Andrea Landry, a proud representative of the Anishinaabe, one of the First Nations or indigenous people of North America, is at the UN for the first international expert group meeting for indigenous youth which wraps up on Thursday. Although she's pursuing a Masters in Communications and Social Justice at the University of Windsor in Canada, Andrea remains actively engaged in advocacy at home and abroad. Next month Andrea will travel to New Zealand to hold a teach-in about Idle No More, a … [Read more...]
“Eagle-Heart Woman,” Idle No More, a movement started by indigenous Canadians
DESA: Empowering people for social change
Empowering people for Social Change Promoting empowerment of people will be at the core when the Commission for Social Development convenes for its 51st session. “Empowering individuals and social groups requires a comprehensive set of policies and institutions. From education and health care to economic and social policy, activities that seek to empower people are expected to increase opportunities and improve people’s quality of life”, said Ms. Larysa Belskaya, Vice-Chair of the … [Read more...]
Challenges and hope for world’s indigenous youth
Indigenous Youth: Identity, Challenges and Hope The world has never faced such a large youth population as the one inhabiting the globe today, with about 40 per cent of the world population under the age of 25. With the recent economic crisis and high unemployment rates, there are many challenges facing today’s young generation. The world’s 67 million indigenous youth face even greater challenges, but have big hopes. To address these issues, indigenous youth experts from around the world … [Read more...]
World Leprosy Day (Jan 27) – Reaching Out in Love
World Leprosy Day is observed internationally on January 30 or its nearest Sunday to increase the public awareness of the Leprosy or Hansen's Disease. This day was chosen in commemoration of the death of Gandhi, the leader of India who understood the importance of leprosy. Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded diseases in the world. Many people would hazard a guess that leprosy is a disease that died out soon after Jesus’s time on earth. But three million people across the globe today are … [Read more...]
“Nourishing Bodies, Nourishing Minds”
In a bid to improve access to health care, nutrition and education for the world’s most underserved children, UNESCO is joining forces with the World Food Programme, UNICEF and the private sector to launch a three-year partnership, “Nourishing Bodies, Nourishing Minds,” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on 24 January 2013. This partnership comes in direct support to the UN Secretary-General’s, Global Education First Initiative aimed at galvanizing renewed international action … [Read more...]
“RISE above” – Celebrating MLK
"RISE above" - Celebrating MLK "An individual has not started living until he can RISE above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a person dedicated to equal rights and justice for all women and men, and someone who has inspired countless activists worldwide. As we near our own RISING on 14 February, we are reminded through Dr. King's … [Read more...]
HUMAN TRAFFICKING at it’s Worst, FBI reports
January 2013 National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month HUMAN TRAFFICKING ( in the West ) AT IT'S WORST, FBI reports Last month, a Kentucky cardiologist and his ex-wife pled guilty to recruiting a Bolivian woman to work as their domestic servant and holding her unlawfully for nearly 15 years. The couple took her passport, threatened her with deportation, and falsely promised that her wages were being put in a bank account. Trafficking in persons is a widespread form of … [Read more...]
“Access to Internet Is Life,” Say Women Around the World
JENSINE LARSEN, Founder of World Pulse ... For women globally, the Internet has become a lifeline to information, opportunities, and new found power. New data in the INTEL report called ‘Women and the Web,’ reveals how we can bridge the digital divide for women and unlock a massive wave of human potential. FULL REPORT HERE Every week, Ruun makes a dangerous night trek to an Internet café amidst sounds of sporadic gunfire in Somalia’s streets, braving harassment to access … [Read more...]
ILO reports, Domestic Workers Worldwide
Numbers of domestic workers have increased, but working benefits have not ... A domestic worker, also known as a servant, is a person who works within the employer's household. Domestic workers perform a variety of household services for an individual or a family, from providing care for children and elderly dependents to cleaning and household maintenance, known as housekeeping. Responsibilities may also include cooking, doing laundry and ironing, food shopping and other household errands. … [Read more...]
UN Women, Informal Justice Systems …
Informal Justice Systems: Charting a Course for Human Rights-based Engagement Author: Danish Institute for Human Rights Informal Justice Systems: Charting a Course for Human Rights-Based Engagement is a study that has been jointly commissioned by UNDP, UNICEF and UN Women. It is the first comprehensive assessment that has been conducted of informal justice systems and human rights protection. To enable more effective engagement that enhances access to justice and the protection of … [Read more...]
International death penalty law accepted by Saudi Arabia is ignored – Take Action!
January 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN independent experts and the world body’s human rights office today voiced their dismay over the execution of a young Sri Lankan domestic worker, Rizana Nafeek, in Saudi Arabia earlier this week. The Incident On 22 May 2005, while Rizana was feeding the child, he started choking. Panicking, she tried to soothe the child by rubbing his chest, neck and face, while shouting for help. Hearing her shouts the mother came running, but by … [Read more...]
“Women issues are world issues”
“Women issues are world issues,” Michelle Bachelet, the executive director of U.N. Women and former president of Chile, said recently. (..) Familiar issues like equal pay, workplace policies, family-work balance and political power haven’t gone away in the United States or anywhere else. Basic needs and basic rights remain elusive for many women in the developing world. And those issues, too, will not go away anytime soon. But more women in more regions of the world are stepping up … [Read more...]
50 Voices join WFP in celebrating 50 Years!
World Food Programme celebrates 50 Years !!! "50 Takes On Hunger" brought together 50 voices of influence from Hollywood star Hugh Jackman to news website editor Arianna Huffington to share their thoughts on hunger. Copyright: WFP Photolibrary The fight against hunger cannot be won alone. That’s why, 50 years after its founding, WFP gathered “50 Takes on Hunger” from leaders in the public and private sectors, from celebrities, athletes and academics, and from a school … [Read more...]
Ted Turner leads the way … ‘Resolutions to Keep’
Around this time of year, a lot of people are already struggling to keep some of the resolutions they made just a few days earlier. But some resolutions are too important to break. Fifteen years ago, Ted Turner made a bold commitment to DONATE $1 billion to help the United Nations tackle some of the world's biggest challenges. In the time since, his donation -- and the additional support and the resolution of partners like you -- have helped change countless lives through the work of … [Read more...]
Labor Exploitation is main cause of Human Trafficking, IOM
Labor exploitation is the main cause of human trafficking, according to a new report by the International Organization for Migration, (IOM). The report which looked into human trafficking trends showed that half of the human trafficking cases brought before the IOM for assistance in 2011 involved victims of labor exploitation. Spokesperson for the IOM Jumbe Omari Jumbe says the report, which collected information from more than 150 IOM missions showed that during the period, IOM provided … [Read more...]