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	150 million more women than men were hungry in 2021 by CARE International   CARE Analysis : 150 million more women than men were hungry in 2021   An analysis by humanitarian organisation CARE highlights, for the first time, a global link between gender inequality and food insecurity. Analysing data from 2021, the report shows that across 109 countries, as gender inequality goes up, food security goes down.   Christine Campeau, CARE’s Global Advocacy Director – Food Systems, said, “Between 2018 and 2021, the number of hungry women versus hungry men grew 8.4 times, with a staggering 150 million more women than men hungry in 2021. And the implications of the escalation of conflict in Ukraine will make the situation even worse for women, who play a crucial role across food systems and in feeding their families and communities. Gender equality is highly connected to food and nutrition security at a local, national, and global level. To put it simply, the more gender inequality there is in a country, the hungrier and more malnourished people are.”   Of the four major global datasets on gender, including the World Bank’s Gender Data Portal, the only sex disaggregated food indicators reinforce women’s role solely for their importance in reproduction: measuring anemia in women of childbearing age and counting stunting for children.   Most food security datasets are strangely silent on gender. And, despite women being responsible for 90% of preparing and buying food, they are eating last and least.   Even when both men and women are technically food insecure, women often bear bigger burdens. For example, in Somalia, while men report eating smaller meals, women report skipping meals altogether.   Aisha, who lives in a village in eastern Somalia said, “I don’t remember how old I really am, the drought has affected me mentally and physically so much that I can’t remember. Most days we don’t get anything to eat, other days we eat one meal.”   In the World Bank Gender Data Portal on food and women, the only sex disaggregated food data is related to the number of women who believe, or do not believe, that a husband is justified in beating his wife when she burns the food.   Ms Campeau said, “As women keep feeding the world, we must give them the right space in our data collection methods and analysis to make the gaps they encounter visible and work with women themselves to find solutions to those gaps. Global datasets should be publishing sex disaggregated data on food—whether the focus is on gender or on food.   It is time to update our global understanding of food security and gender inequality, and, local actors, including women’s organisations in crisis-affected communities, need to get the flexible funding and support desperately needed to protect women and girls from hunger-associated gender-based-violence and protection risks.”   http://www.care.org/news-and-stories/press-releases/care-analysis-150-million-more-women-than-men-were-hungry-in-2021/ http://www.care-international.org/resources/hunger-response-policies-continue-ignore-gender http://www.care-international.org/resources/food-security-and-gender-equality Visit the related web page
	End to impunity for barbaric attacks on "slaves" long overdue by Tomoya Obokata, Alioune Tine UN Office for Human Rights Mali   Oct. 2021   A series of “barbaric” attacks this year against hundreds of people born into slavery in Mali beggars belief, UN human rights experts said today, demanding that the West African country ensure justice for victims and finally outlaw slavery.   “These unspeakable abhorrent acts have gone on far too long, committed by some Malian nationals who openly defend descent-based slavery,” the experts said. “The whole world is watching and losing patience. We have condemned this heinous practice many times before – now the Malian Government must take action, starting with ending impunity for attacks on ‘slaves’.”   The latest attacks happened at the end of September in the Kayes region, some 500 km northwest of the Mali capital Bamako. The area has been the site of seven previous attacks since January, in which one person was killed, at least 77 injured and more than 3,000 “slaves” displaced.   “The fact that these attacks occur so often in this area shows that descent-based slavery is still socially accepted by some influential politicians, traditional leaders, law enforcement officials and judicial authorities they said.   In the latest incident, people considered slaves were attacked by fellow Malians who objected to their celebrating Independence Day, even though the “slaves” had delayed their celebrations for a week to avoid trouble. The attackers reportedly used guns, axes, machetes, and sticks and they tied up some of the so-called "slaves" with ropes before severely beating them.   The attacks went on for two days, leaving one man dead and at least 12 “slaves” injured. At least 30 people from both sides have been arrested and the Gendarmerie have launched an investigation.   “We call for an impartial and transparent investigation and justice for the victims,” the experts said. “Pro-slavery perpetrators must be held accountable for their crimes. Police and gendarmerie officers as well as judges could do much to end impunity if they enforced existing laws that make attacks against so-called slaves punishable offences.”   Some people are born into slavery in Mali because their ancestors were captured into slavery and their families have “belonged” to the slave-owning families – called “nobles” - for generations. “Slaves” are compelled to work without pay, can be inherited, and are deprived of basic human rights.   Noting that Mali does not have a specific law against slavery, the experts said “outlawing the practice is long overdue. Mali must criminalize slavery without further delay and take all necessary measures to protect all Malians from violence, including those who historically have had ‘slave’ status”.   “Slavery can no longer be tolerated,” the experts said. “Those who continue to support it must understand they cannot attack with impunity people who claim their legitimate rights.”   * Mr. Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences; Mr. Alioune Tine, Independent Expert on the situation of human right in Mali, Ms. Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons.   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/11/mali-end-impunity-barbaric-attacks-slaves-long-overdue-un-experts http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-slavery http://www.ohchr.org/en/stories/2019/09/10000-people-day-must-be-freed-end-slavery-2030 http://www.un.org/en/observances/slavery-abolition-day http://www.antislavery.org/slavery-today/ http://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115322 http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html http://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2022/03/statement-mr-mahamane-cisse-gouro http://bit.ly/3uX5IqO Visit the related web page
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