Author: prtimesafrica

NEW YORK, United States of America, November 24, 2024/ — During the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Generation Equality is celebrating commitment makers that are driving action to end gender-based violence. WiLDAF Tanzania, stands at the forefront of an inspiring journey to eradicate gender-based violence and empower women and girls nationwide. Through strong advocacy and hands-on community initiatives, WiLDAF is reshaping Tanzania’s social and political landscape. By engaging the government, communities, and individuals, they are driving tangible change in the fight for gender equality and social justice.

In Tanzania, WiLDAF is transforming lives and communities by championing the safety, rights, and empowerment of women and girls. As a champion for change and a strong women’s rights advocate, the Generation Equality Commitment Maker is shaping government priorities to place gender equality and social inclusion at the center of national policies, programs, and budgets. Their impact goes beyond the government, reaching deep into local communities, where families, societies, and institutions are increasingly embracing and championing gender equality as a shared value.

With the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children, WiLDAF has mobilized local committees across the country to give women a voice in reporting gender-based violence (GBV) and seeking justice. This critical work is breaking the silence, encouraging women and girls to come forward, and ensuring they receive the support and protection they deserve.

But WiLDAF’s mission doesn’t stop here. Through vocational training, startup grants, and small business resources, they’re providing women with tools to build sustainable livelihoods. In 2023 alone, over 200 women have launched small businesses, fostering resilience and financial independence to their families. Initiatives like the Jamii Imara Project are creating even deeper impact, offering alternative income sources and engaging men, traditional leaders, and religious actors as allies in reshaping social norms.

Driving legal and political transformation for women

WiLDAF’s advocacy extends into political and legal reform. The NGO has been instrumental in pushing Tanzania to become the first African nation to address violence against women during elections, ensuring safe political spaces for women leaders. Moreover, gender desks in universities now offer young women a safe place to report incidents of GBV, paving the way for equal political participation.

In partnership with UNFPA and the Government of Finland, WiLDAF launched the “My Choice My Rights” Program to protect the rights of women and girls, particularly those with disabilities, against GBV, harmful practices, and early marriage. This initiative teaches adolescents and young women in recognizing and reporting harmful practices, while advocating for policies that protect the sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) of vulnerable populations.

“Generation Equality means uniting forces to drive real change. At WiLDAF, we’re not working alone – we’re collaborating with women’s rights organizations to ensure that our commitments lead to action. One of our key areas of advocacy is reforming outdated laws like the Law of Marriage Act of 1971, which still allows girls under 18 to marry and the Customary Laws of Inheritance of 1963 which prohibits women, widows and girl children to inherit land”, says Anna Kulaya, National Coordinator of WiLDAF Tanzania,  Africa.

Tanzania’s Generation Equality Commitment: Leading by Example

WiLDAF’s journey aligns with Tanzania’s role as a Generation Equality Global Champion and co-leader of the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Economic Justice and Rights. Through this commitment, Tanzania has pledged to expand women’s economic opportunities, strengthen care services, increase women’s access to resources, and promote gender-responsive policies.

From 2021 to 2024, Tanzania has focused on building gender-responsive ecosystems from the civil society, private sector, academia, to innovation hubs. The country’s initiatives aim to elevate women’s economic empowerment through targeted training, business support, and inclusive benefits.

As the world observes the 16 Days of Activism, WiLDAF reflects Tanzania’s commitment to advancing gender justice in the country. With every step forward, WiLDAF is not only reshaping Tanzania’s future but also inspiring a powerful movement across East Africa, where women and girls can live free from violence, uplifted by equality and opportunity.

 

 

                         NEWS UPDATE

NAIROBI, Kenya, November 11, 2024/ — The Seventh General Assembly of the African Platform for Regional Institutions in Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Systems (APRIFAAS), held in Casablanca, Morocco, from 28-29 October 2024 marked a key moment for the platform. A key focus of the assembly was the election of new Bureau members, a process critical to ensuring continued progress in the platform’s mission of strengthening regional cooperation in fisheries, aquaculture, and biodiversity conservation across Africa.

Leadership Transition: Elections of the New Bureau

A central issue discussed during the General Assembly was the transition of leadership within the Bureau, which has played a crucial role in steering the platform’s work over the past years. The outgoing Bureau members, who have led APRIFAAS with commitment and vision the past 3 years, were recognized for their contributions. The Bureau included:

•    Chair: COMAFAT (West/North Africa)
•    1st Vice Chair: ECOWAS (West Africa)
•    2nd Vice Chair: COMESA (Eastern/Southern/Northern regions)
•    Rapporteur: SADC (Southern Africa)
•    2nd Rapporteur: UMA (Northern Africa)

The outgoing Bureau was instrumental in advancing APRIFAAS’s core objectives and fostering regional collaboration on issues of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Their leadership provided direction and helped establish a strong foundation for the platform’s initiatives.

