The Generation Equality Forum which was held in Paris and virtually, concluded with bold gender equality commitments, including the launch of a global 5-year action journey, and US$40billion in investment pledges, to help accelerate gender equality and end injustice against women by 2026.  Here is a roundup. (Photo: UN Women/Fabrice Gentile)

The Generation Equality Forum took place between 30 June – 2 July, and engaged nearly 50,000 people across the globe. The much-heralded event saw the launch of a Global Acceleration Plan for Gender Equality designed by six Action Coalitions – multi-stakeholder partnerships that have identified the most critical actions required to achieve gender equality in areas from gender-based violence and technology to economic and climate justice.

The Forum also launched a Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action, and announced new gender equality initiatives focused on health, sports, culture, and education.

US$40billion confirmed investments

Moving forward, the Forum’s action-oriented agenda will be under-written by nearly US$40billion of confirmed investments as well as ambitious policy and programme commitments from governments, philanthropy, civil society, youth organizations and the private sector.

The monumental conclusion comes at a critical moment as the world assesses the disproportionate and negative impact that COVID-19 has had on women and girls. Gender equality advocates have pressed for gender-responsive stimulus and recovery plans to ensure that women and girls are not left behind as the world re-builds. 

 Among many other high profile speakers at the event, US Vice President Kamala Harris said in remarks via video link: “I believe, as you all do, that addressing gender equity and equality is essential to addressing every other challenge we face, which is certainly true in light of the current threats to democracy…Around the world, democracy is in peril.  Strong men have become stronger…as we move forward, I believe that if we want to strengthen democracy, we must fight for gender equality. ” 
 
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, herself a former and only female Vice President of South Africa, said: “The Generation Equality Forum marks a positive, historic shift in power and perspective. Together we have mobilized across different sectors of society, from south to north, to become a formidable force, ready to open a new chapter in gender equality.”

 She added: “The Forum’s ecosystem of partners – and the investments, commitments and energy they are bringing to confront the greatest barriers to gender equality – will ensure faster progress for the world’s women and girls than we have seen before.”

UN Women will maintain a critical role driving the Forum’s 5-year action journey, overseeing the implementation of commitments to ensure accountability and progress over the next five years. 
The US$40billion investment, represent a major step-change in resourcing for women’s and girls’ rights. Lack of financing is widely understood to be a major reason for slow progress in advancing gender equality and in enacting the women’s rights agenda of the milestone 1995 Beijing Conference.

By the close of the Forum, governments and public sector institutions had committed to US$21Billion in gender equality investments, the private sector US$13billion, and Philanthropy US$4.5billion. UN entities, international and regional organizations committed an aggregate of US$1.3billion.

In addition to these bold investments, many organizations made strong policy and program commitments, including 440 civil society organizations and 94 youth-led organizations. Forum organizers expect that the approximately 1,000 commitment-makers confirmed to date will be joined by many others over the next five years.

A roster of commitments

Also unveiled were a wide range of commitments from every sector, with examples including:

• The United States Government’s commitment to a range of significant policies and investment requests including an investment of USD 1 Billion to support programmes to end violence against women, and USD 175 Million to prevent and respond to gender-based violence globally
• The expansion of the Global Alliance for Care, initiated by the Government of Mexico and UN Women. This now includes over 39 countries; for example, the Government of Canada’s commitment of USD 100 Million to address inequalities in the care economy globally, as a parallel to significant investment in its own care system
• The Government of Burkina Faso’s work with Benin, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Togo to develop shared commitments related to family life education; free care for pregnant women and children under five years; and pursuing legal and social change to end gender-based violence, including FGM and child marriage 
• The Malala Fund’s commitment to provide at least USD 20 Million in feminist funding to girls education activists 
• P&G’s commitment to advance women’s economic justice and rights through its global value chain by spending USD 10 Billion with women-owned and women-led businesses through 2025
• The Government of Bangladesh’s pledge to increase women’s participation in the ICT sector, including the tech start-up and e-commerce sector, to 25 per cent by 2026 and 50 per cent by 2041. 
• PayPal’s commitment of USD 100 Million to advance women’s economic empowerment
• Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia’s commitment to collaborate with Caribbean NGOs to advocate for the recognition of the LGBTQI+ community and to undertake region-wide legislative reform to minimize discrimination and victimization 
• Open Society Foundation’s commitment of at least USD 100 million  over five years to fund feminist political mobilization and leadership

Reflecting on the Forum, African Union Goodwill Ambassador on Ending Child Marriage Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, said, “This week, I relived the experience of 1995, when I was a young women’s rights activist at the Beijing Conference. The COVID-19 context and other barriers are now an even greater inspiration for innovation, solidarity and inclusion. I am grateful for the commitments made this week. Now it’s time to invest in girls and young women even more – for resources to reach rural and marginalized communities, for technology for public good and available to all, and for Member States’ greater accountability to human rights of women and girls.”

