United Nations for Women
Highly interested in the condition and position of women all over the world at the global, regional and local levels, I have decided to create a blog dedicated to women. I look forward to learning more about the rights and priorities of the world’s women. Nowadays, many organizations already exist to fight for women’s rights; unfortunately these international organizations seem to be insignificant in some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, where women have not got the right to vote yet, or Afghanistan and Yemen where women do not have a lot of respect or recognition from men. These are only a few examples but the list of countries where women are still looking for more consideration and equality is long.
However, last year, in July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women in order to protect and strengthen Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and particularly merges four main units which are: the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW); the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW); the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI); and finally the United Nations Development Fund for Women. As of this month, January 2011, UN Women has officially been operational. As it is clearly said on their official website, the UN Women will work for the :
– Elimination of discrimination against women and girls
– Empowerment of women
– Achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
Michelle Bachelet, ex-President of Chile from March 2006 to March 2010 has been appointed as the head of UN Women since September 2010.
More specifically, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women or UN Women will provide a new powerful and purposeful voice for women and girls, for these who are still waiting for education, Human Rights, respect from men or even simple daily needs. Fortunately over the last decade, the world has seen a significant improvement regarding access to education for girls, however among the 776 million illiterate adults in the world, two-thirds are Women. (source: UN Women: Fact & figures on women)
Basically, through my research and my interest in women’s issues, I will try to present the most relevant topics from social, economic, political, and cultural views. I will talk about women who are under the boots of misogynous men, women who are struggling everyday for their rights, and finally I will provide portrayals of select women such as Michelle Bachelet, Zam Zam Abdullahi, Queen Raina of Jordan, , Lúz Mendez…
Below is a video where Michelle Bachelet, the Executive director of United Nations for Women points out the challenges that UN Women will have to take up.
Can we still hear that “women are almost invisible in some places or citizens of second class in some places”?
Do we know what are the means of this new institution?
Cause the idea seems to be very good (even if we shouldn’t need it in 2011…) but I would like to understand how will they act???
Hope to hear more about this… Thanks.
J’aimeJ’aime
Dear Magalie,
I am so sorry that it took me so long to get back to you. As you point out, should we ‘still’ need such an organization to protect women and make sure they/we have rights anywhere in the world.
Regarding the acts of UN Women, all of them will depend on voluntary contributions of member States. Vice versa, UN Women directly hepls UN Member States to implement the actions intended for women by providing expertise and financial support but also more resources and a greater efficiency than the previous structures used to provide.
J’aimeJ’aime