Women’s economic empowerment: no time to waste

The world is losing "big time" because women entrepreneurs cannot fully participate in the global economy. That's the opinion of Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director at the UN International Trade Centre (ITC), which is working to get one million women-owned businesses to market by 2020. The ITC recently launched She Trades, an online platform and mobile application or "app" that connects buyers worldwide with women-owned enterprises. Dianne Penn spoke with Ms Gonzalez who was in New York for the latest session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

Bigger push needed to bring women into peace negotiations

The United Nations and the international community need to continue their efforts to include women in peace discussions in Yemen. That's the opinion of Sahar Ghanem, Head of the Civil Society Organizations Affairs Unit in the Yemeni Prime Minister's Office. A year of fighting between rebels and government forces has led to the death of more than 6,000 civilians in the Gulf state. Ms Ghanem spoke at a press conference at UN headquarters that addressed the absence of women from peace talks in the Middle East. Carmen Cuesta Roca began by asking her about the national dialogue conference which was part of reconciliation efforts in Yemen.

Gender parity in sports still far off, says former Olympian 

Gender parity in sports both “on and off the field” is still far off, according to the International Olympic Committee (OIC). The organization has been working with young people in Brazil ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games to spread messages of equality, non-discrimination, non-violence and girls’ empowerment. It has also been trying to increase the number of women in its leadership but is still falling short, says a former Olympian representing the organization at this year’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. Nicole Hoevertsz, a former synchronized swimmer from Aruba, told me why she is a strong believer in the power of sports.

Presenter: Jocelyne Sambira

Production Assistant: Ana Carmo

Duration: 10'00″