For the second time in history, the General Assembly will convene a high-level event on 3-4 October, devoted to international migration and development at the United Nations. This meeting provides an opportunity for the international community to review progress since the first High-level Dialogue in 2006 and promote and advance the debate and cooperation in the field of migration and development. Governments are increasingly recognizing that partnership and cooperation are needed to leverage … [Read more...]
Advancement of Women
September 27, 2013 by
Women representatives of civil society rejoice at the signing of a peace accord in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Second Committee The Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee) will deal with issues relating to economic growth and development such as macroeconomic policy questions (including international trade, international financial system, and external debt sustainability), financing for development, sustainable development, human settlements, poverty eradication, … [Read more...]
MDG 5 – HIGH LEVEL FORUM [Sept 23]
September 20, 2013 by
Follow the conversation on Twitter & Facebook #MDG5 With less than 900 days remaining to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the Forum brings together a High-Level Panel to discuss what needs to be done to rapidly accelerate the achievement ofMDG5 (improve maternal health). Although progress has been made, MDG5 falls far short of agreed targets. Reaching MDG5 requires focusing on proven interventions to reduce maternal death and achieve universal access to reproductive … [Read more...]
Less than 1,000 Days to achieve the MDGs – Take Action!
August 4, 2013 by
With 1,000 Days to achieve the MDGs, efforts have to accelerate action and scale up what works – with contributions from Governments, the international community, civil society and the private sector. Focusing on reducing inequalities on many fronts – such as improving food security, maternal health, water and sanitation, rural development, environmental sustainability and responses to climate change – is critical at this juncture. Evidence shows that Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment … [Read more...]
“Real Men Don’t Hit Women!”, Antonio Bandares
July 28, 2013 by
Life isn’t easy for women – anywhere in the world. I grew up in Dois Riachos – a poor, remote town in the north-east of Brazil. Our family didn’t have much money; my mother worked hard to raise me and my two brothers and sister by herself. We couldn’t even afford a football – if we had bought one, we would have gone without food. At the age of 7, I knew I wanted to play football for the rest of my life. But being a girl, the path wasn’t straightforward. Everyone from my brothers to the … [Read more...]
Women’s Participation, Rights, and Civil Society Essential
July 26, 2013 by
Women's Participation, Rights, and Civil Society Essential to Peaceful Future for Great Lakes Region and DRC The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security welcomed the UN Security Council's attention to "the full and effective participation of women in conflict resolution and peace building" in today's high-level meeting on the Great Lakes region, including the Democratic Republic of Congo. In her briefing to the Security Council, UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region Mary … [Read more...]
MDGs AND GENDER DIMENSION, Meetika Srivastava
July 9, 2013 by
According to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Report 2013, launched on 1 July by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, too many women around the world are still dying in childbirth when we have the means to save them; only 53 per cent of births in rural areas are attended by skilled health personnel. In developing regions, women are more likely than men to work as contributing family workers on farms or other family businesses, with little or no financial security or social benefits. The … [Read more...]
Trafficking of children, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo
July 7, 2013 by
Special Rapporteur Joy Ngozi Ezeilo. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré July 2013 – Trafficking of children and the issue of defining trafficking topped the agenda today at a first of its kind meeting between an independent United Nations human rights expert and a group of European practitioners working to end this form of modern-day slavery. Speaking at a special meeting organized in Strasbourg, France, by the Council of Europe's Groups of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings … [Read more...]
What Really Matters? – Leave a comment…and change a life!
Blogust is a month-long digital dialogue bringing 31 of the most influential online writers together to help change the world through their words. The 31 Blogust bloggers will participate in a blog relay, with one blogger posting each day for the month of August 2013. Every comment they receive to their posts throughout the month will trigger a donation by Walgreens to provide a vaccine for a child in need around the world. Every 20 seconds, a child dies of a disease that could have … [Read more...]