Advancing Women’s Rights in Spain

Women’s Rights in SpainTo advance women’s rights in Spain, the Spanish parliament is implementing and strengthening legislation to give women more resources, freedom of choice, equal opportunities and greater protection. Hundreds of women gathered in the streets of the country to celebrate the recent passing of the new laws that uphold women’s rights in Spain.

Gender Equality in Spain

The roots of the country’s gender inequality derive from the Franco era of National Catholicism. During this era (1939-1975), the regime significantly restricted women’s rights and gave strict regulations for women to follow. For example, without her husband’s consent, a married woman could not engage in most economic activities, such as participating in the labor force, owning land/property or traveling.

However, Spain’s transition to a democracy spurred a feminist movement with women throughout the country demanding equal rights, leading to milestone changes for women’s rights in Spain.

In the present day, Spain stands strong as one of the top 20 most gender-equal countries in the world. In the Global Gender Gap Report of 2022 by the World Economic Forum, Spain ranked 17th out of 146 countries. Despite Spain’s gender equality rate standing at about 78%, progress is still necessary to achieve gender parity.

Violence Against Women in Spain

Spain has struggled with gender inequality and gender-based violence due to the “machismo” culture prevalent across the nation. The machismo culture contributes to male aggression and violence against women. In 2022, Spain implemented a new system to officially count the number of femicides in the country, making it the first nation in Europe to do so. This system aims to prevent gender-based violence in Spain and address the roots of the problem. According to government statistics, since 2003, at least 1,125 women in Spain have been killed by their husbands or former partners. In 2021, this number equated to 43.

The executive summary of the 2019 Macro-Survey on Violence Against Women by the Ministry of Equality shows that more than 50% of women aged 16 and older in Spain have experienced violence due to their gender at least once, equalling about 11.6 million women.

The 2019 summary further states that 13.7% of women aged 16 and older in Spain have experienced sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.

The Third Strategic Plan

These staggering statistics explain why the Spanish parliament is focusing its attention on women’s rights in Spain. Lawmakers created a strategy called the Third Strategic Plan for the Effective Equality of Women and Men (PEIEMH) 2022-2025.

This plan is a €21.319 billion investment with four main goals:

  • Create a more inclusive government showcasing democracy.
  • Further the economy through unbiased issuance of wealth and closing the gender wage gap.
  • Eliminate gender violence.
  • Secure women’s rights in Spain in every aspect of their daily lives.

Furthering Women’s Rights

The Third Strategic Plan is cohesive with the new laws the Spanish parliament has passed. One of these pieces of legislation introduces menstrual leave for women, making Spain the first European nation to offer paid menstrual leave for those who endure excruciating menstrual pain that interferes with daily life.

Considering that at least two in 10 women in Spain live in poverty, this means at least 20% of women in Spain endure menstrual poverty as well. Period products, such as pads and tampons, will now be accessible without cost in schools and prisons in response to the rise of menstrual poverty among women.

In August 2022, lawmakers strengthened the “Only Yes Means Yes” legislation to better protect the rights of victims of rape. The law states that any nonconsensual sexual activity is rape and express consent will be key in sexual assault cases. Prior, in order to obtain a conviction, these cases needed evidence proving that a perpetrator used violence or intimidation.

“The new law removes the distinction between sexual abuse and sexual aggression (rape) by making explicit that consent is the deciding factor. Passivity and silence can no longer be interpreted as consent,” noted The Guardian.

Spain is also looking to introduce a law requiring companies and the Cabinet to have at least 40% of their boards made up of women. This law will give more women in Spain the opportunity to be represented in political positions and in the workforce.

Spain continues to strive toward advancing women’s rights and protecting the country’s women. Incorporating new laws will provide a brighter future for the country and its people, especially women.

– Zyairah White
Photo: Pixabay

How Horticulture in Guinea-Bissau is Lifting Women Out of Poverty

Horticulture in Guinea-BissauWomen of the Bijagós ethnic group in Guinea-Bissau are gaining greater economic independence due to their increasing involvement and specialization in conserving creole plants and their seeds across the Bijagós Archipelago, a series of 88 islands off the coast of Guinea-Bissau. The knowledge of horticulture in Guinea-Bissau has been passed on to the Bijagós women by an NGO called Tiniguena. Seed preservation and food diversity are important to the Bijagós because much of their social rituals and celebrations require specific foods that are being replaced by cash crops.

