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	Hard-won gains for women are unraveling by UN Women, PassBlue, agencies   March 2024   On International Women’s Day, UN Women calls for the world to “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress” as the best way to accelerate economic growth and build more prosperous, equitable societies.   This is particularly urgent when war and crisis are eroding the achievements of decades of investments in gender equality. From the Middle East to Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, women pay the biggest price for conflicts that are not of their making. The need for peace has never been more urgent.   Climate change is accelerating persistent poverty gaps. As competition for scarce resources intensifies, livelihoods are threatened, societies become more polarized, and women bear an increasingly heavy burden:   1 in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty. The number of women and girls living in conflict-affected areas doubled since 2017, now, more than 614 million women and girls live in conflict-affected areas. In conflict areas, women are 7.7 times more likely to live in extreme poverty.   Climate change is set to leave 236 million more women and girls hungry by 2030, twice as many as men (131 million). At prime working age, only 61 per cent of women are in the labour force versus 90 per cent of men.   We cannot continue to miss out on the gender-equality dividend. More than 100 million women and girls could be lifted out of poverty if governments prioritized education and family planning, fair and equal wages, and expanded social benefits.   Almost 300 million jobs could be created by 2035 through investments in care services, such as provision of daycare and elderly care. And closing gender employment gaps could boost gross domestic product per capita by 20 per cent across all regions.   The current reality is far from this. Programmes dedicated to gender equality represent only 4 per cent of official development assistance. An additional USD 360 billion in developing countries is needed per year to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. This is less than one fifth of the USD 2.2 trillion spent globally on military expenditure in 2022, for example.   The areas needing investment are clear and understood. First and foremost there must be an investment in peace. Beyond this, the investments needed include: laws and policies that advance the rights of women and girls; transformation of social norms that pose barriers to gender equality; guaranteeing women’s access to land, property, health care, education, and decent work; and financing women’s groups networks at all levels.   UN Women is also calling on Member States at the Commission on the Status of Women, starting in New York on 11 March 2024, to back up their commitments on gender equality with resources.   The world’s leaders have this opportunity to develop concrete and progressive agreed conclusions that reflect the crucial need for financing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women´s organizations. They must seize it for the sake of equality, our planet, and the Sustainable Development Goals.   http://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/international-womens-day   Sep. 2023   The world is falling short of achieving gender equality. (UN Women, agencies)   “Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2023” shows that urgent, determined action is needed to realize true gender equality.   This annual review by UN Women and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs examines the state of gender equality within the framework of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. At the current rate, we risk leaving more than 340 million women and girls in abject poverty by 2030, and an alarming 4 per cent could grapple with extreme food insecurity by that year.   Even with significant progress in certain sectors, as we approach the halfway mark of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, monumental challenges remain:   Goal 1: No poverty: The report forecasts that by 2030, 8 per cent of the global female population (approximately 342 million women and girls) will continue to live on less than USD 2.15 a day. Only 42 per cent of countries have sex-disaggregated poverty data readily available, impeding targeted interventions.   Goal 2: Zero hunger: While progress in narrowing the gender gap in food insecurity has been made, roughly 24 per cent of women and girls may still experience moderate to severe food insecurity by 2030. Gender disparities in agriculture persist, with limited access to land, resources, and ownership affecting productivity.   Goal 3: Good health and well-being: While maternal mortality reduced globally from 2000 to 2020, progress has stagnated since 2015. High maternal death rates in sub-Saharan Africa and Central/Southern Asia highlight inequalities in healthcare access and quality.   Goal 4: Quality education: Increases in girls’ enrolment in education are commendable, but nearly 110 million girls and young women could remain out of school by 2030 if progress stalls. Gender gaps in education and training opportunities persist, affecting future earning potential and overall development.   Goal 5: Gender equality: Gender equality sees limited progress, with just two of this goal’s indicators nearing their targets. No indicator has fully met its aim.   Deep-seated biases persist, marked by unequal health access, unequal political representation, economic gaps, and inadequate legal defences. Critical data for monitoring progress is missing in many countries. Furthermore, 28 countries do not recognize women’s equal rights in marriage and divorce. Globally, 19 per cent of young women are married before age 18, and there is a notable disparity in leadership roles.   A significant investment of an additional USD 360 billion annually is crucial to achieving gender equality, a cornerstone to meet broader sustainable development objectives.   Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation: While more women now have access to safe drinking water, around 380 million women and girls live amid high or critical water stress, a number projected to increase to 674 million by 2050 due to climate change.   Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy: Approximately 341 million women and girls could lack access to electricity by 2030, with clean cooking fuels remaining out of reach for many. Universal electricity could elevate 185 million women and girls from poverty by 2050, and modern cookstoves could prevent 6.5 million pollution-related deaths.   Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth: Disrupted careers, care responsibilities, and wage discrimination mean women only earn a third of the global income generated by labour. For each dollar men earned in labour income, women earned only 51 cents. The gender wage gap and underrepresentation of women in the labour force continue, indicating the need for policy reforms to ensure equitable opportunities and wages.   Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure: Women hold 21 per cent of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) jobs and only one in three researchers is a woman. Gender disparities in technology and innovation persist, hindering women’s participation in STEM fields and impeding progress in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.   Goal 10: Reduced inequalities: Gender discrimination comes in many forms and remains commonplace, undermining human rights. According to latest available data, up to 21 per cent of people living with HIV reported being denied health care in the past 12 months, and up to 26 per cent of women living with HIV reported that their treatment for the virus was conditional on taking contraceptives.   Goal 11: Sustainable cities: By 2050, urban areas are expected to house 70 per cent of the world’s female population, totalling 3.3 billion. Alarming trends suggest a third of these women and girls could find themselves living in inadequate housing or slums.   Moreover, women with disabilities, representing approximately 18 per cent of the female population, face heightened challenges. A 2022 study indicated that a mere 27 per cent of 190 countries and regions explicitly protected the rights of women with disabilities.   Goals 12–15: Responsible production and consumption, climate action, life below water, life on land: Up to 158 million more women and girls might find themselves in poverty by mid-century due to worsening conditions fuelled by global warming. An alarming 236 million more women and girls may experience food insecurity, compared to 131 million men and boys.   Despite these numbers, only 55 of the world’s national climate action plans include gender-specific adaptation measures, and only 23 recognize the vital role of women as change agents in the fight against climate change.   Goal 16: Peace and strong institutions: Since 2017, the number of women and girls in conflict-ridden areas has surged by 50 per cent, tallying up to 614 million by 2022. In 2023, those in extremely fragile areas were especially vulnerable, facing higher poverty rates and increased food insecurity. Intimate partner violence is 2.4 times higher in extremely fragile contexts compared to non-fragile settings.   Goal 17: Partnerships: A dire need for enhanced financial backing exists in countries where gender equality lags the most. The yearly budget dedicated to gender equality as a principal objective remains low at USD 5.7 billion, just 4 per cent of total bilateral aid. This minimal support, coupled with the fact that only one in four countries actively tracks gender equality funding, underscores the challenges faced in achieving parity.   As the world’s population ages, older women’s challenges and contributions are often overlooked. Discrimination, economic insecurity, and violence plague older women, necessitating policies that support their engagement, healthcare, and well-being.   The “Gender snapshot 2023” underscores that gender equality is slipping further away, with various Sustainable Development Goals still far from achieving their targets.   Urgent, coordinated efforts are imperative to accelerate progress by 2030, with enhanced funding, data tracking, policy reforms, and inclusive partnerships being key drivers of transformative change. The report’s findings serve as a call for action to ensure that the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is fulfilled, leaving no woman or girl behind.   Gender equality is not just a goal within the 2030 Agenda,” says Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs of UN DESA. “It is the very foundation of a fair society, and a goal upon which all other goals must stand. By breaking down the barriers that have hindered the full participation of women and girls in every aspect of society, we unleash the untapped potential that can drive progress and prosperity for all.”   Ms. Sarah Hendriks, UN Women Deputy Executive Director, said: “In this critical midpoint moment for the SDGs, this year’s report is a resounding call to action. We must collectively and intentionally act now to course-correct for a world where every woman and girl has equal rights, opportunities, and representation".   http://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/feature-story/2023/09/global-gender-equality-in-2023-urgent-efforts-needed-to-reach-2030-goals http://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/feature-story/2023/09/the-11-biggest-hurdles-for-womens-equality-by-2030 http://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2023/09/progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2023 http://hdr.undp.org/content/2023-gender-social-norms-index-gsni#/indicies/GSNI http://www.unicef.org/mena/press-releases/geneva-summit-garners-action-tackle-gender-discriminatory-nationality-laws http://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2023/06/working-group-discrimination-against-women-and-girls-calls-feminist-human-rights-based http://www.who.int/news/item/17-07-2023-who-addresses-violence-against-women-as-a-gender-equality-and-health-priority http://www.thelancet.com/commission/peace-health-equity-gender-equality http://www.care.org/news-and-stories/resources/growth-is-not-enough/   May 2023   Hard-won gains for women are unraveling, by Natalie Samarasinghe. (PassBlue, Open Society)   Nearly a quarter of women and girls cannot escape unwanted sex. Eleven percent are unable to make decisions on contraception. The recent report from the United Nations Population Fund is the latest source of grim statistics on women’s rights. It follows a barrage of papers released for International Women’s Day in March, from the World Bank’s study showing that only eight countries offer full equal rights for women to an Ipsos survey of 32 countries revealing that 55 percent of male and 41 percent of female respondents believe that we have gone “so far in promoting women’s equality that we are discriminating against men.”   