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 »
I was nineteen, scrolling through videos late one night, when I found her. A woman I’d never met, speaking directly into her phone camera about something I thought I was facing alone. She was talking about HS, hidradenitis suppurativa, in raw and educational detail. Her experience was more severe than mine, but hearing her voice,
Mauritius: Letters we needed to read – Dear Belle Read More »
Gaborone, Botswana, 23 September 2025: Partners in the Marang Southern Africa Fund call on the government of Botswana to strengthen protections for the LGBTIQ+ community following the spate of suspected hate crimes that have rocked the Southern African nation. Earlier this month suspected homophobic crimes occurred in Maun in the north of the country and in Mabuo
Botswana: Time for action on hate crimes Read More »
Night was falling over Goma, bringing with it a heavy silence disturbed only by fear. In the streets paved with volcanic stones, the hurried steps of armed men reminded every family that safety was a fragile word, emptied of meaning. This silence, women chose to break. They are not only survivors of sexual violence but
DRC: Breaking the silence of survivors Read More »
Amplifying the voices of marginalised women and girls in decision-making, meaningful participation, gender-responsive finance, and budgeting conversations is a powerful and transformative way of equalising the unequal and responding to urgent and long-term needs for women and girls, especially in rural and hard-to-reach communities. This is not just theory but a practical learning outcome for
Zimbabwe: Amplifying participatory advocacy for equality Read More »