Speaking on behalf of COMAFAT, the outgoing Chair of APRIFAAS, Dr. Mohamed Sadiki (Above standing) noted “Together, we have strengthened the collective voice of African institutions in the global arena, setting the stage for even greater achievements. I am confident that the incoming Bureau will build on this momentum to continue championing Africa’s aquatic resources with renewed vigor,”

Elections: A Turning Point for Leadership

The elections for new Bureau members took place under the facilitation of AU-IBAR.

The newly elected Bureau members that will serve for a two-year renewable tenure are:

– Chair: COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) – Eastern/Southern/Northern regions
– 1st Vice Chair: SRFC (Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission) – Western region
– 2nd Vice Chair: CEBEVIRHA (Central Africa Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Commission) – Central region
– Rapporteur: BCC (Benguela Current Commission) – Southern region
– 2nd Rapporteur: UMA (Union of the Mediterranean Arab States) – Northern region

In his speech, Dr. Yoseph Mamo (Above picture), the incoming representative of COMESA as the new Chair of APRIFAAS, expressed deep commitment to advancing regional cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture across Africa. He emphasized the importance of aligning regional policies with global biodiversity goals and promised to work collaboratively with all members to ensure sustainable management of the continent’s aquatic resources for future generations.

Outcomes of the 7th APRIFAAS General Meeting

The elections also marked the conclusion of the Assembly’s discussions, which led to several key outcomes:
Strengthening Regional Cooperation: The meeting reinforced the importance of enhancing intersectoral cooperation between regional fisheries bodies, regional economic communities, and technical partners.

Alignment with Global Biodiversity Goals: There was a strong commitment to aligning regional fisheries and biodiversity policies with global instruments, including those under the United Nations and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Commitment to Sustainable Fisheries Management: The new Bureau members expressed their dedication to addressing the challenges of fisheries governance and biodiversity conservation, ensuring that regional policies are aligned with both local and global environmental and economic needs.

Future Leadership and Collaboration: The elections also symbolized a renewed focus on fostering a collaborative spirit among African nations and strengthening their collective voice in international forums concerning fisheries and aquatic biodiversity.

The elections and the successful outcomes of the Seventh General Assembly signal a renewed era of leadership and cooperation for APRIFAAS. The newly elected Bureau is expected to lead with a vision that integrates both regional and global priorities, furthering APRIFAAS’s commitment to sustainable management of Africa’s aquatic resources.

 

 

TRIPOLI, Libya, November 11, 2024/ — Enabling independent accessibility and mobility are key to ensuring persons with disabilities are actively involved in society, said a group of twenty-seven young men and women from across Libya in an online workshop on Thursday.

The workshop on disability rights, led by UNSMIL’s Human Rights Section and supported by the UN Youth Office in New York, provided a comprehensive overview of Libya’s obligations towards persons with disabilities as rights-holders, particularly under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Libya ratified in 2018. Speakers also emphasized the UN’s role in supporting government to enhance accessibility and empowering civil society, particularly youth, to advocate for this issue.

“To enable independent living – a fundamental human right – accessibility and support systems are essential,” said Maria Stoffregen, UNSMIL Human Rights Officer. “The state must ensure persons with disabilities have equal access to services and assistive technologies to fully enjoy their rights. Libya, like other states, have committed to providing these necessary provisions, including to prevent discrimination against persons with disabilities. But more needs to be done,” she added.

Seven of the participants in the workshop identified as disabled. They discussed key challenges facing young people and those with disabilities and stressed the importance of including the voices of persons with disabilities in all discussions and campaigns about the issue.

The recommendations of the fourteen young men, and thirteen young women included:

• Raise awareness among the public and Libyan officials on the definition of disability and on state obligations towards persons with disabilities.
• Expand government support to be more inclusive of everyone with disabilities, regardless of cause, moving beyond the current focus on those affected by conflict in Libya, including working to reduce the lack of support and societal integration for disabled women compared to men.
• Allocate resources and increase outreach to better support persons with disabilities living outside of the main coastal cities, to ensure equal access to community-based services, healthcare and education.
• Support the establishment of an independent body to regulate and evaluate initiatives which support those with disabilities.
• Raise awareness about the capabilities of persons with disabilities to counter discrimination, stigma and unequal access to services, including education. Raise awareness about the support networks available to persons with disabilities and their needs.
• Provide gender-sensitive educational and psychosocial support to those with disabilities from conflict to help rehabilitate them into society.
• Ensure disabled people are guaranteed representation in decision-making institutions across Libya.
• Review and revise legislation in Libya to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities while engaging them fully in the process.
• Upskill civil society organisations through cooperation and collaboration internationally and nationally to enhance their capacity to advocate for the implementation of conventions and national agreements.
• Empower civil society, including youth, to better raise awareness on disability rights within communities and foster an inclusive environment for persons with disabilities.
• Collate and share data regarding the number of young people with disabilities and initiatives set up to support them. Share best practice within the community and secure more ethical media coverage on the issue.