The Bijagós Archipelago and Guinea-Bissau’s Poverty

The Bijagós archipelago is popular for its biodiversity and this is central to the Bijagós people’s cultural traditions as well. People have implemented several sacred sites throughout the islands, forbidding any economic or subsistence activity in those areas, and this has allowed biodiversity to thrive. The Guardian reports that the people’s love of biodiversity also reflects in their use of unique local foods in the ceremonies that define Bijagós’ social groups.

The industrial expansion of other countries that are keen on exploiting Guinea-Bissau’s weak position in international relations threatens the thriving biodiversity of the Bijagós islands, according to Sacred Land Film Project. Being the 5th poorest country in the world, the small nation in West Africa was persuaded into signing an “intention protocol” with the Spanish company DDY de Comercio Exterior SA. This allowed the company to set up a ship-breaking area near the archipelago. The act of ship-breaking releases toxic substances into the surrounding waters, inevitably causing great harm to Bijagós’ wide range of flora and fauna.

Moreover, Guinea-Bissau’s efforts to alleviate poverty have also been detrimental to the Bijagós’ cultural dependence on diversity. The mass planting of cash crops like cashew affect the nutrient balance of the soil and seriously impact the ability of the land to support an abundance of different plant and animal species, according to The Guardian.

The Work of the Bijagós Women

Here is where the Bijagós women step in. The task of preserving the range of plants and seeds in the Bijagós archipelago has largely fallen to women. As one “seed keeper,” Sábado Maio explains, “Women are the mother of everything, so women take care of the seeds more than men… plants survive because of women,” The Guardian reports.

NGO Tiniguena initiated the Women Keepers of Agricultural Biodiversity Seeds project and it is in charge not only of imparting vital knowledge to more than 150 women but also managing the project logistically, organizing transport to and from the islands in time.

Maio’s garden alone is the new home of 19 crop species, such as red-skinned yam, geneva yam and horse corn. This richness spreads amongst the Bijagós and the wider community through the construction of community barns that allows safe storage for valuable crops that they later distribute to farmers.

Alleviating Poverty Through Horticulture in Guinea-Bissau

As women come to dominate the important act of seed preservation, they gain greater leverage within society that allows them to raise their standards of living. For example, Beatriz Lopes, a mother of nine and horticulturist, says that she is able to turn the seeds she saves from her garden into money by selling them to other growers. Using this extra income, she says she’s been able to “buy rice, notebooks for the kids, pay for school, for medicine and if [she] gets sick [they] can go to the hospital.”

Similarly, Esperança Correia says that her public role as seed keeper lets her remain financially independent while also giving more opportunities to her children. “I don’t depend on anyone and today my children can study more than I could because I can help them,” she told The Guardian

Improving Livelihoods

Clearly, agricultural horticulture in Guinea-Bissau is not only beneficial to the women who practice it but also to the families and communities that they support. With the income that they raise from cultivating and selling precious seeds, they can ensure that their children receive better education, fostering a brighter young community that may have the ability to lift Guinea-Bissau out of poverty. Tiniguena’s desire to spread the culture of seed-keeping has facilitated increasing prosperity and this has had a ripple effect on the traditionally dependent populations of Guinea-Bissau.

– Tiffany Chan
Photo: Wikimedia

5 NGOs Fighting Period Poverty

NGOs Fighting Period PovertyPeriod poverty, the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products and resources, is a global issue affecting millions of women and girls. It hampers their education, health and dignity. However, numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are leading the charge in addressing period poverty, working tirelessly to provide menstrual hygiene products, education and support to those in need. This article will highlight the remarkable efforts of NGOs fighting period poverty, showcasing their innovative approaches and inspiring impact.

