Haidee Swanby is a researcher with the African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), a non-profit organisation based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The ACB’s work is centred on dismantling structural inequities in food and agriculture systems in Africa and directed towards the attainment of food sovereignty. Mariann Bassey Orovwuje is a lawyer, as well as an environmental, … Read more
Two women hugging at a Day Against Homophobia in Havana organised by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community. Credit: Jorge Luis Baños/IPS HAVANA, Apr 1 2015 (IPS) – In addition to other forms of discrimination, lesbian and bisexual women in Cuba face unequal treatment from public health services. Their specific sexual and reproductive … Read more
UNICEF estimates that 3.5 million children in Pakistan suffer from acute malnutrition. Credit: Ashfaq Yusufzai/IPS UNITED NATIONS, May 29 2015 (IPS) – The United Nations is not only overwhelmed by a spreading humanitarian crisis, largely in Africa and the Middle East, but also remains hamstrung by a severe shortfall in funds, mostly from Western donors. … Read more
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (second from left) with Irish Minister and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Dublin. Credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider UNITED NATIONS, Jul 29 2015 (IPS) – The U.N.’s highly ambitious post-2015 development agenda, which is expected to be finalised shortly, has come fire even before it could get off the ground. A global network of … Read more
A pregnant woman is being examined at a local hospital in Bannu district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Credit: Ashfaq Yusufzai/IPS PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Oct 11 2015 (IPS) – “We are extremely happy over the government’s initiative to give money to the pregnant women and enable them to seek proper treatment,” said Sharif Ahmed at a … Read more
TALAWAKELE, Sri Lanka, Feb 10 2016 (IPS) – One and half years ago, Johnson, a 20- something youth, hailing from Sri Lanka’s tea plantations, received an unusual request. The caller, someone Johnson knew casually, made an offer for his kidney. “It was for a half a million rupees (around US $3,500),” he said. Rajendaran, a … Read more
A Syrian refugee family in the Lebanese border village of Ersal. Credit: Mona Alami/IPS UNITED NATIONS, May 20 2016 (IPS) – Refugees are now more likely to live in cities than in refugee camps, bringing with them planning challenges but also opportunities for economic growth. “Even if cities struggle to accommodate large flows of migrants, they … Read more
is the Social Mission Director for Africa at Unilever. is the UNFPA Representative to Kenya and the UN Resident Coordinator a.i. Eunice, an expectant mother in Migori County in Kenya. Photo Credit: Lifebuoy Migori County, Kenya, Jun 24 2016 (IPS) – For twenty-six year old Eunice from Migori County,Kenya, celebrating her daughter Sherry’s fifth birthday … Read more
Ms Gina Din, the Founder and CEO of the Gina Din group, is a businesswoman from Kenya specializing in strategic communications and public relations. She was named CNBC outstanding businesswoman of the year for East Africa 2015 as well as in Africa. Gina Din visits a UNFPA supported maternal and child health facility in Migori … Read more
Women are always hit hardest by water scarcity as they have to travel longer distances to fetch water, which increases their workload and compromises their ability to perform other essential and livelihood functions. Credit: Pem Norbhu GANGTOK, India, Feb 1 2017 (IPS) – Bina Sharma, a member of the Melli Dhara Gram Panchayat Unit in … Read more