While we are all too familiar with the term homicide, the word femicide, although less known, is making its way to the developed worlds’ vocabulary. First used in early 19thcentury England to describe the “killing of a female,” it is currently and commonly used in developing countries. The term defined as “the killing of a [...]
At an age when many of her Western peers were chatting about the dismal homecoming date prospects, Melka, a young Ethiopian woman, was forced into marrying one of those boys she barely knew. She was 14 when she learned her parents, unbeknownst to her, had arranged a marriage for her. Later, Melka, with the help [...]
Imagine living in a country where girls aren’t allowed to practice martial arts, run track, or play ball because they’re expected to do house work. This is a reality for many young women worldwide. Some seek a way to break from the norm. Those brave enough to break that normed were witnessed by Astrid [...]
HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand, UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador, speaks against violence to women The UNiTE’s 16 Days to end violence against women is winding down, but the anti-violence Tweets, messages of solidarity and campaigns against gender-based abuse are still going strong. Unfortunately, though, in many areas, so is the violence. The days began on [...]
Defending human rights remains a life-threatening activity The new annual report of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (OBS) was released last Monday, 24 October, at United Nations Headquarters in New York. “Our new annual report highlights hundreds of cases of abuses, including daily attacks, sexual aggressions, defamation campaigns, arbitrary detention and [...]
Before US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left the podium at the International Conference on Afghanistan in London on 28 January 2010, she pointed to four women wrapped in green scarves and clustered together in the corner of the crowded press conference room and asked them to stand up. “They are among the women who [...]
With more than a half-century of on-going war against powerful guerilla forces and drug cartels, the Colombian government has begun a more aggressive approach in cracking down on rebel activities – including child participants. In 2006, with violence raging unabated, and an increasing number of children involved in rebel activity, the Colombian government issued Law [...]
For uncontacted tribes, arguably the most vulnerable type of indigenous people, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People arrived in the aftermath of a calamity instead of a celebration. After an armed attack by Peruvian drug traffickers in late July, many tribes are still feared missing in the remote Acre region of Brazil, prompting [...]
Land rights are an ongoing struggle for people throughout the world, particularly women, who, in many countries, are denied both access to and ownership of land because of their gender. The right to land ownership was one of many topics highlighted during a panel held last week by UN Women to acknowledge the organization’s first [...]
The documentary screening of Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields, held in New York, laid bare disturbing images of execution, death, and murder.
“I think this is a blatant lie,” Palitha Kohona, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United Nations, declared before gathered journalists, diplomats, and human rights activists.
In a bid to increase awareness of the challenges facing the world’s poorest countries, the United Nations has partnered with MediaGlobal to assist newspaper editors, broadcasters, and owners of media companies in advancing human development by featuring stories that raise international awareness of issues of poverty, disease, and hunger in the most vulnerable countries.
The Global Media Compact aims to assist newspaper editors, broadcasters, and owners of media companies in advancing human development by featuring stories that raise international awareness of issues of poverty, disease, and hunger in the most vulnerable countries in Africa. READ MORE
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