SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS TEXT URGING TARGETED SANCTIONS AGAINST PERPETRATORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE DURING ARMED CONFLICT Rape Largely ‘Cost-free’, Says Special Representative As UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Recounts 5-year-Old Girl’s Ordeal The Security Council today urged the United Nations sanctions committees to apply targeted sanctions against parties committing sexual violence during armed conflict. Ahead of a debate on the subject that attracted more than 60 speakers, the … [Read more...]
Italy donates $1.9 million for women and youth in Kenya and South Sudan
Project to support access to market for marginalized farmers June 2013, Rome - Poor women and youth in marginalized areas of Kenya and South Sudan will gain improved access to markets for their agricultural produce, under a new project agreement. The $1.9 million project falls under a broader FAO-Italy programme of food security through commercialization of agriculture, in Eastern Africa, West Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. The project represents one of the major areas of … [Read more...]
Global and regional estimates of ‘violence against women’
WHO report highlights violence against women as a ‘global health problem of epidemic proportions’ JUNE 2013 | GENEVA - Physical or sexual violence is a public health problem that affects more than one third of all women globally, according to a new report released by WHO in partnership with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the South African Medical Research Council. The report, Global and regional estimates of 'violence against women': Prevalence and health … [Read more...]
Mary D. Moore is Taking Action for World Peace!
Throughout human history, war and violence defined whether territorial boundaries would expand or constrict. The Rule of Law seldom became the standard of societal life; too often, it was might over right. But evolution and the refinement of human morals and ethics have moved mankind, from the mid-20th century, to rise above the pattern of war and violence towards the higher invitation of sustainable peace and the rule of law. For that purpose, the United Nations was … [Read more...]
Norway extends mandatory military service to women
Norway has voted to extend mandatory military conscription to all citizens, regardless of gender, the first peacetime European or NATO country to do so. Women will now likely face one year of military service as of 2015. Norway's parliament overwhelmingly backed a resolution on Friday, which urges the government to push ahead with legislation on gender neutral conscription. "Rights and duties should be the same for all," said Labour lawmaker Laila Gustavsen, a supporter of the bill. … [Read more...]
#AskUNWomen and chat Live – 20 June 2013, 10:30am EDT
What is UN Women’s vision to ensure that empowering women becomes a priority in the post-2015 development agenda? Why is it important to include a separate gender goal in any future framework? #AskUNWomen and chat with our Acting Head! WHEN: Live on Thursday, 20 June 2013, 10:30am EDT WHERE: Hashtag #AskUNWomen & @UN_Women on Twitter WHO: Lakshmi Puri, Acting Head of UN Women + YOU! WHAT: Twitter chat on our vision to bring gender equality and women’s empowerment to the centre … [Read more...]
Lorre White celebrates more ‘Women Traveling Solo’
The number of females traveling alone, for both business and leisure travel, is on the rise according to recent figures released from Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH). With over 520 hotels in more than 70 countries, the company is reporting interesting trends in sole occupancy across its diverse portfolio. Between 2011 and 2012, SLH saw growth in single occupancy travel across the board in terms of both revenue and number of room nights, with the number of sole occupancy room nights … [Read more...]
Women Empowerment Workshop – Nadi, Fiji, from 13 to 15 June 2013
'Give Greater Recognition to Women’s Role in Promoting a Culture of Peace in the Pacific: UN' [Nadi, Fiji – June 13] Women in the Pacific have shown over and over again that it is they who foster peace in a myriad of recognized and unrecognized ways. Women’s roles in bringing lasting peace and recognition in strife-torn societies need to be given a greater recognition. These comments were made by the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident … [Read more...]
European Union and UN Women to fund initiatives for gender equality in Chile
Joint fund will support civil society projects to eliminate violence against women, foster women’s economic empowerment and promote women’s political participation and leadership Santiago, 14 June 2013 - The European Union and UN Women signed an agreement today establishing a joint fund to support projects from civil society organizations that promote gender equality in Chile. These projects will focus on three strategic areas: eliminating violence against women, women’s economic empowerment … [Read more...]