Confronting backlash against women’s rights, 193 nations commit to speed action on gender equality
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Confronting backlash against women’s rights, 193 nations commit to speed action on gender equality

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — Confronting a rising backlash against women’s rights, the U.N.’s 193 member nations made a commitment Monday to accelerate action on more than a dozen fronts to achieve gender equality. Its policy and program director, Sarah Hendriks, told a news conference the number of countries reporting a backlash is likely underreported and reflects “an increasingly hostile environment.” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Monday’s meeting that three decades after Beijing’s conference, women’s rights are " under siege.” Hard-won gains are being thrown into reverse, he said, pointing to attacks on reproductive rights and the discarding of initiatives promoting gender equality. The Beijing platform also said for the first time in a U.N. document that women have the right to decide “on matters relating to their sexuality, including their sexual and reproductive health, free of discrimination, coercion and violence.” Guterres urged governments and people around the world who care about equality for women and girls “to stand up and speak out” — and deliver on Beijing’s promise. The eight-page declaration adopted Monday calls for “concrete action,” including: — Promoting women’s access to credit and entrepreneurship.

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History of this topic

International Women's Day 2025: Accelerate Action and the pursuit of gender equality
3 weeks, 2 days ago

International Women's Day 2025: Accelerate Action and the pursuit of gender equality

Firstpost  

On International Women’s Day 2025, ‘Accelerate Action’ serves as a rallying cry to dismantle systemic barriers and push for lasting gender equality On March 8, 2025, the global community observes International Women’s Day under the theme – Accelerate Action. Courtesy PIB India Women in emerging technologies The rapid growth of fields like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning presents new opportunities …

International Women's Day: UN calls for making rights, equality, empowerment a reality for all women
3 weeks, 2 days ago

International Women's Day: UN calls for making rights, equality, empowerment a reality for all women

India TV News  

International Women's Day: UN calls for making rights, equality, empowerment a reality for all women "When women and girls can rise, we all thrive," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his message ahead of the International Women's Day. New York: On the occasion of International Women's Day, the UN has called for the international community to stand firm in making …

Women's rights weakened in a quarter of all countries, UN says
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Women's rights weakened in a quarter of all countries, UN says

The Hindu  

Thirty years after world leaders adopted a historic blueprint to achieve gender equality, a new United Nations report says women's and girls' rights are under attack and gender discrimination remains deeply embedded in economies and societies. The report released on Thursday by the UN agency focused on women's rights and gender equality found that nearly one-quarter of governments worldwide reported …

Women’s rights are under attack 30 years after leaders adopted a blueprint for equality, UN says
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Women’s rights are under attack 30 years after leaders adopted a blueprint for equality, UN says

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — Thirty years after world leaders adopted a historic blueprint to achieve gender equality, a new United Nations report says women’s and girls’ rights are under attack and gender discrimination remains deeply embedded in economies and societies. “Instead of mainstreaming equal rights, we’re seeing the mainstreaming of misogyny.” He said the world must stand firm “in making human …

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2024: Date, history, significance
4 months ago

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2024: Date, history, significance

India Today  

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, observed annually on November 25, is a global effort to raise awareness about the pervasive issue of violence against women and girls. In 1979, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, yet violence against women and girls continues to be …

War affects over 600 million women and girls, UN says
5 months ago

War affects over 600 million women and girls, UN says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

A meeting of the UN body promoting equality for women starts with 5 male speakers
1 year ago

A meeting of the UN body promoting equality for women starts with 5 male speakers

The Independent  

Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The U.N.’s preeminent body promoting equality for women …

UN chief: Legal equality for women could take 300 years as backlash rises against women’s rights
1 year ago

UN chief: Legal equality for women could take 300 years as backlash rises against women’s rights

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — Legal equality for women could take centuries as the fight for gender equality is becoming an uphill struggle against widespread discrimination and gross human human rights abuses, the United Nations chief said on International Women’s Day. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a packed U.N. commemoration Friday that “a global backlash against women’s rights is threatening, and in some …

International Women's Day 2024: Breaking barriers and making world more inclusive
1 year ago

International Women's Day 2024: Breaking barriers and making world more inclusive

Hindustan Times  

United Nations has chosen the theme of ‘Invest in women: Accelerate progress’ for International Women's Day which is celebrated annually on March 8th. According to the UN, five key areas needs to be focussed on and calls for joint action: Investing in women, a human rights issue Ending poverty Implementing gender-responsive financing Shifting to a green economy and care society …

World marks Women´s Day but abuses, inequality still rampant
2 years ago

World marks Women´s Day but abuses, inequality still rampant

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres note that …

Women's Day: UN says women have been erased from public life in Afghanistan, gender equality 300 years away
2 years ago

Women's Day: UN says women have been erased from public life in Afghanistan, gender equality 300 years away

Op India  

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the progress toward gender equality is “vanishing before our eyes,” and it will take 300 years to bridge that gap, according to the official release from the UN. While addressing the UN session of the Commission on the Status of Women on Monday, Guterres said, “It takes on even greater significance at a …

International Women's Day: Global Initiatives Against Gender Discrimination
2 years ago

International Women's Day: Global Initiatives Against Gender Discrimination

The Hindu  

The idea of a gender equal world seems like a far off reality even in 2023. And if regular rankings may show strong disparities between countries and regions, let’s not fool ourselves—no country in the world is on track to achieve gender equality by 2030. The news media plays a crucial role not only in denouncing attacks on women’s rights …

Governments criticized for keeping women from peace talks
2 years ago

Governments criticized for keeping women from peace talks

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — On the eve of International Women’s Day, leading women’s rights campaigners at the United Nations and the African Union and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate criticized male-dominated governments Tuesday for excluding women from peace negotiations. Sima Bahous, head of the U.N. agency promoting gender equality, lamented “the regression in women’s rights.” She told the Security Council that …

UN official says status of women 'under siege'
2 years ago

UN official says status of women 'under siege'

China Daily  

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous speaks during a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb 22, 2023. UNITED NATIONS - The head of the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality said on Tuesday that the status of women is "under siege," more than 20 years after the UN Security Council passed a milestone …

UN official says status of women 'under siege'
2 years ago

UN official says status of women 'under siege'

China Daily  

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous speaks during a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb 22, 2023. UNITED NATIONS - The head of the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality said on Tuesday that the status of women is "under siege," more than 20 years after the UN Security Council passed a milestone …

UN envoy says ‘progress’ made on Afghan women’s rights
2 years, 2 months ago

UN envoy says ‘progress’ made on Afghan women’s rights

Al Jazeera  

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who held talks with Taliban, tells Al Jazeera some progress in the health sector made but much remains to be done. A UN delegation, which held talks with senior Taliban officials in Afghanistan, has made headway on women’s rights, the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told Al Jazeera on Saturday, cautioning that much remains to be …

Why women’s rights matter in COP27
2 years, 4 months ago

Why women’s rights matter in COP27

Al Jazeera  

This has been a year of climate catastrophes for every corner of the globe. New ActionAid research in Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia and Nigeria has found that climate change is also increasing gender-based violence and damaging women’s mental health. In precarious times of climate stress like this, girls are 20 percent more likely to be married early than in times of …

$40B pledged for gender equality, with $2B from Gates group
3 years, 8 months ago

$40B pledged for gender equality, with $2B from Gates group

Associated Press  

The U.N.- The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said it will spend the money in the next five years on health and family planning programs, economic empowerment projects and other initiatives. The pledge was made at the Generation Equality Forum convened by UN Women in Paris, where private donors, government officials and civil society leaders are meeting to make financial …

Paris conference aims to fast-track road to gender equality
3 years, 9 months ago

Paris conference aims to fast-track road to gender equality

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — An international conference opening in Paris on Wednesday aims to fast-track the road to gender equality and mobilize millions of dollars to achieve the long-sought goal quickly, the head of the U.N.’s premiere global body fighting to empower women says. UN Women’s Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said in an interview with The Associated Press that the underfunding …

Paris conference aims to fast-track road to gender equality
3 years, 9 months ago

Paris conference aims to fast-track road to gender equality

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. UN Women’s Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said in an …

On International Women’s Day, we must not let a year of Covid reverse decades of progress in gender equality
4 years ago

On International Women’s Day, we must not let a year of Covid reverse decades of progress in gender equality

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Even so, our values are shared, …

This Women’s Day, I Wish Gender Justice Isn’t Just a Utopian Ideal
4 years ago

This Women’s Day, I Wish Gender Justice Isn’t Just a Utopian Ideal

The Quint  

What I want this International Women's Day is a change in how our system responds to cases of violence against women and girls. As a young woman, it never ceases to amaze me that people still use the term “gender equality” as if it were an unattainable, utopian ideal. Perhaps one of the most important conversations of our time, at …

Conference marks 25 years since key event
4 years, 3 months ago

Conference marks 25 years since key event

China Daily  

Participants at the Second Global Conference on Women's Development held in Beijing on Nov 27. To celebrate and review the achievements of the past 25 years and explore effective ways to promote gender equality, the Second Global Conference on Women's Development was held in Beijing on Nov 27 under the theme "review, reflection and prospect－the 25th anniversary of the 1995 …

Conference marks 25 years since key event
4 years, 3 months ago

Conference marks 25 years since key event

China Daily  

Participants at the Second Global Conference on Women's Development held in Beijing on Nov 27. To celebrate and review the achievements of the past 25 years and explore effective ways to promote gender equality, the Second Global Conference on Women's Development was held in Beijing on Nov 27 under the theme "review, reflection and prospect－the 25th anniversary of the 1995 …

习近平在联合国大会纪念北京世界妇女大会25周年高级别会议上的讲话（双语全文）
4 years, 5 months ago

习近平在联合国大会纪念北京世界妇女大会25周年高级别会议上的讲话（双语全文）

China Daily  

2020年10月1日，国家主席习近平在联合国大会纪念北京世界妇女大会25周年高级别会议上通过视频发表重要讲话。 以下是讲话双语全文： 在联合国大会纪念北京世界妇女大会25周年高级别会议上的讲话 Statement by H.E. Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China At the High-level Meeting on the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of The Fourth World Conference on Women （2020年10月1日，北京） 中华人民共和国主席 习近平 Beijing, 1 October 2020 主席先生， 各位同事： Mr. President, Colleagues, 在联合国成立75周年之际，我们纪念北京世界妇女大会召开25周年，促进性别平等，推动全球妇女事业发展。我对此感到高兴，预祝本次高级别会议取得圆满成功。 On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, we gather to …

New U.N. Tracker Looks At How Countries' COVID-19 Responses Are Helping Women
4 years, 5 months ago

New U.N. Tracker Looks At How Countries' COVID-19 Responses Are Helping Women

NPR  

New U.N. Tracker Looks At How Countries' COVID-19 Responses Are Helping Women Enlarge this image toggle caption Jyoti Kapoor/The India Today Group via Getty Jyoti Kapoor/The India Today Group via Getty By now, it's become clear that the coronavirus pandemic is not gender neutral. While men are more likely to die from the virus itself, "in terms of the economic …

25 years after UN women's meeting, equality remains distant
4 years, 5 months ago

25 years after UN women's meeting, equality remains distant

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Unless we act now," he said, "gender equality could be set back by decades.” Ahead of …

'Disturbingly misogynistic' conference run only by men pledges to 'Make Women Great Again'
5 years, 2 months ago

'Disturbingly misogynistic' conference run only by men pledges to 'Make Women Great Again'

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A “disturbingly misogynistic” conference that promises to “make women great again” but …

Gender equality: No country in world to achieve parity by 2030
5 years, 9 months ago

Gender equality: No country in world to achieve parity by 2030

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. On Monday 3 June, the Equal Measures 2030 partnership released its inaugural Sustainable Development Goal Gender …

Feminism’s new frontier: Localising aid
8 years ago

Feminism’s new frontier: Localising aid

Al Jazeera  

This International Women’s Day, my hope is that we start rethinking existing patterns on how human rights funding decisions are made. Recent discussions on localising aid show that this is not just a women’s rights issue – it relates to trends in the entire international aid community. This gives the impression that small women’s groups are not trusted to “do …

Women of the world, unite!
8 years ago

Women of the world, unite!

Al Jazeera  

Now is the time to continue marching forward with our heads and placards held high for all to see. Governments must urgently bring harmful culture and tradition closer to international human rights, and dismantle the legal discriminations and barriers that keep and push women back. Governments must urgently bring harmful culture and tradition closer to international human rights, and dismantle …

Women of the world, unite!
8 years ago

Women of the world, unite!

Al Jazeera  

Now is the time to continue marching forward with our heads and placards held high for all to see. Governments must urgently bring harmful culture and tradition closer to international human rights, and dismantle the legal discriminations and barriers that keep and push women back. Governments must urgently bring harmful culture and tradition closer to international human rights, and dismantle …

Womens March: All the US protests taking place, in one map
8 years, 2 months ago

Womens March: All the US protests taking place, in one map

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “From the very beginning, it has been our aim to bring groups together in order to …

The ridiculous anti-women laws around the world that still exist
9 years ago

The ridiculous anti-women laws around the world that still exist

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At least 44 countries have …

International Women's Day 2016: 10 simple ways you can make a difference
9 years ago

International Women's Day 2016: 10 simple ways you can make a difference

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy People are sharing a list …

China frees 5 women's rights activists after month detention
9 years, 11 months ago

China frees 5 women's rights activists after month detention

Firstpost  

Chinese authorities have released five women’s rights campaigners whose detentions for more than a month sparked an international outcry and underscored the government’s tight restrictions on independent social activism. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said China should “support them, not silence them” in their fight against sexual harassment and other injustices toward women, and #FreeTheFive became a popular Twitter …

U.N. Report: No Country Has Achieved Equality For Women
10 years ago

U.N. Report: No Country Has Achieved Equality For Women

NPR  

U.N. Report: No Country Has Achieved Equality For Women Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Stewart/WireImage/Getty Images Michael Stewart/WireImage/Getty Images Twenty years ago, then first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton made headlines with these words at September 5, 1995, at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing: "If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference …

Head of UN Women: No country has reached gender equality
10 years ago

Head of UN Women: No country has reached gender equality

Firstpost  

The head of the UN agency promoting equality for women says that no country has reached gender equality in the world. Twenty years after 189 countries adopted a blueprint to achieve equality for women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said in an interview with The Associated Press that not a single country has reached gender parity and equality. Then-US first lady Hillary Clinton …

The anti-women laws still in place around the world
10 years, 1 month ago

The anti-women laws still in place around the world

Daily Mail  

While Patricia Arquette made a rallying cry for equal pay for women during her Oscars acceptance speech last weekend, a separate social media campaign was gathering pace. The women's rights group Equality Now has launched a new drive against 44 governments who have laws that discriminate against women, which they accompanied with a global petition and the hastag #UnSexyLaws. The …

UN calls for end to violence against women
10 years, 4 months ago

UN calls for end to violence against women

Al Jazeera  

UN wants to end gender violence as 35 percent of women and girls globally experience physical and or sexual violence. The UN today marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women with a call to end to what it calls a “global pandemic” of aggression against women and girls. by - Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women According …

The way forward for gender equality
11 years ago

The way forward for gender equality

Al Jazeera  

Twenty years after the Cairo population conference, there is still much to achieve for women’s empowerment. But meaningful progress in many nations has empowered a new generation of women who are exercising greater control over their social, economic and reproductive lives. In the last two decades, religious and political divisions have grown wider, both between and within nations, with the …

Listen to your better half
11 years, 10 months ago

Listen to your better half

Hindustan Times  

Hardly a day goes by without a news story on some violation of women’s rights. Among the eight Millennium Development Goals, they included gender equality and women’s empowerment. The goal of gender equality and women’s empowerment tracked progress of school enrolment, women’s share of paid work, and women’s participation in parliaments. By failing to address the structural causes of discrimination …

Tackling FGM, violence against women and forced marriage around the world
12 years ago

Tackling FGM, violence against women and forced marriage around the world

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Today, country …

International Women’s Day: who, what, when and why?
12 years ago

International Women’s Day: who, what, when and why?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The idea for an International …

Equality for women still far behind
15 years ago

Equality for women still far behind

China Daily  

Li Xing Equality for women still far behind By Li Xing Updated: 2010-03-04 06:42 "Equal rights, equal opportunities, progress for all" is the theme for the celebration of International Women's Day at the United Nations in New York on Wednesday. Fifteen years ago in Beijing, at the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women, I witnessed and reported on the …

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