The participants highlighted that women with disabilities face greater challenges than men. All agreed that the focus on disability support in Libya – both from the state and in society – has been primarily centered on men affected by conflict. “Women are also affected by the conflict but do not receive the same amount of support,” one female participant noted.

“The level of awareness of rights is low in general,” said another male participant. “International conventions and agreements supporting disability rights should be implemented to guarantee the inclusion of persons with disabilities and provide them with specific support needed to access information and participate fully in society,” he added.

Meaningful youth engagement – where there is active, genuine engagement with young people in decision-making, recognizing their voices and leadership – is a key element of the UN’s Youth 2030 strategy, and the Pact of the Future agreed by all UN member states in September. This initiative focuses on eliminating barriers to participation and using assistive technologies to increase inclusion.

The workshop was a part of a series organized by UNSMIL under its YouEngage initiative, aiming to engage 1,000 young men and women across Libya on different topics. The goal is to gather their ideas and recommendations to inform UNSMIL’s youth-oriented strategies, promote inclusion, and amplify the voices of those who are traditionally excluded.

 

 

JUBA, South Sudan, November 1, 2024/ — International peace partners are urging the Government of South Sudan to produce a clear and realistic workplan, timeline and budget to implement remaining critical tasks in the peace agreement ahead of the country’s first democratic elections.

Their call for urgent action came at the first substantial meeting of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission since the Government announced a further two-year extension of the transitional period and delayed elections.

Speaking on behalf of the Troika, the United Kingdom Ambassador to South Sudan, Guy Warrington expressed profound disappointment at the fresh extension and stressed the need for meaningful and urgent action in the coming weeks, rather than months.

“The basis for post-transitional government failure to achieve peace commitments and enduring key obstacles to progress is not a lack of time, it’s not a lack of funding, it remains a lack of political will to take the necessary decisions and compromises that are essential to break the perpetual cycle of transition and make meaningful progress towards creating conditions necessary for holding peaceful, transparent and inclusive elections,” he said.

The Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, said a “clear, realistic and harmonized” workplan was needed to restore confidence among South Sudanese and the international community that political leaders are committed to implementing outstanding provisions of the peace deal.

He highlighted several benchmarks that could be achieved relatively quickly, including the deployment of unified forces, civic education, preparations for voter registration, developing a code of conduct between political parties, and enhancing the political and civic space.

While progress has been limited, Mr. Haysom said that UNMISS is pressing ahead with support to election preparations in support of the people of South Sudan.

“We have decided to charge ahead and are expanding our assistance to the National Elections Commission beyond technical discussions and capacity building, and we are exploring packages of support, that combine hardware, such as state electoral offices, and software, such as capacity-building and training initiatives. We also have a significant amount of in-house electoral, political and law enforcement expertise to dedicate in this area of our mandate, including as it relates to electoral security issues.”

Noting many appeals for the provision of up-front funding for electoral institutions and processes, peace partners said requests for international financing must be backed up by demonstrable proof that the country’s own resources are being prioritized to deliver the peace deal and elections.

“The European Union has been supporting the transition in South Sudan through our support to the RJMEC, electoral preparations, legal reforms, constitution making and to civil society dialogue,” said Ambassador of the European Union to South Sudan, Timo Olkkonen. “The extension means that the envisaged timelines for this support have also changed. Discussions need to be held, and conclusions drawn about what this will mean in practice for our continued engagement, also in financial terms. Demonstrations of seriousness and political would be helpful for these deliberations.”

The Government representative at the meeting said that further updates would be provided when the Minister of Cabinet Affairs returns from a tour of regional countries.

Meanwhile, civil society and youth representatives seized the opportunity to share their views on the impact of the stagnating political and peace processes.

“While we acknowledge the challenges that led to the extension of the transitional period, we can’t help but feel a sense of disappointment and frustration,” said youth representative, Florence Agiba. “Two years is indeed a long time for a generation that has grown up in conflict. It is another two years of uncertainty and another two years of delayed dreams.”