The Sochi Olympics has been under the spotlight for various non-sport reasons over recent months, however, finally the thousands of athletes will be able to switch the focus to the real purpose of the Games - the sports. The Winter Olympics 2014 schedule will be packed and viewers can watch the Games on TV on the NBC network or online through free live stream (details below). Some events are set to commence on Thursday Feb. 6, 2014, although the Opening Ceremony will not take place until … [Read more...]
Celebrating UKRAINE’S 22nd year of Independence!
Independence Day of Ukraine (Ukrainian: День незалежності України) is the main state holiday in modern Ukraine,[nb 1] celebrated on August 24 in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence of 1991. The holiday was first celebrated on 16 July 1991, as the first anniversary of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine passed by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) in 1990. Since the Declaration of Independence was issued later, and confirmed by the referendum of 1 December 1991, … [Read more...]
UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Recounts 5-year-Old Girl’s Ordeal
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...]
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...]
Lorre White reports ‘Central & Eastern European luxury markets ..’
Central & Eastern European luxury markets continue downturn Political instability has been adding to the prolongued financial crisis in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine – resulting in a decrease in buying power, drop in direct foreign investments and an even more restrictive access to credit. This has translated into a drop in luxury sales in all the four countries, across all sectors, especially fashion, jewellery, watches and cars. An increase in wealthy nationals shopping at … [Read more...]
Change.org says TY, ‘band members of Pussy Riot are free’
We want to thank all 23000 signers who signed our petition to grant honorary Parisian citizenship to the Russian band: Pussy Riot - Nadejda Tolokonnikova, Ekaterina Samoutsevitch, and Maria Alekhina. Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist punk-rock collective based in Moscow. Founded in August 2011, it has a variable membership of approximately 11 women ranging in age from about 20 to 33, who wear brightly colored balaclavas and use only nicknames during interviews. They stage … [Read more...]
Kyrgyzstan toughens penalties for bride kidnapping, Taking Action
Kyrgyzstan (/kɜrɡɪˈstɑːn/ kur-gi-stahn; Kyrgyz: Кыргызстан (IPA: [qɯrʁɯsˈstɑn]); Russian: Киргизия), officially the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyz: Кыргыз Республикасы; Russian: Киргизская Республика), is a country located in Central Asia. Landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east. Its capital and largest city is Bishkek. “Women should be beaten every day,” says Kamilla,* repeating the … [Read more...]
Russian Duma urged to Take Action scrapping Bill on “homosexuality propaganda”
United Nations human rights experts on Friday called on the Russian Parliament, the Duma, to discard a draft bill that could compromise the rights of the LGBT community. The experts on freedom of expression, human rights defenders, cultural rights and the right to health warned that the bill may undermine the enjoyment and promotion of human rights in Russia, unjustifiably singling out the LGBT community –lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people — who have increasingly become … [Read more...]
UNDP – Jobs with April 2011 Deadlines for Application
Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme Helen Clark became the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme on 17 April 2009, and is the first woman to lead the organization. She is also the Chair of the United Nations Development Group, a committee consisting of the heads of all UN funds, programmes and departments working on development issues. Prior to her appointment with UNDP, Helen Clark served for nine years as Prime Minister of New Zealand, … [Read more...]