World Needs More Men Standing Up for Gender Equality, Says Secretary-General
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the opening session of the Commission on the Status of Women, in New York today:
I would like to share three simple messages with you today. My first and most important message is one of gratitude: a deep and heartfelt thank you. I thank you and salute you for raising your voices for women’s equality and dignity around the world.
Every day, you are on the frontlines for fairness — for a more just and decent world. I have seen the difference you make in every corner of our globe. You are an inspiration. As you champion equality, you make the world better for all. I thank you very much.
My second message is clear: in a male dominated world, the empowerment of women must be a key priority. Women already have what it takes to succeed. Empowerment is about breaking structural barriers.
Men still dominate, even in countries that consider themselves as progressive. Male chauvinism blocks women — and that hurts everyone. We are all better off when we open doors of opportunity for women and girls: in classrooms and boardrooms, in military ranks and at peace talks, in all aspects of productive life.
This is vital to address a historic injustice that continues today. But it is also about effectiveness.
Institutions, companies, Governments and organizations — including our own — those in which gender equality reflect the people they serve get better results by every measure. They are the future. If countries address the gender gap at work, women can generate enough funds to underpin success across the 2030 Agenda which was approved by all leaders at the United Nations in 2015.
One study found that women’s equality can add $12 trillion to global growth over the next decade. Women and girls with better reproductive health and education have also better chances in life. They earn higher salaries. They invest more in the health of their children. Investments now pay dividends for generations.
Read more: http://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sgsm18463.doc.htm
NEWS FROM THE UN NEWS CENTER
UN Commission on Status of Women opens with calls for more men to stand up for equality
13 March 2017 – With men still dominating even in countries that consider themselves progressive, the world needs more women leaders and more men standing up for gender equality, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said today.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56343#.WMgJF_krIps
UN Human Rights Council discusses situations in DPRK, Iran, Myanmar and Burundi
13 March 2017 – At respective interactive dialogues today on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Burundi, Iran and Eretria, senior United Nations independent human rights experts called on the governments to take immediate steps to ensure human rights protection in their respective countries.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56346#.WMgKa_krIps
Yemen on brink of famine, warns UN food relief agency chief, appealing for resources and access
13 March 2017 – Unless the international community provides additional resources and authorities in Yemen allow aid workers access to hungry people, families in some of the war-torn country’s most food insecure areas will die, warned the head of the United Nations emergency food programme.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56345#.WMgLAvkrIps
Let us work harder to ensure ‘no one is left behind,’ urges President of main UN economic and social body
13 March 2017 – Highlighting that persisting extreme poverty and inequality prevent the realization of the benefits of globalisation and have been major causes of disaffection across rich and poor societies, a senior United Nations official has called on everyone to work harder to ensure inclusion at all stages of development, so that no one is left behind.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56347#.WMgLQPkrIps
Syria 'worst man-made disaster since World War II' – UN rights chief
14 March 2017 – The conflict in Syria is the “worst man-made disaster the world has seen since World War II,” the United Nations human rights chief today said, calling for an end to all tortures, executions and unfair trials, and at the very least, for the names and localities of people held in detention or information about where they are buried.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56349#.WMgQC_krIps
Following visit to Haiti, UN expert urges more aid for Hurricane Matthew victims
13 March 2017 – An independent United Nations expert on human rights today welcomed the recent completion of the electoral process as “remarkable progress” for the island nation, while he also urged the authorities to address the situation in prisons, and redouble efforts to help Haitians affected by Hurricane Matthew and the 2010 earthquake.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56342#.WMgQX_krIps
With fighting near industrial sites, UN expert warns Ukrainians of chemical disaster risk
10 March 2017 – Unless the fighting in eastern Ukraine is stopped and precautions are taken to secure industrial facilities in the area, the armed conflict could lead to a catastrophic chemical disaster, an independent United Nations human rights expert today warned.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56331#.WMgQyfkrIps
US MISSION TO THE UN:
Remarks at a Security Council Briefing on Yemen, South Sudan, and Somalia
Clearly, Under-Secretary-General O’Brien’s briefing was not just a set of business-as-usual remarks. Stephen just described what could soon become the most serious food security emergency in the modern era, unless Member States of this United Nations act now to stop it. The UN is warning us that more than 20 million people are starving in Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, and the Lake Chad Basin. As Stephen has briefed us, famine has already been declared in some areas of South Sudan and could soon follow in Yemen, Somalia, and the Lake Chad Basin if the international community does not intervene and intervene now.
https://usun.state.gov/remarks/7706
Remarks at a UN General Assembly Meeting on Agenda Item 123: Strengthening of the UN System
The United States welcomes this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to effectively address the scourge of sexual exploitation and abuse and to reaffirm our collective support for the United Nations zero-tolerance policy and the Secretary-General’s efforts to strengthen its implementation.
https://usun.state.gov/remarks/7705
Remarks at a Security Council Meeting on the Situation in Afghanistan
The United States joins in the strong condemnation of the deadly attack on an Afghan National Army hospital in Kabul on March 8. Deliberately targeting a medical facility that provides care for the brave Afghans working to protect their fellow citizens has no possible justification. We extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the victims of this senseless and cowardly act.
https://usun.state.gov/remarks/7704
Ambassador Nikki Haley Meets with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura
Ambassador Nikki Haley met with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on March 10. Ambassador Haley reiterated the United States’ strong support for the UN-led peace process and thanked the Special Envoy for his tireless efforts to bring all sides of the Syrian conflict together to advance a political solution.
https://usun.state.gov/remarks/7703
US STATE DEPT:
Once displaced by war, thousands of Nigerian farmers are cultivating again.
