Archive for category: Gender Equality

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Women’s Rights in Seychelles: Progress and Pathways Forward

Women's Rights in SeychellesSeychelles ranks highly on global gender equality scales, but efforts to protect and advance women’s rights remain vital. This island nation continues to tackle legal, social and economic challenges to create an inclusive society for women with a focus on positive outcomes and progressive changes.

Legal Frameworks and Policy Solutions

Seychelles is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development. These agreements shape national policies guiding efforts to reduce discrimination in education, health care and access to legal rights.

The policy provides a roadmap for engaging both men and women in the national workforce. For example, Seychelles has recently started capacity-building workshops to encourage more women to enter traditionally male-dominated fields like agriculture, where women account for only 6% of the workforce.

In early 2023, a capacity-building workshop held in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Family Affairs identified key areas of support, such as access to time-saving technologies, farming inputs and agricultural land. These efforts have already led to increased participation of women in agriculture, addressing the previous gender gap. The government aims to reach hundreds of women through these initiatives by 2025.

Tackling Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a concern in Seychelles despite legal protections. Surveys reveal that 41% of Seychellois believe a woman reporting GBV might face criticism or harassment. Though 91% of Seychellois disapprove of physical discipline against women, societal attitudes make it difficult for many victims to come forward. However, solutions are emerging. Police reform initiatives have been implemented, focusing on training officers to respond better to GBV cases. Support groups and shelters have also been established to help victims feel safer when reporting abuse.

Economic Empowerment

While Seychelles has made strides in education—women now outnumber men in tertiary enrollment—economic empowerment remains a challenge. Women are still underrepresented in high-income sectors, particularly in agriculture, business leadership and technology. To address this, the government has introduced training programs to help women access higher-paying jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities. Capacity-building efforts, supported by international agencies, promote women’s economic participation in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

Representation in Leadership

Seychelles is known for its relatively high representation of women in government, with women holding about 22.9% of the seats in the national parliament. Despite this achievement, the representation of women in corporate and political leadership positions remains a challenge. In response, the government has introduced leadership development programs aimed at increasing the number of women in senior positions, especially in politics and the corporate sector. These initiatives focus on mentoring young women and providing leadership training to help them rise through the ranks.

Conclusion

Seychelles has made notable progress in promoting women’s rights, particularly in education and political participation. Ongoing efforts, including police reforms, economic empowerment programs and awareness campaigns, are steadily addressing persistent challenges like gender-based violence and economic inequality. Continued collaboration between the government, international organizations and local communities will be key to achieving gender equality. By focusing on solutions and real progress, Seychelles is moving toward a future where women can fully exercise their rights and contribute to national development.

– Fiza Meeraj

Fiza is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Understanding and Addressing Gendered Poverty in Mozambique

Gendered Poverty in MozambiqueIn the southeast African nation of Mozambique, around 63% of the population lived in poverty in 2020, surviving on less than $1.90/day. Gender inequality further exacerbates this phenomenon – Mozambique ranks 139th out of 159 countries on the UNDP Gender Inequality Index. Gendered poverty in Mozambique takes the form of women having fewer educational and employment opportunities and being confined to a traditional role as mothers. While the government has fought this issue, much more is necessary to bring gender equality and economic prosperity to Mozambicans.

The Current State of Gendered Poverty

Most Mozambican women are in employment, but they work primarily in the informal sector for meagre wages. For example, in agriculture, the nation’s largest industry, 52.9% of employees in rural areas are women.

Most women engage in agriculture to provide for their families, but they are still mostly in traditional roles while men pursue more private sector jobs and economic mobility. With COVID-19 disproportionately affecting young women by halting access to education, employment, and food, they have since become even more disposed to early marriage and living in poverty compared to Mozambican men.

The nation’s government has attempted to combat gendered poverty in Mozambique. For example, a 2019 law banned the marriage of girls under the age of 18 to promote female autonomy and engagement with the economy rather than becoming mothers at too young of an age.

Furthermore, the Family Law and Law Against Domestic Violence have protected women’s rights in marriage and the family, such as inheritance, divorce, and personal rights.

Internationally, the government of Mozambique has signaled its intentions to protect women’s individual and family rights by adopting The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women the Optional Protocol to the African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples‟ Rights and the Rights of Women.

Although this emphasis on gender equality has seen positive effects like near-equal levels of female representation in low-level government positions, government policies have not done nearly enough to bring about gender equality as a tool for overcoming poverty.

