United Nations Radio

Women: a weekly 14-minute news magazine that looks at issues affecting women around the world

child bride and husband

One in seven girls in developing countries is married before she reaches 18. Even though the practice is a violation of human rights and is illegal in many countries, it is estimated that in the next decade there will be a hundred million child brides. A recent panel at the UN heard from some young women who have narrowly escaped such a fate.

UN looks to partnerships with the private sector
to help improve maternal health

ECOSOC meeting

A special meeting convened by the UN Economic and Social Council this week that focused on the role or philanthropy in advancing progress on neglected health issues such as maternal health. During the meeting the philanthropic initiative of the Swedish furniture company IKEA, announced a 48 million dollar donation to UNICEF for children's and women's health programmes in India.

The impact of the financial crisis on women

CEDAW logo

The UN Women's anti-discrimination committee, which met earlier this month in Geneva for its regular consideration of reports by states parties to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) also took the opportunity to issue a statement expressing its concern that the financial crisis could disproportionately affect women and girls.

Producer: Bissera Kostova