Fighting in North and South Kivu provinces in the DRC has led to massive displacement, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Photo: UNHCR/G. Ramazani June 2012 – The Security Council today strongly condemned the recent mutiny by renegade soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as well as the killing and abuse of civilians, mostly women and children, by armed groups operating in the eastern part of the country.The eastern provinces of North and South Kivu … [Read more...]
UN Women working towards a sustainable future
June 7, 2012 by
Women play a central role in advancing sustainable development. Everyday women take decisions that impact sustainable development—be it the use of land, water, energy, or forests or through their contributions to their families and the economy. If they have equal access to resources and opportunities and are part of the decision-making processes, women can become drivers of sustainable development. In partnership with women, their communities, and grassroots organizations, UN Women supports many … [Read more...]
Zimbabwe, women with HIV leading change, claiming their rights
June 6, 2012 by
As a woman with deteriorating health due to HIV, Phillipa Marisa, 60, used to agonize over the legacy that she would leave her children. Since her husband’s death from AIDS she had become dispossessed from her property in Hopley Farm, Harare, faced discord within her family, and had fierce arguments with her in-laws. Yet she found support and solace in a programme that connects HIV-affected women with their property and inheritance rights, and with each other. “They taught us women to … [Read more...]
Egypt, Human Chain against Sexual Harassment – “I Wish” … “Nefsi”
June 2, 2012 by
“I wish I could walk around without being hurt by inappropriate words.” On a Wednesday in May 2012, inspired by snowballing social media discussions on sexual harassment in Egypt, a group of independent activists took the conversation to an offline public. They aimed to build support in Cairo and beyond, using the most simple of approaches: the country’s first ‘human chain’ against sexual harassment. In line with the global UN project, “Safe Cities”, which works to make cities and … [Read more...]
Philanthropic Groups Partner to Increase Education
June 2, 2012 by
A group of philanthropic organizations are forming a partnership to provide up to $5 million for efforts to increase the participation, quality, and relevance of secondary education for marginalized children, especially girls, in developing countries. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The MasterCard Foundation, Douglas B. Marshall Jr. Family Foundation and an anonymous donor will identify and support innovative initiatives that provide learning opportunities and life and … [Read more...]
What is going to happen in Rio?
June 1, 2012 by
What has in the past and what is going to happen in Rio 2012? Rio+20: from environment to sustainable development To grasp the background and stakes of Rio+20, it is useful to have a look at the Stockholm-to-Rio continuum of the Conferences, and to go through some key milestones in the long march that gave birth to international agreements on sustainable development. How did we move from Environment to Sustainable Development, what are the consequences of this move, and where … [Read more...]
NIGERIA – Women Taking Action to protect families from malnutrition
May 31, 2012 by
GARIN GOULBI, Niger, 29 May 2012 – In Garin Goulbi, a small village more than 500 kilometres from Niger’s capital, women have taken the lead in protecting their families and community during the country’s dire food security and nutrition crisis, which has left more than six million people across Niger facing food shortages. According to UN experts, successive droughts in 2005, 2010 and now 2012 have pushed families to the brink. UNICEF and the Government of Niger recognized that families … [Read more...]
Sahely Ferdous, Superintendent in 100% Female Formed Police Unit, Haiti
May 30, 2012 by
Sahely Ferdous, Superintendent in the Bangladesh Formed Police Unit, Haiti The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, commemorated each year on 29 of May, is an occasion to salute the 120,000 peacekeepers serving in 17 missions in some of the world’s most volatile and dangerous environments. In the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the Bangladeshi contingent is composed entirely of women. Leading by example, the 102 women contribute to restoring … [Read more...]
World Pulse is Taking Action for RIO +20 – Submit Your Story !!!
May 29, 2012 by
Advise World Leaders on What Sustainable and Equitable Development Means to YOU In partnership with the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), World Pulse is collecting personal stories outlining women’s experiences and recommendations on sustainable and equitable development for presentation at the Rio +20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. How Can My Voice Be Included? SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Log in to your PulseWire account. Not a … [Read more...]
Egyptian women cast votes and rally for their country’s future
May 26, 2012 by
“Even if I am not going to live for very much longer, I am voting for the future of my grandchildren.” So states one elderly lady as she waits in front of a polling station in Cairo, voicing the hope and resolve of a nation going to the polls. Over 50 million voters are eligible for Egypt’s 2012 presidential elections, the first since the country’s inspiring revolution, and of them, 23 million are women. Recent UN Women’s analysis has shown that 90.3 per cent of women surveyed are willing … [Read more...]