5 NGOs Fighting Period Poverty

  1. The Pad Project – The Pad Project is a global nonprofit organization focused on breaking the barriers of period poverty. It tackles the issue by establishing sustainable pad-making businesses in communities where access to affordable menstrual products is limited. To date, it has employed 87 women in five countries, Afghanistan, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Through its documentary “Period. End of Sentence.” and grassroots initiatives, it raises awareness, advocates for policy changes and empowers women with economic opportunities. It has also reached more than 106,500 women and girls through menstrual health education workshops.
  2. Days for Girls International – Days for Girls International is another organization fighting period poverty. It focuses on ensuring that women and girls have access to sustainable menstrual hygiene solutions. It produces and distributes washable, reusable menstrual kits that include cloth pads and soap, promoting environmentally friendly options. The organization also conducts menstrual health education programs to debunk myths, provide accurate information and empower girls to manage their periods with confidence. It began in Kenya but has reached several more countries in Africa and now operates globally. In its 2021 report, Days for Girls reported that it has reached 2.5 million women and girls in 145 countries with its menstrual kits and education.
  3. Femme International – Femme International focuses on menstrual health and hygiene education in Tanzania and Kenya. Through the Twaweza Program, which means ‘we can’ in Swahili, the organization deliver workshops and training sessions to address the lack of knowledge and break the stigma surrounding menstruation. Femme International also distributes reusable menstrual pads and offers support networks to girls and women, enabling them to maintain their health, dignity and uninterrupted access to education. Thanks to its efforts, 71.8% of schoolgirls in the program reported that they did not miss out on any parts of their lives as a result of menstruation.
  4. ZanaAfrica Foundation – ZanaAfrica Foundation focuses on menstrual health management and the empowerment of girls in Kenya. It provides adolescent girls with access to sanitary pads, along with comprehensive reproductive health education. Since 2013, ZanaAfrica has supported more than 50,000 girls by providing necessary menstrual health and hygiene products.
  5. Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE) – Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE) is another organization fighting period poverty. In Rwanda, 18% of women and girls report missing school or work because they cannot afford to buy period products. SHE operates by empowering women to produce and distribute affordable, eco-friendly menstrual pads made from locally sourced materials. SHE focuses on creating economic opportunities for women while addressing the lack of access to menstrual products and health education. Over 60,000 girls and women now have access to SHE’s period products.

Breaking the Silence

Across the globe, NGOs are fighting period poverty. Through their initiatives, these organizations are breaking the silence, addressing the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products and empowering women and girls to manage their periods with dignity and confidence. By combining advocacy, education and sustainable solutions, these NGOs are making a significant impact and paving the way for a world where period poverty is a thing of the past.

– Eva O’Donovan
Photo: Flickr

Poverty reduction in Montserrat

Poverty reduction in MontserratMontserrat, a British overseas territory in the Eastern Caribbean with a population of only 4,500 has faced significant challenges with regard to poverty reduction. Once a self-sufficient agricultural island, volcanic activity crippled Montserrat’s economy in the late 1990s. Consequently, poverty in the country skyrocketed. And this has necessitated effective poverty reduction in Montserrat to address low rates of employment and limited opportunities for young people.

Rates and Causes of Poverty

Montserrat has the highest rate of poverty in the Eastern Caribbean region, with more than 36% of the population living in poverty. While remote small island nations are inherently more vulnerable to global economic variability and struggle to develop due to insularity, size and remoteness, Montserrat’s unique circumstances further amplify these general challenges.
The infamous eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano between 1995 and 1997 have had profound and enduring impacts on livelihoods and food security across Montserrat. These eruptions resulted in the destruction of 60% of habitable land and 70% of agricultural land and prompted the emigration of half of the population. As a result, the island’s remaining population faces a loss of income from agriculture, a drastically reduced working population and long-term food insecurity.
Montserrat is a multi-hazard hotspot, as the island is prone to a variety of natural disasters. The tectonically active island experiences fairly regular low-impact tectonic hazards such as earthquakes. It also suffers from ash fall, acid rain and frequent tropical storms. This combination of hazards has hindered the development and recovery of Montserrat and has reduced the resilience of essential services and infrastructure. Unfortunately, projections suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to an increase in extreme poverty on the island from pre-pandemic levels of 3% to around 17%.

Child Poverty

Of Montserrat’s impoverished population, a staggering 47% fall between the ages of 0 and 17. Ending child poverty is crucial, as hardship in these formative years increases the risk of unemployment, criminal activity and substance abuse, all of which perpetuate cycles of intergenerational poverty.
Several factors contribute to the high rate of child poverty in Montserrat. For instance, unpredictable regular closures of schools caused by low-impact volcanic hazards disrupt and undermine the consistency of education for children. Most importantly, however, Montserrat’s economy has never recovered adequately from the tectonic disasters of the 1990s and the country remains heavily dependent on foreign aid. As a result, the severe lack of opportunities hinders young people’s ability to break free from cycles of poverty unless they choose to emigrate.
Montserrat’s young population is likely to suffer disproportionately from the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19. Estimates suggest that the pandemic could cause severe child poverty in the Eastern Caribbean region to rise from 4% to 26%. With children in Montserrat already facing a higher level of poverty and lack of opportunity than their regional counterparts, the impacts of the pandemic could impede the island nation’s development for decades to come.

