UN Women

Rural Women in Bolivia Make Their Demands Heard, and Their Presence Felt

grid.rroji — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:29:34 +0000

Supported by UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality an alliance of 12 social women’s organizations has spearheaded a project to amplify Bolivian women’s voices during the lawmaking process, following the drafting of a new constitution in 2009.

In Latin America, ICT Training Bridges the Digital Divide for Rural Women

grid.rroji — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:48:38 +0000

By teaching participants to overcome their fear of technology and use it to improve their situations, UN Women supported programmes in Ecuador and Guatemala have opened up new opportunities and empowered women as leaders.

Breaking the Cycle of Violence and HIV in Liberia

grid.rroji — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:27:11 +0000

A project supported by the UN Trust Fund in Liberia combats discriminatory traditional justice systems, low awareness of protection laws, and defines better what constitutes violence against women.

Rural Women, Their Contributions and Challenges, to Be Highlighted at UN Commisssion on the Status of Women, 27 February – 9 March

ONU Mujeres — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:50:15 +0000

The 56th session of the Commission on the Status of Women will open on 27 February at United Nations headquarters, focused on the theme of empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, sustainable development and current challenges.

UN Women–Sponsored Film Premieres at the Berlin Film Festival

ONU Mujeres — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:52:27 +0000

A documentary film commissioned by UN Women has premiered at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival in Germany. Cutting across class and geography, the film is an intimate portrait of four very different Egyptian women as they tell their stories of marriage, divorce, work, love and resistance — and what it means to be a woman in the wake of their country's revolution.

Palestinian Women: Bread Makers, Bread-Winners

grid.rroji — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:16:35 +0000

A woman-run school canteen project that employs 200 Palestinian women is transforming not only individuals but also families and communities. It offers women and their families economic independence and represents a ray of hope for the future in this troubled land.

Rural Women Take on a New Role in Delivering Services in Tajikistan

ONU Mujeres — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:31:03 +0000

A new programme on improving access to social protection in rural areas is starting a change. Supported by UN Women and bringing together rural women, the initiative works on the establishment of Women’s Watch Groups, which monitor the situation of the most vulnerable households and identify ways to improve access to social protection.

Women in the World of Sports

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:38:57 +0000

Speech delivered by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri at the panel discussion on “Leadership Views on Women in the World of Sports,” at the 5^th IOC World Conference on Women and Sport, Los Angeles, 17 February 2012.

It Pays to Invest in Women’s Health

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:45:06 +0000

UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet has joined a prestigious reference group for a new research project on the economic benefits of investing in women’s health. The Norwegian-led research will build on existing studies that refer to the positive “ripple effects” for families and communities when women’s health, education and employment are promoted.

As Reparations Are Considered in Northern Uganda, Ways Are Sought to Equally Include Female Survivors

ONU Mujeres — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:57:17 +0000

Following decades of civil strife and insurgency in northern Uganda, there has been much discussion on how to achieve lasting reconciliation. High on this agenda is reparations for its victims. Reparations can acknowledge the rights and dignity of those harmed by conflict by providing some justice, and the resources to rebuild lives and communities. Yet [...]

Rural Women in Viet Nam Train for a Rainy Day

ONU Mujeres — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:19:42 +0000

The Women’s Union building in Viet Nam’s Binh Dinh Province is afloat with music, as traditional songs about the province, the seasons, fishing and farming drift through its rooms. Yet those singing know that the life they celebrate is under threat. Each has gathered here to discuss plans and actions for tackling natural disasters.

As World Celebrates the First World Radio Day, Community Radio Expands Dialogue on Women’s Rights in Rural Communities

UN Women — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:05:45 +0000

In the silk producing district of Rajshahi in Bangladesh, a new voice has arrived. Residents recently heard the opening broadcast of Radio Padma 99.2FM, the first of the fourteen community radio stations planned for the country. In the villages of Nepal, the community radio programme Sajha Awaj (common voice) allows discussions on issues of importance [...]

Women’s Empowerment Is Central to Global Sustainability, Says New UN Report

ONU Mujeres — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:52:48 +0000

The UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability released its report, “Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing,” on 30 January 2011 in Addis Ababa. The report contains 56 recommendations to put sustainable development into practice and to mainstream it into economic policy.

On the First Year Anniversary of the Arab Spring, Egyptian Women Continue to Call for Real Change and Opportunities to Shape the Future

UN Women — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:40:01 +0000

It has been one year since a wave of political change set Egypt on a challenging but promising path to reform. Yet, while women played a crucial role in bringing the transition about, many feel that they are yet to fully benefit from it. Many women ran as candidates in the 2011-2012 parliamentary elections, yet [...]

Women Farmers Yielding Profits and Better Futures in Rural Rwanda

UN Women — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:52:15 +0000

UN Women works with 15 cooperatives in Rwanda's Kirehe District to increase women farmers’ access to agricultural services. Trainings provided to co-op leaders have enabled them to think about the needs of women and men farmers and on expanding their membership, with a focus on women members. A testimony to their success is the sentiment expressed by many of the women members, about the life they can now provide for their children and the future.

Historic Gain for Women in Pakistan as Women’s Commission Gains Autonomous Status

UN Women — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:26:17 +0000

On 2 February 2012, the Pakistan Senate unanimously approved the "National Commission on the Status of Women Bill 2012" to protect women’s rights against every kind of discrimination. The new bill replaces the National Commission on the Status of Women Ordinance from 2000 and strengthens the Commission by giving it financial and administrative autonomy through an independent Secretariat.

Using Performing Arts to End Violence against Women in Papua New Guinea

ONU Femmes — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:03:05 +0000

Dramatizing violence! That’s the motto of the community-based Seeds Theatre Group to address violence against women and girls in the densely populated communities of the Lae District in the Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.

Remarks by Executive Director Michelle Bachelet on First Anniversary of UN Women

ONU Femmes — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:01:55 +0000

Ms. Bachelet: "I’d like to provide you with highlights from our first year and our plans for 2012 for our six priorities."

Michelle Bachelet Outlines Action Agenda to Advance Equality as UN Women Completes One Year

ONU Femmes — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:01:20 +0000

At a press conference in New York today, UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet called for galvanizing greater commitment and action for women and gender equality, as political and economic upheaval threaten progress on women’s rights.

UN Women and UNDP to Partner with EU to Foster Women’s Effective Participation in Peacebuilding and Post-conflict Recovery

ONU Femmes — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:37 +0000

The European Commission, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today announced the launch of a multi-country initiative to enhance women’s participation in peace-building and post-conflict planning and economic recovery.