BAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO LATE WOMEN’S RIGHTS CHAMPION HELVI SIPILÄ

BAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO LATE WOMEN'S RIGHTS CHAMPION HELVI SIPILÄ
New York, May 20 2009 2:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today paid tribute to Helvi Sipilä of Finland, a renowned women's rights advocate and former United Nations official, who passed away on 15 May at the age of 94.

"Ms. Sipilä powerfully demonstrated the effectiveness of women's leadership," Mr. Ban said in a statement issued by his spokesperson.

"She has left a legacy which serves as a reminder that no effort should be spared to ensure the equal participation of women in decision-making in all areas of life."

The "lifelong champion of the rights of women" served as Secretary-General of the first World Conference on Women in 1975 in Mexico City.

She was also the first woman to hold the rank of Assistant Secretary-General at the UN, where she served in different capacities for many years, including as the Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women.

Ms. Sipilä remained active after retiring from the UN and was the first woman to run for president in Finland in 1982.
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AFGHAN LAW RESTRICTING WOMEN’S RIGHTS REMINISCENT OF TALIBAN ERA – TOP UN OFFICIAL

A new law in Afghanistan seriously curtailing women's rights, even explicitly permitting marital rape, is a "huge step in the wrong direction," the United Nations human rights chief said today, calling for its repeal.

Not yet published, the law, which was passed by the two houses of Afghanistan's parliament before being reportedly signed by President Hamid Karzai earlier this month, regulates the personal status of the country's minority Shi'a community members, including relations between men and women, divorce and property rights.

It denies Afghan Shi'a women the right to leave their homes except for 'legitimate' purposes; forbids them from working or receiving education without their husbands' express permission; weakens mothers' rights in the event of a divorce; and makes it impossible for wives to inherit houses and land from their husbands, even if husbands can inherit property from their wives.

"This is another clear indication that the human rights situation in Afghanistan is getting worse, not better," said Navi Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights. "Respect for women's rights – and human rights in general – is of paramount importance to Afghanistan's future security and development."

That such a law has been passed in 2009 targeting women in this manner is "extraordinary, reprehensible and reminiscent of the decrees made by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in the 1990s," she stressed.

Afghanistan's Shi'a community, composed mainly of the Hazara minority, comprises some 10 per cent of the country's total population, and the new law has the strong support of the Hazaras' male leadership, even though it has been vigorously opposed by others in the group as well as Afghan human rights campaigners.

There are concerns that the law will set precedents adversely affecting all Afghan women.

In addition to women's rights, there have been other setbacks to the country that have been undermining efforts to consolidate the rule of law in Afghanistan, such as both freedom of expression by the media and civil society activists being increasingly threatened, Ms. Pillay said.
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$50 MILLION US CONTRIBUTION WILL BOOST WOMEN’S RIGHTS, SAYS UN

$50 MILLION US CONTRIBUTION WILL BOOST WOMEN'S RIGHTS, SAYS UN
New York, Mar 12 2009 12:00PM

United States President Barack Obama's release of $50 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will help curb poverty and improve the health of women and children in over 150 nations, the agency said today, lauding an action it said will help it continue its "life-saving" work.

Mr. Obama signed legislation yesterday to restore US funding for UNFPA which has been suspended since 2002.

"This is a great day for women, girls and their families around the world," said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, the agency's Executive Director. "We warmly applaud this action by President Obama, which underlines his support to the protection of the lives and human dignity of women and girls in the poorest countries."

The US contribution will allow UNFPA to "maintain its life-saving work, particularly improving maternal and reproductive health in the world's poorest communities, especially during this financial crisis," she said.

Yesterday's action fulfills a pledge Mr. Obama made during his first days as US leader to resume support for UNFPA and join 180 other donor nations in working towards slashing poverty, boosting the health of women and children, preventing HIV/AIDS and providing family planning assistance to women in 154 countries.

"We are delighted that the United States will once again take a leading role in championing women's reproductive health and rights, alongside all other countries and partners that have supported us over the years," Ms. Obaid noted.
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GREATER EFFORTS NEEDED TO BOOST WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN IRAQ, SAYS UN

GREATER EFFORTS NEEDED TO BOOST WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN IRAQ, SAYS UN
New York, Mar 9 2009 12:00PM

With years of conflict curbing progress towards equality for women in Iraq, the United Nations has called for bolstered steps to ensure their rights are protected and advanced.

"A major UN priority for 2009 is to improve conditions for women and girls who have yet to feel the full benefits of Iraq's recovery," said David Shearer, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq.

He pointed to some positive signs, such as one-quarter of those elected in the governorate polls in January being women.

"We now need to build on this achievement by joining forces with Iraq's government and civil society to further improve women's opportunities and human rights," Mr. Shearer said, cautioning that "there is still much to do."

One in 10 Iraqi households are headed by women, more than 80 per cent of whom are widows.

Women comprise 17 per cent of the country's labour force, compared to 81 percent of men, with the low participation rate of women partially attributed to illiteracy. Nearly one-quarter of women and girls – many of whom were afraid to attend school due to the violence – above the age of 10 are illiterate, compared with just 11 per cent of boys.

The UN also expressed concern over women's health indicators, with maternal mortality rates reaching 84 per 100,000 live births compared to 41 and 65 in neighbouring Jordan and Syria respectively.

"Most of children and women mortalities in Iraq can be prevented through simple interventions – from antenatal and emergency obstetric care to breastfeeding and safe hygiene at home," said Sikander Khan, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Representative in the country.

He stressed the importance of cooperation with Iraq's health system to prevent further deaths.

Mr. Shearer also said the high rates of violence against women, the theme of this year's International Women's Day which was observed yesterday, are still worrying. "We are putting more resources into initiatives to address this problem – to raise community awareness, increase support and strengthen legislation to protect women's rights," he said.

The UN is teaming up with local and international organizations to put dozens of protection, shelter, health, governance, education and other programmes into place.
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