By Razeena Raheem NEW YORK (IDN)— Dr. Sima Sami Bahous, 65, a former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, with links to the Royal court, is the front runner for the post of new Executive Director of UN Women. She is the lead candidate among several contenders for the job which […]
Historic Forum Concludes in Paris Pledging to Advance Gender Equality by 2026
By Jaya Ramachandran PARIS (IDN) — The historic Generation Equality Forum concluded in Paris on July 2 with the announcement of gender equality commitments and launch of a global five-year action plan to accelerate gender equality by 2026. The Forum’s bold, action-oriented agenda will be under-written by nearly USD 40 Billion of confirmed investments as […]
Generation Equality Forum Will Consider Seven Ways to Change the World
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) — Convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France, in partnership with youth and civil society, the Generation Equality Forum is taking place in Paris, from June 30 to July 2. The Forum will bring together governments, feminist leaders, youth, and change makers from […]
A Robust Blueprint Emerges from the UN’s Largest Gathering on Women’s Rights
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) — The largest gathering on women’s rights has decided to contribute to accelerating the pace of progress to ensure women’s full participation and leadership at all levels of decision-making in executive, legislative and judicial branches of government and the public sector. It also appreciates that temporary special measures, such […]
UN Keen to Achieve Gender Equality Far Ahead of 2150
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) — The international community has set the goal of achieving gender equality by 2030. But UN Women, a United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, maintains that “at the current rate of progress, gender equality will not be reached among Heads of Government until […]
Afghan Women’s Voices on Peace Heard with UN Mission’s Backing
By Devinder Kumar NEW DELHI | KUNDUZ (IDN) — While the UN Security Council on March 14 “condemned in the strongest terms” the alarming number of attacks deliberately targeting civilians in Afghanistan, women activists were over several days knocking on doors in Kunduz, posing two questions to their relatives, neighbours and fellow residents of the […]
Rape Allegations Rock the Australian Parliament
By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — While International Women’s Day was celebrated around the world on March 8, a debate was gathering momentum in Australia about the “toxic workplace culture” within the corridors of power in the Australian parliament in Canberra, with politicians running for cover as rape allegations against them and their staff surfaced […]
African Women See No Reason to Hail Int’l Women’s Day
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — March 8 marks the UN’s International Women’s Day — an occasion meant to be a global celebration. But with more and more women suffering each day, there is little to rejoice in Africa, say many women leaders from the continent. “International Women’s Day should celebrate […]
Women Need to Claim their Space in Leadership
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) — Women have key contributions to make to leadership across all sectors, communities and societies from politics and corporations to sports and STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), diverse leadership benefits everyone, says UN Women, the global champion for gender equality. “Leaders need to represent the people they serve […]
The Future Is Better with Women in Every Decision-Making
By Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director [Also available in: ar |es | fr | ru | zh] NEW YORK (IDN) — International Women’s Day (March 8) this year comes at a difficult time for the world and for gender equality, but at a perfect moment to fight for transformative action and to salute women […]