Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The Under-Secretary General and Executive Director, UN Women, Michelle Bachelet, has commended ECOWAS for its role as “a driving force for gender equality and women’s empowerment in West Africa.” Full text...

Lomé, Togo (PANA) – Thirty women leaders from 15 women’s groups in the Prefecture of Zio, about 35 km north of Lomé, have undergone training on issues related to the promotion of mother and child health at the community level, sources close to the WHO mission in Lome told PANA on Monday. Full text...

Paris, France (PANA) - About 500 participants are expected to take part in the first World Francophone Women's Forum, to be staged 19-21 March 2013 in Paris by the French government, PANA learnt Friday from reliable sources in the French capital. Full text...

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) – Equality Now, a global women’s rights organisation, Wednesday made an urgent appeal to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi to delay a popular referendum on the draft of the new Egyptian Constitution, scheduled for Saturday, in order to allow for proper consultation. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - – Top UN officials have highlighted the invaluable role of women’s organizations and civil society groups in preventing violence and resolving conflict, stressing that their contributions are vital to building a peaceful world and must be further supported. Full text...

Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) – The president of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, on Tuesday opened a two-day conference on the role of security organs in the prevention of violence against women and girls. Full text...

Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) – The president of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, on Monday officially launched a 16-day nationwide campaign on violence against women and girls with a pledge to punish perpetrators. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called on governments to live up to their obligations to end the global problem of violence against women and girls, one of the most widespread human rights violations. Full text...

Port Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Working women in Mauritius earn lower income than men, with a monthly average income of 11,000 Mauritius Rupees (US$341) for women compared to 16,400 Mauritian Rupees (US$509) for men, a census result focusing on gender statistics has revealed. Full text...

Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Officials of Gambia’s Department of Social Welfare, under the Ministry of Health, said it recorded close to 376 cases of domestic violence, including violence against children and women, paternity and custody cases between January and October, 2012. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - The UN agency tasked with advancing gender equality Tuesday announced a new initiative that will spotlight countries’ commitments to end violence against women and girls, seeking bold action and leadership to galvanise efforts to end the pandemic. Full text...

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - The current draft of the new Egyptian Constitution could severely restrict and undermine women’s and girl’s rights if adopted as proposed by the Constitutional Committee, a global women’s rights group cautioned Friday. Full text...

Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) – On the occasion of the African Statistics Day celebration here on Tuesday, Botswana’s assistant finance minister, Vincent Seretse, has challenged the continent’s data agencies to mainstream gender in recording statistics indicators. Full text...

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - Sexual violence is widespread in Uganda and disabled women and girls are particularly vulnerable, Equality Now, an international organisation working to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world, said Tuesday. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Tennis champions, Venus and Serena Williams, currently visiting Nigeria, Wednesday called for the adequate empowerment of women in Africa, saying the presence of women in eminent positions around the world was a demonstration of the significance role the female gender could play in the scheme of things. Full text...

Kinshasa, DR Congo (PANA) - The International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict has called on the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to protect Dr. Denis Mukwege after a violent attack and assassination attempt at his home in Bukavu. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The 2012 Women for Education prize Monday went to the EAST (Eau Agriculture et Santé en Milieu Tropical or the Water, Agriculture Health in Tropical Zones in English) for its work in Madagascar. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is to invest US$ 20 million over the next five years to reach the most marginalized adolescent girls in 12 countries with high rates of child marriage. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - The UN on Friday launched a programme to empower poor rural women through economic integration and food security initiatives. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya, has said violence against women and girls and the indiscriminate extraction of natural resources are among the most pressing issues that indigenous peoples face today. Full text...

Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - The umbrella body of women organizations in The Gambia, the ‘Women’s Bureau’s has restored it efforts to fight female genital mutilation in the county with policy and dialogue to sensitized religious leaders, on Islam and FGM-cutting, an issues that affects the health and well being of women and children. Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - An international gathering of anti-violence activists Friday called on governments to implement the African Union (AU) protocol that bans harmful traditional practices that limit women from enjoying their full rights. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) has named Brigid Inder as the new Special Gender Advisor to its prosecutor, the body said in a statement received here by PANA Wednesday. Full text...

