Women police in UN missions, sometimes “just better communicators”

Women serving in UN missions around the world are often “just the better communicators” when it comes to community policing. That’s the view of Stefan Feller, the Police Adviser in the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). He said that “for years and years”, the UN has been asking member states to contribute more women to police service, but it’s been an uphill struggle. Clare Montant asked him to outline what was expected of UN police, regardless of their sex or nationality.

British Empire “exported anti-gay laws” during 19th century

A new interactive historical map on the criminalization of homosexuality across the world shows how British colonialists “exported anti-gay laws” during the 19th century; that’s according to the UN human rights office (OHCHR). The map allows users to see how laws have changed since the 1790s up until today. Homosexuality continues to be outlawed in 76 countries in Africa as well as in the Middle East and Asia. Janie Cangelosi has been speaking to OHCHR’s Charles Radcliffe.

South Sudan’s women “want peace”

Women in South Sudan are clear that they want a peaceful future for themselves and their children, according to a senior UN official who recently visited the country. Maria Noel Vaeza, Director of the Programme Division at UN Women, the UN’s gender entity, said she is hopeful that South Sudan’s women will contribute to and support peace efforts there. South Sudan became independent in July 2011 but has been engulfed in more than two years of political turmoil which has killed thousands and forced more than two million people from their homes. Sebit William asked Ms Vaeza for her impressions of women’s progress in the world’s newest nation.

Presenter: Dianne Penn

Production Assistant: Ana Carmo

Duration: 10’00″