Reiko Abe: The Face of Japan’s Globalisation
By: Natalie Obiko Pearson Reiko Abe became a civil engineer in Japan, but she couldn’t find a job. An ancient Shinto superstition, made part of Japan’s labor law, held that if a woman entered a tunnel under construction, she would anger the jealous mountain goddess and cause worker accidents. Two decades later, Abe has become the face of Japan’s global engagement as the nation seeks to overcome its image as an economic laggard and a wasteland for career women. Television advertisements featuring her have run on CNN and the BBC. She’s been lauded by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (no relation) for showcasing Japan’s strengths abroad and symbolizing why the country needs to promote more women in a workforce where less than 5 percent of managers are female. The irony is that Abe, 51, had to leave Japan. After overseeing construction safety on Indian metro projects for seven years, she’s been…
Tsitsi Masiyiwa Founder and Co-Chair, Higherlife Foundation
Mrs Tsitsi Masiyiwa is an African philanthropist and social entrepreneur who has devoted much of her life to empowering disadvantaged children through education and…
The Role of USAID in Meeting Women-related SDG Goals
After the Millennium development goals (MDG’s) ran for its stipulated number of years, the United Nations in 2015 came up with the Sustainable Development…
How to Deal with a Lazy Spouse
By: Dave Willis One of the most frustrating challenges in a marriage happens when one spouse is doing the majority of the work and…
Gender Equality in Tanzania
By: John Namkwahe Ismail Mohammed, 35, a resident of Mkunwa in Mtwara rural district and a peasant farmer of cassava and cashewnuts, had never…
The Sensational Story of Randa Abdou- CEO/Chief Strategy & Creative Officer, Creative Lab Group Egypt
Despite the challenges women in the middle east have faced trying to do the things they love best, there are some who have defied…
Gambia’s First Female Presidential Candidate Calls on Jammeh ‘to go’
Gambia’s first-ever female presidential candidate recently said it was time for President Yahya Jammeh “to go”, promising to rejoin the Commonwealth community and set…
India: Supreme Court Orders Blocking of Online Pre-natal Gender Testing Adverts
Google, Yahoo and Microsoft will block online ads for gender determination tools in India, following an order by the country’s top court. India’s health…
UN-Women Launches Report Spotlighting Gender Equality in Global Universities
On the sidelines of the 71st United Nations General Assembly, UN Women have recently unveiled a report by 10 global universities that lays out…
Gaza holds First International Seminar on Gender-based Violence
UN Women, with support of the Government of Japan, recently opened the first international seminar on “Gender-Based Violence in the humanitarian context of…
Demand for Inquiry into Police Abuse of Women May Embroil Mexico’s President
By: Azam Ahmed International human rights officials are demanding an investigation into the brutal sexual assaults of 11 Mexican women during protests a…
Dr. Dalya Al Muthanna- President& Chief Executive Officer, General Electric (GE) Gulf
Dr. Dalya Al Muthanna is the President/ CEO of General Electric (GE) Gulf. In her role, she develops the company’s business strategy for the…
