For an ordinary woman trading in the market place, waking up early in the morning to make a living through selling various items is important. Like every working mother, such traders have to rely on some relatives, friends, caregivers and neighbours to take their children to school and later on look after them. The number […]
Abuja — Child marriage remains prevalent in Nigeria because the federal and state governments have not adequately enforced laws to prevent it, Human Rights Watch said today. Nigeria’s rates of child marriage are some of the highest on the African continent. Although the federal Child Rights Act (CRA, 2003) prohibits marriage below age 18, the […]
Despite global advances in disability rights, stigma towards individuals diagnosed with mental illness is common across the African continent. In Ghana, research has shown that one of the main roots of stigmatisation is the belief that mental illnesses are caused by supernatural forces, including spiritual punishment for parents’ misdeeds. As a result, Ghanaians with mental […]
Nairobi — The National Assembly is set to vet the nominee for Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) chairperson post Roseline Odhiambo-Odede on February 3. According to a public notice by National Assembly Clerk Michael Sialai, Marion Mutugi Wanjiku, Raymond Plal, Sang Nyeris, Sarah Talaso Bonaya and Dennis Nyongesa Wamalwa who were nominated as […]
A BULAWAYO based pressure group advocating for Gukurahundi reparation says has welcomed Matabeleland South Chiefs’ demands on government to apologise publicly over the Gukurahundi atrocities but said mere apology will not bring any closure to the mass killings. Speaking on behalf of Matabeleland South traditional leaders Friday, provincial Chiefs assembly chairperson Chief Masendu advised President […]
Mohamed Aboutrika and Mohamed Salah command great respect and adoration in Egypt, the Arab world and the sporting fraternity at large. But they don’t always use that power for good. In the pantheon of Egyptian football gods, Mohamed Aboutrika is almost untouchable. A great playmaker with gossamer skills, Aboutrika achieved hero-like status, playing a decade […]
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso — Human Rights Watch has released its World Report for 2022, which gives a country-by-country review of human rights in more than 100 states over the last year. In the HRW report released Thursday, which cites reporting by VOA at times, the monitoring group criticizes governments in the western Sahel region and […]
Six months after the murder of our three colleagues María, Tedros and Yohannes, the full circumstances of, and responsibility for, their killing remains unclear. On 24 June 2021, 35-year-old María Hernandez, our emergency coordinator; 32-year-old Yohannes Halefom Reda, our assistant coordinator; and 31-year-old Tedros Gebremariam, our driver, were travelling in the Tigray region, northern Ethiopia, […]
The Ghana Police Service (GPS) has put up a three-storey building at the national Police Headquarters in Accra for use by its Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) to provide comprehensive support to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). GBV refers to harmful acts against individuals based on their gender, which is rooted in gender […]
Beirut — Human Rights Defenders and Ordinary Citizens Targeted, Harassed, Tortured Egypt’s superficial attempts to create an impression of human rights progress failed to disguise the government’s brutal repression of all manner of dissent in 2021, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2022. Despite ending the nationwide state of emergency in October, […]
“Although I sometimes feel low, I look in the mirror and remind myself not to give up.” My name is Priya and I am 20 years old. I came to Safe Haven Halfway Home in September 2019 after suffering physical and mental abuse from my relatives. I was five years old when my mother became […]
Strengthens access to justice in the State The Government of Ekiti State has announced two important developments that advance access to justice for all those living in Ekiti State without discrimination, or based on their economic status, gender, faith, or any other social markers. This was contained in a press release last Friday by the […]
Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) yesterday appealed to the Kano State Government to hasten domestication of Child Rights Act and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act. The Chairperson of FIDA in Kano, Ms Bilkisu Suleiman, said domestication of the act, after been infused with the State Sharia Laws, would assist […]
The authorities could do more to ameliorate the problems of the most vulnerable in society The humanitarian situation in the Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camps across the country begs for urgent and prompt intervention from government. With thousands of people reportedly sleeping in the open and living in extremely overcrowded and deplorable conditions, the IDPs […]
Against practice standards, Nigerian health workers, especially in public health institutions, ascertain the marital status of women to decide whether or not to give them contraception. In 2019, Adesuwa (not her real name) made her way to a maternity centre, the only government-owned health facility around Aduloju/Bodija area of Ibadan, Oyo State, to get a […]
Before her life was suddenly cut short, Demilade Fadare, a seven-year-old girl had her whole life in front of her. Demilade as she was fondly called, went missing on December 7 at about 8am on a Monday, while on an errand to buy pap in her neighbourhood. After waiting for hours for her return, her […]
Government must do more to address the issue of poverty Unless Nigeria leaders take immediate steps to address hunger and malnutrition, especially in children and pregnant women, the poor indices on maternal and child mortality in our country will only further worsen. That is the recent message from the Food and Agriculture Organisation, (FAO) Country […]
The State Capture Inquiry report has recommended that government introduce or amend existing legislation to strengthen the protection of any person disclosing information to reveal corruption, fraud or undue influence in public procurement activity. According to the recommendation, this should be in line with article 32(2) of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. On Tuesday, […]