By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) – Twenty-five years after its adoption the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, member states and observers, civil society organizations, gender equality leaders, CEOs, and heads of academia will gather virtually on July 21 in a multi-stakeholder hearing. The purpose is to bolster priority actions at the global and […]
Arab Women’s Organizations Join the UN Chief Urging a Global Ceasefire in the Face Of COVID-19
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) – In a joint statement, ninety-one women’s organizations from Iraq, Libya, Palestine, Syria and Yemen have joined a global appeal issued by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the outset of the pandemic. On March 23, Guterres urged warring parties across the world to lay down their weapons in support of the bigger […]
South African Leader Condemns Latest Surge of Violence Against Women
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – Calling it a “dark and shameful week,” South African president Cyril Ramaphosa denounced the latest surge in violence against women, including the murder of a woman eight months pregnant. “Gender-based violence thrives in a climate of silence,” he said. “By looking the other way because […]
We Are Fighting Two Enemies at the Same Time: a Deadly Virus and a Deadlier Hunger
By Bea Cordia NEW YORK (IDN) – COVID-19 has shattered the entire world. As a result of what some people have called the ‘Great Lockdown’, economic activity has plummeted, borders have been closed, and national health systems are on the edge of collapse. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, more […]
US Coercive Measures Against Iran Hurting Women
Viewpoint by Azadeh Moaveni and Ali Vaez The two writers are affiliated to the Crisis Group: Azadeh Moaveni is Project Director, Gender; and Ali Vaez is Iran Project Director. This commentary is being republished by courtesy of the Brussels-based Crisis Group which first carried it on 6 March 2020. BRUSELS (IDN) – On 21 May […]
Women Leaders Rise in Solidarity to Save Lives and Protect Livelihoods
By UN Women “Rise for All” calls on all leaders to meet the human crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and fully fund the UN Response and Recovery Trust Fund NEW YORK (IDN) – Supporting the UN Secretary-General’s call for solidarity and urgent action in response to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, an initial group of […]
End Rape and Usher in A Far-Reaching Shift for Our Society
Viewpoint by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka The following statement by Executive Director of UN Women is for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November 2019. [Also available in ar, es, fr, ru] NEW YORK (IDN) – If I could have one wish granted, it might well be a total end to […]
ICPD25 Outlines Pathway for Attaining the Rights of Women and Girls
By Justus Wanzala NAIRBI (IDN) – ICPD25, held in the Kenyan capital Nairobi from November 12-14 and marking the 25th anniversary of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt, ended with bold commitments towards attainment of the rights of women and girls. The conference, attended by more than 6,000 world […]
UN Women Is Criticized for Appearing to Take Sides on Decriminalizing ‘Sex Work’
By Barbara Crossette, PassBlue NEW YORK (IDN) – A group of civil society organizations is warning that a growing global movement to decriminalize and rebrand prostitution as “sex work” could lead to more, not less, violence against the world’s most vulnerable women and girls. The critics are petitioning UN Women, which is leading a review […]
Human Trafficking Is A Crime, Deserves Zero Tolerance
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – “On this World Day against Trafficking in Persons, let us reaffirm our commitment to stop criminals from ruthlessly exploiting people for profit and to help victims rebuild their lives,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a message for the July 30 World Day against Trafficking in Persons. “Armed […]