Business magnate Horacio Cartes won Paraguay's presidential election on Sunday, returning his powerful center-right Colorado Party to power after the left's brief spell ended in impeachment last year. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed peaceful general elections in Paraguay that attracted wide participation, reiterating the United Nations’ willingness to work with the newly elected authorities and people in the South American country. General elections were held in Paraguay on 21 … [Read more...]
Paraguay, Kuña Pyrenda celebrates, “introducing the feminine element into the political debate.”
RAPE, long-term damage long after ‘Guns Fall Silent’
SECRETARY-GENERAL, AT SECURITY COUNCIL DEBATE ON CONFLICT-RELATED SEXUAL VIOLENCE, SAYS NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF WARTIME RAPE PERSIST LONG AFTER GUNS FALL SILENT … [Read more...]
One-Stop Crisis Centre responding to Violence Against Women, Thailand
April 2013 – The launch of Thailand’s pioneering One-Stop Crisis Centre by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on 9 April reinforces the continuing efforts to respond to and prevent violence against women and girls after Thailand joined UN Women’s newest global initiative, COMMIT. UN Women Regional Director Roberta Clarke (wearing black) congratulates Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the launch of the 1,300 mobile units. Photo credit: UN Women/Montira Narkvichien The One Stop … [Read more...]
Ethiopia/Somalia refugees stranded in Yemen with ‘deplorable conditions’
IMAGE: Somali refugees wait on Yemen's Red Sea coast for transport to Aden. Photo: UNHCR/R. Nuri April 2013 – Thousands of destitute migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia are stranded in northern Yemen in deplorable conditions, victims of gross physical abuse and severe economic and sexual exploitation, a United Nations humanitarian official warned today, calling for urgent action to address their plight. “The international community urgently needs to work with and support the Governments in the … [Read more...]
Taking Action for Syria – ENOUGH – ENOUGH !!!
APPEAL BY HEADS OF LEADING UN HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA … [Read more...]
Women unlock chains of development in rural Nepal
SURKHET, Nepal – Amidst the hustle and bustle of passing vehicles, dust and honking horns on the Surkhet-Jumla road, about 350 km west of Kathmandu, the patches of green vegetables within a few minutes’ walk are a soothing treat to the eyes. Bimala Adhikari, shown with her children, heads a rural women's cooperative in Nepal.©Rocky Prajapati/IFAD The proud owners of the vegetable plots are women, most of them affiliated with the Nari Ekata (“Women United”) Women’s Cooperative. With 124 … [Read more...]
Rose Mukankomeje Takes Action in Rwanda!
Taking Action in Rwanda, inspiring positive change! April 2013 – As her nation emerged from crisis, and in the face of great personal tragedy, Rose Mukankomeje took the initiative to bring Rwandans together to protect their natural resources and, in the process, restore communities devastated by conflict. She is one of five individuals from around the world honored this week with the Forest Heroes Award by the United Nations Forum on Forests for their efforts to sustain, protect and … [Read more...]
2,000 child soldiers recruited by forces in CAR – Take Action!
April 2013 – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today said more than 2,000 boys and girls have been recruited by armed forces in the Central African Republic since the latest wave of violence in the country began in December. In a news release, UNICEF said it had clear evidence of continuing recruitment of children, and warned that such practices represent a grave violation of international law. “Recruiting children is both morally unacceptable and prohibited under international … [Read more...]
Palestinian Women to launch the new documentary film, Ana Ahlam
UNRWA partnered with the Center for Resources for Gender Equality “Abaad” and the General Union of Palestinian Women to launch the new documentary film, Ana Ahlam, in a special ceremony held in Beirut on 4 April 2013. Addressing the audience – which included the Ambassadors of Switzerland and Mexico, the Iranian Cultural Attaché, in addition to nearly 180 activists and representatives of Palestinian civil society in Lebanon, and the film director and representatives from the production … [Read more...]