UN Gender Focus: women in the Great Lakes region, Libyan women and women leaders in Botswana

31 March 2016

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Great Lakes women demand more active role in peace talks

Women-led groups in the African Great Lakes region are demanding a more active and integral role in on-going peace processes, a female activist has said. Julienne Lusenge from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a member of the Women’s Platform for Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework backed by the UN. As the head of a peace movement called SOFEPADI, she has braved death many times, fighting to stop violence against women in areas where armed groups operate. She spoke to Jocelyne Sambira following a meeting with the UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region in New York.

A celebratory atmosphere pervades the city of Msallata, Libya, on the ninety-third anniversary of the Republic of Tripolitania, a Libyan territory which formally declared its independence during Italian colonial rule. UN Photo/Iason Foounten

A “New Libyan woman” has emerged after political transition

After years of living in fear of standing up for their rights, Libyan women are now emerging to claim better political representation. That’s the understanding of Magda El Sanousi, gender advisor at the United Nations support mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Ms Sanousi was at UN headquarters, at a panel where Libyan women spoke about their experiences in the transition, and the role of women in political life. Conflict in the North African country has been ongoing since 2011, but in January 2016 a new proposed government was announced, the Government of National Accord, which is backed by the United Nations. The warring factions have yet to agree on its make-up. Carmen Cuesta Roca has been speaking with Magda El Sanousi about the new-found empowerment of women in Libya.

Engaging, Inspiring and Equiping a New Generation of African Women Leaders. File Photo: Moremi Initiative

Investing in African’s emerging women leaders

Investing in young African women is good for their countries, the continent and the world, according to two young women from Botswana. Refilwe Kerekang and Ann Moatshe have been at UN Headquarters to participate in the latest session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Both are former fellows of the Moremi Initiative Leadership Empowerment and Development (MILEAD) programme which mentors young women from Africa and the diaspora. Dianne Penn met with Refilwe and Ann following their participation on a CSW panel on the issue of emerging African women leaders.

Presenter: Ana Carmo

Production Assistant: Sandra Guy

Duration: 10’00″

Audio Duration

10'

Photo Credit

UN Photo