Aviwe Gxotiwe, an award-winning farmer from the Eastern Cape, has big dreams – not only for his farm but for his community and his country. He wants Africa to take its rightful place under the sun. Talk is cheap, but Lindiwe Sithole, host of African Farming Season 2, discovers Gxotiwe is the real deal. He invests much time and effort into helping his farm workers to upskill. 

One of the main reasons Aviwe Gxotiwe wants to grow the business is to create more opportunities for those who have been forgotten by society. Because business is his passion, he has a unique approach to farming and values partnerships and networking. “I want to build a bright future for my children,” he says.

He knows the importance of this groundwork, as his own father created opportunities for him to realise his full potential. 

Praveen Dwarika, managing director at Lemang Agricultural Services, is impressed by Gxotiwe’s approach. “I am so glad he realised the value of formal and informal training. Never underestimate the importance of both,” he says during an expert panel discussion on the show. “Good education is critically important in uplifting others.” 

Dwarika says South Africa has embraced a new type of training that focuses on classroom activities as well as on practical training. “To make this a winning strategy, mentorship should play just as important a role in training.”

He says that while one can have a good academic foundation, learning from experts is even more valuable. “That is where the secrets really lie and I strongly encourage farmers to become mentors.” 

Dwarika also urges farmers to have conversations with their peers and choose a mentor for them. “Don’t be afraid to have an open conversation with those in the industry and seek out key opinion leaders in your area. Use every opportunity you have to share and gain valuable information.” 

By Sara Brown Professor of Molecular and Genetic Dermatology

Skin is our largest organ and something we may take for granted when it’s healthy. As an academic dermatologist, I frequently hear misleading “facts” that seem to be stubbornly enduring. Here are some of the most commonly shared myths that can be cleared up immediately, and some truths you can rely on.

Skin constantly renews itself

TRUE The skin provides a dynamic barrier between your body’s internal environment and the outside world. Cells called keratinocytes in the epidermis (the outer layer of skin) are constantly dividing to produce a supply of cells that move up through this layer and are shed from its surface. Skin is a rich source of stem cells with the capacity to divide and renew themselves.

Drink two litres of water a day for healthy skin

FALSE The amount of water you drink does not directly affect your skin. Water is supplied to the skin by blood flowing through the dermis, the inner layer of skin; water is lost from the epidermis, especially in a dry environment.

Water is needed to maintain skin hydration and when you become seriously dehydrated your skin appears dull and is less elastic. In a healthy person the internal organs – kidneys, heart and blood vessels – control the amount of water reaching the skin. There is no fixed volume of water that you need to drink, it simply depends on the amounts you are using and losing.

Stress can make skin unhealthy

TRUE There are many health issues in modern life that we blame on stress, but several skin conditions have been shown in scientific studies (see below), to be worsened by life events, possibly via stress hormones including cortisol (a steroid hormone made in the adrenal glands). Notable examples are alopecia areata, an auto-immune condition where the body’s immunity begins to attack the hair follicles, causing hair to fall out; psoriasis, another auto-immune condition that causes skin thickening, scaling and inflammation; and eczema, itchy red skin inflammation often occurring alongside asthma, hay fever and other allergies. Unfortunately, a flare-up of these skin conditions is exactly what you don’t need when you are feeling stressed or under pressure.

Eating chocolate causes acne

FALSE Acne vulgaris, the common “teenage” acne which can actually persist into your 30s and 40s, occurs as a result of the interaction between hormonal effects on grease glands in the skin, plus the skin’s immune response to blocked pores and microbes living on the skin.

Eating a high-fat diet is unhealthy for many reasons, but it doesn’t cause acne. In fact, some tablets prescribed for severe acne such as oral isotretinoin are better absorbed when pills are swallowed with a fatty meal – and that could include chocolate.

