To mark International Women’s Day, UNESCO and the UIS have jointly released the World Atlas of Gender Equality in Education, which includes over 120 maps, charts and tables featuring a wide range of sex-disaggregated indicators. The vivid presentation of information and analysis calls attention to persistent gender disparities and the need for greater focus on girls’ education as a human right. The atlas illustrates the educational pathways of girls and boys and the … [Read more...]
Ethiopia by Task-Shifting Procedures, Saving Women’s Lives
March 2, 2012 by
Finding ways to deliver for women where doctors are in short supply TIGRAY REGION, Ethiopia — “We are all looking to you to be a window of hope to reduce the unnecessary death of mothers and newborns during pregnancy and delivery in rural Ethiopia,” said Dr.Tedros Adhanom, the Minister of Health, as he handed over degrees to the first graduates at Ayder Hospital of his country’s programme in Integrated Emergency Surgery and Obstetrics. The first graduating class of the new … [Read more...]
US Aims to Empower World’s Women Farmers
March 2, 2012 by
U.S. aid officials are launching a new way to measure whether their efforts to empower women farmers are working. Women make up nearly half the agricultural workforce in sub-Saharan Africa and East and Southeast Asia, but women’s farm production tends to lag behind their male counterparts. Women face a number of obstacles that men do not. They tend to own less land and have fewer rights to that land. They have less access to credit and training. And they have less input in … [Read more...]
UNFPA, Launch of First-Ever Global Map of Devastating Childbirth Injury
March 1, 2012 by
Launch of First-Ever Global Map of Devastating Childbirth Injury SANTA BARBARA, CA/ SAN JOSE, CA/ UNITED NATIONS, New York—The largest and most comprehensive map of available services for women living with obstetric fistula was launched today by Direct Relief International, the Fistula Foundation, and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. The release of the Global Fistula Map, a major step forward in understanding the landscape of worldwide treatment capacity for … [Read more...]
WOMAN of ACTION – Dr. Phyllis Chesler on Michael Coren Show
March 1, 2012 by
Dr. Phyllis Chesler on Michael Coren Show To combat the epidemic of honor killings requires understanding what makes these murders unique. They differ from plain and psychopathic homicides, serial killings, crimes of passion, revenge killings, and domestic violence. Their motivation is different and based on codes of morality and behavior that typify some cultures, often reinforced by fundamentalist religious dictates. In 2000, the United Nations estimated that there are 5,000 honor … [Read more...]
The Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, TODAY!
February 29, 2012 by
The Wisdom of the Grandmothers 7-week virtual course The course begins THIS WEDNESDAY, February 29th Dear Friends, We are delighted to share a special announcement. The Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, in collaboration with The Shift Network, is hosting a seven-week virtual course so that you can deepen your connection with the Grandmothers and their ancient wisdom. For this special, even historic … [Read more...]
UN report, sexual violence during conflict, singles out worst offenders
February 24, 2012 by
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...]
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...]
Performing Arts to End Violence against Women, in Papua New Guinea
February 7, 2012 by
Using Performing Arts to End Violence against Women in Papua New Guinea Members of the Seeds Theatre Group performing a drama to end violence against women in the Lae District, Papua New Guinea. (Photo: Pisai Gumar/Nationalpic) Dramatizing violence! That’s the motto of the community-based Seeds Theatre Group to address violence against women and girls in the densely populated communities of the Lae District in the Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. The group … [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...]
