by Metolo Foyet On the occasion of pride month, when time wore the colours of early June, an article by Monica Islam sparked a discussion about the evolving 2SLGBTQIA+ community and the controversies surrounding gender and sexuality in different cultural contexts. A notable incident occurred in Bangladesh, where references to the hijra community in grade 7 textbooks …

Homophobia in Africa: A Colonial Construct and Its Legal Fabrication Read More »

by Lilian Efobi Across the Commonwealth, young activists like Malala Yousafzai, Vanessa Nakate,  Kelvin Doe, Bindi Karia, Ayakha Melithafa, Alika Kinan, Anote Tong, Sonika Manandhar and Rinu Oduala are using their voices and actions to cause positive changes in their communities and beyond. In recent times, the organization, mobilization, and implementation of social movements have …

From Protest to Policy: How Gen Z is Revolutionizing Governance Reforms Read More »

by Monica Islam The Corona pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns were very depressing for me as I am someone who is accustomed to going outdoors and spending some time amidst nature. I am not very addicted to social media and other technological gadgets (although they help in beating boredom and loneliness to some extent). During …

Bangladesh – A Nation Incarcerated Read More »

by Similoluwa Ifedayo A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a great friend of mine, and he unconsciously opened my eyes to a few things I had been getting wrong while addressing some social issues like gender inequality, bad leadership, and poor youth involvement in power, among other things. However, this article centres …

Equality or Equity: Why 50/50 Isn’t the Goal Read More »

by Ruhamah Ifere As a young woman, I have been greatly inspired by three Nigerian SHEroes who fought gallantly for the rights of women, regardless of the opposition they faced. They each took up the responsibility for enabling other women and girls to achieve a shared purpose – Women’s voting rights, freedom from illegal tax, …

The Labour of Our SHEroes Past – Let It Never Be In Vain Read More »

by Duncan Gaswaga Freedom of speech, often considered the cornerstone of any democracy, is the liberty to express opinions without censorship, restraint or legal penalty. Today it is considered a fundamental human right and is included by multiple countries in their constitutions, one of the most famous being the First Amendment of the United States …

Is Free Speech Truly Free? Read More »

by Monica Islam Would you like your children to learn about ABCD in their schools or about LGBT? I request you to let that question sink in before you read any further. As the world is celebrating the LGBT Pride Month, I decided to report on the LGBT scene in Bangladesh. Recent Developments in Bangladesh …

From ABCD to LGBT Read More »

by Karishma Arora Sit idle no more. Go, get education. End misery of the oppressed and forsaken. You have got a golden chance to learn. Savitribai Phule These are the words from the pen of the pioneer of women’s education in India. Uneducated at the time of her marriage, Phule was religiously taught by her …

Breaking Barriers: Empowering Minds Through Inclusive Education Read More »

by Lilian Efobi Investing in quality education for all, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic background, must remain a top priority for all Commonwealth nations, for quality education is cornerstone of progress, and our collective future depends on harnessing its transformative power. Nigerian Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman Investment in education isn’t confined to …

One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Commonwealth Through Education Read More »