrica)
MALI: Little Support, No Justice for Mali Rape Survivors During the rebel takeover of northern Mali in April 2012, many women said they were subjected to rape or sexual assault. Since then, little or no support has come through for these women, say aid workers.