World Pulse is just weeks away from launching our fourth annual Voices of Our Future training program program. We are eager to hear everyone's voices! If you haven't already, I encourage you to sign up to participate either as an Applicant or as a Volunteer Listener. What is Voices of Our Future? Voices of Our Future is an online training program in citizen journalism, and digital empowerment for emerging grassroots women leaders. At the end of the application process, thirty applicants … [Read more...]
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL HIV/AIDS STRATEGY?
Last Sunday marked Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and we are providing an update on the Working Group’s progress. As co-chairs, we are personally committed to this work, having first-hand community and clinical experience in seeing and treating the devastating effects violence has on the lives of women and their families. PROGRESS TO DATE: PRESIDENT’S WORKING GROUP ON THE INTERSECTION OF HIV/AIDS, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND GENDER-RELATED HEALTH … [Read more...]
HALF the World is Women – “Ending Violence against Women and Girls”
This Forum was opened by the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and facilitated by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women, and included the participation of a range of senior leaders of UN agencies -- namely Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, UNDP Associate Administrator, Ms. Anne-Birgette Albrectsen, Deputy Executive Director, UNFPA, Ms. Geeta Rao Gupta, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF, Ms Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR. "Women's … [Read more...]
Nirbhayas transforming through Grassroots (“the brave hearts”)
'We', the Nirbhayas will rise from Grassroots! Violence Against Women has made news headlines for years now. BOLLYWOOD TWEETS Thousands of women are being brutally beaten, assaulted, harassed, mutilated, raped and molested even murdered worldwide. In general there has been a phenomenal increase in crime against women. Every year several Nirbhayas, “the brave hearts” bravely undergo ordeals of most heinous crimes against humankind before succumbing to their injuries. Another … [Read more...]
Confucianism and WOMEN
LEARNING TO BE HUMAN Tu Wei-ming, “A Confucian Perspective on Learning to be Human” Confucian Thought: Selfhood as Creative Transformation (Albany: 1985), 51-66 The Confucian commitment to the human community is firm and comprehensive. This commitment means that the whole Confucian enterprise begins with the person living here and now. It also means that the person in ordinary daily existence is the basis for the full realization of humanity. The Confucian insistence that … [Read more...]
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2013 – MARCH 8
Celebrate In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on member states to proclaim a day for women's rights and international peace. Following the United Nations' lead, Canada chose March 8 as International Women's Day. History The idea for an International Women's Day arose around the turn of the 20th century out of a long-standing movement for women to participate equally in society. The first International Women's Day was observed on March 19, … [Read more...]
SYRIA, displacement giving way for serious gender-based crimes
February 2013 – A senior official with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today warned of the enormous humanitarian impact of the ongoing Syria crisis, particularly on civilians who have been displaced and face threats such as Gender-based Violence. “This displacement is not only about loss of homes and economic security. It is also, for many, accompanied by gender-based crimes, deliberate victimization of women and children and a frightening array of assaults on … [Read more...]
Joint Statement: Taking Action to End Water and Sanitation Inequalities
Joint Statement: End water and sanitation inequalities in the future development agenda The Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations, UNICEF, UN Women, WaterAid and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. New York, 21 February 2013. "Today, the Government of Finland, UNICEF, UN Women, WaterAid and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation call on the international … [Read more...]
Delhi shows 95% women and girls feel unsafe, Take Action!
During interviews with women, it was found that the presence of hawkers and late night eateries at major transport hubs makes women feel safer. Photo credit: UN Women/ Gaganjit Singh Chandok — at NTPC-Badarpur Border,New Delhi. UN Women supported survey in Delhi shows 95 per cent of women and girls feel unsafe in public spaces “I have started carrying pepper spray to protect myself." My parents have become more protective, they want to know where I’m going, when I’ll be back and … [Read more...]
Morocco celebrates as Soulalyates women succeed in land rights
In the spring of 2012 the Moroccan Government granted men and women equal rights to benefit from incomes and profits gained from their land in a new order from the Ministry of the Interior. In the past, discriminatory laws had long deprived rural women of the Soulayates ethnic group of land ownership and benefits in Morocco. Women had campaigned hard with the support of UN Women for their inheritance and property rights, so the new ruling was a historic victory. The 2012 ruling underlines … [Read more...]
World We Want 2015, e-discussion – Join in until 15 Feb 2013
E-discussion on Growth, Diversification and Structural Transformation The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are convening an e-discussion on Growth, Diversification and Structural Transformation from 18 January-15 February 2013. This e-discussion, taking place on the World We Want 2015 website, is one of a series of four on growth and employment, as part of the Global Consultation on Growth and Employment for the post-2015 development agenda. … [Read more...]
Statement – UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS, Executive Board Director 2013
At the First Regular Session of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board 2013 Mister President, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Partners in civil society, Colleagues and friends, It is my pleasure to address the Executive Board on its first regular session in 2013. My colleagues and I congratulate you, Ambassador Olhaye, on your election as the President of the Executive Board. We also congratulate the other members of the Bureau on their election: Mr. Boyan Belev (Bulgaria), … [Read more...]