A Place Where Women Rule

The small community of Umoja, Kenya, is a unique experiment in social progress and gender equality. The town serves as a refuge for women and does not admit men, much to the chagrin of the latter. Umoja represents a new awareness among African women about AIDS, rape, spousal abuse, and the gaps in legal codes that allow such violations to go unpunished. Women are increasingly banding together and organizing in order to change laws and achieve real social change in their lives, as well as to change the minds of their fellow male citizens. International organizations like the United Nations are helping to spread knowledge about women's rights, but the real progress is being made by pioneering African women themselves. – YaleGlobal