WOMEN'S MATERNAL HEALTH DADAAB, September 2011 (IRIN) - Most Somali women fleeing to northeastern Kenya's Dadaab in northeastern Kenya have never visited an antenatal clinic, let alone given birth in a hospital. "When I see an expectant mother or one with a small child, I ask them whether they have gone to the hospital. If they haven't, I refer them there," Miriam Ade, a community health worker in Dadaab's Ifo camp, told IRIN. "Many of these women have lived here but … [Read more...]
Weekly Women’s Update: Women’s Equality Day 2011
August 27, 2011 by
On March 11, 2009, President Obama signed an Executive Order creating the White House Council on Women and Girls. In his remarks at the signing, the President underscored that the purpose of the Council is "to ensure that each of the agencies in which they're charged takes into account the needs of women and girls in the policies they draft, the programs they create, the legislation they support" and that the true purpose of our government is "to ensure that in America, all things are still … [Read more...]
WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY {USA} celebrating Bella Abzug
August 26, 2011 by
Women's Equality Day August 26 Do you know what a hero is? A hero is a person who does something that is important to others. Usually, they possess many good qualities, such as bravery, trustworthiness, and courage. A hero to me is Bella Abzug. She lived in New York all through her life from July 24, 1920 to March 31, 1998. She attended Hunter College and graduated in 1942. Bella decided she wanted to be a lawyer, so she went to Columbia Law School until 1947. Bella … [Read more...]
NEPAL, Women Activists are Taking Action !
August 9, 2011 by
NEPAL: Women activists demand to see new draft constitution KATHMANDU, 8 August 2011 (IRIN) - Women’s rights groups in Nepal say they are being left out of negotiations at a critical time, weeks before the country’s Constituent Assembly (CA) is meant to agree on a new constitution. “We need a constitution in time and we need a women-friendly constitution,” Bijaya Karishma, a programme officer for Sankalpa, a women's alliance campaigning for peace, justice and democracy, told IRIN. “We … [Read more...]
Empower Women Representatives in Odisha State, INDIA
August 9, 2011 by
UN Women Signs Agreement to Empower Women Representatives in Odisha State of India Bhubaneshwar—A single, Dalit woman from the tribal Gajpati district in Odisha, Sochara Karzi has made great strides since her appointment as a sarpanch (head of village council). She has ensured that almost 4000 farmers got free maize seeds, 200 people received jobs cards under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 500 acres of land were planted with mango trees, 3000 … [Read more...]
Iran: Free Journalist Hangameh Shahidi
July 27, 2011 by
Hengameh Shahidi has been in detention for 2 years, just because she spoke her mind. Tell the government of Iran to free Hengameh » Hengameh is an Iranian journalist and human rights activist. She was arrested in June 2009 following demonstrations in Iran around the contested presidential election. She admitted to participating in the protests as a journalist, and thus was sentences to six years in prison. Hengameh was not "gathering and colluding with intent to harm state security" or … [Read more...]
“Son preference” Perpetuates Discrimination/Violations of Women’s Rights
June 16, 2011 by
14 June 2011 Five United Nations agencies have banded together to call for urgently addressing gender-biased sex selection favouring boys, a common practice in many parts of South, East and Central Asia that they say fuels a culture of discrimination and violence. "Sex selection in favour of boys is a symptom of pervasive social, cultural, political and economic injustices against women, and a manifest violation of women's human rights," says a statement issued by the agencies, which have … [Read more...]
Reform to Reality: Empowerment of Women in the Middle East
June 16, 2011 by
Reform to Reality: Empowerment of Women in the Middle East Speech delivered by UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet at a lunch event hosted by the governments of the United States, Tunisia, Canada, Colombia, Jordan, the Maldives and Norway, titled “Women’s Political Participation in the Middle East,” held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, 10 June 2011. [Check against delivery.] I thank our hosts — the US, Tunisia, Canada, Colombia, Jordan, the Maldives and Norway — … [Read more...]
UN- Say NO–UNiTE Celebrates the Two Million Mark!
May 10, 2011 by
Say NO–UNiTE has crossed two million actions in just 18 months, marking two million signs of commitment to ending violence against women and girls. People from all over the world have added their actions. Together, they showcase the growing global community of people dedicated to stopping one of the most pervasive violations of women’s rights. It is time to highlight some noteworthy recent actions to celebrate how much is being achieved – and gain hope and new resources for how much more we can … [Read more...]
