Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s Post

Wear blue or don a blue ribbon to honor Men’s Health Month. While empowering women has gained momentum, young boys in Kenya have often been left out, resulting in low self-esteem and confidence. The National Gender and Equality Commission (2015) found that boys lag behind due to excessive focus on girls by the Government and NGOs. Key recommendations to address this include: - Use sex-disaggregated data to identify beneficiaries and impacts. - Regularly review who needs interventions, considering cultural and economic factors. - Engage men and boys in programs empowering women and girls. - Focus poverty reduction on supporting families, so children can stay in school. - Monitor boys' activities through community initiatives like “nyumba kumi.” - Empower local authorities to enforce school attendance and retention. - Implement laws protecting children’s rights and address challenges affecting boys’ schooling. - Hold Head Teachers accountable for dropouts. - Strengthen guidance, counseling, and life skills education in schools. - Collaborate with communities and organizations to strengthen family units. - Amend the Sexual Offenses Act to avoid discrimination against boys in cases of consensual sex among minors. For more information, check out: https://lnkd.in/drgqVE8z #MensHealthMonth #SupportBoys #EmpowerAll #GenderEquality

Such an honour to engage with Miss South Africa, Shudufhadzo Musida, She is a South African model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss South Africa 2020. She is the second title holder from the province of Limpopo. The first title holder whose first language is Venda and was selected to represent South Africa in Miss World 2022. Musida is the first bald woman to win Miss South Africa. A dedicated advocate and spokeswoman for mental health awareness and empowering women and children. I am Shudu: Finding My Voice, Knowing My Strength, which explores themes of bullying, identity, bravery, forgiveness, displaced families, and the bond of friendships. But most importantly, the power of community and the magic we find when we use our voices". The book aims to inspire and empower children between the ages of 6 and 10. As the UNFPA Regional Champion, Shudufhadzo Musida has been transformative, and her dedication to creating a positive impact is evident in every endeavor. It's an honor to extend an invitation for her to collaborate on various mental health initiatives in the ASALs. Her unwavering commitment to raising awareness and supporting those in need is truly inspiring. We discussed the vital role of mental health initiatives in addressing the unique challenges.  United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man, and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA works to improve sexual and reproductive health, advance gender equality, and support the well-being of women and girls. UNFPA recognizes that mental health is an integral part of overall health and well-being.  In fact, one in eight people around the world are living with mental-health conditions, according to the World Health Organization. UNFPA is working to intensify its work with development and humanitarian partners to better integrate mental health and psychosocial support into its response to gender-based violence as well as its lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services. Working to provide mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian setting.  Mental health is a cornerstone of personal development & well-being, and together, we can bring about meaningful change. Let's amplify our efforts to shed light on the realities of the #mentalhealth and provide support where it's needed most. #MentalHealthAdvocacy #ASALCommunities #Collaboration #Empowerment

Boychild: The empowerment focus on women in Kenya has overlooked young boys, causing concerns about their well-being and development. The National Gender and Equality Commission suggests affirmative actions based on sex-disaggregated data, regular reviews, and engaging men and boys in programs. Poverty reduction strategies should prioritize the needy, ensuring children aren't contributing to family income. Monitoring initiatives like "nyumba kumi" and reinforcing laws at local levels can combat school dropouts. Strengthening guidance and counseling in schools, promoting family unity, and amending laws for fair treatment of boys in consensual cases are crucial steps to address the challenges faced by young boys. Get more information and resources from our website: https://lnkd.in/drgqVE8z #boychild #boys #girls #empoweringboys #empowermen #society #teenagers #adolscenthealth #mentalhealth #fyp #fy

As a woman with a disability, Angela Muhindo from Uganda has faced violence and exclusion throughout her life. When her parents died, she was threatened and intimidated by her male relatives over the inheritance. "In my community, women have less power, but if you are disabled, you are even more vulnerable to exploitation,” she says. Through a Spotlight Initiative-supported training course, she was able to know her rights, stand up for herself, and change her life. Spotlight Initiative and UN Women work with local organizations to help change discriminatory attitudes and support those at risk of or experiencing violence. 👉 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/de3qnseR #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityRights

Many states lack legislation to protect the rights of #disabled #people. #women are most affected by this serious form of human rights violation, as they are already facing #gender and other #stereotypical #discrimination. Stigmatized by society and treated as a burden instead of an asset for #societal #growth, disabled women are facing one of the severe forms of #humanrights violations. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. Though many countries have ratified the #convention, only a few countries managed to implement the #treaty #obligations for the welfare of #disabled #women. History has witnessed that only an #inclusive society will flourish and states should initiate laws for the protection of the rights of disabled women that will offer participation of the #vulnerable group in the #economicgrowth and well-being of the #society as well as #humandevelopment. This will also be an important step in achieving the UN Sustainable Goals. #un #uno #unga #unsc #unhcr #unctad #unesco #unicef #unwomen #womenempowerment #disabledcommunity #disability #genderequality #equality #equalrights #antidiscrimination #antidiskriminierung #gleichstellung #gleichberechtigung #sdgs2030 #sdgs

