Washington, United States | AFP | Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, on Thursday unveiled a committee to help him search for and vet a running mate in his White House race against Donald Trump. The step comes as Biden faces mounting pressure to address allegations by a former aide …
Read More »Biden under pressure to address sexual assault allegation
Washington, United States | AFP | Presidential hopeful Joe Biden said Wednesday he has a proud history of campaigning against sexual violence, as he faces mounting pressure to respond to an assault allegation made by a former aide. The presumptive Democratic nominee has been accused by Tara Reade of assaulting her …
Read More »Victims take to the web to report sexual offenders
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Operators of an online platform SafePal where persons who are sexually violated can report anonymously and be linked to support service providers report having an abrupt surge in the number of cases over the last two weeks. SafePal’s Community Linkage Officer Emmanuel Kateregga …
Read More »Women sleeping in markets at risk of sexual violence-Activists
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Women activists have criticized the move by women to sleep in markets. President Yoweri Museveni in his directives advised vendors to sleep in markets to halt further spread of COVID-19. In a webinar organized by Civil Society Organization, Reach a Hand Uganda, Tina Musaya, the …
Read More »Deliberate starvation tactics used in South Sudan could be a war crime – Report
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The people of South Sudan have been deliberately starved in different parts of the country for ethnic and political reasons, and sexual violence against women and men as a weapon of war is ongoing, UN investigators have said. The three-member commission, appointed by the …
Read More »Violence in DR Congo’s Ituri may be crimes against humanity: UN
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Hundreds of people have been killed or raped in attacks on the Hema ethnic group in eastern DR Congo’s Ituri province, in what “may amount to crimes against humanity” or even genocide, the UN said on Friday. “At least 701 people have been killed and …
Read More »Kidnappings soar in Niger amid Boko Haram insurgency
Niamey, Niger | AFP | In the desert landscape of southeastern Niger, a radical Islamist insurgency has claimed hundreds of lives, fractured families and ravaged communities, fearful of the next Boko Haram attack. Strategically located in the Lake Chad basin in the middle of the Sahel, the Diffa region’s borders are …
Read More »Girls must be protected from sexual violence at school: UNICEF chief
Paris, France | AFP | Girls in developing countries must be protected from sexual violence in and around schools, the head of the UN’s children fund has said, urging governments to make it a top priority. Speaking to AFP on the sidelines of a G7 ministerial summit in Paris, UNICEF chief …
Read More »Parliament approves report recommending review of sexual violence laws
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Parliament has approved recommendations in select committee report following investigations into allegations of sexual violence in institutions of learning. The select committee Chairperson and Gomba West, Member of Parliament, Robina Rwakoojo presented the report to parliament early this month. The speaker of parliament, Rebecca …
Read More »Hundreds march in Sierra Leone against sexual violence
Freetown, Sierra Leone | AFP | Hundreds of people demonstrated in Freetown on Saturday against sexual violence against women, days after the Sierra Leone government promised a crackdown on rape and sexual abuse. Among the estimated 300 to 400 demonstrators was the country’s first lady, Fatima Bio, who on Friday …
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