On the eve of South Sudan’s independence, UNESCO has called on the international community to act with a greater sense of urgency and resolve in supporting the development of a national education system. UNESCO calls on international community to deliver an education peace premium in South Sudan In a Policy Paper launched today in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, the UN agency documents the scale of educational deprivation across much of the country. Over 1 million primary school age … [Read more...]
Maternal Health Thematic Fund is Taking Action!
June 18, 2011 by
Maternal Health: Reviewing Progress and Looking Ahead UNITED NATIONS, New York — Donors, representing both governments and the private sector, today joined UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin and staff to review major achievements made possible by the Maternal Health Thematic Fund in 2010. The thematic fund supports high-impact and low-cost investments in countries with the greatest burden of maternal death and injury. UNFPA launched the Maternal Health Thematic Fund in 2008 to … [Read more...]
“Son preference” Perpetuates Discrimination/Violations of Women’s Rights
June 16, 2011 by
14 June 2011 Five United Nations agencies have banded together to call for urgently addressing gender-biased sex selection favouring boys, a common practice in many parts of South, East and Central Asia that they say fuels a culture of discrimination and violence. "Sex selection in favour of boys is a symptom of pervasive social, cultural, political and economic injustices against women, and a manifest violation of women's human rights," says a statement issued by the agencies, which have … [Read more...]
Worldwide 215 million children engaged in child labour, Take Action!
June 16, 2011 by
Preventing hazardous child labour in agriculture Worldwide 215 million children are engaged in child labour, and of these 115 million are involved in what is considered to be hazardous work. Agriculture is the sector where the largest share of child labourers is found - a staggering 60 percent of boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 17. Today, much of our food and drink, as well as the raw material we use to make other products, are produced by child labour. Child labour in … [Read more...]
Colombia: Wayuu Gold, Fighting for Access to Fresh Water
June 16, 2011 by
Colombia: Wayuu Gold, Fighting for Access to Fresh Water In some parts of the world it's as rare as gold — and getting a hold of some, nearly impossible. To one of Colombia's largest indigenous groups indigenous groups, Wayuu, that gold is fresh water. Soon their water will be siphoned from Wayuu lands through new pipes to a nearby town, where the population is not indigenous. As struggles for ethnic rights, such as access to water, are recreated across the country, the community deals … [Read more...]
Being the Change – La Sirena Retreats and Micro-Finance Programs
June 2, 2011 by
Being the Change – La Sirena Retreats and Micro-Finance Programs – My name is Janice and I want to change the world. I’m a stubborn idealist, often called radical, and I have been this way for all of this life, and I’m quite sure in many of my past incarnations. Ecuador has been a very special place for me since I arrived from Canada in 2006, and although I was already on the path to great change, those changes have been happening quickly and often since I arrived here. I arrived … [Read more...]
BOLIVIA: Communal Banks extend credit, Empower Women
June 1, 2011 by
Communal banks extend credit, empower women and build equity in rural Bolivia Communal banks extend credit, empower women and build equity in rural Bolivia POCOATA, Bolivia, 23 May 2011 – It takes money to make money. Just ask Pilar Rueda, 38, a Quechua mother of two from this remote rural town in the Bolivian department of Potosí. She and much of her community have lifted themselves out of extreme poverty through ‘Bancos Comunales’ – Communal Banks – an innovative project developed by … [Read more...]
UNESCO to launch Global Partnership for Girls’ and Women’s Education
May 26, 2011 by
UNESCO to launch ... Global Partnership for Girls’ and Women’s Education © Ian Berry/MAGNUM photos/"Better life, better future" Initiative. A Global Partnership for Girls’ and Women’s Education will be launched at a high level forum to be held at UNESCO Headquarters on Thursday 26 May (13:30h Room I) UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova will welcome participants to the event, followed by opening remarks from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United States Secretary … [Read more...]
Food For Thought …
May 21, 2011 by
Food for Thought ... The world produces enough food for everyone. (..) School meals, therefore, don’t only tackle hunger and nutrition; they benefit education, gender inequality and broader development issues (..). The idea is so simple, but hugely effective and the World Programme (WTP) knows this: it is the biggest provider of school meals in the world, and in 2008 it fed 22.6 million children across 68 countries in the developing world. The world produces enough food for … [Read more...]
Southern Cone: Economic Rights for Women
May 11, 2011 by
A Celebration of Women is pleased to share the following VIDEO, outlining the challenges of the Women of our Southern Hemisphere. SPANISH, with English Sub-title. Southern Cone: Economic Rights for Women The countries of the Southern Cone have distinct economic realities. When the issue is women and labor markets, they have something in common. Women have less secure jobs, receive lower wages and generally work in the informal sector. Produced by TV Brasil International … [Read more...]
UN- Say NO–UNiTE Celebrates the Two Million Mark!
May 10, 2011 by
Say NO–UNiTE has crossed two million actions in just 18 months, marking two million signs of commitment to ending violence against women and girls. People from all over the world have added their actions. Together, they showcase the growing global community of people dedicated to stopping one of the most pervasive violations of women’s rights. It is time to highlight some noteworthy recent actions to celebrate how much is being achieved – and gain hope and new resources for how much more we can … [Read more...]
PANAMA – 17 year old girl finds Hope at Movimiento Nueva Generación
May 7, 2011 by
A community centre inspires an adolescent girl to become an agent of change in Panama By Tamar Hahn PANAMA CITY, Panama, 5 May 2011 – Dalys Perez, 17, was seeking a positive influence in her life after her mother went to prison. Living in El Chorillo, a crime-ridden neighbourhood of Panama City, it was difficult to escape from violence. Then Dalys found her way to Movimiento Nueva Generación, a community-based organization that has changed her life. VIDEO ONLINE ONLY … [Read more...]
PERU: IFAD Innovations in Latin America and the Caribbean
May 6, 2011 by
IFAD: Innovations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Case of Peru Day 1. Quequeña Getting together It was 6am when we left Lima and the salty breeze of the coast to fly towards Arequipa, over 2000 metres in the Southern Highlands of Peru. Here our journey begins, a one week Learning Route that will guide us through the rural areas of the Arequipa Department offering the opportunity to learn from the successful experiences supported by the SIERRA SUR … [Read more...]
UNFPA: Statement by Ms. Purnima Mane, Deputy Executive Director
May 6, 2011 by
Calling for Greater Attention to Family Planning “Family Planning: Key to Saving Lives” Statement by Ms. Purnima Mane, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director (Programme), at Commission on Population and Development side-event; “Family Planning: Key to Saving Lives” " Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Colleagues and friends, Good afternoon and thank you for joining us today at this very important event. Seventeen years ago, in Cairo, 179 … [Read more...]