Perennially depressing, this year’s reports so far hit home harder due to the arrival of my third daughter. Like her sisters, she is fortunate to have immense privilege. Her birth was testament to that. Surrounded by health professionals and all the equipment we might possibly need, our experience was a far cry from that of Sudanese mothers cut off from medical care, Ukrainian women laboring in bunkers and the Tamil lady from my homeland, Sri Lanka, who chose a roadside C-section to give her and her baby the best chance of surviving bombs and atrocities in 2009.   But even my children’s privilege cannot shield them from the risks they face as girls — and brown ones at that.   My first daughter was born when President Trump’s inauguration started the chain of events that led to some 22 million women and girls now living in American states where abortion is either banned or inaccessible. My second daughter emerged during the Covid-19 lockdown, when men seemed at last to realize that care is actually work (yes, I know, #NotAllMen but quite a few), only to go back to business as usual.   Meanwhile, women and girls continue to suffer the consequences in employment, education and gender-based violence. My third daughter arrived amid headlines of Iranian schoolgirls being poisoned and forced to wear headscarfs; the Taliban banning female aid workers; and the impacts of the global cost-of-living crisis that has, you’ve guessed it, disproportionately affected women.   In the last six years, the so-called “backlash” against women’s rights has accelerated.   Maternal mortality — long emblematic of women’s rights, given its largely preventable causes — offers a stark example. Since 2016, global progress has stagnated, as women’s health and rights have fallen down the priority list.   Deaths have risen in Europe and in the Americas, increasing by 40 percent in the United States. The country has long been the West’s health laggard due to systemic inequalities, yet it is the richest nation in the world. Now the overturning of Roe v. Wade threatens even rich white women.   From my perch in Britain, it feels much harder to speak out than it did just a few years ago. The Ipsos survey showed that the share of people who are scared advocating for women’s rights has doubled since 2017, to 29 percent. Sexists and racists, meanwhile, seem emboldened, from ridiculous stories blaming women’s empowerment for all the world’s ills to chilling comments about slavery.   So what can be done? First, we must never de-prioritize the fight for equality and continue to push for women’s rights despite the pushback — in the courts, in our communities and online. While other challenges may dominate the headlines, they are unlikely to be solved if women and girls cannot achieve their full potential.   Second, we must fund the people and programs striving to advance women’s rights. Only four percent of bilateral official development assistance goes to programs where gender equality is the main objective, and only one percent of that reaches grass-roots groups. This is why Open Society where I work has committed to support feminist movements and leaders.   Most challenging of all, we need to get serious about transforming our economies and societies. Since the 1990s, governments have embraced development agendas based on the reassuring formula of economic growth, while frameworks aimed at addressing structural inequalities, such as the Beijing platform for women’s rights, have floundered seriously. This must all change.   Climate change should have prompted social and economic transformation decades ago. Instead, we are on the brink of irrevocable damage. From conflict to debt, pandemics to atrocities, we now face a downward spiral of crises because we opted for a “whac-a-mole” approach to solving them rather than addressing the systemic inequalities that lie at their heart.   Perhaps seeing the threats facing our daughters, sisters, mothers, friends and colleagues grow ever more dangerous will move us to act at last. If we don’t, we have a heartbreaking example of what “gender apartheid” looks like — Afghanistan today — where women recently told UN experts: “We are alive, but not living.”   * Natalie Samarasinghe is the global director of advocacy for the Open Society Foundations   http://www.passblue.com/2023/05/15/decades-of-hard-won-gains-for-women-are-unraveling-fast-how-can-we-stop-it/ Visit the related web page
	When Russian missiles hit people's homes: the attacks mean no one is safe in Ukraine by Artem Mazhulin, Emma Graham-Harrison Guardian news   Uman; Ukraine: 30 Apr. 2023   Huddled under a blanket, Iryna Babii turned away from the empty space where, until Friday, nine floors of apartments had been stacked, one of them home to her daughter’s best friend.   The apartments were obliterated when a Russian missile crashed into this residential block, which sits beside a school in a neighbourhood just near the botanical gardens of Uman, a central Ukrainian city that before the war was known mostly as a Jewish pilgrimage site.   “There was a whistling sound, then a very loud explosion. My child was thrown across the room and the windows were blown in. Our aquarium burst, so there was water and fish across the floor,” said Babii.   “Flames from the missile seemed to reach across the courtyard. I thought my own apartment was on fire. I just grabbed my daughter and ran down the stairs. Outside there was a woman screaming in a voice that didn’t seem human: ‘There are children in there, there are children in there.’”   