NAMIBIA: Education Inequalities Highlighted in Report
New Era on 13 June reported on the launch of a new report on gender which revealed that certain cultural and traditional practices, teen pregnancies, gender stereotypes and early marriage contribute to educational inequality. The gender assessment study was commissioned by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare and made possible with financial assistance from the Millennium Development Goals Fund through the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA).
NIGERIA: Budget Officers Trained
The Daily Trust on 13 June reported that, "Kaduna State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) organized a one-day training for budget officers in ministries, departments and agencies on Gender Responsive Budget in the state." Read in English: The Daily Trust
MOZAMBIQUE: $20 Million to Improve Maternal and Reproductive Health in Zambézia Province
Notícias reported on 13 June that 20 million American dollars will be invested in the next five years to improve maternal and reproductive health in the central province of Zambézia. Interviewed in Quelimane, the capital city of Zambézia, Astrid Bant, UNFPA deputy representative, said that the amount [funded by Canada] will be channeled through four UN agencies specialized in health. Read in Portuguese: Notícias
INDIA: Sex Selection Increasing
The Indian Express on 13 June reported that Maharashtra’s child sex ration, 946 per 1,000 in 1991, dropped to 883 in the 2011 census making it the second worst in the country. Sex selection has increased in the region. According to the paper, “foeticide was once restricted to urban pockets and Western Maharashtra but has now spread to most parts of Marathwada in Central Maharashtra and even tribal pockets of Nashik.” After the 2011 numbers were released, the government formed a committee of MLAs and experts to reverse the ratio drop. The state unit of the United Nations Population Fund conducted training and awareness programmes with the government for judges and lawyers. Read in English: The Indian Express
NIGERIA: Officers Trained on Gender Responsive Budget
The Daily Trust on 13 June reported on a one-day training for ministry, department and agency budget officers on gender responsive budgets. Gender responsive budgeting helps, "track the way budgets respond to women's priorities and the way governments at all levels use funds to reduce poverty, reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, lower the rate of maternal and child mortality as well as promote gender equality and achieve adolescent and reproductive health." The session was the result of a collaboration between UNFPA and the Kaduna State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. Read in English: Daily Trust
INDIA: UNFPA Commissions Study on Cash Incentives for Female Children
The Indian Express on 13 June reported on a study commissioned by UNFPA for the Planning Commission to review the impact of cash incentive schemes for the girl child in 2010-2011. Dr. T. V. Sekher, who conducted the review, said incentives have the potential to become an effective way to target resources to girls and women although eligibility requirements should be simplified. Currently, "to get the benefits, the requirements include registration of births, childhood immunisation, schooling, and delaying marriage beyond the age of 18... Also, monitoring is limited and hardly any grievance redressal mechanism is in place." Read in English: Indian Express