United Nations Radio

UN Calling Asia - a weekly magazine programme, in English, that keeps you in touch with UN developments covering Asia and the Pacific.

International Women's Day

Police inspectors Maria Fatima Martins and Daria Ximenes were two of the several female police officers of Timor-Leste honoured by the United Nations for their work at ceremonies commemorating International Women's Day, March 8th. Takahisa Kawakami, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to Timor-Leste, told the officers their dedication "did not go unnoticed". With more than 20 years of service between them, the two officers have been chosen to be part of a special section of the police force known as the National Vulnerable People's Unit. I caught up with Maria Fatima Martins, who explained what the Unit does.

Navi Pillay's first visit to India as High Commissioner for Human Rights

Navi Pillay

Comparing South Africa, her birthplace, to India, the home of her ancestors, Navanethem Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told India's National Human Rights Commission that both India and South Africa share a heritage of fighting for justice for the oppressed.

A couple in Afghanistan goes through an operation to correct obstetric fistula

Afghan women and fistula

Fistula is common in Afghanistan, where motherhood is more dangerous then almost anywhere else in the world: one out of eight women's deaths is related to pregnancy and childbirth. There are many reasons: early and frequent childbearing, and a lack of midwives, accessible health facilities, decent roads and affordable transport. Poverty, conflict and conservative attitudes also contribute. Most cases of fistula can be repaired, but treatment was not an option in Afghanistan until last year. Now there is a surgery unit at Kabul's Malalai Maternity Hospital, supported by UNFPA, the UN Population Fund. The news is starting to get around.

Producer: Gerry Adams
duration: 14'00"