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...]
Children fleeing from Libya at risk of exploitation
June 25, 2011 by
Hundreds of unaccompanied minors and child migrants separated from their parents following the crisis in Libya are at risk of abuse, exploitation and violence, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). They include girls who were trafficked from West African countries to Libya, to work and study, but who ended up in prostitution. IOM says over 150 unaccompanied children and minors have been placed under protective custody, although the number of those in need of … [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...]
JAPAN Takes US$4.5 Million Action! ~ “Aid to Afghanistan”
June 18, 2011 by
Japan Contributes US$4.5 Million to Support UN Women Project Ending Violence against Women in Afghanistan The Government of Japan has contributed US$4.5 million this year to support a UN Women project in Afghanistan on ending violence against women, the largest non-core contribution to UN Women by Japan to date. Japan has also pledged US$446,808 in core contributions to UN Women for 2011. “Japan, as one of the initial members of the Executive Board of UN Women, is committed … [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...]
Arab World: roundtable at UNESCO, 21 June
June 18, 2011 by
Democracy and renewal in the Arab World: roundtable at UNESCO in support of transition to democracy, 21 June © UNESCO - Poster "Democracy and Renewal in the Arab World" About 20 internationally renowned personalities, experts on or from the Arab World¹, will participate in a round table on 21 June at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (Room X from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.) on the theme “Democracy and Renewal in the Arab World: UNESCO in Support of Transitions to Democracy”. One of the main … [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...]
Reform to Reality: Empowerment of Women in the Middle East
June 16, 2011 by
Reform to Reality: Empowerment of Women in the Middle East Speech delivered by UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet at a lunch event hosted by the governments of the United States, Tunisia, Canada, Colombia, Jordan, the Maldives and Norway, titled “Women’s Political Participation in the Middle East,” held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, 10 June 2011. [Check against delivery.] I thank our hosts — the US, Tunisia, Canada, Colombia, Jordan, the Maldives and Norway — … [Read more...]
Gaza Women – Global Campaign for Education
May 26, 2011 by
Global Campaign for Education reaches out to Gaza Women May 2011 Gaza Scores of refugee women and girls across Gaza took part in a campaign about the importance of education earlier this month, as part of UNRWA’s efforts to reduce gender inequality in education. Community-based organisations across the blockaded enclave ran role plays, theatre and outreach activities for female pupils and their mothers. One participant, Nisreen Abu Amra (35), said: “It is very important to … [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...]
