This year, International Women’s Day comes at a pivotal moment, and with a wave women’s activism – from the #MeToo movement to #TimesUp and beyond – exposing the structures that have allowed women’s oppression to flourish, the United Nations is urging the world to stand with rural and urban women activists to topple the […]
Category: Violence Against Women
With rising number of girls at risk, world in ‘race against time’ to end female genital mutilation – UN
Female genital mutilation is a violent act that, among other things, causes infection, disease, childbirth complications and death, said the Executive Directors of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a joint statement for the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Describing FGM as “a cruel […]
#MeToo movement stems from impunity and culture of silence, senior UN official writes
Casual indifference to sexual harassment is unacceptable, the head of the United Nations entity mandated to promote gender equality today said, urging women and men to change their response to acts of sexual aggression. In an opinion piece, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, pointed to the “pain and anger” of […]
Sexual violence in conflict ‘legitimate threat’ to peace and security – UN deputy chief
Although global understanding of sexual violence in conflict is shifting, there remains the need to tackle the root causes of such violations that lie in fundamental inequality and discrimination against women, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told the United Nations Security Council today. “Sexual violence in conflict is no longer seen as ‘merely a women’s issue’ […]
Nigeria: Welcoming release of 82 Chibok girls, UN urges support for their rehabilitation
Welcoming Saturday’s release of 82 of the schoolgirls abducted from the Nigerian town of Chibok by the Boko Haram insurgent group three years ago, the United Nations has called for continued global support for the country’s efforts to release, rehabilitate and reintegrate all Boko Haram victims. “We appeal to all Nigerians, including the families and […]
Senior UN official in South Sudan warns women and girls face ‘extremely high risk’ of sexual assault risk
Without peace in South Sudan, millions of people will go hungry and millions of women and girls could be raped as they try to go about their daily lives, including as they search for food, a senior United Nations official today warned. “While humanitarians will continue to do all that is possible to alleviate suffering, […]