Poverty Reduction in Montserrat

A 2021 UNICEF report on the well-being of Montserrat’s youth presented a series of recommendations that may encourage youth poverty reduction in Montserrat. One of these recommendations involved expanding technical and vocational education and training, aligning this with the nation’s market and available opportunities. Alongside market-driven training, the report revealed that it is crucial to expand opportunities for young people, discouraging migration and encouraging development and growth. This is to facilitate long-term poverty reduction in Montserrat.
The Government of Montserrat has been actively working to address these areas. In April 2022, the leader of the government spoke on Radio Montserrat about the attractions of working remotely in the country. Premier Joseph Farrell highlighted that as people around the world sought changes in scenery following the pandemic, an island nation such as Montserrat may provide the perfect location for working remotely. Farrell drew attention to the fact that major names in the music world, such as Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney and Elton John, had worked and produced music in Montserrat.
Tourism is another important source of revenue for Montserrat that could provide increased income and opportunity. Following a sharp decline after authorities declared the island unsafe for tourists in the late 1990s, there was a fairly consistent growth of tourism in Montserrat between 2010 and 2019, peaking at 21,000 arrivals in 2019. However, the sector is yet to recover fully from the pandemic, with only 5000 tourists visiting the island in 2022. The government of Montserrat has sought to increase income from tourism through the establishment of new seaside tourism zones and new hiking trails to see the volcano. Additionally, it has invested in improved marketing to draw the global audience’s attention to the unique experiences Montserrat offers.

The Future

Montserrat has not been able to recover significantly since the eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano in the 1990s, but its government continues working to resolve existing challenges. Ongoing efforts suggest a need to focus on creating work opportunities and increasing disposable income amongst the working population. The implementation of these approaches could hold great promise for the youth of Montserrat. By diminishing the incentives to leave in search of work and establishing a sense of empowerment and opportunity, young people could break free from intergenerational cycles of poverty.

– Polly Walton

That’s Nuts! The Positive Impact of Macadamia Shell Briquettes 

Macadamia Shell BriquettesMacadamia nuts, a popular food that people enjoy all over the world, contain shells that often end up as waste. However, there are initiatives aiming to transform these shells into eco-friendly briquettes that drive sustainability and also advance efforts to alleviate poverty in many developing countries.

What Are Macadamia Shell Briquettes

As biomass waste products, macadamia nut shells can serve as a renewable energy source. By drying and pressing the shells into variously sized compact fuel blocks, the resulting briquettes can fuel cooking and heating systems or power boilers.

The Benefits of Macadamia Shell Briquettes

  1. Environmentally sustainable: As macadamia shells serve no other purpose, their reuse in the form of briquettes reduces the amount of waste in the environment. Also, this prevents deforestation and lowers carbon emissions by providing an alternative to traditional wood-and charcoal-burning methods. The burgeoning industry has seen success in South Africa, the world’s largest macadamia nut producer, with many shells to spare. Shisa Eco-briquettes is just one of the companies working to counteract the more than 2 billion tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions from forest degradation. Additionally, the organization is working to preserve natural resources for future generations with its macadamia shell briquette business.
  2. Income generation: With new industries, come new opportunities for employment and income for families living in poverty. Michael Duncan of Shisa Eco-briquettes works alongside four fully trained employees and documents the strong relationship between his company and their local community. “We try to uplift them in every way we can,” he said. Eyoh Alder Ventures, a company run by Muthoni Ndung’u in Kenya, also sells macadamia shell briquettes. Its aim is to “reduce hunger and poverty among rural farmers who are mainly women.” Ndung’u is just one of over 200 women empowered by The Charcoal Project, a nonprofit organization that supports “clean burning technologies.”
  3. Cost-effective and energy-efficient: Macadamia shell briquettes also save money for consumers. The shells are more affordable for people living in poverty. It allows people to save more and allocate their income to other needs. Ziwa Hillington of Ugandan company, Green Bio Energy noted that eco-friendly briquettes can be between 20% and 40% cheaper than other cooking fuels like charcoal. Macadamia shell briquettes also burn just as well as charcoal, in terms of both duration and temperature. This dispels any concerns about cost and energy efficiency.
  4. Health benefits: In 2022, the World Health Organization reported that almost 2.5 billion people worldwide lacked access to clean cooking material. Women and children in low-income and middle-income countries often succumb to diseases such as cancer, stroke and chronic lung disease. Charcoal and kerosene cooking materials were significant contributors to this crisis. Eco-waste briquettes are healthier alternatives, as the shells do not produce smoke or soot. Healthier families are more likely to be able to stay in education or employment and save what money would otherwise be spent on health care or treatment, and this strengthens both familial and local economies.

