“Complicated and challenging” job to liberate Nigeria’s abducted girls

Any military operation to free more than 200 girls abducted by the terrorist group Boko Haram would be “complicated and challenging” and could end in “disaster”. That’s one major concern being raised by the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, on the second anniversary of the capture of the girls from Chibok. 276 girls were abducted by Boko Haram in the northeast of Nigeria, and although 57 escaped soon after, there are still 219 being held. Leila Zerrougui said that any military attempt to liberate them, would have to be done extremely carefully to avoid a tragedy. She spoke to Cristina Silveiro.

Drug policies “disproportionately” punish pregnant women and mothers

Female drug users who are pregnant, or already have children, unjustly receive harsher punishments than men or other women. That’s according to Farah Diaz-Tello, a senior staff attorney at National Advocates for Pregnant Women, a New York-based non-governmental organization. Ms Diaz-Tello attended an event at UN Headquarters that focused on how to promote drug policies that support women, part of the UN General Assembly’s Special Session on the World Drug Problem. Farah Diaz-Tello spoke to Carmen Cuesta Roca about the vulnerabilities women experience.

Women farmers produce more than men given the same resources

Research has shown that women farmers given the same access to seeds, fertilizers, and land as men produce more than their male counterparts on average. Maria-Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, says that empowering women is a vital part of eliminating world hunger. She spoke to Janie Cangelosi about how the issue fits in with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Presenter: Matthew Wells

Production Assistant: Ana Carmo

Duration: 10’00″