culture

When it comes to women’s representation in the media, the news is grim, according to a UN-backed study.

It reveals that although women make up half the population, they comprise less than one-quarter of people heard, seen or read about in newspaper, television and radio news.

The same holds true in digital platforms, where the statistic is 26 per cent.

As the media have great power in shaping or reinforcing attitudes, the authors say the study is “a wake-up call” for more equitable reflection of women in press coverage.

Dianne Penn has the story.

People with disabilities deserve to live in a more inclusive world.

That was the message from political officials and persons with disabilities alike, as the United Nations marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Thursday.

An estimated 1.3 billion people around the world live with some form of disability, many of whom face serious barriers to inclusion in key aspects of society.

Veronica Reeves has more.

Duration: 2'00"

A digital mapping project created by the UN Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, is helping young people around the world identify climate issues in their communities and find ways to address them.

Called “Act now for tomorrow”, the tool is reportedly engaging 500 young people from 65 countries.

The project is one of many being presented at the UN climate change conference, known as COP21.

Youth leaders from countries most at risk from the effects of climate change have rallied in Paris, France.

The young people were attending the UN climate change conference, COP 21, demanding that world leaders sign on to an ambitious agreement to tackle climate issues.

Alejandra Salas is from Costa Rica and is a youth delegate at COP21 from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Stephanie Coutrix spoke with her and began by asking why was important to her to be at the climate conference.

A new initiative designed to shed light on the proliferation of hate speech in the media has been launched by the UN.

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) kicked off the new effort on Tuesday with a symposium at UN headquarters in New York.

The campaign is designed to bring greater attention to the prevalence of hate speech worldwide.

Veronica Reeves has the story.

Duration: 3'29"

Local public schools in Lebanon can accommodate only half of the 400,000 school-age Syrian refugee children in the country according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

More than four million people have fled Syria as a result of the four-year long civil war that has engulfed the country.

Many parents have arrived in Lebanon and are hoping that their children can receive a proper education.

Daniel Dickinson reports.

Duration: 2'18"

Women farmers on Zanzibar are going back to school to fight for their rights and boost family income.

Most of the farmers on the tropical island off the coast of mainland Tanzania are women, but traditionally they have had very little control over their lives, or finances.

But now a network of Farmer Field Schools, established by the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development, is creating new opportunities.

Joanne Levitan explains.

Duration: 4'08"

A video of a celebrity wedding which took place in Brazil is being premiered at the UN on Friday as part of an event to highlight a decade of progress in Latin America in protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex or LGBTI people.

The video features Daniela Mercury a Brazilian singer who has sold more than 20 million albums.

Ms Mercury divorced her husband and years later married her girlfriend.

People around the world should never give up on striving for peace.

Those are the words of the director of the movie “The Day after Peace” which was shown as part of the first ever Geneva Peace Week held at the UN in the Swiss city.

Jeremy Gilley wrote and directed the documentary as part of his work towards realizing a globally observed day of ceasefire and non-violence.

Mamadou Alpha Diallo’s interview with Mr Gilley begins with a clip from the movie.

The filmmaker then gives his reaction to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.

Finding the money to pay for initiatives to slow down climate change is seen by many as the greatest challenge facing the international community, as it prepares for historic talks in France in December.

It’s hoped that a global deal will be agreed at the COP21 talks in Paris, which will limit temperature rises to below two degrees Celsius.

Achim Steiner is the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

He’s positive that an agreement can be reached but says hurdles remain.