It often takes a lot of courage to stand up for women’s rights. The United Nations, committed to empowering women and girls, works tirelessly with activists and organizations around the world to protect women from abuse, support health initiatives and improve lives.
Women living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan
In August, it was exactly a year since the Taliban retaken control of Afghanistan, sparking widespread fears about women’s rights there, which had been severely undermined during the regime’s previous reign in the late 1990s.
Twelve months later UN women announced that the agency is committed to continuing the fight for women’s rights in Afghanistan, the only country in the world where girls are banned from secondary school and effectively barred from political participation.
We marked the anniversary of Taliban rule by sharing the stories of some of the women who chose to stay in the country even though their lives have been turned upside down.
they include tsarina*, formerly one of Afghanistan’s youngest female entrepreneurs who was forced to close her once-thriving bakery amid mounting restrictions on women-owned businesses; Nasima*, a peacemaker and women’s rights activist who was forced to shut down most of her projects but was later able to restart some initiatives; and Mahbouba Seraja veteran human rights defender who has vowed to go ahead and testify to what is unfolding in her country.
Ms Seraj had a sobering message for those who see Afghanistan as an exceptional case: “What happens to women in Afghanistan can happen anywhere, she said. “Roe v. calf [the case that led to the national right to abortion in the US, which was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2022] Years of progress destroyed and women deprived of rights over their own bodies. Women everywhere are being deprived of their rights and if we are not careful it will happen to all women in the world“.
*Names changed to protect identities
Mahsa Amini: the inspiration for widespread Iranian protests
In November, the UN Human Rights Office OHCHR, sentenced the Iranian regime’s response to anti-government protesters following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in police custody in September after being arrested for wearing her hijab incorrectly, according to so-called morality police .
Her death sparked demonstrations in many Iranian cities, including protests by high school-aged girls. The Iranian government responded by arresting thousands of demonstrators, including women, children, youth and journalists.
On November 22, OHCHR said more than 40 people had been killed in protests in just one week, including two teenagers, and two days later the Human Rights Council created a Fact Finding Mission related to the demonstrations.
“It hurts me to see what is happening in the country,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk told the meeting attendees who voted for the mission. “The images of killed children. By women who were beaten in the street. Of those sentenced to death“.
Growing international condemnation of Iran’s actions was reflected in the decision of members of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to remove Iran by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) on 14 December.
The CSW, which meets annually in March at the UN headquarters in New York, is billed as the world’s largest gathering of advocates for gender equality.
The United States introduced the resolution, which received 29 votes in favour, 8 against, with 16 abstentions.
Women in the fight against the climate crisis
The climate crisis has been shown to disproportionately affect women and girls. In the weeks before International Women’s DayCelebrated on March 6th, we highlighted how activists are improving their local communities and helping their community adapt to an increasingly hostile climate.
These include the Mexican violinist Martha Korso, who led and inspired a group of some 17,000 local environmental activists dedicated to protecting the remote and beautiful Sierra Gorda; a group of women in Niger, who have integrated refugees and migrants in their attempt to stave off desertification by creating a thriving market garden; and a Mechanical engineer in Kenya who had to fight against gender discrimination to develop practical and affordable energy solutions.
In May, Cameroonian activist Cécile Ndjebet’s efforts to improve the lives of those dependent on forests were undermined acceptedwhen she was awarded the 2022 Wangari Maathai Forest Champions Award, administered by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
In Cameroon, around 70 percent of women live in rural areas and depend at least partially on harvesting wild forest products for their livelihood. However, in some communities women cannot own woodland, inherit it when their husband dies, or even plant trees on degraded land.
“Men generally recognize the huge role that women play in improving the living standards of families,” she said at the ceremony, “but it’s important that they also agree that women continue to play that role and that they themselves.” even better in this role, they need safe access to land and forests”.
women in blue
UN peacekeepers and policewomen continued to serve with distinction in some of the world’s most dangerous posts, facing challenges such as threats of terrorist attacks and violence fueled by a rise in misinformation and disinformation in the COVID-era amid rising political tensions. and deteriorating security situation.
On the International Day of UN PeacekeepersIn May, Major Winnet Zharare of Zimbabwe received the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award in recognition of her work with the UN Mission in South Sudan, where she campaigned strongly for gender equality and women as decision-makers.
“Her diligence and diplomatic skills quickly won the trust of local military commanders who sought her advice on women’s rights and protections,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the ceremony. “Your approach helped DO NOT MISS Strengthening ties with local communities and fulfilling its mandate.”
In July at a historical ceremony in South SudanMembers of the first-ever deployment of UN peacekeeping forces from Liberia, including several women, were honored with the prestigious UN medal.
Her performance symbolized the dramatic turning point in Liberia’s fortunes, which endured a brutal civil war in the 1990s and early 2000s before reaching a ceasefire overseen by the United Nations mission in the country, UNMIL, which also supported humanitarian and human rights activities; and helped reform national security, including training the national police force and forming a new, reorganized military.
“Our experience of 14 years of civil war and the impact that UN peacekeeping forces have had is real and palpable to the people we serve on the ground,” said Elfreda Dennice Stewart, United Nations Police Officer (UNPOL). “We have benefited so much from peacekeeping forces and we are honored to now serve in this young nation under the legendary blue flag.”
amplifyHER: celebrates exceptional female artists
Finally, we encourage you to subscribe to amplifyHER, a new series of UN Podcasts celebrating the work and inspiring careers of some of the most exciting female singers from around the world.
Many women produce art in the face of, and sometimes inspired by, the challenges they face in society, whether related to insecurity, human rights, climate change, inequality, or simply because of their gender.
In amplifyHER we hear directly from talented female singers about their experiences in the music industry, from teenage Thai rapper Milli to EDM powerhouse Faouzia to Emel, the voice of the Tunisian revolution.
You can find strengthenHERon Apple Podcast, Spotify, cast box, SoundCloud or wherever you get your podcasts.
