Chissana Magalhães is a journalist from Cabo Verde who reports on gender equality issues regularly. Since undergoing a training programme through UN Women, she feels that the media has the responsibility to report on gender and human rights issues and stories can change lives.

In Cabo Verde, more than a quarter of all employed women (26 per cent) are domestic workers, many of whom work without contracts, without recognition as formal workers and the social protections that come with formal jobs. For instance, domestic workers are unable to enrol in the National Institute of Social Security and do not have access to pensions when they retire or health coverage for them and their children.

Helen Tavares knew she was different, but it took her a long time to accept her own sexual and gender identity because of societal pressure and expectations. Although homosexuality is legal in Cape Verde, LGBT people suffer discrimination and violence. Same sex marriages are not recognized and there is rampant discrimination against LGBT people in employment and housing.

After spending four years serving UN Women in Cape Verde, Programme Officer Maritza Rosabal 59, has been appointed as the country’s new Minister of Education, Family and Social Inclusion.

Adelsia de Jesus Almeida Duarte is a Professor for gender and local development at the Cape Verdean Institute for Social and Legal Sciences in Praia and a passionate advocate for women’s rights who has worked with human rights and development NGOs. She speaks to UN Women about the specific challenges her country faces and what she expects from the upcoming SIDS conference.

A group of motorcycle buffs joined forces with Harley-Davidson Johannesburg and UN Women in a novel initiative to raise awareness about violence against women and girls. Over 16 days, they rode 8,200 km, across Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.