UN Gender Focus

Caleb Orozco’s story of survival

Five years ago, Caleb Orozco challenged the criminalization of sodomy which is detailed in Section 53, of the Belize criminal code. The statute calls for a 10-year prison term for “carnal intercourse against the order of nature.” Like many former colonies of the British Empire, Belize inherited the law from Britain. Caleb Orozco won the historic case and just last month Section 53 was overturned as a violation of the constitution. But his lonely battle against discrimination continues as he told Jocelyne Sambira.

Film gives voice to indigenous Mohawk women in New York City

The women of Syria: the “backbone” of peace and reconciliation in the war-torn country, and a “glimmer of hope” in a flailing peace process.

Then, we’ll hear the story of a Syrian refugee mother who fled the city of Aleppo with her family.

Presenter: Jocelyne Sambira

Production Assistant: Sandra Guy

Duration: 10’00″.

Time wasted collecting water a “double whammy” for women and girls

Women should have the right to choose to wear a controversial bathing suit known as the burkini without coercion from the state or individuals; that’s according to the UN agency focused on gender issues, UN Women.

The burkini is a full-body swimsuit with a headscarf which is favoured by many Muslim women as well as by non-Muslims.

“Heart-wrenching” testimony from survivors of atrocities in Iraq

Young girls from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro are attending the Olympic Games as part of a programme launched by UN Women.

The ‘One Win Leads to Another’ programme brought 350 girls to attend Olympic events.

The initiative uses sports to empower young women and girls, thus enabling them to take control of their lives.

Female Olympic athletes show “we are all created equal, we can all achieve”

Seeing women compete and succeed in the 2016 Rio Olympics shows the world that “we are all created equal, and we can all achieve”.

That’s according to UN Women’s social media manager, Beatrice Frey, who has returned from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this week.

Ms Frey has been working with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on several UN Women projects to empower young girls through sports.

The 2016 Olympics has seen the highest female participation with 45% of athletes being women.

Bid to end violence “that affects one billion children per year”

An ambitious strategy to end violence against children has been unveiled by UN health experts. It was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) which says a new global approach is needed as around one billion children every year are affected. Despite the alarming data, WHO says that many cases of violence are “hidden, unseen or under-reported.” Daniel Johnson reports from Geneva.