"There is nothing about youth, without youth." 😊 Strengthening the capacity of young people and harnessing their energy and creativity to contribute to progressive #policies and advocacy are crucial steps toward advancing the rights of women and girls and ending FGM. Empowering them to actively participate in policymaking and advocacy efforts becomes pivotal in achieving these goals. 🚀 Meet Mercelina Chebet, one of the passionate and trained Y4C Advocates working tirelessly in her West Pokot community to prevent and address all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, including FGM. Through her dedication and that of the other 19 Y4C Advocates, their impact has been profound. Not only have they successfully raised awareness about the harmful consequences of FGM, but they have also become instrumental in providing support and education to young girls in the community. 🌟 The repercussions of FGM are far-reaching and devastating. Teenage pregnancy is one of the heartbreaking outcomes of this practice, often affecting young girls who undergo FGM. Child marriage is another grave consequence, where young girls are forced into marriage at a tender age, robbing them of their childhood and education. These practices perpetuate a cycle of gender inequality, violation of human rights, and perpetration of harmful norms. But thanks to the tireless efforts of advocates like Mercelina, there is hope for change. Y4C Advocates are actively combating teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and other forms of gender-based violence by challenging cultural norms, spreading awareness about the harmful effects of FGM, and advocating for policies that address FGM. Their work has already started making a significant difference in the lives of many girls, offering them opportunities to dream and pursue their aspirations freely. We extend our gratitude to UNICEF Kenya for their invaluable support in advancing the rights of all, including women and girls in Samburu and West Pokot. Y4C Advocates strive towards a future where all girls can grow up free from the shackles of harmful practices, where their rights are respected, and their dreams are not just possibilities but realities. 🙏💪 #SasaNiSisi #equalityforall #equality #equalrights Voices for Children, Inc. New Voices for Youth

🌍 Let's prioritize #DisabilityInclusion to drive progress towards #GenderEquality and poverty alleviation. Check out this insightful article by Nkechi S. Owoo, Ph.D of University of Ghana shedding light on the challenges confronting women with disabilities in developing economies. In countries like #Ghana #women with disabilities are disproportionately affected, with higher rates of unemployment and lower levels of education attainment. Lack of data exacerbates these challenges, hindering effective policymaking. Read here https://lnkd.in/gFiuB3MU #InclusionMatters #EqualityForAll #diversityandinclusion

Our Scale Accelerator: Women Empowerment programme has been running successfully over the past 6 months, with incredible mission-driven organisations in Southern Africa gaining the skills, knowledge and tools to scale and reach greater impact. One of them is Theatre for a Change (TfaC), a women’s rights organisation established in 2003 with offices in Lilongwe (Malawi), Accra (Ghana) and London (UK). They use an innovative combination of participatory learning and drama to enable women who have been structurally marginalised and silenced to have the confidence and skills to tell their stories and, through their advocacy, make profound and lasting changes to their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Over the last eight years, 237 young people from 42 organisations in 14 countries have completed their 160-hour intensive leadership and facilitation training programmes. Meet the rest of the cohort: http://bit.ly/42QAUsc. We currently have applications open for two more Scale Accelerator programmes; take a look and see if these opportunities might be for you: https://bit.ly/47UEmnW. #ScaleAccelerator #WomenEmpowerment #SocialImpact

On Governor Lusaka statement on Teenage pregnancies, now withdrawn…. While I applaud 👏 the efforts of HE. Lusaka & the County Government of Bungoma on the need to have concerted and inclusive engagement towards ending teenage pregnancies, I take concern on the measure of banning teenage pregnant mothers from school as a punishment. This measure is so archaic and takes me back to my days in school when school principals could chase away pregnant teenagers or parade them before the entire school as a specimen in a lesson of morality… Kenya 🇰🇪 as a country as grown not only in policy(Our constitution 2010 as the foundation, the Kenya Education policy, Gender policy etc). We therefore can not accept to run down the extreme gains already made on Gender parity & Girl child education development in Kenya🇰🇪 thus far. I was even thinking, is this not selective thinking? Is teenage pregnancy 🤰 only a girl issue? or boy and girl? When the girl is banned from school? what happens to the boy?or man out there who fathered the baby? Could be the Governor meant well, but the ripple effect of the utterances, takes the nation & the world back in miles… The utterances are fuel to Stigma & gender biases. Refer to SDG3, 4, 5 & 10. #edinahkangwana #genderparity #girlseducationmatters #saynotogenderbias #saynotostigma #endteenagepregnancy #kenya🇰🇪

The integrated model of the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage of which PAYDP is an implementing partner uses a multi-dimensional approach to reach out to the marginalized girls, including giving them accurate Sexual and Reproductive health information and services, Legal Literacy and Entrepreneurial skills, as well as sensitization on how to prevent and respond to Sexual and Gender based violence and harmful practices.  The Skills Development and Livelihood Programme is designed to provide training to individuals in need, enabling them to become self-reliant and achieve financial stability. This program empowers participants to independently manage their lives with pride and determination. #Development #Livelihoodskills #financialstability. Under the programme, Enterprise development centers serve as safe spaces to support marginalized girls including head potters (kayayei), teenage mothers, and out of school adolescent girls. The objective is to use an integrated model to build the agency of the girls and ensure their holistic empowerment. Currently, the centres and safe spaces spans in the five regions where marginalized girls are being engaged under the programme, namely Greater Accra Region, Central region, Ashanti Region, North East, Upper East and Bono East Regions of Ghana. #Enterprise #Volunteers UNICEF Ghana UNICEF UNFPA Ghana United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) Aku Kevi Mawuli Adzraku Doris Mawuse Aglobitse PhD Ishmael Kwasi Selassie Edna Odofeley Yebuah ISAAC KWADWO NYARKO DANKYI