Positive Change

The growing success of macadamia shell briquettes shows how new innovations can help communities in a variety of interconnected ways. From health care to employment and sustainable local poverty reduction to environmental preservation, with far-reaching global benefits, the use of briquettes holds the potential for positive change and can potentially help nations fight poverty.
– Helene Schlichter
Photo: Pixabay

Loofah-Inspired Hydrogel Could Improve Access to Safe Water

Globally, more than 2 billion people live in countries with severe water deficits, largely due to contamination of water supplies, insufficient management and a lack of adequate infrastructure. Frequently, many fall ill to oftentimes fatal water-transmitted diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery and Hepatitis A. Population growth increases water insecurity, and climate change disrupts weather patterns, causing an increase in unpredictable water availability. Fortunately, researchers have developed a porous, loofah-inspired hydrogel that could sustainably purify water in a cost-effective way.

Initial Development

Previously developed thermoresponsive hydrogels absorbed and then released purified water. However, they had a slow response rate and were not effective in cloudy weather, providing an insufficient volume of water for a person’s daily needs. With increased release rates, the newly innovated loofah-inspired hydrogel improves on this. Researchers used a mixture of water and a chemical called ethylene glycol to induce polymerization, creating a ‘PNIPAm hydrogel’ with interconnected pores inspired by the porous structure of a loofah. They coated the inner pores of the hydrogel with the chemicals polydopamine (PDA) and poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSMBA), which provide the hydrogel with the ability to remove pollutants. The porous structure filters out microplastics, and the polydopamine traps contaminants such as dyes and metals. Furthermore, PSMBA creates a hydration layer that stops oils and microorganisms from being absorbed along with the water. When the hydrogel is cool, it can absorb water, but when warmed, it becomes hydrophobic and releases water. The hydrogel will only absorb water, not contaminants such as oil; therefore, it releases purified water.

Testing and Results

The porous, loofah-inspired hydrogel’s efficiency was tested with artificial light to replicate the solar energy of the sun. When heated, it “released 70% of its stored water in 10 minutes.” This improvement in response rate, four times faster than the closed-pore thermoresponsive hydrogels, means that this development could potentially meet a person’s daily water demand. Furthermore, it can work effectively even when a source of solar energy is not available. This is essential, as weather patterns may be unpredictable in areas of water deficit. Researchers proved the hydrogel’s effectiveness by testing under artificial light conditions, which replicated cloudy weather. It took about 20 minutes for the hydrogel to emit a similar amount of water to the volume released in sunny conditions. The hydrogel has also been tested on polluted samples containing “organic dyes, heavy metals, oil and microplastics.” These tests returned positive results, as the hydrogel successfully purified the water, removing contaminants.

Looking Forward

The hydrogel technology looks to be a vital step toward providing access to clean water in areas experiencing water insecurity. Although still in development, it has enormous potential. Research continues to create new and improved versions, such as hydrogel that could kill waterborne bacteria by utilizing its antibacterial properties. This provides hope for a brighter future for those without the financial ability to access clean water.

– Isla Wright

Photo: Flickr

5 Facts About the Female-Led Oyster Sector in The Gambia

Although The Gambia has a small coastline of 80km, its fishing sector is responsible for roughly 12% of the country’s total GDP. In March 2022, the Minister of Fisheries announced that the fishing sector created at least 300,000 jobs in the country, emphasizing the sector’s potential to aid in poverty reduction and economic growth. The country’s waters are populated with diverse species of fish that are sourced throughout the year. However, oysters have become especially important for The Gambia’s social and economic development.

5 Facts About the Female-Led Oyster Sector in The Gambia

  1. Women run The Gambia’s oyster trade: Oyster fishing in The Gambia is a day-long process that involves collecting oysters from mangrove roots, preparing them on land and then transporting and selling them in the Gambian capital of Banjul. The TRY Oyster Women’s Association (TRY OWA) completely oversees oyster harvesting in the country’s Tanbi region. Approximately 500 Tanbi-area women belong to the TRY OWA, which was founded in 2007 by Fatou Janha Mboob, a Gambian social worker. A nonprofit collective, the organization works to improve the lives of The Gambia’s female oyster pickers by spearheading “environmental and social initiatives” and providing “training in financial management, food hygiene and water safety.”
  2. Increased flooding and The Gambia’s oyster trade: Climate change has contributed to increased flooding in The Gambia. Frequent flooding can lead to sewage entering the mangroves where the oysters are harvested. In turn, this can destroy the wetland ecosystem, damage the roots of mangrove plants and result in spoiled, unsaleable oysters. In an initiative to protect the wetland forests, the TRY OWA has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to plant over 50,000 mangrove seedlings to counteract the effects of deforestation and extreme climate change. In 2012, the UNDP awarded Mboob the Equator Prize for her leadership in such initiatives.
  3. Marie Sambou’s award: In 2019, the Global Youth Innovation Network Gambia acknowledged the work of Marie Sambou, a Gambian oyster harvester, by granting her the Young Business Innovation of the Year award. The award included a gift of 35,000 dalasis, equivalent to about $580, which she pledged to spend on a new fiber boat for oyster fishing.
  4. Food insecurity: An estimated 80% or more of the world’s fish supplies have deteriorated due to overfishing and extreme population growth. As of 2021, The Gambia had experienced a 5%-8% increase in food insecurity. Severe droughts, flooding and misuse of natural resources have impacted fishing in The Gambia and contributed to the rise in food insecurity. Additionally, illegal fishing activities by bigger nations on Gambian waters are depleting the fish supplies that many Gambians rely on for sustenance and survival, thereby heightening the threat of poverty. For instance, TRY OWA oyster harvesters may make up to £30 on successful days. However, when tides are too high, they may not be able to harvest any oysters at all. A short 4-month harvesting season further limits economic opportunity, making income a “primary concern” and forcing many to “supplement their earnings with subsistence farming.”
  5. Support from FISH4ACP: An initiative of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), FISH4ACP works to improve the global fish value chain while promoting sustainable aquaculture. FISH4ACP and the Gambian government have partnered to expand the country’s mangrove oyster harvesting sector. The agreement aims to improve the lives of the sector’s women workers, increase local access to nutritious, low-cost food, implement improved production methods and advance sustainable development over the next decade. Furthermore, it incorporates pilot schemes for the development and sale of new products, like jewelry and animal feed, that will make practical use of oyster shell byproducts.

Looking Ahead

The oyster sector in The Gambia, led by a dedicated group of women, has emerged as a powerful force for social and economic development in the country. Through the efforts of organizations like the TRY OWA and partnerships with entities such as the United Nations Development Programme and FISH4ACP, there are signs of progress with regard to protecting the wetland ecosystem and enhancing the livelihoods of female oyster harvesters. By supporting the oyster sector, The Gambia is paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future for its coastal communities.

– Jennifer Preece
Photo: Flickr

6 facts about water quality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

water quality in the Democratic Republic of the CongoAs the second largest country in Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is home to around 95 million people as of 2021. Characterized by political instability and conflict, the land is rich in natural resources, but its people are amongst the poorest in the world. As most Congolese people make less than $2 a day, having access to safe bottled water is considered an “impossible luxury.” This highlights the need for efforts that aim to improve water quality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Water Quality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

  1. Only 52% of the DRC has access to basic water and even less (29%) have access to sanitation. Despite being home to over 50% of Africa’s water reserves, 33 million people across the country’s most rural areas still can’t access safe water. Moreover, 43% of under-5-year-old children in the DRC are facing chronic malnutrition.
  2. Reasons for low water quality in the DRC include conflict, displaced citizens, poor management, economic instability and governance constraints. For example, when displaced people arrive in host communities where there is already extremely restricted access to drinking water, it leaves further strains on the available resources. Also, the issue of bacterial contamination is a direct consequence of open defecation. Other causes include substandard sanitation systems and polluted surface water. In the DRC, there is no national monitoring of water systems and a restricted understanding of the issues caused by poor water quality. Economic progress has stagnated, inhibiting the government’s ability to invest in infrastructure maintenance. A hostile political environment has similarly prevented social accountability and the development of water and sanitation services, according to Global Waters.
  3. Poor water quality in the DRC has facilitated the spread of waterborne diseases. The lack of access to sanitary facilities and safe water makes it generally impossible to prevent most waterborne diseases. Conflicts also encourage population movements, thereby further worsening the disease problem. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) study found that since the war, most Congolese have not died because of violence but because of waterborne diseases such as malaria, diarrhea and malnutrition, according to The Water Project.
  4. Climate Change has had an impact on the water quality in the DRC. As one of “the most vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of climate change,” according to USAID, the DRC doesn’t have adequate equipment to deal with the consequences. For example, weather patterns are variable, and when the rainfall becomes more intense, the region becomes more susceptible to extreme floods, landslides and other disasters that affect the availability and quality of surface water. At the other end of the scale, extreme drought and longer dry seasons could become more common as climate change worsens. This could exacerbate poverty and create food insecurity as well as political instability, USAID reports.
  5. The DRC is particularly rich in natural resources and has vast agricultural land as well as “immense biodiversity.” Home to the second largest rainforest after the Amazon, the DRC is heavily dependent on its agriculture. But in 2020, the country lost 1.3 million hectares of forests, harmfully impacting the environment and reducing biodiversity across the region. Unfortunately, this threatened the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on agriculture.
  6. In 1998, the DRC joined “Africa’s First World War, in a conflict between seven African nations,” according to The Water Project. The reasons for this war included struggles over minerals, water and food. Not only was it a determining factor at the beginning of the war, but following the conflict, access to water became increasingly restricted. This was a consequence of the collapse of the DRC’s infrastructure during the fighting.

Ongoing Efforts

UNICEF, USAID and Join for Water are among the organizations doing great work to alleviate the consequences of water quality in the DRC. UNICEF is improving access to safe drinking water supplies as well as adequate sanitation facilities in schools and communities. It also created the national program, “Healthy School and Village” in the DRC which aims to stop the spread of waterborne diseases through safe water and hygiene education, according to its website.

According to its website, Join for Water is active across three provinces in the DRC: Ituri, Tshopo and Kwilu. Its focus is on rebuilding and maintaining drinking water infrastructure by working with local organizations to advocate for resource and river protection. It also works to protect agroforestry with farmers and ensure students receive environmental education in school.

USAID, alongside the U.S. government, has provided millions of liters of safe drinking water to the Congolese people, helping over 1 million people gain access to safe water and sanitation facilities, according to Global Waters.

Looking Ahead

Efforts to improve water quality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are making a difference in the lives of millions of people. Organizations like UNICEF, Join for Water and USAID are working tirelessly to provide access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities. These initiatives not only combat waterborne diseases but also empower communities and promote environmental education. With ongoing support and collaboration, the DRC is moving closer to ensuring a brighter future where safe water becomes a reality for all its people.

– Bethan Marsden
 Photo: Flickr

Women’s Rights in the Bahamas

Women’s Rights in the BahamasFrom women’s suffrage efforts claiming the right to vote in 1961 to gaining independence in 1973, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas has a rich history of fighting for equality. However, despite the current progress, there are persistent political and legal barriers that currently threaten women’s rights in the Bahamas.

Disjoint in the Legal Framework Surrounding Sexual Offences

Sexual violence is endemic within the nation and necessitates legal redress. According to the Royal Bahamas Police, reporting of sexual offenses rose by 14% in 2022 with 204 cases. According to the report, 39% of the victims knew the perpetrator and all the suspects were men. With the understanding that there is a trend of gross underreporting when it comes to sexual offenses, this number could be much higher.

Sexual harassment laws pertain only to the workplace, with the language “solicits sexual favors” employed to encapsulate the meaning of sexual harassment. This means that inappropriate behavior such as sexually charged and/or obscene comments, continuous staring and unwanted physical contact in both the workplace and public spaces are not legally recognized explicitly as sexual harassment.

Additionally, although the intent of criminalizing sexual harassment in the workplace is to deter potential perpetrators, U.N. Women recommends making it a matter of civil law. The reasoning for this recommendation is that the victim has more say in the direction of the case for a civil claim.

For instance, a claimant does not have to provide a “clear and convincing burden of proof” like in a criminal court and instead only has to prove a preponderance of the evidence. The claimant does not have to be subjected to an evaluation of their sexual history (aside from the accused) like in a criminal trial. Such conditions would hopefully encourage more women to come forward and stand up to the violations of their rights.

Marital Rape

The law fails to recognize marital rape as a criminal offense unless the couple is in the process of separation/divorce. Most recently in 2022, there was an initiative to remove the phrase “who is not his spouse” from the definition of rape. However, there was constant pushback from opposing politicians and the powerful influence of the Christian Council.

Unfortunately, so long as this phrase remains in legislation, there could be thousands of Bahamian women who do not have the law protection if their husband rapes them and the damaging rhetoric that consent does not matter throughout marriage could endure.

Lack of Political Representation

A significant step toward advancing women’s rights in the Bahamas is addressing the lack of women in politics and highlighting the need for gender-sensitive policymaking. Whilst the country made history in 2021 with the election of seven women in the Progressive Liberal Party, accounting for 17% of seats in parliament, it is yet to meet the U.N.’s minimum standard of 30%.

One solution that Allicia Rolle, a gender specialist in the Department of Gender and Family Affairs proposed is the implementation of quotas as a temporary measure to promote gender mainstreaming in politics. This is to ensure that there are as many women as men in positions of power.