Washing powder causes eczema

FALSE Eczema is a condition where the skin is dry, itchy and red. It is caused by a combination of genetic factors (how your skin is made) and environmental effects, leading to inflammation. Soap, detergents and washing powders can irritate the skin and contribute to dryness because they remove oil from the skin (just as washing-up liquid removes grease from your dishes). Biological washing powders contain enzymes – proteins that break down fats and other proteins to remove stains – and these can irritate sensitive skin, so they may worsen eczema. It is important that any washing power is thoroughly rinsed out of clothing before it is worn, to avoid skin irritation.

White marks on nails = calcium deficiency

FALSE Nails are manufactured in the nail matrix, an area under the skin at the top edge of your nail. If the matrix is traumatised, bumped or bitten, an irregularity in the developing nail occurs and air can become trapped. This appears as a white mark as the nail grows out. Calcium is important for healthy nails (as well as bones and teeth) but these white marks are not a sign of deficiency.

Sunshine is good for you

TRUE & FALSE Many people have experienced the feel-good factor of a sunny day, but there are good and bad effects of sunlight. Light from the sun includes a mixture of different wavelengths of light: some are visible to the human eye, some are shorter than the colours we can see – these are called ultraviolet (UV) – and some are longer, the infrared. Different wavelengths have different effects on skin.

UVB is used by skin to manufacture vitamin D which is essential for bone health. Without sun exposure this vitamin must be obtained from the diet. Dermatologists use specific wavelengths of UVA and UVB in carefully controlled doses to reduce skin inflammation, a valuable treatment for some skin conditions.

But when the skin is exposed to too much UV it can damage the skin cells’ DNA, leading to uncontrolled growth – the basis of cancer. As a simple rule, unless you have a disease or treatment that suppresses your immune system, sunshine is good for you in moderation, but always avoid getting sunburned.

Keep it simple

The basic principles of keeping skin healthy are mainly common sense. You should wash your skin regularly to remove dirt, but not so much that you remove the essential moisture and water-proofing substances. Use a moisturiser if your skin feels tight or dry – a greasy ointment works best unless you have acne-prone skin, in which case you should use a non-greasy water-based cream. Avoid stress if possible, eat a healthy diet and drink water when you feel thirsty. And finally, protect your skin from too much sun with a hat and clothing or sunscreen.

Sara Brown, Professor of Molecular & Genetic Dermatology, Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow, University of Dundee

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

(Photo credit: Shutterstock)

Aviwe Gxotiwe, the chairperson of Soutvlei Farming, welcomed Lindiwe Sithole, host of African Farming Season 2, to the farm and shares with her his big plans to expand the business further. 

Aviwe Gxotiwe is a third-generation farmer who gave up a career in law to invest in the family farm. He manages the sheep and lucerne farm from afar, believing that this strategy gives him an advantage, as he gets a bird’s eye view of the business.

He says it gives him the opportunity to focus on the finer details of developing a successful business plan that would otherwise be lost in the day-to-day struggles of running a farm. That is why he appointed an experienced farm manager to help him. 

Farm manager Bertus van Vuuren says he enjoys sharing new ideas with Gxotiwe, as their relationship is built on mutual respect. “We like to share opinions, but in the end we come up with a plan that benefits the farm,” he explains.

Sheep are among the most efficient of all the domestic animals, therefore meat and wool production were a good fit for the Gxotiwe family. A sheep enterprise must be well managed to be profitable, especially when it comes to the feeding needs of the animals. 

Dr Francois van de Vyver, the National Technical Manager at Voermol Feeds, says sheep farming primarily revolves around the livestock’s seasonal needs. Sheep are short-day breeders, with the highest conception rates occurring in autumn.

“Farmers should build their feeding programme around the major occurrences or seasons of a sheep’s breeding cycle. This includes the breeding season, which naturally falls in the autumn months or typically in other seasons of the year if technology such as synchronisation or teaser rams are used; the lambing season; and the weaning season. With each period a sheep’s feeding requirements change, and farmers should use the necessary complementary supplementation to make sure their nutritional needs for the specific periods are met.” 

Dr Van de Vyver believes that to grow a livestock business like this to its full potential, it is not only important to select animals with good genetic potential but also to manage their nutritional requirements optimally so that they perform according to their genetic potential and produce quality wool and meat products.