New Independent Expert on LGBT issues a "huge development"

Activists are hailing the appointment of a UN Independent Expert on the human rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender or LGBT people. The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has passed a resolution that will establish the mandate. It represents an important step towards stamping out homophobia and transphobia; according to those people fighting hatred and discrimination against the LGBT community. Dianne Penn reports.

Women suffer greater impacts from drug dependency

Women can suffer greater impacts from drug dependency than men according to the UN’s annual report on global drug trends. The World Drug Report 2016 reveals that two million more people are hooked on drugs than the previous year, bringing the overall total to 29 million. Around 207,000 of those people die annually a figure that has remained stable over the past few years. Daniel Dickinson has been speaking to Jean-Luc Lemahieu, a policy director at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, which published the report. He began by asking Mr Lemahieu about the differences in drug use patterns between men and women.

UN Population Award recognizes importance of women’s health

A leading Brazilian social scientist and a Polish childbirth organization have been named as the recipients of this year’s UN Population Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health issues. The Childbirth with Dignity Foundation has worked for decades to improve reproductive health and women’s rights in Poland. And the eminent population expert, Carmen Barroso, of Brazil, was honoured as an individual laureate. Ms Barroso spoke to Laura Gelbert.

Presenter: Daniel Dickinson

Production Assistant: Ana Carmo

Duration: 10'00″