The strike killed 23 people, including a baby boy, and injured nine more. It would have been inexplicable were it not for the fact that Russian forces have for years directed attacks on civilians as a weapon of war.   To the military that bombed schools and hospitals in Syria, and tried to freeze Ukrainians from their homes this winter, these Soviet-era apartments might have looked like a convenient target.   If the aim is terrorising a whole country, destroying these ordinary blocks overlooking a courtyard where tulips are about to burst into bloom may have a twisted logic. When there is no obvious reason why a place is targeted for a missile strike, Ukrainians are forced to understand that one could come anywhere.   “Fifty metres from here there is a school, and two kindergartens. Really ‘strategic objectives’,” said one of Babii’s workmates at a local museum, who had come to give her moral support, mixing grief for the dead with anger at the attack.   Uman is in the Cherkasy region, on the west side of the Dnipro river, far from any of the frontlines. The attack was the deadliest there since Russia invaded.   “I wasn’t sure if I was dead or alive, it was such a great shock,” said Svitlana Bondar, whose home is also across the courtyard from the obliterated apartments. “The blast wave was so strong I felt it knocked me out of reality.”   Strikes like this are one reason why many Ukrainians have fled even peaceful parts of the country. Missile fragments from the same Friday morning raid that targeted Uman also killed a young girl and her mother on the outskirts of Dnipro city, in a rural area they moved to for safety after a similar missile strike on an apartment block there.   Those who have stayed in their homes are now both stoic and grimly proficient at dealing with the aftermath of the extreme violence of modern warfare.   By late afternoon on Friday, barely 12 hours after the missile struck, the pile of crumbled apartment wreckage had been largely sorted, all but one of the crushed bodies taken to the morgue, and a digger was combing through the basement.   Neighbourhood pathways had been swept clear of broken glass, and empty window frames in other buildings filled with plastic sheeting. The police had set up a DNA testing centre, to identify badly damaged remains.   “Classroom six at the school for giving DNA samples,” a police officer with a loudhailer told the crowd that had gathered in the courtyard to mourn, or perhaps just to try to understand their losses.   Some arrived with flowers for the dead, although one woman with red carnations struggled to find a place for her tribute in an area busy with disaster professionals, trying to attend to the needs of the injured and the dead, survivors and relatives, people evacuated from their homes and those haunted by the missile.   “I have a neighbour whose child is refusing to go to sleep, because every time she closes her eyes, she says she sees the flames in front of her eyes again,” said Babii.   Ruslan Bondarenko, who has been supporting disaster survivors for 10 years, said the missile attack was the worst tragedy he had ever attended in Cherkasy. “Now we are in a state of war. People died in accidents before, but not like this.”   The World Food Kitchen nonprofit provided meals, the Red Cross mixed with medics, firefighters and police. There were tents to shelter survivors, piles of clothes neatly sorted in the school and bags of food, although Svitlana, one of the volunteers organising the donations, said no one was taking much.   “Today the survivors don’t want anything. They just come here and cry,” she said, folding men’s clothes and clean sheets into piles.   For all the community support, those who have lost a loved one are ultimately alone with their grief, trapped in the moment when the tragedy of Russia’s invasion became intensely personal.   In the dark corridor outside classroom six, Yevhenia was waiting for her husband to give a genetic sample. Her brother-in-law Yaroslav, 28 and his wife, Svitlana, 32, were in one of the apartments that was obliterated.   “I have no words. We still can’t believe this has happened,” she said. “We think it’s a nightmare, and we hope to wake up.”   * Ukraine, Aug. 2023: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is very concerned about the pattern of attacks in populated areas that results in civilian harm: "It is imperative that International Humanitarian Law be respected, and we recall that indiscriminate attacks are strictly prohibited and constant care must be taken to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure".   Denise Brown, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine:   "Once again, the week started with continued attacks on major cities of Ukraine impacting, once again, civilians and civilian infrastructure. The humanitarian community, along with local authorities, is on the ground helping survivors of the strikes that damage residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure in cities, leaving many killed and injured".   "The number of indiscriminate attacks hitting civilian infrastructure, killing and injuring civilians, have reached unimaginable levels – these attacks violate international humanitarian law. In the name of humanity, I call on the Russian Federation to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and immediately stop indiscriminate attacks on Ukraine".   http://ukraine.un.org/en/press-centre/press-releases http://www.unocha.org/protection-civilians http://www.unocha.org/news/todays-top-news-ukraine-10 http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/time-and-time-again-childrens-lives-being-cut-short-attacks-ukraine http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/statement-unhcr-representative-19-august-2023 http://www.nrc.no/news/2023/august/new-displacement-fears-as-southern-ukraine-suffers-more-missile-attacks/ http://www.hi-us.org/en/civilians-in-ukraine-must-be-protected http://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/iicihr-ukraine/index http://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/customary-ihl/v1/rule1 http://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/customary-ihl/v1 http://guide-humanitarian-law.org/content/article/3/civilians/ Visit the related web page
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