By Bavuma Mthembukazi Resilience in communities to stand up against injustices, the exploitation of power, and inadequate service delivery has been a common thread throughout the year. Could this be a sign of the approaching local elections? A dynamic of having officials in communities with spades in hands near a waste dump captured as “ploughing […]
South Africa: Gender, Rights, Just Transition era Read More »
By Zintle Khobeni De Lange It feels like only yesterday when I had my first experience of the Ocean island of Madagascar, , as a WOSSO Fellow, together with other activists, we gathered for the SADC Civil Society Forum and the Souther Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF) Gathering — standing shoulder to shoulder with activists, feminists,
Madagascar: A cry for dignity, not disorder Read More »
By Fiona Ruzha For decades, women farmers, especially in Zimbabwe, have shouldered the responsibility of feeding families and sustaining communities. Yet their labour has been undervalued and systematically written off from spaces where issues about agriculture, markets, and policies that directly affect their livelihoods are discussed or passed. Despite these barriers, women farmers in Mutoko
Zimbabwe: Women farmers sowing seeds of equality Read More »
By Fortune Muzarabani In the remote fishing villages along the banks of the Zambezi River, women in Binga, Matabeleland North province, are leading a quiet revolution. For generations, local communities have relied on fishing for livelihoods, yet post-harvest losses and environmental pressures have long constrained the industry. Today, a group of enterprising fisherwomen is changing
Zimbabwe: Fisherwomen harness the sun, catch opportunity Read More »
By Dr Masego Tshabalala Menstruation is a natural part of life, yet for many girls and women, it remains a source of shame, struggle, and silence. In South Africa, as in many parts of the world, girls still miss school because they cannot afford sanitary pads. Boys laugh at something they do not understand. Parents
South Africa: Free The Period, build equality Read More »
On our Mauritius Island, Whether you’re chilling at Caudan Waterfront in the capital of Port Louis, grabbing dholl puri in Rose Hill Town, or catching the sunset at Flic en Flac Beach, pronouns matter — and they’re part of our everyday language, culture, and identity. What’s the big deal with pronouns? Pronouns are how we
Mauritius: Li, Me, Us – celebrating pronouns Read More »
“Rural women – the backbone of resilience and the voice of change” Across Southern Africa’s rural landscapes, women are the backbone of survival and the heartbeat of resilience. Yet, their labour, leadership, and lived realities often remain invisible – overshadowed by patriarchy, land inequality, and socio-economic exclusion. During the Gender Links Linking and Learning Summit
International Day of Rural Women Read More »
East London is a city where the sea is restless – and so are we, the women who refuse to be silent. Every wave that crashes along this coastline reminds me of our persistence. Here, I work with a feminist organisation that unsettles the status quo. And here, as a Muslim woman, I’ve learned that
South Africa: When the backlash rises, so do we Read More »
STATEMENT BY THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL SAFE ABORTION DAY Banjul, The Gambia, 28 September 2025 – On the occasion of International Safe Abortion Day, observed globally on 28 September, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) underscores the critical and urgent message of the 2025
Africa: AU calls for decriminalisation of abortion Read More »
We can use education to counter backlash. Backlash against women’s rights occurs due to several factors, including limited knowledge. Our work as Women’s Action Group, and my advocacy plan as a WOSSO fellow, focuses on educating communities about women’s rights, with a specific focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights. Education is a powerful strategy
Zimbabwe: Education as a form of resistance Read More »
