Social and cultural beliefs remain an impediment to women’s continuous rise in politics across Africa. While we celebrate a notable increase in the number of women in influential political positions, the culture of violence, in its many forms if not dealt with threatens to undo this progress.
Gender-based violence
Politics and Society How Ghana and Nigeria police handle domestic violence cases
The police in Nigeria and Ghana must receive gender sensitivity training to effectively fight domestic violence.
African identities Men, gender equality and the search for gender harmony
Persuading men to participate more meaningfully in transforming gender relations is essential to shifting attitudes and behaviours linked to the “patriarchal dividend”.
Politics and Society New report ranks how friendly – or not – African governments are towards girls
Social norms, practices and attitudes in African societies hinder the lives, survival and development of girls.
Politics and Society Undressing for redress: the significance of Nigerian women’s naked protests
Nigerian women have successfully used their naked bodies as an instrument of power, rather than shame, to protest injustice.
Lifestyle Phones aren’t giving girls more power in their lives after all
Phones sometimes serve as a ‘digital leash’ to check women’s whereabouts – a growing feature of many relationships and conflicts.
Politics and Society What’s behind violence in South Africa: a sociologist’s perspective
Underlying direct or personal violence is structural violence that is entrenched in unequal power relations in society.
Politics and Society Sierra Leone’s steps to end Female Genital Mutilation
United Nations Women reported that traditional cutters in Sierra Leone have pledged to abandon and advocate against FGM which is still not illegal in the country. This added support will contribute to the clampdown on initiation ceremonies by the secret societies that uphold the practice.
Politics and Society Nigeria launches sex offender register
Nigeria’s federal government launched its first national sexual offenders register, which is a database of persons convicted for sexual violence in the country since 2015. The register will be available online to assist the public, state bodies and police identify repeat offenders.