women’s rights

You are currently browsing articles tagged women’s rights.

The results are in and it’s just not cricket

6 April 2011 by Archie Law | Comments closed

Cricket fans across India this week are feeling on top of the world after their nation’s jubilant win in the 2011 cricket world cup. The win has reignited patriotism across India and instilled hope for many young Indian men who are following India’s boyhood dream of one day playing cricket for their country.

But while this event may have instilled hope into every Indian boy dreaming of becoming a national hero, the results of the 2011 Indian Census released last week has made it blatantly obvious that the Indian girlhood dream is being ignored.

Malika is one of a group of volunteers in ActionAid’s project in Salem, Tamil Nadu southern India who try to prevent female infanticide, run by partner Welfare Centre for women and children.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ,

International Women’s Day in Australia and around the world

23 March 2011 by Archie Law | Comments closed

ActionAid marked the 100 anniversary of International Women’s Day on March 8 by speaking out about putting an end to violence against women all over the world.

In Australia, we invited women’s rights activist Nasima Rahmani to speak about her experiences of fighting against women’s rights abuse in her country Afghanistan. She was a compelling speaker, inspiring audiences of all ages and backgrounds, speaking at a number of events including a UNIFEM lunch, a presentation at the University of Technology Sydney and an Ascham School assembly. She was also interviewed on ABC Radio National’s Late Night Live, Law Report and Radio Australia, and madison magazine, and met with a number of foundations, law firms and female Federal Court judges.

Nasima co-ordinates the Women’s Rights program with ActionAid Afghanistan, training up women to be paralegals and community advocates to help combat violence against women and offer strong support to victims in legal and psychosocial ways.

Her message was powerful and clear: in developing countries such as Afghanistan, women’s rights have a long, long way to go. Women are often beaten and raped, and education and health services are very limited. Under Afghan law, women are supposed to be equal to their male counterparts but in a country steeped in tradition, Nasima said, negative customs greatly contribute to violence against women. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Photo of the week: Celebrating 100 years of the achievements of women

7 March 2011 by Archie Law | 1 comment

International Women’s Day will be celebrated across the world this Tuesday 8th March, with this year marking the 100th anniversary of the event. In addition to celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future, this year’s event will have the specific focus on; Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women.

Maua discusses her school report with her mother outside their home in a rural village in Tanzania. The 'Transforming Education for Girls Project' is run by Maarifa ni Ufunguo in Tanzania, supported by ActionAid and funded by Comic Relief and the Tubney Charitable Trust.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,

Photo of the week: microcredit in motion

1 December 2010 by Archie Law

Microcredit loans have taken a beating in the press lately, with reports claiming in India, farmers are committing suicide after facing defaults in their loan repayments. In India, microcredit finance is becoming increasingly privatised and perhaps that is the biggest problem with microcredit loans in that situation.

When microcredit is given with a purpose of making a profit, the loan becomes just another variation of finance given by the private sector.

The Wupuni microcredit group in Tamale, Northern Ghana

Microcredit is an important fiscal source because it is more accessible for the poor, as well as having a focus on women being the main recipients of microcredit. Women are often vulnerable due to lower socio-economic standing in many countries and microcredit provides an avenue of empowerment for women.

ActionAid runs many microcredit programs that are non-proft; so any profits that are made get re-invested or used for other projects. One example is the Wupuni microcredit group in Tamale, Northern Ghana. Twenty two women work together communally, promoting members wellbeing while financially supporting them with small loans. The members are involved in farming, sheabutter and dawadawa processing and petty trading.

ActionAid began supporting the group in 2009 and the scheme has been successful to the extent that ActionAid’s help is no longer required.

Tags: , , , ,

Photo of the week: 1GOAL in Uganda

20 October 2010 by Archie Law | Comments closed

Education is a universal human right and, by unlocking other rights, it is the key that enables people to overcome poverty. This is something that our 1GOAL ambassadors, Alishia and William have learnt more about in Uganda.

Last week, William and Alishia traveled to Uganda to witness firsthand what effect a lack of education is having on young people throughout the developing world.

There are many impediments to gaining an education, which is why helping children access an education is so vital. For example, when the Ugandan government stopped charging fees for primary education, enrolment doubled overnight.

Celebrating their right to go to school, the students of Bufumira Primary school express their happiness in the best way - a dance and just good old fashioned hand clapping! William and Alishia are pictured clapping along.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , ,

Photo of the week: hungerfree Brazil

15 October 2010 by Archie Law | Comments closed

As the race for presidency in Brazil heats up, it is important to reflect on the progress in development that Brazil has made, as well as the challenges that lie ahead. For example, statistics show that the percentage of the population living under 144 reais (AUD$1 = 1.6492 BRL) has dropped from just over 30% in 1993 to about half in 2009. Other figures are encouraging too, such as those that show years spent at school have increased, along with average real monthly income.

