Maternity protection: Not just a personal issue Many countries have ratified ILO conventions on maternity protection, but pregnant women still face workplace discrimination. Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25), the ILO publishes guidelines on how to implement maternity protection policies. GENEVA (ILO News) – Six months into her pregnancy, it was becoming increasingly difficult for Liani* to endure hours of standing at her … [Read more...]
Women will Change the World, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin
November 22, 2012 by
When Babatunde Osotimehin last year became the head of UNFPA -- the international development agency promoting female rights -- the news didn't go down too well with many women working in the field. After his appointment Osotimehin was told that some female ambassadors at the UN were upset that a man had been made head of the agency. But he was determined to put their minds at ease. "We had lunch with them [female ambassadors] and they asked me, 'so, justify this position,'" remembers … [Read more...]
Afghanistan, project zeroes in on gender inequality
November 21, 2012 by
THE AFGHAN MINISTER OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS, HUSSN BANU GHAZANFAR, AND UNDP'S ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR, REBECA GRYNSPAN, SIGN A NEW GENDER EQUALITY PROJECT, KABUL. (PHOTO: UNDP) Kabul — On a two-day visit to Afghanistan this week, UNDP Associate Administrator Rebeca Grynspan launched a US$ 30 million project to promote gender equality by improving access to legal services and economic opportunities for women as well as strengthening the Government’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs’ efforts to improve … [Read more...]
Men of the world, let’s unite for women’s empowerment | Martín Santiago Herrero
November 11, 2012 by
Men of the world, let’s unite for women’s empowerment | Martín Santiago Herrero We continue to live in a world that is profoundly unequal, where the opportunities are not the same for men and women. Women represent 70 per cent of the world’s poor. On average their salaries are 10 to 30 per cent less than men’s for the same work, with the same tasks. Women are responsible for two thirds of the work carried out around the world, but receive only 10 percent of the benefits. They own 1 per … [Read more...]
Gender Equality; Empowering Women through Education
October 18, 2012 by
Countries have made progress in promoting and protecting women's rights but important challenges remain in achieving equality, according to a member of a UN expert body that monitors discrimination against women. Nicole Ameline, vice chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, says access to education is one area for improvement. She spoke to journalists in New York on Monday following her address to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly. "Women … [Read more...]
UN Women launches e-discussions on Inequalities – OCT 15
October 5, 2012 by
UN Women launches e-discussions on Inequalities as part of the consultations on the post-2015 agenda UN Women in partnership with UNICEF is co-leading the UN Development Group Global Thematic Consultation on Inequalities and will facilitate the first of a series of e-discussions which will address a wide spectrum of inequalities. The online platform for the e-discussion on addressing inequalities is now “live”. The gender inequality discussion will open on Wednesday, October 3rd … [Read more...]
Women’s Equality Day – August 26
August 26, 2012 by
Women's Equality Day is a day proclaimed each year by the United States President to commemorate the granting of the vote to women throughout the country on an equal basis with men. Women in the United States were granted the right to vote on August 26, 1920, when the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was certified. The amendment was first introduced many years earlier in 1878. Every president has published a proclamation for Women's Equality Day since 1971 when … [Read more...]
UN Women partner with International Olympic Committee to advance gender equality
August 25, 2012 by
UN Women and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have signed a partnership agreement which will promote women’s empowerment through sports. On behalf of UN Women, Executive Director Michelle Bachelet signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Committee, represented by its President, Dr. Jacques Rogge. The partnership lays the groundwork for future collaborations to promote sport as an empowerment tool for women. In promoting and advocating for sport and healthy … [Read more...]
Simone de Beauvoir – WOMAN of ACTION™ ~Tribute
July 30, 2012 by
A Celebration of Women ... is excited to Celebrate the Life of this trail blazing woman, ahead of her times. She is famous for her work in the area of gender equality; the abolition of what Simone called the "eternal feminine", equality between the male and female sexes, and woman's role in society. WOMAN of ACTION™ Simone de Beauvoir Simone de Beauvoir was born as Simone Lucie-Ernestine-Marie-Bartrand de … [Read more...]
ILO: Greater gender equality in politics is good news for the world of work
July 26, 2012 by
ILO’s gender policy specialist welcomes recent achievements on gender equality in politics but says more needs to be done including in the world of work. "We take another step towards globalizing social progress when we champion gender equality as a matter of rights and social justice, as well as efficiency and good business sense"Juan Somavía, ILO Director-General GENEVA (ILO News) – The Director of the ILO Bureau of Gender Equality says that progress that has been made lately in … [Read more...]
WOMAN of ACTION – Ms. Michelle Bachelet
July 11, 2012 by
A Celebration of Women is honored to Celebrate the Life of this powerhouse of a woman. Taking on a whole new department of the United Nations, catering to the gender equity of all the women of our world, this lady is to be watched closely and supported endlessly. Join us to Celebrate this day that her UN WOMEN CELEBRATED finally getting their own logo, as we review the day she accepted this placement below. WOMAN of ACTION Michelle Bachelet The former … [Read more...]
The International Day of Cooperatives – celebrated on July 7th
July 2, 2012 by
The International Day of Cooperatives 2012 will be commemorated on 7 July under the theme “Cooperative enterprises build a better world” This year’s theme links to the observance of the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives (IYC). It seeks to encourage the growth and establishment of cooperatives all over the world, and to recognize the actions of cooperatives in helping to achieve internationally agreed upon development goals, such as the Millennium Development … [Read more...]
Targeting efforts to meet MDG expectations by 2015
July 2, 2012 by
With three years remaining until 2015, the 2012 progress report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) released today highlights progress in many important areas including poverty reduction, access to safe drinking water and reduced levels of child mortality. “‘There is now an expectation around the world that sooner, rather than later, the Goals can and must be achieved,” stated Sha Zukang, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General. The Official MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS Goal 1: … [Read more...]
