Welcome to the world’s most demanding job: Mom – always hiring, forever rehiring, and always underappreciated until Mother’s Day rolls around and someone buys her a mug that says “#1 Mom.”

Let’s take a stroll down the résumé of this all-encompassing role, shall we?

Position Type: Full-Time (24/7). That’s right. Your office is everywhere – from the kitchen floor to the emergency room at 2 AM. Your break room? Nonexistent. Your coworkers? Crying, sticky-fingered CEOs of chaos.

Compensation: A generous $0/year, but at least you get paid in hugs, glitter-covered art pieces, and passive-aggressive teen eye rolls.

Job Duties Include:

1. Chef: Because someone must answer the eternal question, “What’s for dinner?” with precision without offending anyone.
2. Nurse: Including but not limited to fever-induced 3 a.m. cuddle clinics and Band-Aid application ceremonies.
3. Therapist: You’re now fluent in decoding sobs and angst with a minor in heartbreak management.
4. Teacher: From ABCs to “where babies come from” to “why we don’t lick the dog.”
5. Referee: Sibling fights, toy disputes, and who-touched-who-without-permission investigations.
6. Judge: From deciding “who licked the sugar” and “who broke the new set of cups.”
7. Cheerleader: Every step, every award, every scraped knee. You clap even when you’re exhausted enough to collapse.
8. Financial Manager: Budgeting with coins found in the couch and magic money you pull out for school trips you heard about that morning.
   

And the best part? Qualifications: No experience necessary – because you’ll learn on the job while being judged by society, the internet, and that know-it-all aunty who raised a “team of soccer players.”

Yet, despite all this, they show up. Moms don’t clock in, and they never clock out. They don’t unionize, and there’s no HR department to report your emotional breakdown over spilled milk. They do it because love, unconditional, fierce, and frustrating, love, has a weird way of giving you just enough strength to keep going when you’re running on fumes and reheated coffee.

So, on this Mother’s Day, let’s raise a glass (or a sippy cup) to the world’s most demanding job. A job that turns ordinary women into legends. A job that comes with no manual but a heart full of instinct.

To the moms who do it all, and somehow, still answer to “Muuummm!” without running into the forest barefoot – we see you. We appreciate you. We still won’t pay you, but we might let you take a quick short nap today.

Maybe.

The post A Mom’s Job Description in Real Life appeared first on Woman Kenya Network.

The bill aims to allow citizens to choose between religious authorities or civil courts for family-related decisions, raising concerns about the potential weakening of rights related to inheritance, divorce, and child custody. Critics argue that the proposal could lead to an increase in child marriages and exploitation, undermining years of progress in women’s rights and gender equality.

Human rights organizations, women’s groups, and civil society advocates have strongly opposed the bill, warning of serious consequences for the education, health, and overall well-being of young girls. They point out that child marriage often leads to higher dropout rates, early pregnancies, and increased domestic violence.

UNICEF reports that 28 percent of girls in Iraq are already married before they reach 18, underscoring the seriousness of the issue. Sarah Sanbar, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, criticized the bill as a step backward, stating, “Passing this law would demonstrate a country moving backward, not forwards.”

Amal Kabashi of the Iraq Women’s Network expressed similar concerns, accusing the amendment of promoting male dominance in family matters in an already conservative society. Although the bill was withdrawn in late July due to widespread opposition, it reappeared on August 4 with support from influential Shia groups in parliament.

The proposed legislation represents a significant departure from the 1959 law, which transferred family law authority from religious figures to the state judiciary. The new bill would reintroduce the option for religious-based legal decisions, primarily reflecting Shia and Sunni Islamic rules, while excluding other religious and sectarian communities in Iraq’s diverse society.

Supporters of the bill argue that it aims to align with Islamic law and protect young girls from “immoral relationships.” However, opponents reject this reasoning as flawed and dismissive of the harsh realities of child marriage. “Girls belong on the playground and in school, not in a wedding dress,” Sanbar added.

The future of this proposed amendment remains uncertain, as it faces strong opposition and follows several failed attempts to change existing marriage laws.

The post Iraq’s Parliament Faces Backlash Over Bill to Reduce Girls’ Legal Marriage Age to 9 appeared first on Woman Kenya Network.

This challenge is examined in the first Gender Country Profile on Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021 developed by UN Women with financial support from the European Union. 

The profile delves into Afghanistan’s gender equality infrastructure over the past 40 years, revealing how decades of progress have been dismantled by over 70 decrees , statements and practices introduced by the Taliban  in less than three years. These measures have critically rolled back gender equality and impacted progress, limiting opportunities across all sectors of development.

The suppression of women’s right has contributed to devastating consequences that will Have long-term generational impacts. The Gender Profile highlights the severe effects of bans on education noting that 1.1 million girls are out of school with over 100,000 women been barred from the University. This educational deprivation is correlated with a 50% increase in the risk of maternal mortality.

Afghan women also face critical restrictions in influencing decisions that affect their lives. With no female leaders in the Taliban’s caretaker administration, the UN Women data shows that only 1percent of women feel they have any influence in their communities. 

