Cherie Blair has been accused of reinforcing stereotypes by telling school children that “most African ladies’ first intercourse experience is rape”. The barrister and women’s rights campaigner made the remark during a talk about women and leadership to pupils at the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in London. The event, entitled ‘the leadership lecture’ was attended by around 100 people, took place on March 20 and was hailed as “very popular” by the school. However the 64-year-old wife of the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has since been criticised for “usurping” the voice of African women. One audience member at the event, Caitlin, who did not wish to give her surname, told The Guardian that she was surprised by Mrs Blair’s comment. Chi Onwurah, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Africa, called on Mrs Blair to “undo the insult and injury” of her comments. “No one seemed to react and I was shocked…

Women in aviation have resolved to use social media more regularly to inspire the younger generation of girls to consider careers in the industry. The discussions took place at the Women in Aviation conference on the sidelines of the Airport Show 2019, held on May 1 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre in the United Arab Emirates, UAE. A panel, led by UAE’s first female aircraft engineer, Suaad Al Shamsi, agreed on the importance of representation concerning the future in Aviation Gender Equality. The panel noted that children and the young generation do not often aspire for careers in aviation because they either do not know that they exist, or they have not seen anyone to look up to in the various fields. I had to take on what no one wants in order to prove myself. Sometimes it is not given to you, it is grabbed. That is how…

(L-R) Acil Tabbara and Anna Nimiriano. The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-Ifra) has honoured two women news editors from Lebanon and South Sudan for their leadership in the newsroom. In a statement on May 8, WAN-Ifra said the two women have been awarded the WAN-Ifra Women in News Editorial Leadership Award. The award recognizes exceptional leadership in the newsroom. WAN-Ifra said South Sudan’s news publication Juba Monitor editor-in-chief Anna Nimiriano has been named the 2019 Africa Laureate, while, Acil Tabbara, the senior editor at L’Orient du Jour in Lebanon has been named the 2019 MENA Laureate. “I’m humbled and grateful for this award. Who would have known that a South Sudanese female journalist, the only female editor-in-chief in the country, operating in a difficult conflict zone would be recognized for her work.” “To other female journalists in Africa and around the world, this award is for you,” Nimiriano was…