Proceedings of the Arms Trade Treaty Negotiations

41 states recognized the importance of development in the Arms Trade Treaty and outlined exactly how it should be included. In a move welcomed by civil society, countries from Australia to Burkina Faso made it clear they want an ATT which incorporates socio-economic development provisions. 

sourced from: http://controlarms.org/en/

UNCSW 57: Statement of the African Women's Caucus

Have you read the African Women’s Caucus Position Statement on the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women themed "Elimination and Prevention of All Forms of Violence against Women and Girls?"

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The African Women’s Caucus representing African civil society organizations from all the five sub-regions of Africa and the diaspora committed to advancing women’s human rights, call on Member States to declare zero tolerance of all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls and to prioritize preventive measures in the fight to eliminate violence from the lives of women and girls.

More from:

http://www.eassi.org/news/321-uncsw-african-womens-caucus-position-statement

The International Human Rights Day - what is your take?

International crimes to be tried locally

  Kenyans who commit crimes against humanity will be put on trial immediately and locally once a special division to try international crimes comes into force in January.

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/International-crimes-to-be-tried-locally/-/2558/1634454/-/s6kt45/-/index.html

Who is defiling our girl children and why?

Imagine the still immature and not completely developed body of this child and then imagine the same body carrying another life, thereby endangering her own!

Questions:

1. Whose responsibility is it to protect girl children?
2. Why are our young girls made wives or mothers?

Muslims to fight Gender Based Violence

Gender activists have pledged to translate human rights laws into Arabic language to help fight sexual and gender-based violence among Muslim communities.  The activists, under the Muslim Centre for Justice and Law (MCJL) - an NGO, said many Muslims lack clear understanding of English --a language in which most laws are written. 

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Muslims+to+fight+sexual+violence/-/688334/1498318/-/pptgag/-/index.html

Merck Donates Cervical Cancer Vaccine to Uganda

Global healthcare leader, Merck, has recently partnered with the Republic of Uganda to distribute free vaccines for cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer, affecting up to 3,500 women in Uganda and is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which is transmitted through sexual contact. For most people the virus clears up on its own, but for some it can cause vaginal and vulvar cancers in women and anal cancer and genital warts in men and women. Since there is no way to predict who will clear or not clear the virus, the vaccine is a very efficient way to cut down incidences of cervical cancer.   It is estimated that approximately 500,000 women develop cervical cancer annually around the world, with about 85 percent of cases occurring in developing countries.  Cervical cancer is considered the third most common cancer found in women.

www.triplepundit.com/2012/09/merck-donates-cervical-cancer-vaccine-uganda/