Additionally, social isolation is rampant, Afghan women are restricted in interacting regularly with other women with 18% reporting that they have not met with other women outside their immediate family in the past three preceding months. Social isolation has led women into despair with 8% of survey respondents knowing at least one girl or woman who has attempted suicide since August, 2021. 

The Gender Country Profile highlights that despite the Taliban’s oppressive regime, Afghan women continue to serve their communities and advocate for their rights. Nearly three years after the Taliban takeover, the resolve of Afghan women grows stronger as their status and situations worsen. 

Alison Davidian, UN Women Special Representative in Afghanistan shared, “Afghan women demonstrate extraordinary resilience. In the face of incredible challenges, women continue to run organizations and businesses and deliver services. We must invest in their resilience. Afghanistan must remain high on the international agenda,” 

The Gender Country Profile provides multiple recommendations for supporting Afghan women and girls: 

Allocate funding that is flexible over the long term to support women’s civil society organizations, ensuring there’s sustained and adaptable financial support.

Direct Funding for gender equality: Ensure that atleast 30 percent of funding to Afghanistan is channeled to initiatives specifically aimed at advancing gender equality, women’s rights and avoiding support for projects that overlook such issues. 

Avoid normalizing discriminatory practices: Implement measures to prevent actions that could unintentionally support or normalize the Taliban’s discriminatory policies, norms, and values.

Ensure that funding allocated to gender equality initiatives doesn’t endorse discriminatory practices by implementing measures to prevent the support for or acceptance of the Taliban’s discriminatory policies, norms, and values.

Integrate human rights in all actions, particularly women’s rights as a fundamental aspect across humanitarian actions and interventions addressing essential basic human needs. 

The plight of Afghan women remains an urgent and critical issue, demanding  international attention and support to safeguard their rights and well-being.

The post International Interventions and Support for Women’s Rights in Afghanistan appeared first on Woman Kenya Network.

Here are few things you should know about Sheinbaum:

• Sheinbaum was born in Mexico City in 1962.
• She gained interest in student politics while studying for her undergraduate degree at National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) where she protested against privatization of public education. 
• On graduating from UNAM, she pursued a Master’s degree in energy engineering at the University of California, Berkeley and returned to UNAM for doctoral studies. 
• Sheinbaum was appointed environment secretary of Mexico City by Obrador, later the head of the city’s government. 
• Sheinbaum joined  the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and in 2007 became part of the team that received the Nobel Peace Prize. 
• Between 2015 and 2017, Sheinbaum served as the first woman elected as head of Tlalpan district of Mexico. 
• In 2018, she was elected as the first woman  head of government of the whole city and served until June 2023. 
• Moreover, she is a mother of two and has one grandchild. Her significant other, Jesùs María Tarriba is a financial risk specialist at the Bank of Mexico.

The post Who is Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s First Female President?   appeared first on Woman Kenya Network.

On Thursday May 23, morning, Cassie broke her silence sharing a statement on her Instagram page, she wrote, 

“My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time.”

In her statement on Instagram, Cassie expressed her thanks for the support she received from her close ones. She wrote, 

 “for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet.”

Cassie shared that the love she received created a place for her younger self to settle and also feel safe. 

“But this is only the beginning,” Venture wrote. “Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from the past.”

“This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me,” she also said. “Thank you.”

Cassandra made allegations against Sean Combs last November with claims that the music mogul raped her and sex trafficked her in the course of an abusive ten years. 

In a statement she said, “After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.” “With the expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act fast approaching, it became clear that this was an opportunity to speak up about the trauma I have experienced and that I will be recovering from for the rest of my life.” She added.

Diddy however denied the allegations his attorney called them “offensive and outrageous.” Diddy spoke about Ventura’s claims saying, 

“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy,” he wrote in the statement, which was obtained by PEOPLE. “Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday.”

Diddy later changed his tune after CNN shared a surveillance video on May 17 showing him throwing things and kicking Venture while she tried to leave a hotel room while he was sleeping. In a statement via Instagram, Combs said, 

“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life.Sometimes you gotta do that. I was f—ed up. I mean I hit rock bottom but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.”

“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.” 

In her statement, Ventura acknowledged receiving backlash after filing her suit. She asked everyone to open their hearts and believe victims of physical assault asserting that it takes a lot of heart to pour out the truth in such a situation. 

“My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in.”

Cassie also spoke out to other victims of abuse, offering them a hand and  advising them to reach out to close people instead of cutting them off. 

“I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don’t cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone.”

The post Cassie Ventura Breaks Silence After Diddy Combs Abuse Video Surfaces appeared first on Woman Kenya Network.

Understanding the Initiative

UN Women kicks off a powerful annual campaign on November 25, the International Day to End Violence against Women. The subsequent 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence serve as a rallying cry, urging governments, institutions, and citizens worldwide to unite under the theme “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.”

