The missing half: The urgent need for more women’s representation in the media

The missing half: The urgent need for more women’s representation in the media

“When women are missing, democracy is incomplete,” said Kirsi Madi, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director with the UN gender equality agency, UN Women, responding to the latest analysis. Ms. Madi emphasised that the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of women in the media needs to be recognised as a key issue, so that democratic standards are not eroded for future generations. […]

Preparing for the next flood: Protecting women’s health in Bangladesh

Preparing for the next flood: Protecting women’s health in Bangladesh

Sunamganj is a district in the wetland ecosystem in northeast Bangladesh, which is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Floods arrive quickly and suddenly and can last for weeks. They disrupt life, displace families and cut off access to services. For the over 670,000 women of reproductive age living in the area, increasingly extreme weather events […]

In South Asia, anaemia threatens women’s health and economic futures

In South Asia, anaemia threatens women’s health and economic futures

The warning, issued jointly by UN agencies and the regional socio-economic bloc SAARC on Wednesday, underscores South Asia’s status as the “global epicentre” of anaemia among adolescent girls and women. An estimated 259 million already suffer from the condition, which impairs the body’s ability to carry oxygen, contributing to chronic fatigue, poor maternal outcomes, and […]

Half of women’s organizations in crisis zones risk closure within six months

Half of women’s organizations in crisis zones risk closure within six months

Across 73 countries, 308 million people now rely on humanitarian aid – a number that continues to rise. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by these crises, facing preventable pregnancy-related deaths, malnutrition, and alarming levels of sexual violence. Despite the growing need, the humanitarian system is facing severe funding shortfalls, threatening life-saving services for women […]

Afghanistan’s socioeconomic crisis deepens amid crackdown on women’s rights

Afghanistan’s socioeconomic crisis deepens amid crackdown on women’s rights

As the Afghan economy faces stalled local production and weak job creation, Afghanistan continues to heavily rely on imports and international assistance. “UNDP’s current analysis and new data indicate the continuation of a deeply troubling trajectory for the Afghan people, who have been grappling with extreme vulnerability over the past decade,” said Kanni Wignaraja, UN […]

Afghanistan: Taliban restrictions on women’s rights intensify

Afghanistan: Taliban restrictions on women’s rights intensify

The mission continued to receive reports that Afghan women are being denied the opportunity to join the workforce, are unable to access services without a male relative while girls are still deprived of their right to education. Since the Taliban took over the country from the democratically-elected Government in August 2021, women and girls have […]