International Efforts

Instead, foreign assistance and international organizations have stepped up to reinforce gender equality efforts. For instance, the United States Agency for International Development has implemented several programs targeting impoverished women in Mozambique. Working with the Mozambican government, USAID has introduced female farmers to more nutritious crop varieties and seeds while sharing efficient agricultural strategies and technology to provide for a growing population, according to its website.

USAID has also enforced the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) in Mozambique, reducing HIV rates in the country and providing safe testing and medical equipment to Mozambicans with HIV/AIDS, primarily women.

Additionally, USAID’s Vamos Ler! Program promotes higher rates of girls’ attendance in school through a curriculum that encourages role models of both genders, while also ensuring that students have the hygiene they need to remain enrolled in school, according to its website.

Another effort that recognizes the role of education in eradicating poverty is the World Bank-funded “Eu Sou Capaz” program, which gives both school uniforms and bicycles to young girls in school as an incentive for education and provides skills training to girls who have already completed schooling, according to World Bank.

The initiative has seen a narrowing in the educational gender gap and intends to expand its resources to cover more young Mozambicans in the coming years.

Looking Forward

These efforts toward gender equality are the first step in remedying gendered poverty in Mozambique. With decreased AIDS and maternal deaths and increased education and employment opportunities, Mozambican women will be able to step outside the home and become integral members of their developing nation’s economy. However, these programs cannot assert their full force without changing cultural views in Mozambique. Currently, society remains dominated by men in practice and in the minds of Mozambicans who perceive traditional family structures as the nation’s backbone.

A combined approach of national, international and cultural changes emphasizing a new role for women could help uplift Mozambique from extreme poverty.

– Cole Zickwolff

Cole is based in Carlsbad, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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UN Women Empowering Women in the Caribbean

Women in the CaribbeanThe Caribbean is known for its vibrant culture and beautiful landscapes. However, there is also a hidden persistence in its struggles against poverty and inequality. This is particularly the case in terms of gender, specifically for women. About 2.2% of women and girls in the Caribbean live in poverty at the $1.90 poverty line. Additionally, for every 100 men living in poverty, there are approximately 113 women, highlighting the gender disparity in economic hardship.

The United Nations (U.N.) Women is an organization dedicated to collaborating with Caribbean communities on initiatives aimed at addressing poverty and promoting female empowerment. Additionally, it focuses on promoting gender equality, economic empowerment, leadership and ending violence.

Causes of Gender Poverty in the Caribbean

Numerous factors contribute to the poverty faced by women and girls in the Caribbean. One key factor is education. While girls often outperform boys in school, many women struggle to transition to higher education or the workforce. This is due to unequal family responsibilities, early pregnancies and societal expectations. According to the World Bank, “one in three young women are not engaged in education, employment or training and are constrained due to their unequal role in family responsibilities, early pregnancy and gender norms that relegate them to the domestic sphere.”

The second factor is social norms and gender roles. In the Caribbean, traditional gender roles often confine women to the domestic sphere. This limits their opportunities for economic advancement and reinforces the cycle of poverty. Additionally, a significant contributor to women’s poverty is the prevalence of female-headed households. In many families, women are seen as the primary providers, which increases dependency and places significant financial strain on these households.

About UN Women’s Work in the Caribbean

The U.N. Women is actively engaged in several key areas to promote gender equality and empower women in the Caribbean. The purpose of the organization in the region and also globally is to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. Some of the key areas it focuses on include:

  1. Leadership and Political Participation: U.N. Women supports initiatives to increase women’s participation in political and public life.
  2. Ending Violence Against Women: The organization offers several programs, including awareness campaigns, support services and policy advocacy, to fight gender-based violence against women.
  3. Economic Empowerment: It focuses on enhancing women’s economic opportunities by providing training, resources and support to help them enter and thrive in the workforce.

Successful Programs in the Caribbean

The U.N. Women has implemented highly successful programs that have been instrumental in empowering women in the Caribbean. Some of these include:

  1. Joint Program to Empower Women and Youth in Agri-Fisheries: Launched in 2020 in collaboration with the Government of Japan and other U.N. agencies, this program supported more than 162,000 people in the Caribbean, particularly women and marginalized youth. It focuses on enhancing livelihoods in agriculture, fisheries and small business sectors across countries like Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Dominica.
  2. Women leadership: The organization has also supported the implementation of the Caribbean Institute for Women in Leadership (CIWiL), which fosters training programs for women aspiring to take a political or leadership role. This helps women in terms of reputation and participation in decision-making.
  3. Economic Empowerment: The nonprofit has also partnered with the International Labor Organization (ILO) to strengthen the rights of domestic workers in the Caribbean. In Jamaica, U.N. Women helped the Household Workers Association to become a formal union, providing a platform to promote the rights of more than 50,000 workers in the country.

