November 2012 Blog Posts (4)

On Sunday the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women will help to focus the world's attention on women's right to live a life free from violence. RHV partners in Honduras paint a picture in words of the rising levels of femicide, and the lack of political will on the part of the judiciary, law makers and enforcers to deal with it. 

To find out more go to the Oxfam Policy and Practice website…

On the 12th October four Botswana sisters won the legal right to inherit their father's estate, that's good news for them and for women across Africa.  In a groundbreaking case, Judge Key Dingake ruled that customary rule law (which would have forced the sisters to leave the home in favour of a male relative) was anti-constitutional violating their right to equality under section 3(a) of the Constitution.

Whilst remaining mindful of the need to be vigilant as we hear of the possible…

Depressing news from a DRC study by the Sonke Gender Justice Network that found more than one in three of the 708 men surveyed in the war-torn east admits committing sexual assault, and that three in four believe that a woman who "does not dress decently is asking to be raped." Read more from this excellent, nuanced report here:…

30 October 2012:

The global effort to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM) has taken a critical step forward with the official presentation of a draft resolution by the Group of African States at the United Nations. The draft resolution, “Intensifying Global Efforts for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilations,” was advanced by African leadership at multiple levels, including the Inter African Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices and the First Ladies of Benin and…