by Ruhamah Ifere Women and girls are on the run for their lives in Nigeria.  This is alarmingly so because in 2023, 30 million women and girls are still experiencing gender based violence in the country according to Action Aid. One in two women report that they or a woman they know have experienced violence …

Gender based violence: Rape; Clearing the fog Read More »

Goal 5 of the SDGs addresses gender equality and empowerment, but Latoyaa Roberts-Thomas, 29, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Trinidad and Tobago, says parts of the Caribbean need greater understanding of gender discrimination and violence against women. A social media phenomenon is part of the response. Ronelle King and Allyson Benn of Barbados became annoyed by the continuous …

“#LifeinLeggings: the Caribbean perspective” Read More »

Gender-based violence reportedly affects an alarming one in five Nigerian women aged 15-24 years. Kelechukwu Iruoma, 23, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Lagos in Nigeria, writes that experts at a recent Rotary International Nigeria public lecture offered some solutions to GBV.  Gender-Based Violence (GBV) or ‘violence against women’ are terms that are often used interchangeably as most gender-based …

“Finding ways to curb gender-based violence” Read More »

Zambia set a benchmark with its legislation against gender based violence, but McPherlain Chungu, 22, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Zambia, writes that societal change is needed in order for the laws to be effective. In 2011, the Zambian Legislative body became one of the first in the Sub Saharan region to pass a sophisticated and …

“Zambia’s dilemma: gender based violence” Read More »

Physical violence against women is a persistent problem in spite of enlightened legislation, writes Badru Walusansa, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Kampala in Uganda, who is dismayed with comments from an elected official. There is a trending video on social media in which Onesmus Twinamatsiko, the Bugangaizi East County Member of Parliament, publicaly made disheartening …

“Concerted effort needed to end violence” Read More »