CSW61 Kicks Off

The commission on the Status of Women begins today. This year’s theme: “Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work. “The Commission is one of the largest annual gathering of global leaders, NGOs, private sector actors, United Nations partners and activists from around the world focusing on the status of rights and empowerment of all women and girls, everywhere. This year’s session is taking place at a critical juncture, as the world of work is changing fast, spurred by innovation, globalization and increasing human mobility. At the same time, it is adversely impacted by climate change, humanitarian crises, rising informality of labour and economic inequality. For sustainable and healthy economies, the world of work must empower women and remove the persisting inequalities that hold women back from getting on equal footing with men.” (UN Women http://bit.ly/2mFr0r4)

UN Officials Kidnapped…”Unknown assailants have kidnapped two United Nations officials of American and Swedish nationality in Congo’s Kasai Central province, the Congolese government said on Monday. A government statement said Michael Sharp, a U.S. citizen, and Zaida Catalan, of Swedish nationality, had “fallen into the hands of negative forces not yet identified,” along with four Congolese they were with near the village of Ngombe. It did not give a date for the incident. A U.N. spokesman telephoned by Reuters declined to comment on the incident.” (Reuters http://bit.ly/2mD8A8U)

VIDEO: Famine, explained (UN Dispatch http://bit.ly/2mFq3iE)