Special Representative Margot Wallström presents the Secretary-General’s report on conflict-related sexual violence to the Security Council. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine The annual United Nations report documenting conflict-related sexual violence around the world today for the first time names some of the military forces, militia and other armed groups that are suspected of being among the worst offenders.The groups listed in the report include the Lord’s Resistance Army … [Read more...]
Lakshmi Puri, ‘Women in the World of Sports’
February 18, 2012 by
Women in the World of Sports Speech delivered by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri at the panel discussion on “Leadership Views on Women in the World of Sports,” at the 5th IOC World Conference on Women and Sport, Los Angeles, 17 February 2012. Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning to all of you. I would like to join other panellists in thanking the International Olympic Committee, the US Olympic Committee, and the Southern California Committee … [Read more...]
WOMEN globally talk about food insecurities in rural areas
February 17, 2012 by
Rural women speak out about food insecurity Today’s global food insecurity destabilizes rural communities all over the world, impeding their access to food and affecting their ability to earn a livelihood. In partnership with the Huairou Commission and WOCAN, FAO held a series of twenty one consultations with hundreds of women and men in Africa, Asia and Latin America to better understand the direct impacts of food security on their lives and those of their families. Today’s global food … [Read more...]
Women must be empowered to ‘create the future we want’
February 15, 2012 by
Women must be empowered to ‘create the future we want’ – Migiro Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine February 2012 – United Nations Member States must boost economic empowerment for women to help them realize the global community’s common goals, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro urged today, warning that gender discrimination around the world was still too widespread. “Too many countries still have discriminatory laws … [Read more...]
Rap Star 50 Cent: ‘Visit to Somali Refugee Camp Was Devastating’
February 11, 2012 by
American rap star Curtis Jackson, known to fans as 50 Cent, calls the sights he saw in a refugee camp in Somalia “devastating.” The United Nations World Food Program recently hosted Jackson on a tour of Somalia and Kenya so he could see the fight against hunger in the Horn of Africa. (..) Jackson spoke Thursday about a visit to the Kabasa camp in southern Somalia's Dolow region, where thousands have sought refuge from war and drought. Jackson said women and children risked everything just to … [Read more...]
Commitment to End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
February 7, 2012 by
Renewing Commitment to End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Message of UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, on the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Every year, over three million women and girls face the risk of genital mutilation and cutting. The practice has serious immediate and long-term health effects, and it is a clear violation of fundamental human rights. Worldwide, 100–140 million have already … [Read more...]
Ethiopia, Stop Forcing People Off Their Land!
February 3, 2012 by
Thousands of people are being forced out of their homes to make way for commercial agriculture.They receive little or no compensation for the loss of their land and homes, and are forced into villages without the basic facilities for new people. Stand up against this injustice! » Because of the timing of the relocations, at the beginning of the harvest, and because no food or health resources have been made available for these people, malnutrition, illness and starvation are becoming … [Read more...]
WOMAN of ACTION, Eve Ensler is Taking Action for Women of the Congo !
February 1, 2012 by
EVE ENSLER Takes Action for the Women of the Congo ! DOSHU, Congo — Zamuda Sikujuwa shuffles to a bench in the sunshine, pushes apart her thighs with a grimace of pain and pumps her fist up and down in a lewd-looking gesture to show how the militiamen shoved an automatic rifle inside her. The brutish act tore apart her insides after seven of the men had taken turns raping her. She lost consciousness and wishes now that her life also had ended on that day. The rebels from the … [Read more...]
Survivors Of Violence In South Sudan Tell Their Stories
February 1, 2012 by
Survivors Of Violence In South Sudan Tell Their Stories "We feel safe here," says Labakal Kalahin, an exhausted mother of four who lost one of her children while fleeing to the village of Pibor from the fighting which erupted late last year in South Sudan’s Jonglei State. She’s among tens of thousands of people driven from their homes by the fighting whom WFP is now moving to assist with food and basic necessities." Gumruk/Pibor - “We came here to look for food. Our … [Read more...]
Intel, UNFPA to Boost Health Workers’ Skills around the World
February 1, 2012 by
Intel and UNFPA to Boost Health Workers’ Skills around the World Collaboration will provide technological infrastructure to train midwives and health workers in selected developing countries UNITED NATIONS, New York/SANTA CLARA, California—The high number of unnecessary deaths during pregnancy and childbirth is unacceptable for Intel Corporation and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. In an effort to address that problem, Intel and UNFPA have announced a joint commitment … [Read more...]
DROUGHT takes our Women in Sahel Region of West Africa
January 31, 2012 by
DROUGHT takes our Women in the Sahel Region of West Africa For the third time in a decade, drought has returned to the Sahel region of West Africa bringing hunger to millions of people across the region. WFP is pre-positioning food assistance ahead of the annual lean season when the vulnerable – especially women and children – are most at risk of malnutrition. NIAMEY—Drought has hit the Sahel region this year just as many families are still in the … [Read more...]
Women in the Boardroom ~ ‘I am not one to usually rant,’
January 29, 2012 by
'I am not one to usually rant,' I am not one to usually rant, but a study just released by Watermark, a non-profit community of executive women, and the University of California at Davis Graduate School of Management enraged me. It revealed that in California, among the 400 largest public companies, only 10 percent of board seats were held by women—and more than 33 percent had no women on their boards at all. 'This isn’t just a California problem', says Watermark CEO Marilyn Nagel. She … [Read more...]
UN Women: Ms.Lakshmi Puri, ‘Zero Draft of the Rio+20 Outcome Document’
January 28, 2012 by
Ms.Lakshmi Puri, Deputy Executive Director UN Women, on the Zero Draft of the Rio+20 Outcome Document Posted on January 27 2012 | Deputy Director Lakshmi Puri | Exclude from Frontpage | Speeches and Statements Speech by Ms. Lakshmi Puri Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director UN Women at the initial consultations on the Zero Draft of the Rio+20 Outcome Document, New York, 25 January 2012. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, At the outset, I wish to … [Read more...]