Final Remarks

With the ongoing support of U.N. Women, there is hope that women and girls in the Caribbean will one day achieve lasting success and break free from the cycle of poverty. Indeed, by providing resources, education and opportunities, these efforts are paving the way for a brighter, more equitable future for the region’s women and girls.

– Destiny Cobos

Destiny is based in Brooklyn, NY and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Women’s Rights in Cabo Verde

Women’s Rights in Cabo VerdeCabo Verde has been and continues to actively address women’s rights and promote female empowerment through its law-making and advocacy efforts. Consequently, the country offers a beacon of hope for women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. There is also work being done to transform the tourism sector to improve women’s rights in Cabo Verde.

Women’s Rights in Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde has made notable developments regarding women’s rights, with the government recognizing gender equality as a critical issue that must be addressed. In 2011 a law protecting women and girls against gender based violence was introduced as well as a legal framework. Since then, continued work has been put in place to uphold the rights of women in the court of law. Despite these efforts, the deep rooted nature of misogyny presents itself as a barrier to achieving gender equality in Cabo Verde. 

Gender Equality and Cabo Verde’s Tourism Sector

Cabo Verde depends on its tourism sector for approximately 25% of its GDP, driving the country rapidly forward in terms of its economic state and quality of life for citizens. As a result of Cabo Verde’s flourishing tourist engagement, there is an abundance of job opportunities available. However, the sector faces limitations regarding female participation. This poses a threat to tourism reaching its full potential as well as a threat to female empowerment and women’s rights in Cabo Verde. 

Women in Cabo Verde struggle to exercise their rights due to the systemic, deep-rooted nature of misogyny. This ensures that women are presented with less accessible educational opportunities, lower-paying and unstable jobs, expectations to uphold traditional values within the household and the threat of gender-based violence. As a result of these challenges, poverty disproportionately affects the women of Cabo Verde, representing, “53% of the poor population as well as 54% of the population in extreme poverty.” This hinders their ability to effectively participate in the tourism sector and hinders their personal economic potential.

Gender Mainstreaming

Recognizing the gender inequality within the tourism sector, U.N. Women and ICIEG came together to develop an action plan to address this through gender mainstreaming, making Cabo Verde one of the earliest tourist countries to do so. Gender mainstreaming involves creating policies that consider the interests and concerns of both men and women, with this action plan focusing on institutional strengthening, training and capacity building and women’s quality and empowerment. However, upon enacting the action plan, it faced complexities. Gender norms and societal expectations of women affect their career choices, often opting for gender-stereotyped, less entrepreneurial positions. The U.N. Women’s office additionally closed down in Cabo Verde which put the action plan on hold from 2017. 

In order to combat these challenges, in 2021 ITCV and ICIEG combined efforts to resume the action plan, also moving forward with new recommendations from the World Bank Group Gender strategy to guarantee that it is as gender responsive as possible, ensuring women ‘better, safe, and more jobs.’ Cabo Verde’s persistence through setbacks highlights their genuine commitment to protecting and improving women’s rights, paving the way for a positive future.

– Imogen Prince

Imogen is based in Oxford, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Fragility and Rule of Law in Afghanistan: Women’s Rights at Risk

Fragility and Rule of Law in AfghanistanThe Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group, returned to power in 2021 after a 20-year insurgency. Following its ousting by a United States (U.S.)-led invasion in 2001, the group regrouped across the border in Pakistan. Within a decade they began reclaiming territory in Afghanistan. Since its return to power, the Taliban has severely threatened Afghan civil rights and liberties. The group has revived practices similar to its oppressive rule in the late 1990s. The United Nations (U.N.) mission in Afghanistan has reported numerous human rights violations. Journalists face intimidation, press freedoms have been sharply curtailed and several news organizations, including The Daily Afghanistan, have shut down. Additionally, the Taliban has reinstated the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, known for enforcing bans on activities deemed un-Islamic during its previous rule.

The Current State of Women’s Rights

Women’s rights in the region have been eradicated. According to Amnesty International, Afghanistan ranks last for women’s rights globally, positioned at 177 out of 177 countries on the Women’s Peace and Security Index for 2023/2024. It is the only country that restricts girls’ access to education beyond the sixth grade and prohibits women from working for nongovernmental organizations.

The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has expanded its authority to control personal behavior and enforce punishments rigorously. This expansion is based on a 114-page document with 35 articles dictating nearly every aspect of life in Afghanistan. “We assure you that this Islamic law will greatly aid in promoting virtue and eliminating vice,” said ministry spokesman Maulvi Abdul Ghafar Farooq. The ministry’s enforcers have the authority to detain and fine law violators.

