Blogs

Fight for equality

Celebration of March 8 by the Association of Evangelical Women of Bossangoa. Photo credit: Association of Evangelical Women of Bossangoa
Every year, the month of March is another opportunity to celebrate the progress made towards achieving women's rights, but it is also an opportunity to highlight the multiple challenges that stand in the way of gender justice and to advocate for change. This year's theme is an inclusive digital...
Launch of baseline report on business and Human Rights in Ghana by Attorney General and Commissioner of CHRAJ, Ghana. Photo credit: Francis Agbere/ Oxfam
Except a handful of countries such as Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria, there is hardly any functioning plan grounded in the United Nation’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) on the continent. Ghana is currently in the early phases of setting up its framework which is even more why...
Oxfam Extractive Industry team's community Field Visit to Ellembelle District, Ghana. Photo Credit: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/FoN
A drive-through mining communities has always raised questions about whether mineral revenues have been invested to the benefit of locals. Most of these communities have little to show for the wealth that is generated right under their nose. In Ghana and other African countries, where extractive...
Demba Seydi, West Africa coordinator for Publish What You Pay. Crédit photo : Demba Seydi/ Oxfam
One third of the world's mineral reserves are in Africa and their extraction is the main source of revenues for most African countries. However, the people of the continent are still struggling to reap the benefits. For girls and women, the situation is even more worrying. Extractive sector...
Grâce Ngbaleo, human rights defender and women's rights activist. Credit: Monges Samba/ Oxfam
Committed by the well-being of Central African women and their role and involvement in the peace process, I joined my peers in the fight to achieve this goal. As a victim of the conflicts, Central African women are often left out of the peace building discussions. As editor-in-chief of Radio Notre...
Credit : Samuel Turpin/ Oxfam
After nine years of military operations in Mali, both France and the European Union have announced the withdrawal of their troops from the country. This decision is a clear sign of the inadequacy of the military approach to address the root causes of the crisis affecting the people in the Sahel:...
Yvette cooking in the commune of Tori in the south of Benin. Credit: Alokpa Kodjovi / Oxfam
It is another 8th of March, a moment to celebrate women’s achievements and a time to raise awareness against structural violence and take action for equality. By structural violence we mean systemic discrimination preventing women from meeting their basic needs such as: access to health care,...
Adam Dicko, activist, executive director of AJCAD-Mali and Sahel superhero. Credit: Sylvain Cherkaoui/ Oxfam
Adam Dicko has been a committed community activist from a very young age and is now the president of the Association des Jeunes pour la Citoyenneté Active et la Démocratie (AJCAD), which promotes democracy and active citizenship of young people in her country, Mali. Over the years, she has been...
Fati Abigail Abdulai is the executive director of the Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM) in Ghana
The Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM) was founded in Bolgatanga, the Upper East region of Ghana in 1993 by Betty Ayagiba who became widowed in 1988. She desired to create a safe space for widows to feel heard and understood. A step that was necessary after Betty who was a nurse observed that widows...
As the 16 days of activism campaign marks this year its 30th anniversary, it remains fundamental to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV).
As the 16 days of activism campaign marks this year its 30th anniversary, it remains fundamental to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV), challenge discriminatory attitudes and call for improved laws and services to end violence against women for good. It is a time to reflect on the...