Latest news with #Gender-BasedViolence
Emirates 24/7
25-04-2025
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
UAE Gender Balance Council joins BRICS Women's Affairs Ministerial Meeting in Brazil
The UAE, through the Gender Balance Council, took part in the BRICS Women's Affairs Ministerial Meeting in Brazil, addressing women's economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, digital safety, and climate action. On this occasion, Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of UAE Gender Balance Council, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, praised Brazil's leadership of the BRICS group and reaffirmed the UAE's dedication to global collaboration that uplifts women and ensures sustainable, inclusive growth. Her Highness Sheikha Manal stated that 'economic empowerment is not only a basic right for women; it is a national priority and a driver of sustainable growth and innovation.' Her Highness emphasised that gender balance is central to the UAE's national agenda and that economic empowerment for women is a strategic priority that drives innovation and resilience. The UAE continues leading the region with progressive laws supporting equal pay, parental leave, and women's full economic participation. She highlighted the UAE's commitment to including women in climate action and green innovation, noting their leadership roles in sustainability, solar energy, and agriculture. Furthermore, Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum praised the timely and vital themes addressed at the BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Women's Affairs, noting that they reflect a shared determination among member states to place gender equality at the core of sustainable development and global progress. She noted the importance of international collaboration, adding, 'BRICS offers a valuable platform to share knowledge and create opportunities for women to lead climate action efforts worldwide.' Distinguished Emirati Achievements Her Highness expressed deep pride in the UAE's remarkable milestones in advancing women's economic empowerment—milestones made possible through the unwavering support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and the encouragement of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. She reaffirmed that the UAE regards women's empowerment as a fundamental right and a national priority that drives progress across all sectors. Her Highness also reiterated the UAE's strong commitment to shaping a digital future that is empowering, equitable, and protected from gender-based violence. This commitment is reinforced through robust legal and legislative frameworks. In November, the UAE Gender Balance Council advanced these efforts by launching the 'Guidelines for Preventive Policies Against Gender-Based Violence Through Digital Applications', a pioneering step towards safer digital environments for women. Council Participation The United Arab Emirates participated actively in the BRICS Women's Affairs Ministerial Meeting, with the participation of Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council. The meeting commenced with an inspiring address by Brazil's First Lady, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and the presence of distinguished leaders: Her Excellency Esther Duque, Minister of Administration and Innovation in Public Services; Her Excellency Anielle Franco, Minister of Racial Equality; and Her Excellency Aparecida Gonçalves, Minister of Women of Brazil. Together, they championed a powerful agenda of progress through three pivotal discussions: advancing international coordination, empowering women through economic independence and entrepreneurship, harnessing digital governance to combat online violence, and amplifying women's voices in climate action and sustainable development. Entrepreneurship In the "Women, Development, and Entrepreneurship" session, Her Excellency Mona Al Marri underscored the UAE's long-standing support for women in business. 'Emirati women have made a lasting impact on our national economy,' said Her Excellency Mona Al Marri. 'Today, they represent 18% of all entrepreneurs, and over 77% are under 40. These achievements result from decades of progressive policies and leadership support.' She highlighted that Emirati women have significantly impacted the business landscape, with the number of female entrepreneurs rising to 25,000 by 2021, a testament to their growing influence and determination in shaping the future of the UAE. She highlighted initiatives like the SWAN programme launched by Khalifa Fund, which trains Emirati women Entrepreneurs, and the SDG 5 Pledge, which promote leadership opportunities and business growth for women across sectors. She called on BRICS nations to expand mentorship networks and create cross-border platforms for women entrepreneurs. Digital Governance Speaking on 'Digital Governance and Misogyny,' Mona Al Marri stressed the need for inclusive and ethical digital spaces. Women thrive in STEM fields in the UAE, making up 56% of STEM graduates and 80% of the Mars Mission science team. She noted strong UAE legislation against online abuse while highlighting the UAE's pioneering efforts in protecting women online, stating, 'We've enacted strong laws to combat cyber harassment, hate speech, and misinformation. But we must go further and work together internationally to create safer, more inclusive digital spaces.' The UAE works closely with tech platforms to raise global standards and empower women in the digital economy. Climate Action Her Excellency Mona Al Marri emphasised women's growing role in UAE climate leadership in the climate session. At COP28, women held two-thirds of the UAE delegation's leadership roles. Women now make up 30% of the energy workforce. She spotlighted the UAE's international initiatives, like the Climate Change and Gender Equality Initiative with UN Women. She encouraged BRICS countries to share strategies, invest in green skills, and support women-led climate innovation. For her part, Her Excellency Aparecida Gonçalves, highlighted the UAE's exemplary achievements in promoting gender balance and recognised its advanced standing on the global stage in this field. She described the UAE as a pioneering model whose experience offers valuable lessons for the international community. She expressed her strong desire to deepen collaboration with the UAE Gender Balance Council to help advance shared global goals for equality and empowerment. Bilateral Meetings On the sidelines of the BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Women's Affairs, Her Excellency Mona Al Marri met with Her Excellency Aparecida Gonçalves, Brazil's Minister of Women. The meeting focused on exploring avenues for cooperation and exchanging expertise in gender balance.