Challenges for Women in Africa and Opportunities for Regional Response - Migration is a reality of human existence and has been since the dawn of humanity. For some people it readily opens up opportunities for a 'better life' while for others it presents challenges and often ends in extremely negative outcomes. Women, especially of African origins are doubly challenged. This lecture examines these challenges and proposes responses the African Union and individual states can take to enhance the probabilities of more positive migration outcomes for women of Africa.
Victoria Ijeoma Nwogu is the Rule of Law and Gender Advisor of the UNDP Access to Justice Programme in Sierra Leone. She has worked with the ILO and UNIFEM in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia prior to joining the UNDP Sierra Leone Country Programme. A lawyer with a Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from the prestigous Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria, Victoria has 10 years work experience in programming for non-profit organizations on human rights, with a special focus on human trafficking and migration, gender equality and women’s empowerment, disability rights and development. She has spent much of her professional life working on numerous initiatives to enhance the economic, social and legal status of Nigerian women and children. Victoria has conducted research on diverse human rights issues and contributed to various publications and conferences within the human rights community in Nigeria and abroad on gender and migration, human trafficking and women’s rights generally.