United Nations Radio

Azerbaijani women

Azerbaijan is one of 11 countries reporting to the UN Committee monitoring the Convention to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women at its current session. The government officials reporting to CEDAW, as the committee is known, also expressed concern over trafficking in persons in Azerbaijan, and the low representation of women in decision-making. But there is one issue that was not on their radar: the rights of some 200 lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women. The Gender & Development movement supports a new law that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Lindsay Lazarski prepared this report.

Source of funding for action to stamp out violence against women faces a shortfall

sexual violence

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women is facing a dramatic shortfall in donor contributions, with only $9 million available-less than half the amount received in 2008. The Trust Fund is managed by the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). It relies on voluntary contributions from governments, the private sector and individuals. Dianne Penn found out more from the Trust Fund's Manager, Adriana Quinones.

Four women in Kuwait make it into Parliament

New Kuwaiti Parliamentarians

Four new politicians made history this May when they became the first women sworn in to Kuwait's parliament. This is quite an accomplishment considering women were granted the right to vote only four years ago. UN Radio's May Yaacoub spoke to Sahar Shawa, a Gender and Social Development specialist with the UN Development Programme in Kuwait.

Producer: Bissera Kostova
Prod.Ast. Sandra Guy
Duration: 14 minutes