Women and girls “far more vulnerable” in humanitarian crises

In a world beset by crises and disasters, women and girls are far more vulnerable than their male counterparts; that’s according to UN Women’s Humanitarian Coordinator and Deputy Director Programme, Daniel Seymour. Women and girls are 2.5 times more likely to be out of school and far more likely to lose their jobs. The UN agency is working to empower women to be more resilient in responding to a crisis. Andita Listyarini asked Mr Seymour why promoting gender equality is important in times of crises, especially when people mostly focus on basic humanitarian assistance.

Art project exposes the life of women in Bolivian prisons

A new audio visual project to raise awareness about the situation of woman prisoners in Bolivia was launched recently, by the UN’s office on drugs and crime (UNODC). Titled “Obrajes”, which is the name of a women’s detention centre in Bolivia, the project exposes the grim realities of 12 imprisoned women. Overcrowding, the severe cost of incarceration and inadequate prison conditions have resulted in the specific needs of women prisoners not being met. Priyanka Shankar reports.

Keeping women out of the workplace costs US$17 trillion

Keeping women out of the workplace costs the global economy around US$17 trillion, the head of a leading NGO in Canada has told the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Julie Delahanty is Executive Director of Oxfam Canada, and recently took part in a panel discussion at the IMF on Reducing the Gender Gap. She said that vulnerable women were impacted the most, by rising inequality. Bruce Edwards asked her how pervasive gender-inequality was in the global job market.

Presenter: Dianne Penn

Production Assistant: Sandra Guy

Duration: 10’00″