Africa Renewal: Special Edition on Women 2012

Cover Story

African women: asserting their rights

Introduction to the Special Edition on Women

Equality

‘Renewed energy for women’s empowerment’

Interview with head of UN Women in Southern Africa

African women’s long walk to freedom

Some gains, but an uphill climb still looms

Battling for equality on all fronts

Some progress since Beijing, but hurdles persist

NEPAD embraces women’s rights

After slow start, continental initiative advances gender equity

Political Empowerment

African women are ready to lead

But social beliefs and attitudes hinder their quest

Three women laureates

Wangari Maathai, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee

North African women on the barricades

Activists press for freedom, dignity and rights

Combating violence

Taking on violence against women in Africa

International norms and local activism start to alter laws, attitudes

Security reform key to protecting women

Training, recruitment and prosecutions can reduce violence

Improving health

Investing in the health of Africa’s mothers

Lacking care, too many women do not survive childbirth

In Africa, AIDS often has a woman’s face

Knowledge, power and resources needed to combat the scourge

Gender violence hampers AIDS fight

Activists in Zambia counter a deadly link

Economic empowerment

Does financing benefit African women?

New initiatives to track the gender impact of development funds

Women struggle to secure land rights

Hard fight for access and decision-making power

Tapping women’s entrepreneurship in Ghana

Access to credit, technology vital for breaking into manufacturing
Podcast