New Delhi, June 9 -- No country in Africa has achieved gender equality as there are still socioeconomic, political and cultural obstacles that have and are continuously hindering women's rights and empowerment, according to an analysis by Raoul Wallenberg Institute, a research and academic institution.

The obstacles facing Africa in this regard include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, adverse government policies, maternal mortality and detrimental cultural practices like female genital mutilation (FGM) and early forced marriages.

In Uganda, incidents of gender-based violence surged during the COVID-19 lockdown, increasing from about 2,386 in 2019 to roughly 8,203 in 2020. Maternal mortality continues to be a major hindrance to real...