Article 13, focused on avoiding temptation, mandates that women must conceal their figures, cover their faces and refrain from making eye contact with men who are not family members. Article 15 prohibits women from traveling without a male guardian or interacting with unrelated men. Acting Minister Mohammad Khalid Hanafi emphasized that there would be “no compromise in the enforcement of Islamic laws.”

Fragility and Rule of Law in Afghanistan

The collapse of the previous government has led to a significant breakdown in legal protections for women: ​​

  • Replacement of Existing Laws. The Taliban has replaced the existing legal framework with its strict interpretation of Sharia law, abolishing many rights and protections that women previously enjoyed under the Afghan constitution and civil code.
  • Arbitrary Implementation. The new legal system often applies rules arbitrarily, lacking consistent application and due process. This unpredictability further undermines the rule of law and leaves women vulnerable to rights violations.
  • Limited Access to Justice. Under the new regime, women face severe limitations. Many formal legal institutions have ceased to function or now exclude women entirely. This effectively denies them any recourse to legal protection or dispute resolution.

International Responses

The U.N. has been at the forefront of condemning the Taliban’s actions and advocating for women’s rights in Afghanistan:

  • The U.N. Security Council Resolution 2681 (2023) called for the immediate removal of all restrictions violating the rights of Afghan women and girls. 
  • The U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has characterized the situation in Afghanistan as “gender apartheid.” The U.N. Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has called on the Taliban to release women human rights defenders and respect all human rights of women and girls.
  • Many countries have used diplomatic channels to express their concerns. The United Kindom (U.K.) The ambassador to the U.N. denounced the Taliban’s actions as “medieval misogyny above humanitarian need.” Multiple U.N. member states, including Albania, Ecuador, Malta and Spain, have characterized the situation as gender apartheid in U.N. Security Council sessions.

Legal and Policy Initiatives

Several legal and policy initiatives are being pursued to address the fragility of the rule of law in Afghanistan. 

  • Codifying Gender Apartheid: Efforts are underway to codify gender apartheid as a crime against humanity, potentially involving the International Criminal Court (ICC) in addressing systematic discrimination against women in Afghanistan. U.N. experts have called for investigations into the Taliban, holding them accountable for human rights violations based on gender, which amount to gender persecution.
  • Targeted Sanctions: Some nations are exploring the implementation of targeted sanctions against specific Taliban leaders responsible for rights violations. This approach aims to increase pressure on decision-makers within the Taliban regime. 
  • Humanitarian Aid Principles: Calls are intensifying for principled engagement in humanitarian aid. Furthermore, demands are being made for the Taliban to immediately lift the ban on Afghan women working for the U.N. and NGOs. There is also a push for supporting the full and safe participation of women in humanitarian decision-making and delivery, alongside increased support for humanitarian organizations, particularly those led by Afghan women.
  • Accountability Mechanisms: There are growing calls for accountability, a key feature in truly upholding the rule of law. Advocates demand that perpetrators of international human rights and humanitarian law violations face accountability. They emphasize the need to address gender persecution and other abuses targeting diverse women and girls.

Looking Ahead

The fragility of the rule of law in Afghanistan underscores the challenges of maintaining legal protections in unstable political environments. This situation highlights the need for robust international mechanisms to safeguard human rights and uphold the rule of law in fragile states.

– Hannah Ravariere-Moakes

Hannah is based in London, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Economic Inclusion of Women in Uganda

Women in UgandaIn Uganda, women continue to find their capacity to materialize their potential hampered by deeply entrenched inequalities despite considerable political progress. The 1995 constitution rendered men and women equal before the law. Since then, numerous governmental initiatives have sought to eradicate gender-based discrimination. This includes the 2007 establishment of the Equal Opportunities Commission, a statutory authority that works to enforce anti-discrimination laws and equalize opportunity.

However, the United Nations (U.N.) has identified a chasm between this politically decreed equality and the living reality of Ugandan women, social mores frequently limiting their engagement in the public sphere. The result is a gaping monthly gender wage disparity of 32.3% and a mammoth loss in human capital and, thus, national wealth. Organizations of varying scales are, therefore, working to foster the economic inclusion of women in Uganda.

Resilient Women Uganda

Established in 2016, Resilient Women Uganda is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that helps vulnerable girls and women escape cyclical poverty by creating spaces where they can blossom unimpeded by patriarchal beliefs that undervalue them.

