Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Kurdistan today (22 June) banned the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a procedure that has no health benefits harms girls and women in many ways. By a large margin, the parliament of Iraqi Kurdistan passed a law criminalizing the practice in the region. FGM involves removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissue, and interferes with the natural functions of girls' and women's bodies. It is recognized internationally as a … [Read more...]
Women’s & Children’s Rights~What's it like to be a woman or girl today?
June 28, 2011 by
Women’s and Children’s Rights: Making the Connection UNICEF and UNFPA launched a joint publication, ‘Women’s and Children’s Rights: Making the Connection,’ with a panel session during the 55th session of the CSW focusing on tensions and synergies between the rights of women and children. UNICEF’s mission is to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF aims, through its country … [Read more...]
UN Launches Initiative to Make Cities Safer for Women and Children
June 24, 2011 by
UN Launches Initiative to Make Cities Safer for Women and Children United Nations, New York — UNICEF, UN-HABITAT and UN Women launch “Safe and Friendly Cities for All,” a five-year programme that aims at making women and children feel safer in their local neighbourhoods, while improving their quality of life. This partnership initiative builds on prior experience that all three organizations have accumulated on preventing gender-based violence, using innovative tools for child and … [Read more...]
UNESCO calls on international community … peace premium in South Sudan
June 23, 2011 by
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...]
It’s Hurricane Season: Prepare to Keep Food Safe
June 13, 2011 by
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services cares for the Women of Our World, and the following LINK will offer anyone in need some amazing sites and tools to prepare for this 2011 HURRICANE SEASON. We have seen so much disaster in our neighbouring countries, as well as our own, so please......GET PREPARED. As the national education advisor for food safety at FDA, I’m responsible for getting the word out about keeping food safe, particularly during disasters. And, of all the natural … [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...]
Amnesty International Annual Report 2011 – United Kingdom
May 22, 2011 by
Amnesty International Annual Report 2011 - United Kingdom Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II Head of government: David Cameron (replaced Gordon Brown in May) Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes Population: 61.9 million Life expectancy: 79.8 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 6/6 per 1,000 An inquiry into allegations of UK involvement in torture and other human rights violations of people held overseas was announced. Key counter-terrorism powers were under review. The … [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...]
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...]
Suzanne Maloney: What Bin Laden's Death Means for Iran?
May 9, 2011 by
... effects on Iran ... What Bin Laden's Death Means for Iran? The death of Osama bin Laden highlights what a difference a decade makes, even for a country as seemingly unchanging as the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ten years ago, in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Iranians and their government responded with sympathetic outrage. Tehran was the scene of spontaneous candlelight vigils by ordinary Iranians and a temporary suspension of the weekly chants of “death to … [Read more...]
Suzanne Maloney: What Bin Laden’s Death Means for Iran?
May 9, 2011 by
... effects on Iran ... What Bin Laden's Death Means for Iran? The death of Osama bin Laden highlights what a difference a decade makes, even for a country as seemingly unchanging as the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ten years ago, in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Iranians and their government responded with sympathetic outrage. Tehran was the scene of spontaneous candlelight vigils by ordinary Iranians and a temporary suspension of the weekly chants of “death to … [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...]
