Tag Archive for "United Nations"

Posts Tagged United Nations

UN Delegates Appalled At The Treatment Of Women In The U.S.

The United Nations sent a delegation of human rights advisors to the United States for 10 days in order to synthesize a report on the treatment of women.

By Mychal Denzel Smith • 10 years ago

Feminism shouldn’t make men comfortable

Emma Watson’s speech on gender equality at the UN got a lot of attention, and that’s great. The more that hop the feminism train and use their platforms to spread the message, the merrier. But there’s a tiny little thing I’d like to disagree with her about.

The thrust of the speech is about getting men on board with the mission of gender equality. Watson said: “How can we affect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation? Men—I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue, too.” That last part is true. In fact, I’d say ...

Emma Watson’s speech on gender equality at the UN got a lot of attention, and that’s great. The more that hop the feminism train and use their platforms to spread the message, ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 10 years ago

New report calls on US to address racial discrimination in health care system

The Center for Reproductive Rights, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and SisterSong have collaborated on a disturbing new report on racial discrimination in health care in the US, particularly around the maternal health of Black women in the South and immigrants’ access to reproductive health care. The two main takeaways:

Black women nationwide are nearly four times as likely to die in childbirth as white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Maternal mortality is nothing short of a human rights crisis in the country, with the United States’ maternal mortality rate increasing by 136 percent between 1990 and 2013, which is nearly double the rate of Saudi Arabia ...

By Lori Adelman • 11 years ago

New UNICEF report shows slow but clear decline in female genital mutilation/cutting

Yesterday UNICEF released a new report on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) showing that, while millions of girls are still at risk, the dangerous centuries-old tradition is now on a slow but steady decline in key areas around the world.

In some sense this isn’t hard news; we reported last February that FGM/C was on the decline in Africa, where over 8,000 communities have renounced the practice. But to see this trend picking up worldwide is heartening.

On the other hand, I couldn’t help but feel that the real “news” of the report is that, despite a sharp decline in FGM/C in numerous countries, in 2013 there are still so many countries where the FGM/C prevalance rate is over 90%. The most recent numbers ...

By Lori Adelman • 12 years ago

What do Peru and Utah have in common? Fierce youth advocates for starters

This week, youth advocates from around the world are in New York for the Commission in Population and Development, the United Nations’ annual meeting on development, health and rights. This year’s meeting is focused on adolescents and youth, and these young advocates are in town to ensure that governments uphold prior commitments to advancing the sexual and reproductive rights and health of all. We sat down with Thomas Alberts, a college student from Utah and Stefanie Suclupe, a young nurse from Peru, to find out what’s at stake—at the UN and beyond—when it comes to young people and sex.

Stefanie: In Peru, young people face many barriers to accessing health services, and violations of their sexual and reproductive ...

This week, youth advocates from around the world are in New York for the Commission in Population and Development, the United Nations’ annual meeting on development, health and rights. This year’s meeting is focused on ...

By Eesha Pandit • 12 years ago

UN Human Rights Council makes slow progress for LGBT rights

Last week, activists from around the world gathered in Geneva for a meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights to discuss global LGBT rights. This convening marked the first time the UN Human Rights Council has focused on human rights, gender identity and sexual orientation. UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, opened the event by saying,

“To those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, let me say: You are not alone. Your struggle for an end to violence and discrimination is a shared struggle. Any attack on you is an attack on the universal values the United Nations and I have sworn to defend and uphold. Today, I stand with you … and I call upon all countries and people to stand with ...

By Lori Adelman • 13 years ago

UN report says all states should provide access to safe abortion, contraception

A groundbreaking new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Anand Grover, was released yesterday. And it is big!!

In the new report, Grover calls for the immediate removal of all impeding restrictions to abortion, full access to modern contraceptive methods, and complete and accurate information on sexual and reproductive health.

As the International Planned Parenthood Federation explains, “the report examines the disproportionate impact these laws and policies have on those who already suffer human rights violations and the denial of adequate heath care (e.g., women, impoverished peoples) and emphasizes individuals’ right to dignity and autonomy in health-related decision making.”

Having someone this high up basically say that all UN members states should provide safe abortion and ...

A groundbreaking new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Anand Grover, was released yesterday. And it is big!!

In the new report, Grover calls for the immediate removal of all impeding restrictions ...

By Lori Adelman • 13 years ago

President Obama addresses world leaders, calls for “lasting peace”

Have you noticed that New York City cab drivers seem grumpier than usual? I have. They keep demanding to know where I’m going before they pull over, a sneaky (and illegal!) move usually reserved for the rare off-duty car or the late night cabbie who suspects you’re going to force him to *gasp* Brooklyn.

But this time the culprit isn’t my conspicuously BK digs, rather, it’s UN week in New York City, when heads of state gather at the United Nations building in midtown east to talk global politics and stop local traffic.

I work in the area and have been involved in various side events, so I’ve been trying to keep tabs of all the goings on. Yesterday President Obama ...