Harmful practices mar the economic inclusion of women in Uganda. A massive 45% of female Ugandans have suffered physical abuse at the hands of their partner. Additionally, more than one in five have experienced sexual violence. Moreover, child marriage is rampant, with 34% of girls entering unions before they turn 18 and 7% before the age of 15.

Seeking to limit the effect that these breaches of basic rights have on girls’ development, Resilient Women Uganda operates a shelter for those in immediate danger of violence or exploitation, where they can access food, medical treatment and pastoral care.

Furthermore, the organization offers vocational training in various sectors, supporting its beneficiaries in sculpting a future. Through the program, at-risk girls aged between 13 and 19 can develop skills that will lead them to secure employment and become economically self-sufficient members of society. In 2023, 55 young women trained by the program found jobs in hairdressing and fashion design.

The Women’s Microfinance Initiative

The Women’s Microfinance Initiative (WMI) empowers female entrepreneurs from impoverished rural communities by providing them with microloans and increasing their financial literacy. Founded in Washington, D.C., in 2008, the organization operates through hubs across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

The “Transition to Independence” program gives women access to four consecutive loans at a 10% flat interest rate, which they can use to propel their businesses into economic self-sufficiency. The program also provides a holistic support system that seeks to mold its beneficiaries into well-rounded participants in the economy. At the community-level hubs, operated by local women, the borrowers receive training in business and marketing, ongoing mentoring and free bookkeeping resources such as calculators and notebooks. They also open bank accounts as part of the program and develop a strong grasp of financial processes.

WMI combats exploitative lending practices through its woman-centered approach, which is reflected in an impressive loan recovery rate of 98%. Its borrowers experience a monthly income growth rate of between 100% and 400%. The organization’s impact is as far-reaching as it is remarkable; in 2023 alone, it provided 12,000 loans and it has served more than 28,000 women since its inauguration.

Moreover, WMI estimates that its loans impact an additional 20 people for every borrower. This considers the effect of increased household income on family members and the reach of each business’s roots within the community’s economic network. According to the U.N., self-employed women in Uganda face heightened vulnerability to poverty due to limited access to services and capital. WMI is working to remove these barriers and allow female entrepreneurship to flourish.

Women in Technology Uganda

Women in Technology Uganda (WITU) is an NGO that has supported girls and women from underprivileged communities with training programs in technology and entrepreneurship since 2014. The “Code Girls” program operates across primary, secondary and tertiary education to bring ICT training to young people, especially girls, who are otherwise unlikely to access STEM resources. In 2022, the program bridged the technological divide for 1,354 students.

WITU also offers talented young women the opportunity to complete a two-year diploma in Computer Science and Entrepreneurship through the Women’s Institute of Technology and Innovation. In 2022, 33 girls excluded from tertiary education because of a lack of financial means received scholarships.

Moreover, the 12-week “Elevate” program fosters economic autonomy by training young women from marginalized backgrounds in ICT and providing them with various marketing and employability skills. As of 2022, the program had served more than 6,000 women. Given that just 31% of Ugandan women have access to the internet, compared with 69% of men, WITU’s work represents a vital pathway toward improved economic inclusion of women in Uganda.

Moving Forward

Although significant challenges remain, numerous organizations are working to strengthen Uganda’s social fabric by fighting for a future where its women are free to incorporate their unique and colorful threads. Their efforts demonstrate what WMI aptly calls “a long-term investment in human potential” and their shared vision is one of a nation that holds equal promise for all of its people.

– Leila Powles

Leila is based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK and focuses on World News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Empowering Women in West Africa

Women in West AfricaFrom Benin, Dossi Sekonnou Gloria remarks that “in West Africa, civil society organizations (CSOs) are viewed with a negative eye.” Discriminatory behavior and practices persist in Benin and regions across Africa. Women’s participation and representation in political processes are continuously undermined. The common perception of women as the “weaker race” poses challenges to women’s rights activists. However, that has not stopped Gloria’s desire to address social inequalities and empower women in West Africa.

The Women Leaders Network for Development

In 2012, Gloria founded the Women Leaders Network for Development or Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD). RFLD is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable development and, more specifically, gender equality and women’s rights. The organization is based in West Africa and has its headquarters in Benin. RFLD is active in 27 countries and works with more than 60 women-led organizations, tackling both “structural and individual barriers to gender equality” and “social inclusion.”

