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