Around the World in 5 is an ongoing series that highlights news related to women. This week’s post covers August 12 to August 19.
United Kingdom
A nurse in her mid-20s, Lucy Letby, has been convicted of murdering seven infants and trying to murder six others during her time working at a neonatal unit in the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.
This makes her the most prolific child killer of modern times in the UK. The judge issued reporting restrictions until the trial’s conclusion, with the guilty verdicts delivered through partial verdicts spread across several days.
Sudan
Human Rights Watch, headquartered in New York, released a statement on Thursday noting that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has targeted women and girls of non-Arab descent in the western Darfur region. The group also allegedly targeted activists who were documenting instances of human rights violations during the ongoing conflict.
The focal point of the four-month conflict in Sudan has been a paramilitary organization, which has been specifically highlighted by a prominent human rights group and 30 experts from the United Nations. They have accused this group of engaging in acts of rape and sexual violence against women, as mentioned in separate statements.
Sudan descended into turmoil on April 15 when longstanding tensions between the paramilitary faction known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces erupted into violent confrontations.
Nigeria
In partnership with Google, the Kaduna state government has unveiled an innovative project to educate 5,000 women and girls in the fields of data science, artificial intelligence, and utilizing digital technologies for entrepreneurship.
This effort is part of a larger skills development program, backed by Google.org, with the overarching goal of equipping an additional 20,000 women and youth across Nigeria with modern skills to prepare them for opportunities within the digital and creative sectors.
Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna state, expressed in an official press release that embracing technology isn’t solely about achieving social equity, but also about driving economic advancement. He emphasized that by providing digital expertise to women, they are not only shattering gender barriers but also laying the foundation for substantial economic growth.
Cameroon
According to Loveline Musah, CEO of United Youths Organization (UYO), harmful social norms in Cameroon have “resulted in men asserting dominance over women. If a man violates a woman physically or sexually, it’s because communities believe that men are more powerful than women. And these beliefs perpetuate GBV.”
UYO has joined forces with UN Women to transform perspectives on GBV and biased gender norms on the continent. This collaboration is exemplified by their involvement in Cameroon, where they are supported by a global grant from the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF). This grant, dedicated to GBV prevention and response, has been operational in six nations, including Cameroon.
Spain
At the World Athletics Championships, Maria Perez achieved a Spanish double victory in the 20 kilometers race walk. She secured a comfortable win in the women’s event on Sunday, outpacing Australia’s Jemima Montag. The bronze medal was claimed by Italy’s Antonella Palmisano.
At 27 years old, she seized her inaugural world title by crossing the finish line 25 seconds ahead of Montag. The Olympic champion, Palmisano, secured the third position with a time of 1:27:26.
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