HUMAN RIGHTS AND POETRY

A Study of Ugandan Women Poets: Susan Kiguli and Mildred Kiconco Barya By Shallon Maureen Atuhaire

"Human Rights and Poetry" is a study of the contribution made by Ugandan women poets and the extent to which these women writers have advocated for human rights beyond and above women’s rights in their society. 


The study focuses on the works of two distinguished women poets – Susan Kiguli's "The African Saga" and Mildred Kiconco Barya's "Men Eat Chocolates but They Don’t Say" and "The Price of Memory: after the tsunami." 

This writer identifies the human rights concerns addressed and lessons learned, examines the effectiveness of the stylistic devices used by the poets, and makes interesting conclusions regarding human rights advocacy in Kiguli and Barya’s poetry. 

Although the two poets differ in style, language use, and presentation, the study establishes that their contribution to the field of poetry and development of their society reaches well beyond the confines of women’s rights and cuts across almost all universal human rights concerns.

Available at http://www.amazon.com/Human-Rights-Poetry-Ugandan-Mildred/dp/3848413221

WORLD BANK GRANTS LOAN TO REPUBLIC OF BENIN

The World Bank



The World Bank has granted a loan amounting to six billion FCFA to the Republic of Benin to finance the country's development projects. 


The project is to lead to the development of the poorest communities to have basic socio-economic services and towards education, health, and water sectors.

The financing will also help carry out several activities within the framework of the initial project, particularly the strengthening of institutional capacities within communes and communities. 

The main purpose of the project, which was launched in 2005, is to promote the development of Benin's fragile infrastructure.

The project will be recognized to focus on the sectoral ministries, communes, and village communities to increase access of the poorest communities to the basic social and financial services.

Social and economic effects of teenage pregnancy

Unprotected sex quickly develops into pregnancy among teenagers


Teenage pregnancy has been a national phenomenon, affecting every country's economy, development, and educational sector. 


It was once thought to be a "Third World" problem, since poverty has been the main issue forcing underage girls to be mothers when they aren't ready in many poverty-stricken countries of Africa, South America, and Asia. 

But now it has been a major concern in Europe and even the United States of America.

The causes of teenage pregnancy vary considerably. For example, in Africa, young girls from rural areas who arrive in the cities to work or study without proper living conditions often end up in prostitution. 

Lack of education, without the awareness of dangers in sex, contributes to teenage pregnancy at a very fast rate.

In Asia, Africa, and in some developed countries, girls plagued by financial difficulties readily take men for money and, within a short period, become pregnant, and they bear the responsibilities alone if the men do not accept the responsibility. 

Some girls who have reached their puberty believe that up to a certain stage in life, abstinence from sex could lead them to mental instability; thus, they are compelled to go for boyfriends.

Teenage pregnancy has a great effect in many ways. For example, it is the main cause of population growth, which leads to unemployment and accommodation problems. 

In Africa, teenage pregnancy puts pressure on schools and hospitals. Since a teenage mother is not a fully adult, she and her child stand at risk because the mother's reproductive organs are not fully mature.

Measures: To arrest the incidence of teenage pregnancy, there is a need to intensify education on this issue at all levels. The old customs of chiefs and other royal leaders in Africa, marrying underage girls, must be abolished. 

Finally, governments must take the impregnation of underage girls as a serious offense.