WomenWatch: United Nations Internet Gateway on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women in the UN System http://www.un.org/womenwatch Copyright © United Nations WomenWatch 2008 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en-us Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:27:35 -0400 womenwatch@un.org Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:27:35 -0400 womenwatch@un.org The International Day of Rural Women directs attention to both the contribution that women make in rural areas, and the many challenges that they face. UN WomenWatch, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/idrw/index.html http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/idrw/index.html Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:27:35 -0400 This publication points out the vital nexus between women’s experiences of natural resource management, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and how they can come together to make whole communities strong and sustainable. It also provides inspirational case studies of grassroots women’s leadership, and of ways to support and encourage women’s full participation as citizens in risk reduction, climate change adaptation, development, and disaster preparedness. The case studies also point to practical tools for implementing gender equality and mainstreaming gender perspectives. Request for hardcopies should be send to: isdr-gender@un.org . UNISDR, 2008 http://www.unisdr.org/gender_perspectives_drr_climate_change http://www.unisdr.org/gender_perspectives_drr_climate_change Tue, 7 Oct 2008 13:24:22 -0400 The overall purpose of the congress is to provide a forum for legislators and decision–makers in formulating gender responsive legislation in climate change and DRR. UNISDR, 2008 http://www.unisdr.org/english/events/v.php?id=2993 http://www.unisdr.org/english/events/v.php?id=2993 Tue, 7 Oct 2008 13:24:21 -0400 From 24 to 26 September, at the University of San Diego, USA, experts and human rights advocates will gather with women and men coming from, or working in, conflict situations around to the world to exchange experiences and address this global problem. UN-INSTRAW, 2008 http://www.un-instraw.org/en/media-center/press-releases/international-forum-on-gender-based-violence-and-human-sec.html http://www.un-instraw.org/en/media-center/press-releases/international-forum-on-gender-based-violence-and-human-sec.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:24:22 -0400 Women contesting in Rwanda’s second parliamentary elections since the 1994 Genocide, held on 15–18 September 2008, have secured 45 out of 80 seats, or 56.25 percent, making the incoming Parliament the first in the world to have women in the majority. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=736 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=736 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:11:22 -0400 With half a million women dying in pregnancy or childbirth every year, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) have launched an initiative which could help cut mortality by about 75 per cent by training midwives in developing countries. UNFPA, 2008 http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1186 http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1186 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:10:20 -0400 The MDG Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Progress Chart 2008, an output of the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on MDG Indicators, provides an assessment of progress towards a number of the key targets related to women’s empowerment and gender equality. Trends are assessed on the basis of data between 1990 and the most recent year for which information was available as of June 2008, when this chart was prepared. UN Statistics Division, 2008 http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Resources/attach/Gender_Progress_Brochure_r8.zip http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Resources/attach/Gender_Progress_Brochure_r8.zip Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:11:26 -0400 Over 500,000 women die unnecessarily every year due to complications from pregnancy and childbirth, with 99 per cent of those deaths occurring in developing countries, according to a new report released today by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). UNICEF, 2008 http://www.unicef.org/childsurvival/index_45681.html http://www.unicef.org/childsurvival/index_45681.html Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:16:12 -0400 As the General Assembly meets to consider Africa's development needs, gender experts are coming together at a United Nations-backed forum spotlighting the continent's women, who are a vital part of efforts to achieve the global anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=734 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=734 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:15:11 -0400 The new report focuses on five key areas where the need to strengthen accountability to women is urgent: politics and governance, access to public services, economic opportunities, justice, and finally the distribution of international assistance for development and security. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/progress/2008/index.html http://www.unifem.org/progress/2008/index.html Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:23:30 -0400 The guide summarizes the main gender issues and concerns in the region in the context of each Millennium Goal. It also provides a detailed assessment of the availability of sex-disaggregated data and gender sensitive indicators in the Arab region for gender responsive monitoring and reporting of MDGs. UN-ESCWA, 2008 http://www.escwa.un.org/divisions/scu/GenderMDG/index.asp http://www.escwa.un.org/divisions/scu/GenderMDG/index.asp Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:22:40 -0400 A panel discussion co-sponsored by the Division for the Advancement of Women, Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will be held to mark the first observance of the International Day of Rural Women on Wednesday, 15 October 2008. DAW, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/calendar/08-10.html#ruralw http://www.un.org/womenwatch/calendar/08-10.html#ruralw Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:22:35 -0400 Stronger accountability measures are needed to track progress governments and multilateral organizations have made in implementing their commitments to enhancing women’s rights, according to a new report by the UN Development Fund for Women. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=731 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=731 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:22:30 -0400 The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today said that much more needs to be done to protect women from discrimination and achieve gender equality, despite progress made in the 60 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28036&Cr=pillay&Cr1= http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28036&Cr=pillay&Cr1= Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:32:10 -0400 The Report is the most comprehensive global assessment of progress to date, based on work carried out by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on the official MDG Indicators. It provides hard evidence for each of the eight MDGs, showing what has been accomplished so far in each of the world’s major geographic regions. It outlines what the world needs to do to succeed by 2015. http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Host.aspx?Content=Products/ProgressReports.htm http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Host.aspx?Content=Products/ProgressReports.htm Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:31:10 -0400 The panel discussion, to be introduced by High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay, will examine the extent to which a gender perspective is being integrated into the work of the Human Rights Council. It will identify progress made since the Council’s last discussion on gender integration in September 2007, as well as current challenges. The event will be webcast live on Friday 12 September 2008, 10am – 1pm local time: http://www.un.org/webcast .OHCHR, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/calendar/08-09.html#ohchr-gender-perspective http://www.un.org/womenwatch/calendar/08-09.html#ohchr-gender-perspective Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:31:10 -0400 The African Women’s Rights Observatory (AWRO), a joint iniative of UN Economic Commission for Africa and UNDP, will have an institutional framework that provides up-to-date information on the status of observance of African women’s rights. AWRO tracks the progress of African governments in fulfilling various commitments made to promote and protect women’s rights in Africa. UNECA, UNDP, 2008 http://geoinfo.uneca.org/awro/ http://geoinfo.uneca.org/awro/ Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:56:10 -0400 The United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW) and the Associazione Diaspora e Pace (ADEP) are co-organising an International Conference on Women, Peace and Security in Somalia, to be held in Bagamoyo (Dar-es-Salaam) Tanzania from 2 to 5 September 2008. UN-INSTRAW, 2008 http://www.un-instraw.org/en/gps/gps-homepage/somalia-project.html http://www.un-instraw.org/en/gps/gps-homepage/somalia-project.html Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:51:19 -0400 The MDG blog will run from 26 August until the 26 September 2008. Everyone is invited to contribute! Your opinions and advice are critical to enrich the upcoming discussions on the Millennium Development Goals at UN Headquarters in New York on 25 September 2008. Upon the conclusion of the blog, a brief summary of the discussions will be put forward to be considered by the Co-Chairs and thematic experts of the round tables at the High-Level Event on MDGs. UNDESA and UNDP 2008, with the support from the MDG Network and the UNDG MDG Policy Network http://www.mdg-gateway.org/MDG-Blog/ http://www.mdg-gateway.org/MDG-Blog/ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:22:02 -0400 A joint United Nations and African Union (AU) gathering to address gender equality and the advancement of women on the continent kicked off today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. UNECA, 2008 http://www.uneca.org/eca_resources/Press_Releases/2008_pressreleases/pressrelease1408.htm http://www.uneca.org/eca_resources/Press_Releases/2008_pressreleases/pressrelease1408.htm Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:51:19 -0400 Rwanda's Defence Force Chief of General Staff signed on to UNIFEM's Say NO to Violence against Women campaign as he officially launched the Gender Desk within the Ministry of Defence. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=712 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=712 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:21:19 -0400 Despite efforts by the international community, gender stereotyping and employment barriers continue to affect millions of young women and men around the world, said the International Labour Organization today on the occasion of International Youth Day. ILO, 2008 http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_097943/index.htm http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_097943/index.htm Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:52:19 -0400 Women’s voices are still being left out in the battle against HIV/AIDS, despite frequent calls for their increased participation in determining resource allocation over the disease, according to a new United Nations-backed study. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=708 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=708 Thu, 7 Aug 2008 16:21:19 -0400 With some 7,000 young women becoming HIV-positive on a daily basis, a new United Nations-backed guide released today aims to curb the spread of the virus among girls. The guide, "Make it Matter" was produced by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Young Positives. UNFPA, 2008 http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1175 http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1175 Wed, 6 Aug 2008 15:21:19 -0400 Women's empowerment is critical for countries in Asia and the Pacific to advance towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, all by 2015, according to participants at a United Nations forum held in the Thai capital. UNESCAP, 2008 http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2008/aug/g35.asp http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2008/aug/g35.asp Wed, 6 Aug 2008 15:13:19 -0400 Some of the incentives supported by development agencies to promote girls’ education in the region, a major priority of the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI), include the provision of scholarships to girls, especially from disadvantaged communities, and non-formal education, which include literary and post-literacy classes, for those out of school. UNICEF, 2008 http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/nepal_45048.html http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/nepal_45048.html Tue, 5 Aug 2008 13:21:19 -0400 Thoraya Ahmed Obaid and Ines Alberdi, Executive Directors of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, respectively, co-chaired a session Sunday [at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City] on the links between gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=707 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=707 Mon, 4 Aug 2008 14:21:19 -0400 The '2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic', released by UNAIDS today, reveals that fewer people are dying of AIDS than in previous years and fewer are becoming infected. UNAIDS, 2008 http://data.unaids.org/pub/GlobalReport/2008/JC1510_2008GlobalReport_en.zip http://data.unaids.org/pub/GlobalReport/2008/JC1510_2008GlobalReport_en.zip Mon, 4 Aug 2008 14:21:19 -0400 The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is backing an Angolan Government initiative to provide better health-care services to expectant mothers and newborn babies as part of efforts to improve maternal and child survival. UNICEF, 2008 http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/angola_44943.html http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/angola_44943.html Fri, 1 Aug 2008 17:21:19 -0400 At a press conference on 31 July 2008, ahead of the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico, UNIFEM Executive Director Ines Alberdi, Mexican Undersecretary for Prevention and Health Promotion Mauricio Hernandez, and the acclaimed Mexican singer Julieta Venegas called for urgent attention to the link between violence against women... UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=706 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=706 Fri, 1 Aug 2008 17:19:19 -0400 WHO is pleased to join the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week from 1 to 7 August 2008. This year's theme is "going for the gold by supporting mothers to breastfeed". WHO, 2008 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2008/s08/en/index.html http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2008/s08/en/index.html Fri, 1 Aug 2008 17:17:19 -0400 As the world's leaders and AIDS community gather in Mexico for the biennial global conference on HIV and AIDS, UNITAID, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) today announced an infusion of $50 million aimed at halting mother-to-child transmission of HIV. WHO, 2008 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2008/pr27/en/index.html http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2008/pr27/en/index.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:17:19 -0400 With the aim of empowering refugee women, the United Nations Refugee Agency has launched a pilot project with the international organization Clowns Without Borders seeking to improve the self-confidence, relaxation techniques and communication skills of some of the neediest women. And in a few short weeks, the results are already being noticed. UNHCR, 2008 http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=48908bd11 http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=48908bd11 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:17:19 -0400 Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda led the Tanzanian National Assembly in signing onto UNIFEM's Say NO to Violence against Women campaign at a ceremony on 22 July 2008, which was witnessed by UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha Rose Migiro. The Speaker of the National Assembly Samwel Sitta, Deputy Speaker Anna Makinda... UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=704 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=704 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 9:17:19 -0400 Sierra Leonean police have adopted new policy guidelines on sexual abuse and exploitation that have been drafted by United Nations officials as part of their efforts to reduce the widespread levels of violence against women and girls in the West African country. UN News Centre, 2008 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27503&Cr=Leone&Cr1= http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27503&Cr=Leone&Cr1= Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:17:19 -0400 Nine Mauritanian journalists will take part in a study trip to Morocco in order to reinforce their journalistic capacities. UNESCO, 2008 http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=27441&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=27441&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:17:19 -0400 One of the significant projects which is being implemented by the Social and Human Sciences Sector of UNESCO for development in Africa, is the project of the Women's Rights Research and Documentation Centre for the Great Lakes Region. UNESCO, 2008 http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-URL_ID=12165&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-URL_ID=12165&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:17:19 -0400 Increasingly aware of education's vital role in curbing HIV and AIDS, countries around the world are working to put in place appropriate educational sector responses to the epidemic. UNESCO, 2008 http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=43203&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=43203&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:17:19 -0400 Several African countries are at the forefront of a growing trend to substantially increase female representation in parliaments around the world. UNICEF, 2008 http://www.unicef.org/girlseducation/index_44828.html http://www.unicef.org/girlseducation/index_44828.html Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:17:19 -0400 Any individual, non-governmental organization, group or network may submit communications (complaints/appeals/petitions) to the Commission on the Status of Women containing information relating to alleged violations of human rights that affect the status of women in any country in the world. Deadline approaching! Any person or organization with a communication should write before 26 August 2008. DAW, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/communications_procedure.html http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/communications_procedure.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:17:19 -0400 The programme is particularly important because more than 70 percent of the people returning to the relatively stable South Kivu province are women and children. Projects that teach women job skills and boost female literacy should help kickstart the economy in an area lacking basic services and infrastructure after years of war. UNHCR, 2008 http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=487f47d64 http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=487f47d64 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:17:19 -0400 The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) today said it was encouraged by steps taken to include protections in a draft election law ensuring that women have the opportunity to serve on governorate councils. UNAMI (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq), 2008 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27395&Cr=Iraq&Cr1= http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27395&Cr=Iraq&Cr1= Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:47:19 -0400 All agencies responsible for the preparation of data series used for monitoring progress towards the MDG have provided their most up-to-date information to the United Nations Statistics Division. Nearly 95 percent of MDG series have been updated and the remaining ones will be soon finalized and uploaded into the MDG database. You can access the latest data by selecting "Country Level Data" from the drop-down menu on the MDG website. UNSD, 2008 http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/News.aspx?ArticleId=40 http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/News.aspx?ArticleId=40 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:45:19 -0400 This guide highlights a number of approaches and presents case studies of successful initiatives that demonstrate how incorporating a gender equality perspective into HIV and AIDS programmes and policies can transform national responses to the AIDS pandemic. It provides a number of tools, checklists and guidelines that have been developed to inform HIV and AIDS policies and frameworks and their implementation. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/resources/item_detail.php?ProductID=115 http://www.unifem.org/resources/item_detail.php?ProductID=115 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:45:19 -0400 H.E. Pampha Bhusal, Minister of Women, Children and Social Welfare, signed onto UNIFEM's Say NO to Violence against Women campaign at a ceremony on 9 July 2008 in Kathmandu, Nepal, during an interactive panel co-organized by UNIFEM and Saathi to share and disseminate the findings of the UN. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=702 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=702 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:45:19 -0400 Family planning is a critical element to improving maternal health, one of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) or global targets world leaders have pledged to achieve by 2015, senior United Nations officials said today, urging that women everywhere have access to this vital service. UNFPA, 2008 http://www.unfpa.org/wpd/ http://www.unfpa.org/wpd/ Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:42:19 -0400 The UN refugee agency's efforts to protect women and children refugees from violence throughout Central Europe came a step closer recently when Slovenia agreed to include refugees and asylum seekers in prevention and response mechanisms for those at risk. UNHCR, 2008 http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=486cc3674 http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=486cc3674 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:22:11 -0400 Prime ministers and foreign ministers from 10 countries have signed on to the "Say NO to Violence against Women Campaign" - a move welcomed by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), which is organizing the drive. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=699 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=699 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:22:11 -0400 The Study "Gender, Remittances and Local Rural Development: The case of Filipino migration to Italy", assesses the impact of remittances sent by Filipino migrants in Italy for promoting gender-sensitive local rural community development in the Philippines and supports capacity-building activities with migrant associations to improve the living conditions of Filipino migrants in Italy. UN-INSTRAW, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/population_migration_10308.htm#nx-gender-remittances-italy http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/population_migration_10308.htm#nx-gender-remittances-italy Tue, 27 May 2008 14:00:12 -0400 UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes a decision Friday by Colombia's Constitutional Court, which ruled that displaced women are particularly vulnerable and ordered the government to create 13 programmes for their protection, and prioritize them for access to emergency humanitarian assistance. UNHCR, 2008 http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=483be53e2 http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=483be53e2 Tue, 27 May 2008 11:16:39 -0400 Investing in women and girls is one of the fastest and best means of advancing human development for all. To ensure that UNDP is doing its part, a Global Gender Equality Retreat was organized in Rwanda, Kigali 21 - 25 April 2008. UNDP staff from all over the world took stock of progress in supporting developing countries to achieve the MDG on gender equality for future programme planning. Focus was on the implementation of the UNDP's new Gender Equality Strategy. UNDP, 2008 http://www.undp.org/women/docs/Gender-Equality-Strategy-2008-2011.doc http://www.undp.org/women/docs/Gender-Equality-Strategy-2008-2011.doc Thu, 22 May 2008 16:33:02 -0400 Local governments have significant responsibilities to strengthen gender equality in decision making, development policies and planning, and service delivery. This manual is designed to assist training institutions in mainstreaming gender in capacity building for local government. It consists of gender concepts, gender analysis and tools in areas of local government. UN-HABITAT, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/gender_training_90.htm#nx-sourcebooktrainers http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/gender_training_90.htm#nx-sourcebooktrainers Thu, 22 May 2008 16:32:02 -0400 Fathers can make a positive impact on the development of their children, but too many men have difficulty taking up the responsibility of fatherhood, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement today to mark the International Day of Families. UN News Centre, 2008 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26678&Cr=gender&Cr1= http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26678&Cr=gender&Cr1= Thu, 15 May 2008 15:34:34 -0400 The International Day of Families is 15 May every year. Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 47/237 of 20 September 1993, this annual observance reflects the importance the international community attaches to families around the world. The theme for 2008 is "Fathers and Families: Responsibilities and Challenges". UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Social Policy and Development. http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/family/IntObs/IDF/IDFFrames/IDF2008.htm http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/family/IntObs/IDF/IDFFrames/IDF2008.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 11:30:34 -0400 The awards are part of a larger UNICEF/UN initiative to raise educational standards throughout the country. Girls' education is emerging as a national priority, thanks in part to the fact that Rwanda’s Constitution calls for at least 30 per cent of national lawmakers to be female. Today, Rwanda has the highest proportion of women legislators in the world: 49 percent in Parliament and 35 percent in the Senate. UNICEF, 2008 http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/rwanda_43923.html http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/rwanda_43923.html Tue, 13 May 2008 17:22:34 -0400 Inés Alberdi, Executive Director, UNIFEM, on the occasion of the Third Meeting of the Africa-Spain Women's Network. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=682 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=682 Mon, 12 May 2008 16:32:02 -0400 The UN rural development arm announced today that it is providing $4 million towards a project that aims to tackle the exclusion of groups such as women, dalits and indigenous peoples in rural communities in Nepal. IFAD, 2008 http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2008/28.htm http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2008/28.htm Mon, 12 May 2008 10:43:17 -0400 UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is appealing for $3 million to address the urgent humanitarian concerns of cyclone-affected populations, particularly women and girls, in Myanmar's Ayeyarwady and Yangon regions. UNFPA, 2008 http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1128 http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1128 Fri, 9 May 2008 16:43:17 -0400 Djibouti has become the first country to launch a joint programme by United Nations agencies to move more quickly to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM). UNICEF/ UNFPA, 2008 http://www.unicef.org/media/media_43871.html http://www.unicef.org/media/media_43871.html Thu, 8 May 2008 17:12:17 -0400 The top United Nations official in Liberia has called for furthering the rights of women as a crucial element in advancing peace and development in the West African nation that is recovering from a decade-long civil war. UN News Centre, 2008 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26596&Cr=liberia&Cr1= http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26596&Cr=liberia&Cr1= Thu, 8 May 2008 14:39:17 -0400 Programmes which focus on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), are helping to reverse the spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of the pandemic in the country, particularly among women and children. In 2002, UNICEF began to support the establishment of sites focusing on PMTCT in Mozambique. By the end of 2007, about half the health units in the country were offering PMTCT services. UNICEF, 2008 http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/mozambique_43856.html http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/mozambique_43856.html Thu, 8 May 2008 14:38:17 -0400 The study "Gender and Remittances: Colombian Migration from the Central Western Metropolitan Area (AMCO)" analyzes the dynamics of migration from the Central-Western Metropolitan Area (AMCO) in Colombia to Spain, the flow of remittances sent and received by women and the impact of those remittances on the development of their communities of origin. UNFPA, 2008 http://www.un-instraw.org/en/media-center/press-releases/colombian-women-in-spain-invest-in-the-well-being-of-their-fam-2.html http://www.un-instraw.org/en/media-center/press-releases/colombian-women-in-spain-invest-in-the-well-being-of-their-fam-2.html Tue, 6 May 2008 18:33:17 -0400 Paying tribute to the work of midwives in saving the lives of women around the world, the head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for greater investments to train these critical health workers and get them into the communities that need them. UNFPA, 2008 http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1122 http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1122 Mon, 5 May 2008 14:39:17 -0400 A study commissioned by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights shows that countries worldwide still maintain laws that discriminate against women. UN Radio, 2008 http://www.un.org/radio/9250.asp http://www.un.org/radio/9250.asp Sun, 4 May 2008 12:18:55 -0400 The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force today, one month after the required twentieth country ratified the landmark treaty which guarantees the rights of some 650 million people worldwide. UN News Centre, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/enable/index.html http://www.un.org/womenwatch/enable/index.html Sat, 3 May 2008 12:07:17 -0400 Not only do women suffer the most from global problems, such as the current crisis arising from the surge in food prices, but they can also contribute the most to its solutions, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said today. UN News Centre, 2008 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26536&Cr=food&Cr1=crisis http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26536&Cr=food&Cr1=crisis Fri, 2 May 2008 17:06:17 -0400 Solutions to the current food crisis spurred by soaring global food prices "must include not only the poorest but also those that are particularly vulnerable to discrimination on any other grounds, including gender, ethnicity, or disability", the top UN human rights official said today, joining the call issued by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the international community to respond to the problem. OHCHR, 2008 http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/1A7353920314AEEFC125743C006804F2?opendocument http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/1A7353920314AEEFC125743C006804F2?opendocument Fri, 2 May 2008 17:05:17 -0400 An increased number of girls are enrolling in primary schools in Maganja da Costa district in response to the social mobilisation activities promoted by the UNICEF Child-Friendly Schools initiative. UNICEF, 2008 http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/mozambique_43768.html http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/mozambique_43768.html Fri, 2 May 2008 17:04:17 -0400 The United Nations agencies tasked with assisting refugees and promoting sexual and reproductive health rights have bolstered their partnership to tackle common challenges such as combating sexual and gender-based violence and addressing the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs). UN News Centre, 2008 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26530&Cr=refugees&Cr1=health http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26530&Cr=refugees&Cr1=health Fri, 2 May 2008 17:03:17 -0400 The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women is accepting applications for its 13th grant cycle (2008) for projects that support the implementation of national policies, laws and action plans on ending violence against women. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/violence_against_women/trust_fund_guidelines.php http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/violence_against_women/trust_fund_guidelines.php Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:33:17 -0400 A "Future Within Reach 2008" takes stock of significant MDG progress to date across Asia and the Pacific, and highlights existing and potential challenges to their achievement. It is the third regional report on MDGs produced by ESCAP, ADB and the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) Millennium Development Goals Initiative team. UNESCAP, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/south_and_south-east_asia_11112.htm#nx-future30042008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/south_and_south-east_asia_11112.htm#nx-future30042008 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:32:17 -0400 Segment #6 of ‘Beyond School Books’, a UNICEF podcast series on education in emergencies, focuses on education as a key to the advancement of women in countries emerging from