** Her Excellency Mona Al Marri extended her appreciation to Brazil for its warm hospitality and the well-organized hosting of the meeting. She also commended the agenda's comprehensive topics, which reflect Brazil's commitment to enhancing collaboration among BRICS nations in advancing gender balance. For her part, Her Excellency Aparecida Gonçalves praised the UAE's pioneering achievements in gender balance and its globally recognised leadership in this area. She described the UAE as a model to be emulated and expressed a keen interest in strengthening cooperation with the UAE Gender Balance Council to help accelerate international progress in this field. During the visit, His Excellency Saleh Ahmed Al Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to Brazil, welcomed Her Excellency Mona Al Marri in the presence of Her Excellency Mouza Mohammed Al Ghuwais Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the UAE Gender Balance Council, and Maitha Al Hashimi, Director of Strategic Studies and Legislation. His Excellency Saleh Al Suwaidi commended the Council's active engagement in this prominent international platform and its role in reinforcing the UAE's global standing in competitiveness indicators. Her Excellency Mona Al Marri, in turn, commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its pivotal role in highlighting the country's achievements in gender balance at global forums and thanked the UAE Embassy in Brazil for supporting the Council's participation in this significant event. Her Excellency Mouza emphasised that the BRICS Ministerial Meeting was a crucial platform for exchanging ideas on key areas such as entrepreneurship, digital governance, and climate action. She highlighted that BRICS nations have a unique chance to lead by example, fostering cross-border opportunities and building integrated systems that empower women entrepreneurs. She stressed that actual progress means enabling women to participate in the economy and shape and sustain its future transformation. The UAE's active participation in the BRICS Women's Affairs Ministerial Meeting reflects its unwavering commitment to advancing gender balance globally. Through visionary leadership, progressive policies, and transformative initiatives, the UAE continues to empower women across key sectors from entrepreneurship and climate action to digital innovation and governance. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Zawya
07-03-2025
- Health
- Zawya
A decade of trauma and a journey to healing
Fatima Ibrahim (name changed) was just a child when her world was torn apart. At age 10, she was abducted during a violent raid on her village in Bama, Borno State. What followed was a decade of unimaginable hardship and suffering. Now 20 and a mother of one, Fatima is taking the first steps toward reclaiming her life. A decade of darkness Fatima's years in captivity were marked by fear, violence, and profound isolation, enduring both psychological and physical trauma, leaving her scarred. Her eventual release brought relief but also new struggles. In addition to emotional distress, she suffered from a severe gynaecological condition, manifesting as a foul-smelling discharge and vaginal prolapse—complications that significantly impacted her quality of life. With medical care and psychosocial support provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other humanitarian health partners, Fatima is gradually finding hope and healing. 'I lost hope many times,' Fatima recalled. 'I thought I would never see my family again or feel safe,' she shared with a trembling voice when speaking to the WHO-supported Hard-to-Reach Mobile Health Team at the Malkohi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Adamawa State, where she had sought refuge. Referral and the road to healing Fatima required immediate, specialised medical attention. Recognising the severity of her condition, the WHO health team promptly referred her case to the WHO Gender-Based Violence (GBV) focal person in Yola, initiating a coordinated response among partners and organisations to secure her treatment and rehabilitation. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) covered the costs of Fatima's medical treatment. At the same time, the Neems Foundation provided critical assistance, including food and transportation, ensuring she could focus on her recovery without additional burdens. She underwent surgery to address her gynaecological complications and received continuous psychosocial support to aid her emotional recovery. With funding from the European Union Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), WHO has played a crucial role in delivering essential medical and psychological support to vulnerable populations affected by humanitarian crises. These collaborative efforts ensure that survivors of conflict and gender-based violence, like Fatima, receive comprehensive and tailored care. By addressing physical and psychological health, WHO and its partners are building pathways for survivors to regain their dignity and access essential health services in challenging environments. A lifeline of support In Adamawa State, WHO—supported by the European Commission (ECHO)—has worked alongside the state government to train and deploy seven teams of hard-to-reach healthcare workers, comprising nurses, community health extension workers, and other essential cadres. These teams operate across 17 local government areas, delivering vital healthcare and psychosocial services to vulnerable communities. Isaac Kadala, a health official in Adamawa State, commended WHO's unwavering commitment to equitable healthcare access, emphasising the organisation's leadership in GBV response and psychosocial training for frontline health workers.'WHO's interventions, including joint supportive supervision across health facilities, have strengthened our capacity to provide much-needed services to affected populations,' he noted, reaffirming the state's commitment to continued collaboration with WHO and its partners. Sustaining humanitarian action 'WHO's interventions, in this case, and many others, align with our Country Cooperation Strategy IV (CCSIV), which prioritises addressing the health needs of vulnerable populations amid humanitarian crises. By providing comprehensive care, we ensure that no one is left behind in accessing essential health services,' said Dr Kumshida Yakubu Balami, WHO's Acting Emergency Manager for Northeast Nigeria's Humanitarian Health Emergency Response. Dr Balami emphasised that Fatima's story serves as a critical reminder of the need for sustained investments in survivor-centred healthcare and psychosocial support for victims of gender-based violence. In 2024 alone, WHO's interventions reached over 161 405 vulnerable individuals in Adamawa State, particularly those residing in IDP camps and remote areas, providing essential medical and psychosocial support. Fatima's journey illustrates the profound impact of humanitarian health interventions on conflict-affected populations. However, her story also underscores an urgent call for continued global and local commitments to supporting survivors of gender-based violence and investing in comprehensive, accessible healthcare services for the most vulnerable. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - Nigeria.
