Human Rights

UN Women calls for urgent and effective action against femicide

In a statement, Acting Head of UN Women and Assistant Secretary-General Lakshmi Puri welcomes mounting global momentum to end gender-related killings and urges States to take bold and swift action to implement international agreements.

Posted in Americas and the Caribbean, Ending Violence against Women, Human Rights, News, Statements | Tagged Central America, CSW, El Salvador, femicide, feminicide, gender-related killings, Guatemala, Honduras, Latin America, México, OHCHR, Safe Cities, UN, UN Women, UNiTE, violence against women | Comments Off

We are integral to sustainable peace, recovery and development, say Malian women

At a conference for international donors in Brussels on 15 May, Malian women will present their recommendations, calling for more effective contributions to economic development and for women to play a greater role in conflict resolution and rebuilding of their country.

Posted in Africa, Economic Empowerment, Ending Violence against Women, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, Human Rights, National Planning and Budgeting, News, Peace and Security | Tagged Brussels, conference, donor, Lakshmi Puri, Mali, Sahel, UN, UN Women | Comments Off

Girls receive a visit from a different man every night, a ‘new husband’: In the words of Saran Keïta Diakité

Saran Keïta Diakité is a lawyer in Mali and President of the Malian branch of the NGO Working Group on Women Peace and Security (Réseau Paix et Sécurité des Femmes de l’Espace CEDEAO). As the Donor Conference on Mali starts in Brussels, in her own words she speaks about the atrocities occurring in her country, which has been plagued by political instability and the proliferation of armed groups that have uprooted more than 415,000 people since a military coup d’état in March 2012. She also talks about the work of her NGO, supported by UN Women, to assist survivors of violence, provide access to justice, and to ensure women have a say in peace negotiations. She was one of four female mediators who took part in peace negotiations from 15-17 April 2012 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Saran also recently spoke in April 2013 at the UN Security Council’s Open Debate on conflict-related sexual violence in New York.

Posted in Africa, Ending Violence against Women, Human Rights, In the words of..., News, Peace and Security, Stories from the Field | Tagged compensation, conflict, forced marriage, gang rape, human rights, justice, Mali, negotiations, peace, rape, sexual violence, transitional justice, UN Women, United Nations, violence, war | Comments Off

Lakshmi Puri underlines urgent need to take more courageous and decisive action against human trafficking

Speech by Lakshimi Puri, UN Women Acting Executive Director, during an interactive panel discussion on “Sharing Best Practices and Lessons Learned for Prevention and Prosecution in the Implementation of the Global Plan of Action” at the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the United Nations Appraisal of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons on 13 May 2013 at the General Assembly in New York.

Posted in Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri, Ending Violence against Women, Human Rights, News, Speeches and Statements | Tagged Brazil, Cambodia, CSW, Egypt, exploitation, human rights, human trafficking, India, Jordan, Malaysia, migration, Morocco, Nigeria, prevention, prosecution, protection, services, slavery, survivors, UN, UN Women, Viet Nam | Comments Off

Making laws real and accessible underlines efforts by judges in Tanzania

Tanzanian women High Court judges are training the judiciary to apply international women’s rights standards in their judgments and to protect survivors and witnesses of violence against women and girls. They are also engaging in awareness-raising efforts to improve the understanding of women’s rights and options for legal recourse.

Posted in Africa, Ending Violence against Women, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Human Rights, Stories from the Field | Tagged equality, human rights, judges, justice, Tanzania, UN, UN Women, violence, women's rights | Comments Off

Zimbabweans say yes to new Constitution strong on gender equality and women’s rights

With general elections approaching, Zimbabwean women hope to see women’s representation grow in Parliament, which is also mandated by the new Constitution approved by referendum in March.

Posted in Africa, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, Human Rights, News, Stories from the Field | Tagged Constitution, elections, equality, gender, Parliament, rights, UN, UN Women, women, Zimbabwe | Comments Off

In Tajikistan, rural women gain business skills and independence through self-help groups

A UN Women supported project is training the families of migrants and rural women’s groups to start their own businesses, helping them access micro-credits, and fostering their economic empowerment. They also learn how to save energy and manage household budgets.

Posted in Economic Empowerment, Europe and Central Asia, Human Rights, News, Stories from the Field, Sustainable Development | Tagged economic opportunities, IOM, migrant workers, Sughd, Tajikistan, UN, UN Women, World Bank | Comments Off

Speech by Lakshmi Puri at the High-level Conference on Women’s Leadership in the Sahel

Speech by Lakshmi Puri, Acting Head of UN Women, at the High-level Conference on Women’s Leadership in the Sahel, 9 April 2013, Brussels, Belgium

Posted in Africa, Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri, Economic Empowerment, Ending Violence against Women, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, Human Rights, Peace and Security, Speeches and Statements | Tagged African Union, Brussels, crises, crisis, decision-making, human rights, peacebuilding, Prodi, Sahel, UN, UN Women, United Nations | Comments Off

Domestic workers gain equal rights in Brazil

Posted on April 8 2013 | Americas and the Caribbean | Economic Empowerment | Human Rights | News

On the occasion of the enactment of a new law granting equal rights to domestic workers last week, UN Women launched a study on the positive impact of formalizing such employment, both for Brazil’s economy and for the country’s efforts to reduce poverty.

Posted in Americas and the Caribbean, Economic Empowerment, Human Rights, News | Tagged Brazil, domestic workers, ILO, rights, social protection, UN, UN Women | Comments Off

Femicide in Latin America: creating a regional protocol for ensuring justice

While women in El Salvador are working to implement a new law against gender-based killings of women, UN Women and OHCHR have come together to promote a regional protocol against such crimes throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Posted in Americas and the Caribbean, Ending Violence against Women, Human Rights, News, Stories from the Field | Comments Off