Focus and Expertise

RFLD seeks to empower women in the context of regional initiatives that focus on issues surrounding:

  1. Economic Justice: This involves promoting sustainable livelihoods and financial independence among women.
  2. Ending Harmful Practices: This involves combatting gender-based violence, genital mutilation and other detrimental customs.
  3. Climate Justice: This involves teaching women how to adapt to climate change and develop sustainable practices.
  4. Human Rights: This involves protecting all human rights and providing access to sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice.
  5. Peace and Security: This involves promoting women’s participation in peacebuilding.
  6. Media Development and Freedom: This involves promoting media literacy to identify and combat harmful narratives.
  7. Integration of Gender and Social Inclusion: This involves including women in decision-making processes and providing equal access to services and resources.

Strategic Plan 2023-2028

In March 2024, RFLD announced that it was raising $10 million to fund its 2023–2028 Strategic Plan. The vision for change lies within the plan’s objectives, promoting:

  • Women’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and representation in decision-making bodies. 
  • Civil liberties and democratic values with a focus on human rights through our activities. 
  • Economic justice for women.
  • The principle of participatory governance, the innovative capacity of civil society and the development of the media.

The plan emphasizes the importance of women human rights defenders (WHRDs). Experienced women are best suited to address unique gender-based challenges, offer fresh perspectives and lead efforts in various human rights struggles, making their involvement essential for lasting change. WHRDs not only safeguard basic rights and freedoms but actively work to expand their influence and effectiveness. RFLD has recognized the vital role of these stakeholders and now strives to empower them with its strategic plan.

Country-Level Impact

Notable areas of impact are the issues covered at a country level. Across 27 countries, RFLD conducts awareness campaigns and education workshops, provides training and resources and supports a range of women, from entrepreneurs to small farmers. It also raises civil society activists, lawyers and judges on women’s rights.

From supporting women in the fishing industry in Mauritania and promoting gender equality in cocoa farming in Ghana to combating food insecurity and early marriage in Chad, RFLD’s work follows its various issues of focus. In Mauritius, the organization promotes women’s entrepreneurship in the technology sector. In the Central African Republic, RFLD promotes peacebuilding through interfaith dialogue. Its impact across sub-Saharan Africa is variable and ongoing and this hard work has allowed the RFLD’s progress to spread.

RFLD’s Delegation

The nonprofit’s influence is now reaching the African Union. The RFLD is funding a 13-person delegation to attend the 6th Gender Is My Agenda Campaign Network (GIMAC) Strategic Engagement in Accra, Ghana. The GIMAC Network aims to promote the rights and leadership of women in West Africa and monitor the implementation of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa.

These events will go from 12 to 15 July 2024. The theme of the 6th GIMAC Strategic Engagement is “Educational Transformation for Gender Equity and Sustainability.” With a delegation composed of young women leaders, government officials and CSOs, women’s voices are amplified and contributions are made toward the future of girls’ education in Africa. The delegates also will benefit from the opportunity to network with influential leaders, represent their constituencies and contribute to discussions.

RFLD’s strategic plan, country-level impact and delegation are significant strides in women’s empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa. The organization symbolizes hope for a future where women in West Africa can flourish and fully exercise their rights.

– Caroline Albright

Caroline is based in Milton, MA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Understanding GBV in Uganda

GBV in UgandaAccording to the European Commission, gender-based violence (GBV) targets individuals based on their gender or disproportionately affects certain genders, often impacting women and children the most. In Uganda, GBV remains a significant issue, with statistics between 2018 and 2020 indicating an average of 5,000 new cases reported annually. This figure likely underrepresents the true extent of the problem. The violence affects not only Uganda’s national population but also the roughly 1.5 million refugees who have sought safety within the country.

GBV Uganda Projects

GBV Uganda Projects, an organization that provides funding in the form of loans, supports projects and small businesses that pay back their loans upon becoming profitable. These ongoing initiatives often focus on sustainability and include practical training for individuals to start their businesses. A key partner, SUP Community Initiatives Africa, began as a Community-Based Organization in 2013, targeting vulnerable individuals and communities in rural and slum areas. It registered as a Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) in 2022, with a mission to empower individuals and communities to address their vulnerabilities effectively.

Empowerment Through Tailoring Projects

GBV Uganda Projects has established a tailoring training initiative that includes building a training center and offering year-long courses in fashion design for 20 women and girls who had to leave school due to abuse. As of June 2024, these participants are taking exams, with a new group set to start in July 2024 and continue until December. This project underscores the organization’s belief that tailoring could be a viable path out of poverty, which often intersects with gender-based violence.

Youth Sport Uganda offers a six-month tailoring program that includes internships, helping 71 participants so far to launch their businesses and support their families. Similarly, The Followings Foundation runs the BEC Tailoring program, equipping individuals with not only tailoring skills but also essential business skills like machine maintenance, record-keeping and financial management, further enhancing their ability to be self-sufficient.

The Importance of Funding

GBV Projects Uganda successfully launched its tailoring initiative, funded by a £14,000 grant from the Welsh Government’s Wales and Africa Grant Scheme/Hub Cymru Africa. This financial support from international donors has enabled 20 participants to acquire crucial life skills, providing opportunities that would have otherwise been inaccessible. Despite these successes, the World Bank notes that prevention programs for gender-based violence in Uganda remain fragmented and limited in scope. This fragmentation often leads to less effective programming, as funding sources like the Wales and Africa Grant Scheme vary by project.

Recommendations and Global Efforts

In 2020, significant strides were made as the United Nations (U.N.), Uganda’s Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and the Office of the Prime Minister collaborated to enhance systems addressing gender-based violence (GBV), focusing particularly on the vulnerabilities of refugee populations. This initiative was informed by findings from the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project. By 2023, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported the successful implementation of the “SASA! Together model” and “the Girl Shine approach” in Uganda. These programs are part of a broader international effort to mitigate GBV. Since 2019, the Spotlight Initiative has also been instrumental, training more than 900 individuals to assist GBV victims, marking a significant advancement in local and global efforts against gender-based violence.

Looking Ahead

Efforts to address gender-based violence in Uganda are making strides through targeted initiatives and international collaboration. Programs like those run by GBV Uganda Projects provide essential training and support, empowering individuals to achieve financial independence and stability. Support and funding could be essential in expanding these ongoing initiatives and enhancing their effectiveness. This can potentially ensure progress in combating gender-based violence in the region.

– Rachael Denton-Snape

Rachael is based in High Wycombe, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Strides for Gender Equality in Sierra Leone

Strides for Gender Equality in Sierra LeoneSierra Leone, located along the West African Atlantic coast, boasts fertile landscapes that support prosperous agricultural systems. Despite this, the nation has grappled with severe women’s rights issues. A significant change occurred in January 2023 when President Julius Maada Bio enacted the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (GEWE). This law marks a transformative moment for women in the country, heralding a new era of enhanced equality and rights.

Historic Legislation for Gender Equality

The Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (GEWE) mandates that public and private sector employers allocate 30% of job openings to women, including leadership roles. It also requires political parties to ensure that 30% of their candidates for parliamentary and local elections are women. Additionally, the act provides for 14-week maternity leave, mandates equal pay for equal work and grants women equal access to financial support and training. Noncompliance with GEWE carries significant penalties. This legislation represents a significant advancement toward gender equality in Sierra Leone, where women make up 52% of the population but hold fewer than 20% of elected positions. The implementation of GEWE aims to correct this imbalance, empowering more women to assume leadership roles.

Educational Challenges for Women

In Sierra Leone, literacy among women remains a significant issue, with educational opportunities limited from an early age. Among girls aged 15 to 24, 41% have not finished primary education and girls are more likely to drop out of secondary school than boys. A major factor contributing to this educational gap is the high rate of early marriage; nearly 30% of girls marry before the age of 18, severely curtailing their educational pursuits. Consequently, only 2% of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are both married and attending school, leading to a female illiteracy rate of 57.65%.

Legislative Advances in Education

In April 2023, Sierra Leone’s parliament enacted the Basic and Senior Secondary Education Act, significantly advancing educational access for married women and young mothers. Previously, until 2020, the government prohibited pregnant women and mothers from attending school. This new legislation guarantees their right to continue education, a vital step toward keeping young women and their families out of poverty by ensuring they can pursue schooling regardless of marital or parental status.

Sierra Leone’s Commitment to Educational Reform

The enactment of Sierra Leone’s Basic and Senior Secondary Education Act marks significant progress in educational equality for women. Starting in 2018, the government prioritized education, implementing several key legislations such as the Free Quality Education Programme and laws supporting the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Rights and Welfare of the Child. These ongoing measures have made education more accessible by reducing financial barriers and guaranteeing free, compulsory education for all children. Recently, the focus has expanded to include specific protections for women’s education, a major advancement for women’s rights in Sierra Leone.

Hope for the Future

The Gender Equality and Empowerment Act, along with the Basic and Senior Secondary Education Act, signify a pivotal shift in women’s rights in Sierra Leone. Before the enactment of these laws, no legislation explicitly protected the educational, political and civil rights of women in the country. These legislative measures, aiming to secure women’s job security and educational opportunities, offer a hopeful outlook for the future of women in the country, providing them with new opportunities to succeed.

