West Africa - News

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.

Female aspirants for the November 17th General Elections drawn from all four Districts of Bo, Moyamba ,Pujehun and Bonthe have benefited from a two day training under the sponsorship of the National Democratic Institute.

Opposition to legislation dashes equality hopes in West African country's strongly patriarchal society.

The guilty verdict on 11 counts of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity of former Liberian president Charles Taylor has been hailed as a milestone for gender justice.

Increasing numbers of Malian women are being raped by Tuareg rebels and armed groups that have swept across the north of Mali since the beginning of year, expelling all government troops from the region.

Mali is suffering from a threefold crisis, encompassing security issues as well as humanitarian and political concerns. Since 17 January, the population in the north of the country has been severely affected by armed conflict. Physical insecurity has led to the exodus of more than 200,000 people, with three regions being occupied by armed groups. Food insecurity is also affecting more than three million people.

In conversation with Jessica Horn, a leading Malian women's rights activist identifies the roots of the crisis in Mali, and the opportunistic use of the crisis by Malian and international Islamic fundamentalists to gain a popular foothold in the north of the country.

A senior United Nations official today strongly condemned the reported acts of sexual violence committed against Malian women and girls amid the renewed fighting in the north, and called on all parties to respect their obligations under human rights law.

Malian women gathered in Bamako at a rally on Saturday (April 7) after leaders of Mali's coup and neighbouring countries agreed a plan under which the two-week-old junta will hand over power in return for the end of trade and diplomatic sanctions.

In the wake of ethno-religious crises in the country, wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Sambo, has tasked women on the need to ensure peaceful and harmonious co-existence.