In the rubble of what’s left of American commitments to international organizations, one survivor is doing well. The United Nations Population Fund, or UNFPA, the perennial target of Republican politicians and presidents since the 1980s, is thriving.
Tag: United Nations
COVID-19: Only 1 in 8 Countries Protect Women Against Social and Economic Impacts, Data Shows
Most of the world’s nations are not doing enough to protect women and girls from the economic and social fallout being caused by the COVID-19 crisis, according to new data released today.
Clinton and Albright Commemorate 25 Years Since the Beijing World Conference on Women
In a webinar marking the 25th anniversary of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women, former Secretaries of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Madeleine Albright reflected on their work in Beijing and its continuing impact. Ambassador Melanne Verveer led the discussion, titled “Beijing +25: Commemorating a Watershed Moment for Women’s Rights” and hosted by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.
Afghanistan Gains Seat on UN Commission on the Status of Women—for First Time in History
Gaining a seat on the UNCSW is one of many achievements that Afghan women have made during the last two decades. Despite the threats, harassment, and attacks, Afghan women have made progress, from participating in presidential and provincial elections to winning a seat in parliament.
Revisiting Bella Abzug’s Vision Post-Beijing, 25 Years Later
On September 12, 1995, Bella Abzug took to the podium at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China to ask: “What will we accomplish at the week’s end when the [Beijing] Platform for Action is adopted by the world’s women and its 189 governments?”
Since then, feminists have not stopped advocating for gender justice, and in facing current realities, have turned toward each other to build power, speak truth, and renew commitments to the promise of Beijing—to the promise of a just and healthy world.
UN General Assembly 75: In a Pandemic World, Where Does Gender Equality Fit In?
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hold the world hostage, global leaders will gather at the largest annual inter-governmental meeting for the first time ever in a virtual session. The 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 75) will open on 15 September, and its General Debate will focus on how to respond to the pandemic and confront its challenges through multilateral action.
A set of side-events supported by UN Women in the lead up to the High-Level Meeting will put a spotlight on the need to place women front and centre of the response against COVID-19.
Just 11 of the 196 Speakers at This Year’s UN General Assembly Are Women
The first woman scheduled to speak at this year’s opening session of the United Nations General Assembly is 53rd on the list of about 119 heads of state—President Zuzana Caputova of Slovakia—delivering her remarks on Sept. 23.
This year’s General Assembly coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing. It’s therefore especially painful for some countries that so few women in total—11, it appears, so far—are scheduled to speak at the “high-level” session, from Sept. 22-29.
Cooperate on Climate Now or We’re Doomed, UN Secretary-General Warns
California endured a slew of fires caused by more than 12,000 dry-lightning strikes in August, and experts say such wildfires will become normal if major steps are not taken soon to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The United States’ “dynamic society,” rather than government policy, is driving more “climate action” measures, says the UN secretary-general.
Beijing: 25 Years Later
Adopted in 1995, the U.N.’s Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action shaped aspirations for women’s equality in the 21st century—and no amount of resistance or repression since has been able to reverse its momentum.
Take Action! Trump Administration Proposes Harmful Regression to USAID Gender Equality Policy
Last week, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) released their draft of a new USAID Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy.
The current draft of the policy is out of touch with current global best practices, and contains inaccurate and problematic elements that may stall or even reverse progress towards gender equality globally.
TAKE ACTION: USAID has opened up an extremely brief comment period on the policy, requiring that all comments be submitted by Tuesday, August 25.