– Ellie Buss

Ellie is based in Vancouver, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Women’s Workforce Participation in Chile

Women's Workforce Participation in Chile In Chile, poverty among women is notably high relative to surrounding countries. In 2006, roughly 19% of the female Chilean population— more than one million women—lived in poverty. By 2016, aid efforts and governmental initiatives lifted 400,000 women out of poverty; and in 2019, a wave of women’s rights protests spurred the government to enact a law protecting women from gender-based violence. While a smaller percentage of the overall population currently suffers from poverty, women experience its devastating effects in greater numbers than men. In addition, legal and social barriers still hinder women from participating in the workforce and securing economic autonomy. Workforce participation in Chile reflects these ongoing challenges, with women facing significant disparities in opportunities and conditions compared to men.

Workforce Participation

In 2002, 74% of men and only 37% of women participated in the workforce. By 2023, statistics reveal that approximately 50% of women in Chile are working, either part-time or full-time. Although these numbers are encouraging, women’s workforce participation in Chile remains among the lowest in Latin America. Women in the workforce often face unequal opportunities compared to men. They are more likely to hold part-time positions, rarely occupy high-level leadership roles and typically earn less than their male colleagues. The World Bank notes that Chilean law does not require equal pay for work of equal value nor does it prohibit gender discrimination in accessing credit, which puts women at risk for financial insecurity.

Care Labor and Conjugal Society

The low rate of women’s workforce participation in Chile is largely due to the prevalence of a traditional household structure. In the majority of Chilean households, the husband earns wages and the wife takes care of domestic tasks. Women are expected to perform unpaid care labor: caring for children and elderly parents and cleaning and cooking for their families. Because they are burdened with the tasks of a domestic caretaker, women inevitably have little time to earn money — if they participate in the workforce at all, part-time positions are the only feasible option. 

The default legal marital arrangement in Chile declares men as the head of the household and prevents women from making financial decisions without the permission of their husbands. According to The United States (U.S.) Department, in Chile “a husband has the right to administer joint property, including his wife’s property, without consultation or written permission from his wife, but a wife must demonstrate that her husband has granted his permission before she is permitted to make financial arrangements.” Consequently, women have almost no financial autonomy within their marriage, which puts them at risk for financial insecurity, particularly in the event of divorce or if their husbands refuse to allocate money toward women’s needs. 

Women’s Rights Movement

In 2019, a wave of feminist protests spread throughout Chile, acting as a catalyst for change. Protestors called on the Chilean government to act on issues like income disparity, gender-based violence and the persistence of traditional gender roles.  A 2023 survey revealed that 74% of the Chilean population recognized that women face inequality and discrimination. This percentage is higher than the global average, which suggests that the movement successfully raised awareness and focused national attention on women’s rights. 

In response to the growing movement, the Chilean government passed the Comprehensive Violence Against Women Act in March of 2024. Historically, gender-based violence has caused women to quit their jobs or drop out of higher education. According to the World Bank, “the procedure established by [Chilean] law to investigate and punish [sexual assault] can oftentimes lack transparency and result in humiliation for victims, proving that it is virtually ineffective.” The 2024 Violence Against Women Act marks a hopeful turn toward more legal rights, less restrictive gender roles and greater society-wide respect for women. 

Mujeres Emplea

Mujeres Emplea, an online platform created in collaboration with several global NGOs, including United Nations (U.N.) Women is a promising new initiative that provides excellent resources to Chilean women. The platform offers digital skills training, matches female candidates with employers and provides information about available childcare. A participant reflected, “In this world, more women are needed to join the workforce and these trainings are needed for our wellbeing, for our lives, for our families.” This platform provides invaluable resources, encourages women’s workforce participation in Chile and supports women in becoming economically autonomous. 

Global Alliance for Care

The Chilean government is also a member of the Global Alliance for Care, which is the first global community that facilitates and fosters spaces for dialogue, analysis, exchange of experiences and learning about care, its recognition as a need, as work and as a right. The organization considers its mission central to accelerate the pace toward achieving women’s economic autonomy. Participation in this alliance raises awareness of the importance of women’s contributions to society and helps to emphasize the urgent need to reduce gender inequality.

Looking Ahead

Despite significant strides in reducing poverty among women in Chile, challenges in achieving gender equality persist. Legislative advancements, such as the 2024 Comprehensive Violence Against Women Act and initiatives like Mujeres Emplea, underscore ongoing efforts to improve women’s economic participation and autonomy. Chile’s involvement in the Global Alliance for Care highlights the commitment to recognizing and valuing women’s contributions. Continued focus on these ongoing issues could foster greater gender equality and enhance the economic prospects of women across the country.

– Maren Fossum-Wernick

Maren is based in St. Paul, MN, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr