Opening the door for people of all abilities The global community took a giant step forward during the High-level Meeting on Disability and Development in September to break down barriers for the more than 1 billion persons living with some form of disability. With a historic outcome document adopted, this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, aims to kick-off an action-filled course towards an inclusive society, embracing all human beings. 'About 15 … [Read more...]
‘One Life – One Heart’, International Volunteer Day (Dec 5)
International Volunteer Day (IVD)- (December 5) is an international observance designated by the United Nations since 1985. It offers an opportunity for volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make visible their contributions - at local, national and international levels - to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The International Volunteer Day is marked by many non-governmental organizations, including Red Cross, scouts and others. It is also marked and … [Read more...]
‘A silent majority of men disapproves of violence’, Radwan Chowdhury
“What are Ordinary Men Willing to Do to End Violence Against Women & Girls?” Most men do not use violence against women, and most believe such violence to be unacceptable. A silent majority of men disapproves of violence, but does little to prevent it. Of most concern, significant numbers of men excuse or justify violence against women. The silence, and encouragement, of male bystanders allows men’s violence against women to continue. Violence against women and girls is a … [Read more...]
Universal Children’s Day celebrated Nov 20
On Universal Children’s Day, UN says violence against young hobbles development 20 November 2013 – Drawing a direct link between violence against children and poverty, United Nations officials marked Universal Children’s Day with a call to make child protection a priority in the global development agenda for the decades to come. “Violence against children does more than harm individual children, it undermines the fabric of society, affecting productivity, well-being, and prosperity,” UN … [Read more...]
‘Gender Marker’ – Is Bettering Women’s Life Impossible?
London - At a conference on violence against women and girls in emergencies, a CARE International UK special report it has been revealed the tiny proportion of international aid that is directed towards projects that target gender violence and sexual exploitation of women in humanitarian crises. The report also shows the inadequacies of global efforts to track how effectively humanitarian projects address gender. (pdf Document - CLICK IMAGE) In 2010, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon set a … [Read more...]
Call to Action: UN Women pledges to protect Women and Girls
Call to Action: Executive Director pledges UN Women commitment to protect women and girls in emergencies Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka pledged the strong commitment of UN Women to protect women and girls in emergencies at an international meeting on 13 November in London. At the Call to Action event, “Keep Her Safe”, organized by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), she pledged that UN Women would work with partners to ensure that women’s rights and needs are … [Read more...]
Global Consultation on Addressing Inequalities
The Heart of the Post-2015 Development Agenda & the Future We Want for All This joint Civil Society/UN consultation, co-led by UNICEF and UN Women with support from the Governments of Denmark and Ghana, is an open and inclusiveconversation for civil society, academia, governments and the UN to discuss what the post-2015 development agenda should look like. The first phase of the consultation included a public call for papers and series of e-discussions. These results were synthesized … [Read more...]
NGOWG MAP – November 2013
The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has released the November 2013 version of our Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council. For November, in which China has the Security Council presidency, the MAP provides recommendations on the situations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, Central African Region, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan / South Sudan, and Syria. Our findings remain clear: while there has been development in policy and … [Read more...]
Learning Metrics Task Force, Rebecca Winthrop
I’m very pleased to share with you that we recently brought on former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard as a nonresident senior fellow. As prime minister, Julia Gillard made education reform a top priority in Australia, and her passion and commitment to improve education around the world will continue with her work at the center. As a fellow, she will participate in a variety of research projects, including initiatives promoting girls’ education in developing countries. We look forward to … [Read more...]
Women’s participation in Afghanistan elections 2013
Envoy affirms UN support for women's participation in Afghanistan elections The United Nations will support efforts to ensure women's involvement in next year's elections in Afghanistan, the top UN official in the country told women activists in the capital, Kabul, on Wednesday. Ján Kubiš, head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), was speaking during an annual event related to a landmark Security Council Resolution on women's participation in the political process in … [Read more...]