Of course, figures and statistics cannot always be trusted to tell the whole story. Brazil has had to deal with a number of problems related to poverty, crime and lack of access to basic facilities, especially in rural areas. Compounded with natural disasters such as the floods in June, Brazil has had its share of problems.

ActionAid started work in Brazil in 1999 and is now working with over 10,000 people in urban and rural areas. One example of this is Maria, in northern Brazil.

Maria do Socorro da Silva works with 11 other relatives on communal land as part of a Food Acquisition Program. Photo: Helder Tavares/ActionAid

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , ,

Photo of the week: behind the glitz of the games

5 October 2010 by Archie Law | Comments closed

The lead up to the Commonwealth games has been fraught with criticism and speculation. The remarkable opening ceremony of the Delhi games temporarily silenced critics about the organisation of the event.

But critics are still unconvinced about the need to spend so much money on an event that is unlikely to bring any benefits to those that need it the most. Some commentators have pointed that the money could have been spent on addressing poverty and education in India, a country where millions live below the poverty line.

Millions of children in India live below the poverty line. Rupali (pictured) lives with her family in a slum in North-East Mumbai, India.

In the lead up to the games, some authorities were criticised for moving and “hiding” beggars in Delhi. According to experts, nearly half of the 100 000 street children living in Delhi beg for a living.

While we should celebrate India’s chance to shine on the world stage, we also need to remain focused on what needs to be done in eliminating poverty. ActionAid has been running numerous programs in India, ranging from women’s empowerment programs to assisting homeless children.

But what can you do about eliminating poverty? Giving the poor a voice is extremely important and can help with delivering effective aid. You can raise awareness of these issues and lobby your local MP for increasing Australia’s aid budget. Even small actions like purchasing ethically sourced products can help.

Tags: , , , ,

Photo of the week: focusing on maternal health

28 September 2010 by Archie Law | Comments closed

The Millennium Development Goals Summit came to a close last week, and it is important to re-assess how we can improve upon progress made so far. One particular area that needs greater focus is MDG 5, which looks to improve maternal health.

The sad truth is that most maternal deaths could have been avoided if there had been skilled care available. More than half a million women die each year in pregnancy and childbirth.

Increasing investment in the health of women and children is necessary because women and children are vital to development.

Lei Bann, with her twins at the floating maternal health centre in Lan Longraing, Pursat Province, Cambodia

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , ,

Photo of the week: can we really end poverty?

15 September 2010 by Archie Law | 2 comments

Imagine living in a world where with no poverty. Children would stop dying from preventable causes such as diarrhoea and pneumonia. No one would be prevented from going to school and getting an education. Malnutrition would stop killing millions of children before their fifth birthday.

This situation isn’t a mere fantasy; they’re all part of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). World leaders will convene next week at the summit in New York on and discuss how to accelerate progress towards meeting all the MDGs.

There are only five years left until the target date set to achieve the MDGs, and while there have been many successes, unfortunately, there has also been many setbacks.

Will the next generation of children such as Amelia and her brother Emilito from Guatemala see the UN Millennium Development Goals achieved?

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , ,

Getting to know ActionAid Kenya…..

14 September 2010 by Archie Law | Comments closed

I’ve been a bit quiet on the blog lately as I’ve been immersed in the work of ActionAid Kenya these past 10 days which has been an amazing learning journey for me. At a personal level it was fantastic to be back in Africa as I hadn’t been in those parts since I left Johannesburg in 2006. Anyway I’m now laying over in Dubai Airport on my way back to Sydney as I scribble this post.

ActionAid Kenya is preparing for its next country strategy which comes into effect in 2011 and as a part of this process a team of ActionAiders was assembled to review their progress over the last five years, assess future opportunities and make recommendations on the direction of the programme. I was lucky enough to be selected as the Team Leader for this review and I had the absolute privilege of working with Seema Joshi, our Child Sponsorship Coordinator in the Asia Region, Judy Kamyani from the ActionAid Uganda Board, Olutayo Olujide, our Regional HR/OD Coordinator for West and Central Africa and Jo Walker from the ActionAid International Campaigns Team.

Then there is our team in Kenya that is superbly led by Jean Kamau who is 5 hours behind me on her first trip to Australia. Its when you work closely with such a talented and committed group of people you get a true sense of the drive behind this ambitious and bold organisation that I am so proud to be a part of.

So what did we find out about Kenya? Everyone, and I mean everyone, in Kenya is talking about the recently promulgated Constitution. This is a far reaching instrument that devolves the political authority in the country to county level and importantly from ActionAid’s perspective it contains a bill of rights which importantly grants women equal citizenship in the country for the first time. As a friend of mine in Kenya recently said, “Kenya you have a green light”!

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , ,

« Older entries

Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes