UN Gender Focus

Violence against women a “global epidemic”

Sixteen days of activism to end gender-based violence is underway across the world.

The United Nations has described the problem as a global pandemic.

In Kosovo, in eastern Europe, around 80 per cent of all victims of reported domestic abuse cases were women, while 90 per cent of perpetrators were men.

Shpend Berbatovci has more details.

Duration: 2’34”

Violence against women should be recognized as a “global epidemic” according to the Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, the United Nations’ gender agency.

Lakshmi Puri was talking ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, marked annually on 25 November.

Brazilian celebrity same-sex wedding video premiered at UN

Impressive drop in maternal mortality rates

Maternal mortality rates worldwide have dropped by almost 44 per cent over the last 15 years. That’s according to a report released by the United Nations. The report indicates that maternal deaths around the world fell from about 532,000 in 1990, to an estimated 303,000 this year. Maternal mortality is defined as a woman’s death caused by pregnancy, childbirth or within 6 weeks of having a baby. Veronica Reeves has the story.

Sri Lankan maternity hospital reborn after 2004 tsunami

Concern at “never-ending flow” of vulnerable EU arrivals