A Commitment to Action

In February 2022, Prime Minister Davis publicly acknowledged that the country needs to bring many of the domestic laws regarding gender equality “up to date” and that the Attorney General would be looking into “domestic legislation” to meet the need to address the prevalence of gender-based violence in the country. Additionally, the government’s effort involved considering long-term strategies including promoting civic engagement and education surrounding the topic. And while there has not been any concrete update on the implementation of such legislation or programs, this acknowledgment of responsibility toward promoting the advancement of women’s rights in the Bahamas offers signs of hope for change in the future.

– Lucy Gebbie
Photo: Flickr

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5 Organizations Ending Child Marriage in Pakistan

Child Marriage in PakistanIn most areas of Pakistan, the legal age for marriage is 16 years old. Yet, millions of children are a part of marriage contracts prior to reaching this age. Child marriage disproportionately affects Pakistani girls, with UNICEF estimating that in 2022, 4.6 million girls became brides before they reached 15.

Several factors cause child marriage in Pakistan, including patriarchal social norms and economic reasons. Poverty in the nation leads poorer families to marry off their daughters so that they no longer have to economically provide for them.

Child marriage has many negative repercussions for young girls, including an increased risk of being in an abusive marriage, falling pregnant before being physically prepared for childbirth and not being able to complete their studies. Fortunately, there are numerous charities operating to end child marriage in Pakistan.

5 Organizations Ending Child Marriage in Pakistan

  1. Blue Veins: Blue Veins is a charity based in Pakistan which is operating since 1999. Since its creation, its mission has been to better the lives of women, children and transgender people through social change. Ending child marriage in Pakistan is among the charity’s highest priorities. Through its Power to Girls campaign, it has worked to make this goal a reality. The campaign involves creating public awareness of the dangers and realities of child marriage and encouraging policymakers to develop legislation that will protect children from being coerced into marriage contracts before reaching the legal age.
  2. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): The UNFPA is an agency responsible for improving women’s reproductive health worldwide. Its work in Pakistan involves empowering women through developing health care and ending child marriage. The UNFPA collaborates with multiple organizations to safeguard children’s rights and support them against being pressured into underage marriage. It researches and advocates for protective legislation and it provides reproductive health guidance and services to girls across the nation. The agency also supports child brides in Pakistan who cannot exit their marriages by providing them with health care and reproductive education. Additionally, it offers counseling services to survivors of underage marriages to aid their mental well-being.
  3. Girls Not Brides: Girls Not Brides is an international NGO made up of more than 1,600 organizations that share the mutual goal of ending child marriage globally. Its work focuses on developing local change. For example, it holds interventions with local and religious leaders in rural communities in Pakistan to educate them on the negative impacts of child marriage on girls and to inspire them to put a stop to the practice within their communities. It also commits to equipping girls with the confidence to refuse marriage at a young age. Girls Not Brides has created safe space programs which provide girls with life skills and the chance to access economic independence through cash transfers.
  4. Save the Children: Founded in 1919, Save the Children is an international charity that aims to alleviate the struggles that children living in poverty face. This involves working to end child marriage in nations where the practice is commonplace, including Pakistan. Save the Children believes that the most effective way to end child marriage as a practice is to champion education for girls and equip them with life skills that will enable them to reject marriage offers at a young age.
  5. Bedari: Bedari is a Pakistan-based NGO that focuses on protecting women’s and children’s rights. Female Pakistani professionals who believed that women and girls living in abusive households lacked the support they needed to be able to escape founded the organization in 1991. The founders of Bedari aimed to create an organization dedicated to helping women in violent domestic situations. Since the organization’s inception, it has extended its work to preventing child marriage in Pakistan. Bedari partners with donors to carry out programs designed to put a stop to child marriage. For example, Bedari worked with the Commonwealth of Learning, Canada, to create the GIRLS Inspire project. This project operated in the Punjab region of Pakistan and aimed to raise awareness among communities about the negative impact of child marriage. The organization achieved this through theatre performances and education sessions for parents and local leaders to encourage them to eradicate the practice. It also offered self-growth sessions for girls to inspire them to stand up for their rights.

The Future

Child marriage in Pakistan remains an issue affecting millions of young girls. The consequences of underage marriage for girls include a deterioration of physical and mental health and a lack of economic and personal freedom. On the bright side, there are charities that publically highlight the dark reality of child marriage in Pakistan. And these organizations continue making efforts to put an end to the practice.

– Mohsina Alam
Photo: Flickr