On 8 March, the world marked the International Women's Day. As noted
by Pope John Paul II "we should value women for more than their
looks." He spoke out for those who their rights were trampled because
of their gender. The Pope said women in many parts of the world were
still hindered from playing a full part in social, political and
economic life. He said "I would like to launch an appeal for the
women who even today have their basic rights denied by the political
regimes of their countries: women segregated, forbidden to study,
follow a profession, even express their own opinion in public."
On the other hand, the United Nations Secretary General, Koffi Annan
said that "the promotion of women's rights means the promotion of
freedom, justice and the peaceful resolution of disputes; of better
standards of living; of equality, tolerance and dignity". He pointed
out that violence against women stood as an urgent issue to be
addressed.
In this issue, we have a report about how Kenyan women are rising up
against exploitation by their male partners. We have a story of how a
rural-based woman has taken her husband to court for constantly
beating her.
From Malawi, our correspondent, Stella Mhura tells how girls are
denied their educational rights due to lack of funds. She quotes
figures which show that 64 per cent of girls aged from ten years are
in informal employment mostly as small holder farmers and unpaid
family workers.
In Zambia, the government has failed to implement some of the
recommendations of the Beijing women's conference in 1995. For
instance, the government has to adopt a National Gender Policy which
calls for an end to discriminatory practices against women. If the
policy is implemented it would curtail violence against women and
improve their chances of getting employment.
It is now time to announce the winners of our annual prizes.
The 1997 US$ 300 award for the best article on justice and peace, in
memory of our late editor Andrew Awour, goes to Dushimiyimana Jean
Jacques for the article published by AFRICANEWS of August 15, 1997 on
the arrest of Rwanda genocide suspects in Kenya. The ten suspects are
now in custody in Arusha, Tanzania awaiting trial over the deaths of
more than 500,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu victims slain by Hutu
soldiers and allied militia in one of the century's worst mass crimes.
The 1997 US$ 200 award in memory of Clement Mwale goes to Chido Onumah
whose story appeared in our issue of April 15, 1997. It is about
ethnic and economic oppression in Nigeria.
We congratulate the winners, and may their success be a stimulus to do
even better in the service of an African media that is professionally
qualified and on the side of the oppressed.
A four-day conference, entitled "The New Technologies
On 8 March, the world marked the International Women's Day. As noted
by Pope John Paul II "we should value women for more than their
looks." He spoke out for those who their rights were trampled because
of their gender. The Pope said women in many parts of the world were
still hindered from playing a full part in social, political and
economic life. He said "I would like to launch an appeal for the
women who even today have their basic rights denied by the political
regimes of their countries: women segregated, forbidden to study,
follow a profession, even express their own opinion in public."
On the other hand, the United Nations Secretary General, Koffi Annan
said that "the promotion of women's rights means the promotion of
freedom, justice and the peaceful resolution of disputes; of better
standards of living; of equality, tolerance and dignity". He pointed
out that violence against women stood as an urgent issue to be
addressed.
In this issue, we have a report about how Kenyan women are rising up
against exploitation by their male partners. We have a story of how a
rural-based woman has taken her husband to court for constantly
beating her.
From Malawi, our correspondent, Stella Mhura tells how girls are
denied their educational rights due to lack of funds. She quotes
figures which show that 64 per cent of girls aged from ten years are
in informal employment mostly as small holder farmers and unpaid
family workers.
In Zambia, the government has failed to implement some of the
recommendations of the Beijing women's conference in 1995. For
instance, the government has to adopt a National Gender Policy which
calls for an end to discriminatory practices against women. If the
policy is implemented it would curtail violence against women and
improve their chances of getting employment.
It is now time to announce the winners of our annual prizes.
The 1997 US$ 300 award for the best article on justice and peace, in
memory of our late editor Andrew Awour, goes to Dushimiyimana Jean
Jacques for the article published by AFRICANEWS of August 15, 1997 on
the arrest of Rwanda genocide suspects in Kenya. The ten suspects are
now in custody in Arusha, Tanzania awaiting trial over the deaths of
more than 500,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu victims slain by Hutu
soldiers and allied militia in one of the century's worst mass crimes.
The 1997 US$ 200 award in memory of Clement Mwale goes to Chido Onumah
whose story appeared in our issue of April 15, 1997. It is about
ethnic and economic oppression in Nigeria.
We congratulate the winners, and may their success be a stimulus to do
even better in the service of an African media that is professionally
qualified and on the side of the oppressed.
A four-day conference, entitled "The New Technologies and the Human
Persons; Communicating the Faith in the New Millennium" opens this
March 25 in Denver (USA). It has been organized by leaders of the
Catholic Church, and over 60 Catholics cardinal, archbishops and
bishops are expected to attend. Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
said the Church wants to be a partner in the dialogue on the ethical
implications of communication advances to ensure that the new
technology serves humanity. "As we ponder how our daily lives will
change - he wrote - we also need to consider the larger ethical
questions: How will the poor be empowered by the information
revolution?"
AFRICANEWS is a concrete effort to empower the African poor.
Africanews staff
