UN Gender Focus

Value of women’s unpaid work deserves recognition

One suburb of the Filipino capital, Manila, is trying to confront the issue of violence against women using a novel form of community patrolling.

Women’s Safety Audits are a “participatory tool” being piloted as part of the UN Women Safe Cities initiative.

The idea is to discourage physical or sexual violence against women and girls by empowering concerned citizens to patrol their own neighbourhoods, and come up with solutions to make them safer.

UN marks 15 years since landmark resolution on women, peace and security

Fifteen years after the adoption of a ground-breaking resolution focused on the link between gender equality and international peace and security, the world gathered in October to take stock of progress made in this critical area. More than 100 countries participated in the UN Security Council meeting. Dianne Penn brought us the story.

Most Syrians fleeing country because of fear of sexual violence 

Women impacted "disproportionately" by climate change

When it comes to women’s representation in the media, the news is grim, according to a UN-backed study.

It reveals that although women make up half the population, they comprise less than one-quarter of people heard, seen or read about in newspaper, television and radio news.

The same holds true in digital platforms, where the statistic is 26 per cent.

As the media have great power in shaping or reinforcing attitudes, the authors say the study is “a wake-up call” for more equitable reflection of women in press coverage.

Dianne Penn has the story.

African women “more effected” by climate change

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.