“Virtuous” not “vicious” cycle needed to tackle poverty, gender equality

The “vicious cycle” where poverty feeds gender inequality within the world’s Least Developed Countries, LDCs, can become a “virtuous” one, if everyone embraces sustainable development. That’s the view of Lakshmi Puri, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, speaking just after the latest High Level review of LDCs’ progress, in Antalya, Turkey. She stressed the importance of integrating gender equality, women’s empowerment, and poverty eradication efforts among the group of 48 nations. Reem Abaza asked Ms Puri to outline how effective the review process had been in areas of concern to UN Women.

Female peacekeepers gain trust, valuable intelligence from local women 

Female peacekeepers deployed by the United Nations are able to gain valuable intelligence after winning the trust of local women in countries like Afghanistan. That’s the candid view of Force Commander Major-General Kristin Lund, of the UN force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) the first woman ever to command a UN peacekeeping operation. Despite the important role they play she told Monica Villela Grayley why it was proving difficult for the UN to recruit more women.

Usage patterns to help in prevention of drug abuse by women

A study into drug usage patterns will help in the prevention of abuse amongst women, according to a senior United Nations official. The UN International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) will dedicate its 2016 Annual Report to the study of drug use and its impact among women as well as the policy response of governments to the specific situations that women face. The President of INCB which monitors international drug control treaties is Werner Sipp. Daniel Dickinson asked him for more details.

Presenter: Jocelyne Sambira

Production Assistant: Sandra Guy

Duration: 10’00″