conflict. UNICEF, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/education_and_training_of_women_3002.htm#nx-podcast275 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/education_and_training_of_women_3002.htm#nx-podcast275 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:31:17 -0400 A United Nations gardening and literacy project for Afghan women and ex-combatants seeks to pave the way to peace and prosperity in the war-torn nation. UN News Centre, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/south_and_south-east_asia_11112.htm#nx-garden30042008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/south_and_south-east_asia_11112.htm#nx-garden30042008 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:24:17 -0400 OThis study was developed to inform programming and advocacy in the areas of prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and women's participation in peacebuilding. It focuses on specific thematic areas of good practice and highlights examples of women's successful engagement in peacebuilding. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/resources/item_detail.php?ProductID=112 http://www.unifem.org/resources/item_detail.php?ProductID=112 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:32:43 -0400 Online Slideshow: The Countdown to 2015 is a global partnership for renewed action in achieving health-related Millennium Development Goals. UNICEF, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/reproductive_health_10305.htm#nx-countdown http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/reproductive_health_10305.htm#nx-countdown Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:34:43 -0400 Rapid increases in the large-scale production of liquid biofuels in developing countries could exacerbate the marginalization of women in rural areas threatening their livelihoods, according to a new FAO study. FAO, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/women_and_rural_development_10311.htm#nx-biofuel http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/women_and_rural_development_10311.htm#nx-biofuel Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:33:43 -0400 Say NO to Violence against Women is a global Internet-based advocacy effort on ending violence against women. Organized by UNIFEM, the initiative aims to demonstrate that there is an ever-growing movement of people who raise their voices and demand that ending violence against women be a top priority. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=674 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=674 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:32:43 -0400 The 41st Meeting of Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean will take place on 24-25 April in Bogotá, Colombia. UN ECLAC, 2008 http://www.eclac.cl/cgi-bin/getProd.asp?xml=/prensa/noticias/comunicados/5/32775/P32775.xml&xsl=/prensa/tpl-i/p6f.xsl&base=/tpl/top-bottom.xsl http://www.eclac.cl/cgi-bin/getProd.asp?xml=/prensa/noticias/comunicados/5/32775/P32775.xml&xsl=/prensa/tpl-i/p6f.xsl&base=/tpl/top-bottom.xsl Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:32:43 -0400 "It would cost the world less than two-and-a-half-day’s worth of military spending to save the lives of 6 million mothers, newborns and children every year." A United Nations-backed drive issued a call to the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations today to fulfil their prior pledges to global health and to boost their investments to avert the deaths of more than 6 million mothers, newborns and children yearly. UNFPA, 2008 http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1120 http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1120 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:31:43 -0400 With one in three women worldwide suffering rape or attempted rape during her lifetime and at least one in three likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused, a United Nations-backed television series, starting 18 April, seeks to peel away the silence surrounding these brutalities... UNIFEM, UNFPA, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/violence_against_women_3004.htm#nx-frontline http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/violence_against_women_3004.htm#nx-frontline Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:51:43 -0400 World's health leaders and parliamentarians convene to seek accelerated action to reduce maternal and child deaths. UNFPA, 2008 http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1117 http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1117 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:23:43 -0400 The United Nations-backed campaign to stamp out rape in Liberia, the highest reported crime in the West African country as it recovers from a devastating civil war, has been extended to the north with a senior UN official calling for full implementation of the law. UN News Centre, 2008 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26350&Cr=liberia&Cr1= http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26350&Cr=liberia&Cr1= Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:22:43 -0400 This brochure introduces a new documentary series, Women on the Frontline, that shines a light on violence against women and girls. The series takes the front to homes, villages, and cities of our world where a largely unreported war against females is being waged. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/resources/item_detail.php?ProductID=111 http://www.unifem.org/resources/item_detail.php?ProductID=111 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:33:43 -0400 The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the global movement to end violence against women and girls known as V-Day have launched a new partnership to end rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and ensure justice for the victims of this heinous crime. UNICEF, 2008 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26307&Cr=drc&Cr1=rape http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26307&Cr=drc&Cr1=rape Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:32:43 -0400 The appointment of Inés Alberdi of Spain as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM, has been announced... UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=668 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=668 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:54:43 -0400 These discussion papers draw on multi-stakeholder consultations on gender equality and aid effectiveness led by UNIFEM since November 2005. The consultations have brought together representatives from government, donor agencies and civil society to explore strategies to ensure that aid effectively delivers for gender equality in the context of nationally determined development planning and programming processes. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/institutional_mechanisms_3008.htm#nx-aideffect http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/institutional_mechanisms_3008.htm#nx-aideffect Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:53:43 -0400 Gender equality is recognized as being essential to human development, making it critical to ensure that all aspects of development financing, domestic and international, fully recognize women’s economic contributions, and support their economic security and rights. Hence, macroeconomic policies, which influence the volume and distribution of resources for development, must promote both employment generation and productive growth, reduce income and asset disparities, moderate vulnerabilities related to changes in the global economy, protect against environmental and social risks, and explore innovative sources of financing. This paper is a contribution to the discussion on Financing for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment at this year’s session of the Commission on the Status of Women. It is in the process of review; comments are welcome. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/institutional_mechanisms_3008.htm#nx-finance http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/institutional_mechanisms_3008.htm#nx-finance Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:52:43 -0400 This quarterly newsletter seeks to encourage knowledge sharing from gender budget initiatives around the world, share news on progress made in incorporating a gender perspective into budgeting, and inform practitioners of new resources and publications on gender-responsive budgeting (GRB). Each issue sheds light on the efforts of specific actors in relation to GRB, demonstrates the application of GRB in a particular area, and highlights a specific country or regional programme supported by UNIFEM or other agencies. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/institutional_mechanisms_3008.htm#nx-grbnl http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/institutional_mechanisms_3008.htm#nx-grbnl Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:51:43 -0400 This interagency Statement is a call to all States, international and national organizations, civil society and communities to uphold the rights of girls and women. It calls on those bodies and communities to develop, strengthen, and support specific and concrete actions directed towards ending female genital mutilation. OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNECA, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM and WHO, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/violence_against_women_3004.htm#nx-interagency http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/violence_against_women_3004.htm#nx-interagency Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:50:43 -0400 Gender, Remittances and Development: Preliminary Findings from Selected SADC Countries, published by UN-INSTRAW and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), highlights the growing impact of women’s migration on households, families and communities in selected countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). UN-INSTRAW, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/population_migration_10308.htm#nx-gender-remittances http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/population_migration_10308.htm#nx-gender-remittances Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:05:43 -0400 Effective 15 January 2008: Official list of MDG indicators, available for online viewing, and as MS-Word and PDF downloads. UN Statistics Division / DESA, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/millennium_development_goals_10381.htm#nx-mdgindictorlist http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/millennium_development_goals_10381.htm#nx-mdgindictorlist Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:55:43 -0400 A leading reference source for social, economic and environmental information on the region, the Statistical Yearbook for Latin America and the Caribbean, is produced by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Chapter one covers demographic and social areas, with special attention to gender. ECLAC, 2008 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/caribbean_11111.htm#nx-stat2007 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/caribbean_11111.htm#nx-stat2007 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:54:43 -0400 Participants of a high-level conference organized by UNIFEM and the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) have issued a declaration calling for programmed increases of the proportion of women in recruitment and training for peacekeeping operations. UNIFEM, 2008 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=665 http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=665 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:22:43 -0400