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) – Equality Now, an international human rights organisation that works to protect and promote the rights of women and girls around the world, on Wednesday released its 2011 Annual Report, calling on the global community to “remain vigilant in the face of backlash on women’s rights emanating from escalating fundamentalism.” Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - The UN Working Group on discrimination against women in law and in practice Tuesday called on the new Tunisian government to take all necessary steps to safeguard the country's achievements in equality, non-discrimination and women's human rights, in accordance with its international human rights obligations. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have signed a grant agreement with Spain worth about FCFA 655 million (US$1.31 million) for a project aimed at empowering rural women entrepreneurs in the field of agriculture. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said the leadership and empowerment of young women would play a key role in advancing development around the world. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – A sub-regional meeting on the theme, “Validation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament Gender Strategy”, opened Tuesday at the Senegambia Beach Hotel in Banjul, the Gambian capital. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) has reaffirmed its commitment to support the UN Women campaign to end violence against women in Africa, PANA reports Thursday. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - On the first of her two-day visit to Senegal, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Wednesday hailed the increasing role of women in the country's politics, especially the election of 65 women into its 150-member National Assembly (parliament), PANA reported from here. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – A two-day regional workshop on the rights of African women opened here Monday with participants looking examining how the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa can be better utilized and popularized. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The Nigerian presidency Wednesday denied media reports which alleged that the government purchased 200 new "exotic" cars for the African First Ladies Summit which formally opens in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, this week. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - The Working Group on Gender Justice in Africa Tuesday called on the African Union (AU) to encourage member states that are yet to ratify the protocol on the rights of women in Africa to do so. Full text...

Rabat, Morocco (PANA) - The European Union (EU), determined to promote Gender Equality in Morocco, has granted the north African country 45 million euros, local media reported Wednesday, citing official sources. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - A group of independent UN experts has called for urgent actions to advance women’s human rights during political transitions, stressing that their equal participation is critical for any democratic and lasting change. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Mr. Ian Martin, has stressed the importance of the equal participation of women in rebuilding the country. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - The Executive Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), Ms. Michelle Bachelet, has said sustainable development will not be achieved without empowering women. Full text...

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) – International women’s rights group Equality Now issued an urgent alert Thursday calling for “immediate and unconditional release” of a Sudanese mother of three, Intisar Sharif Abdalla, who was sentenced to death by stoning on charges of adultery. Full text...

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) – Gender equity and mainstreaming in social and economic development are the basic and essential commitment of the East African Community (EAC), the regional grouping’s chief executive, Richard Sezibera, said Thursday at the launch of the East African Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP) in Arusha, Tanzania. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - The UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) on Friday announced the members that will be part of a group that will facilitate dialogue between civil society and the agency. Full text...

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - International women’s rights body Equality Now Friday called on Moroccan authorities to take action and end the legal exemption for rapists who marry their victims, citing the incident of 15-year-old Safae from Tangiers who was raped and impregnated in January 2011 when she was 14. Full text...

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) – In the first-ever global collaboration involving Nobel Peace Laureates, international advocacy organizations and groups working in conflict zones will this week launch the International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict, it was officially announced Sunday. Full text...

Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - The African Women in Leadership Conference (AWCL) 2012 will be hosted by The Gambia 13-15 June 2012 at the Sheraton Gambia Hotel, Brufut, the organizers told a news conference here Thursday. Full text...

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - Equality Now, an international women’s rights organisation, Wednesday called on the US government to uphold a zero tolerance policy on the demand for commercial sex that fuels sex trafficking, which is a violation of human rights of millions of women and girls around the world. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - The Executive Director of UN Women, Ms. Michele Bachelet, on Monday called for strengthening of the role of women in peace and security matters, as well as increased participation in politics. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Nigeria may get its first ever female Chief Justice, if the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Mariam Aloma for the top judicial post is ratified. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Liberian authorities to ensure the safety of journalists who have been repeatedly threatened for exposing the evil practices of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the West African country. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - As activities marking the 2012 International Women’s Day is gradually drawing to a close in Nigeria, human rights activists have called on all Nigerians to promote attitudes that will protect the rights of women, children and other vulnerable persons in the society. Full text...

Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, Thursday paid tribute to women in his country for their contribution to the island's progress and economic development. Full text...

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - Residents of low-income and informal urban settlements suffer mostly from inadequate living conditions and limited access to services, which put a disproportionate burden on women's unpaid time and results in far-reaching consequences for their well-being, according to a new research. Full text...