Mary Utsewa gripped an ear of maize so large she could barely get her hand around it. Standing among bright green cornstalks swaying high above her head, she smiled and considered her good fortune. A farmer from Sukur district in northeast Nigeria, Utsewa was driven from her fields in 2013 and hadn’t grown a kernel since. Today she is a farmer again.
https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/frontlines/march-april-2017/after-escaping-boko-haram-onslaught-these
U.S. Delegation to the 61st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
The Department of State is pleased to announce the U.S. delegation to the 61st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), to be held March 13 through 24, 2017 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The CSW’s annual two-week session is the most important annual meeting on women’s issues at the United Nations. Representatives of the CSW’s 47 member governments convene to discuss ways to improve women’s lives at an event that also features the active participation of civil society representatives from around the world. The theme of this year’s session is “Women in the Changing World of Work.”
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/03/268420.htm
Assistant Secretary William R. Brownfield Travel to Vienna, Austria for the 60th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs William R. Brownfield will lead the U.S. delegation to the 60th Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), March 13-17, in Vienna, Austria. At the CND, the United States will seek enhanced international cooperation to control the illicit synthetic drugs which are fueling the ongoing U.S. opioid crisis. One major focus area will be the control of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit drugs, including those related to the opioid crisis.
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/03/268396.htm
US DEFENSE DEPT: Iraqis Fight for Western Mosul in Tough Battle Against ISIS
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2017 — Iraqi security forces are battling Islamic State of Iraq and Syria fighters in western Mosul’s government center complex in its operation to liberate their country’s second-largest city from ISIS control, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters today.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1111557/iraqis-fight-for-western-mosul-in-tough-battle-against-isis
In other world headline news...
Dublin sees future as hub for financial firms fleeing Brexit
DUBLIN (AP) — Britain's plans to leave the European Union threaten to cause Ireland all kinds of economic and security headaches. But a silver lining is expanding daily along the crane-filled banks of the River Liffey, a likely post-Brexit refuge for British banking operations.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/485de1d009ea4862a8c07c97c19c30c9/dublin-sees-future-hub-financial-firms-fleeing-brexit
Kosovo's president seeks NATO support for creating army
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo's president has called on NATO to support the transformation of its security force into a regular army with heavy weaponry.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/17b275b265b54a9e93e1634d03fadc5f/kosovos-president-seeks-nato-support-creating-army
Italian minister wants EU to affirm support for Balkans
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Italy's foreign minister is urging the European Union to send a strong message of commitment to western Balkan countries to help counter the nationalist rhetoric of some leaders in the region.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a3032f77c3f64e8092055eb3236398d7/italian-minister-wants-eu-affirm-support-balkans
U.S. carrier joins South Korea drills, North Korea warns of 'merciless' strikes (REU)
As the USS Carl Vinson plowed through seas off South Korea on Tuesday, rival North Korea warned the United States of "merciless" attacks if the carrier infringes on its sovereignty or dignity during U.S.-South Korean drills.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-usa-aircraft-carrier-north-idUSKBN16L0BD
Turkey's Erdogan says apology from Netherlands not enough, attacks Merkel (REU)
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday a diplomatic row with the Netherlands could not be dismissed with an apology and warned of further possible measures, after Ankara suspended high-level diplomatic ties with the Dutch.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-referendum-netherlands-idUSKBN16L1BA
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
[ Fruitful Growth in the Faith ] But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.-----2 Peter 1:5-8 NKJV
Free bible study offered by World Bible School
https://www.worldbibleschool.org/
NEWS NOTEBOOK
WP: Russia chose a wheelchair-confined singer for Eurovision. Ukraine might arrest her.
MOSCOW — The Eurovision Song Contest, the international music competition that introduced the world to Abba’s mercilessly upbeat pop and the Italian paean to blue skies optimism, “Volare,” has become clouded by nationalistic feuds.
A particularly chauvinistic drumbeat is crescendoing around this year’s festival in Kiev: Ukraine said Monday that it may bar Russia’s contestant from entering, on the grounds that she illegally toured Crimea after Moscow annexed the peninsula in 2014. Or, it may arrest her.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-chose-a-wheelchair-confined-singer-for-eurovision-ukraine-might-ban-her/2017/03/13/cee95400-07ee-11e7-bd19-fd3afa0f7e2a_story.html?utm_term=.fe9b53ad4ba2
