This year, as the world turns to action to make the new global goals for sustainable development a reality, we've seen that girls and women have the power to drive progress for all the goals -- from ending poverty to protecting our planet. When girls and women everywhere are safe, healthy, educated, and empowered, they can transform our communities and our world. And what's one of the most important ways to make sure girls and women have the opportunity to thrive, no matter where they live? … [Read more...]
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
July 1, 2016 by
The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development last year marked a watershed year for sustainable development. Its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets are expected to stimulate action over the upcoming years in areas of critical importance for people and the planet. The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), meeting under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly, is the UN’s central platform for the follow-up … [Read more...]
World Refugee Day 2016, June 20
June 19, 2016 by
"Our responses to refugees must be grounded in our shared values of responsibility sharing, non-discrimination, and human rights and in international refugee law, including the principle of non-refoulement." — UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon Each day war forces thousands of families to flee their homes. People like you, people like me. To escape the violence, they leave everything behind – everything except their hopes and dreams for a safer future. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency … [Read more...]
Understanding the ZIKA Virus
February 4, 2016 by
For many mothers, expecting or not, the rapid spread of the Zika virus in the Americas has been, frankly, pretty frightening. Yesterday the World Health Organization (WHO) held an emergency meeting with leading experts on the disease and declared the Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern. In the meantime, the WHO, Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the United Nations (UN) along with various other agencies have been working closely to release the latest information … [Read more...]
Water, Women required to Manage
July 1, 2015 by
The 'Water Crisis' is the #1 global risk based on impact to society (as a measure of devastation), and the #8 global risk based on likelihood (likelihood of occurring within 10 years) as announced by the World Economic Forum, January 2015. 750 million people around the world lack access to safe water; approximately one in nine people. More than twice the population of the United States lives without access to safe water. Diarrhea caused by inadequate drinking water, sanitation, and hand … [Read more...]
Kabul, First Time ever Female Judge to High Court
June 18, 2015 by
KABUL, Afghanistan — For the first time in Afghanistan’s history, a female judge has been nominated to sit on the country’s highest court. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani nominated Anisa Rassouli to the High Council of the Supreme Court on Sunday in Kabul, according to government officials and local news reports. If confirmed by the country’s parliament, Rassouli would be the first woman to sit on the nine-member tribunal. Her nomination is expected to be submitted to Afghan lawmakers … [Read more...]