Express Tribune
01-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Pakistan sees 32,617 gender-based violence cases in 2024: SSDO
Listen to article The Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) has released its latest report, "Mapping Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Pakistan 2024," providing a province-wise analysis of rape, honour killings, kidnapping/abduction, and domestic violence across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The report highlights the alarming scale of GBV cases and the extremely low conviction rates, emphasizing the need for urgent reforms in law enforcement and the judicial system. According to the report, a total of 32,617 GBV cases were reported nationwide in 2024. These include 5,339 incidents of rape, 24,439 incidents of kidnapping/abduction, 2,238 incidents of domestic violence, and 547 cases of honor killings. Despite these figures, conviction rates remain critically low across all provinces. The national conviction rate for rape stands at just 0.5%, while honor killings also see only 0.5% convictions. Kidnapping and abduction cases have an even lower conviction rate of 0.1%, while domestic violence cases result in convictions just 1.3% of the time. Punjab recorded the highest number of GBV cases, with a total of 26,753. The province reported 225 honor killing cases, but only two convictions. In cases of rape, Punjab had 4,641 reported incidents, yet the conviction rate stood at merely 0.4%. Kidnapping and abduction cases were alarmingly high at 20,720, with only 16 convictions. Domestic violence cases totaled 1,167, with just three convictions. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 3,397 GBV cases were recorded. Honor killings accounted for 134 cases, with two convictions. The province reported 258 rape cases, with just one conviction. Kidnapping and abduction cases stood at 943, with only one conviction. Domestic violence cases in KP totaled 446, but no convictions were recorded. Sindh registered 1,781 GBV cases. Honor killings accounted for 134 cases, but none resulted in convictions. The province recorded 243 rape cases, again with no convictions. Kidnapping and abduction cases were reported at 2,645, yet no convictions were made. Domestic violence cases stood at 375, with no justice served in terms of convictions. Balochistan had a total of 398 GBV cases. The province recorded 32 cases of honor killings, with just one conviction. Rape cases were reported at 21, with zero convictions. Kidnapping and abduction cases stood at 185, yet no convictions were recorded. Domestic violence cases were reported at 160, with 25 convictions—the highest among all provinces for this category. Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) reported 220 GBV cases. Honor killings accounted for 22 cases, with no convictions. The capital recorded 176 rape cases, with only seven convictions. Data on kidnapping and abduction cases was not provided by the prosecution department. Domestic violence cases stood at 22, with no convictions recorded. Syed Kausar Abbas, executive director of SSDO, stated that the report, based on data obtained from provincial police departments through Right of Access to Information (RTI) laws, provides an analysis of GBV cases reported in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan during 2024. He stressed the urgent need for meaningful reforms to protect survivors and ensure perpetrators are held accountable. Emphasizing that every survivor deserves justice, he called for improvements in police investigations, legal procedures, and trial efficiency to prevent lengthy delays that hinder justice. He urged government institutions, civil society, and legal bodies to work together to create a system where survivors feel safe, supported, and empowered to seek justice. Shahid Jatoi, Director Programs at SSDO, highlighted that the report's findings reveal deep-rooted issues in Pakistan's criminal justice system. The abysmally low conviction rates, such as 0.5% for rape and honor killings nationwide, reflect weak investigations, inadequate evidence collection, societal stigma, and a lack of judicial accountability. He pointed out that the justice system is failing to address the scale of gender-based violence, leaving survivors vulnerable and perpetrators largely unpunished. Limited access to legal aid, prolonged trial durations, and cultural pressures that discourage reporting or pursuing cases further exacerbate the crisis. Urgent and comprehensive reforms are needed to align Pakistan's criminal justice system with the severity of these offenses.
