 Stamp Out Malnutrition

Rwanda

Malnutrition in Rwanda is still a challenge to the development of the country. Recent information from Rwanda's Health Ministry shows that a total of 16,000 families countrywide are undernourished. However, the government has rolled out an action plan to eliminate malnutrition within the next six months.

 Free Trade Area

Africa

Africa will target the establishment of a continental free trade area by 2017, said a document issued at the 18th Summit of the African Union (AU) in January. The AU has made a three-step plan in preparation for the ultimate target. Enhanced intra-African trade and deepened market integration can contribute significantly to sustainable economic growth, employment generation and poverty reduction, said the document.

 Food Standards

China

China will overhaul its current food safety standards, integrating new specifications and weeding out others in a move largely aimed at avoiding repetition and contradiction, said the Ministry of Health recently. By the end of 2015, the ministry will have basically completed its work on the mandatory contents of China's current 1,900 national food standards, and more than 3,000 food industrial standards.

 Women's Rights

Guinea

Guinea's Social Affairs Ministry has adopted a National Gender Policy document which is meant to protect the rights of women in the country. The document was drafted by a technical committee with financial support from the United Nations Development Program. Previous studies conducted in Guinea have shown that 70 percent of the women are victims of gender violence.