Alarming Statistics

The campaign sheds light on realities: only 0.2% of global Official Development Assistance is currently directed toward gender-based violence prevention. Despite commitments from 78% of countries to address violence against women, 25% lack systems to track budget allocations for gender equality. Shockingly, 736 million women, or nearly one in three, have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. These statistics emphasize the pressing need for increased global investment in violence prevention.

The Role of Women’s Organizations

Recognizing the critical role of women’s rights organizations, the campaign emphasizes the importance of funding these entities. Despite their essential contributions, there has been a surge in anti-rights movements and backlash against women human rights defenders globally. Investing in women’s organizations has a paramount in driving progress toward a violence-free world for women and girls.

In conclusion, the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” is a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility in creating a violence-free future. UN Women’s campaign underscores the need for increased investments and highlights the pivotal role of women’s organizations in this journey. Together, let’s empower change and work towards a world where every effort invested in preventing violence is a step towards a brighter, safer, and more equal future for all.

The post UN Women’s Global Campaign for a Violence-Free Future appeared first on Woman Kenya Network.

Domestic financial resource allocation remains a challenge where the Ministry of Health’s financing has remained low. It is through support from PEPFAR and others many Kenyans are getting essential life-saving health services

In the last two decades, we have made great progress owing to such great support and programs. Misinformation being spread by these Members of Parliament will backtrack and suppress the gains we have made on HIV and reproductive health in Kenya. PEPFAR 2003 has worked in Kenya to ensure access to life-saving ARV treatment, reducing the risk of mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy and delivery, HIV Testing and counseling, and providing health care work staff across Kenya and among others.

Battle against HIV/AIDS

Recently, Ten Members of Parliament (MPs) penned a letter to the United States Congress, urging them to withhold the much-needed Sh50 billion PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) funding allocated for the fight against HIV/AIDS in Kenya. It is crucial to underline the critical aspects that demonstrate the indispensable need for PEPFAR’s support in the battle against HIV/AIDS.

PEPFAR, launched in 2003, has been an instrumental force in the global effort to combat HIV/AIDS. It has played a pivotal role in Kenya, where the prevalence of the disease remains a significant public health concern. The initiative provides funding for testing, treatment, prevention, and support programs, aiming to curtail the spread of the virus and improve the lives of those affected. This has advanced the fight against HIV/AIDs.

Kenya has made commendable progress in addressing HIV/AIDS over the years, yet it continues to grapple with a substantial burden of the disease. According to UNAIDS, in 2020, approximately 1.4 million Kenyans were living with HIV, with 25,000 AIDS-related deaths. The country faces challenges such as stigma, treatment access, and prevention strategies, making external assistance, like PEPFAR funding, indispensable. We must continue to support this fight.

Comprehensive prevention strategies

PEPFAR funding is critical and imperative, It is important as it supports treatment access, and the funding supports the provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to individuals living with HIV. Ensuring access to treatment not only saves lives but also reduces the transmission of the virus. PEPFAR invests in comprehensive prevention strategies, including HIV testing, counseling, condom distribution, and education. These efforts are instrumental in reducing new infections. The funding is directed towards vulnerable key populations at higher risk of HIV transmission, including sex workers and men who have sex with men. This targeted approach is essential for reaching those most in need. PEPFAR contributes to strengthening Kenya’s healthcare system and enhancing its capacity to respond effectively to HIV/AIDS and related health challenges. Kenya’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS are bolstered by international collaboration and funding from organizations like PEPFAR. These partnerships facilitate knowledge exchange and resource mobilization which is key when we speak about advancing global partnerships.

Lifeline for those affected by the virus

It is equally critical to recognize the indispensable role that PEPFAR’s funding plays in Kenya’s fight against HIV/AIDS. The critical aspects outlined above demonstrate that PEPFAR is not just a source of financial support but a lifeline for those affected by the virus and a crucial component of Kenya’s public health infrastructure. Efforts should continue to ensure that this funding remains available to sustain the progress made and ultimately achieve an HIV/AIDS-free Kenya. PEPFAR’s Funding is a Lifeline

AIDS is not over. We should find it and be open to working with partners that support this cause. If funding is not approved owing to this misinformation, the fight against HIV/AIDs and all the gains made will be lost and the country will be backtracking.

The actions of these ten Members of Parliament (MPs) are detrimental. Access to healthcare is a right of every Kenyan. PEPFAR has significantly saved the lives of Kenyans and continued to facilitate crucial access to HIV and general Reproductive health services asking the National Assembly Speaker, Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetangula to call out this misinformation and give assurance to the US counterparts to continue this funding.

Alvin Mwangi is a Youth Activist with an interest in reproductive health.

Twitter: @alvinmwangi254 

Nairobi, Kenya

The post PEPFAR HIV/AIDS FUNDING: KENYAN MPS MADE A BIG MISTAKE appeared first on Woman Kenya Network.

In this episode of Women, Peace, and Security Podcats, he narrates how he turned his life around after a period of radicalization. We also discuss the role of women in countering violent extremism, radicalization, and terrorism.

Salim was awarded the Head of State Commendation Award by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018 for his role in countering violent extremism, radicalization, and terrorism in Kenya.

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