Latest news with #SimaBahous
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
‘A Silent Crisis': Obstetric Fistula Affects 500,000 Women, Yet It's Fully Treatable
Five days that is how long it took Dah, a 14-year-old prospective mother from Cte dIvoire, to give birth. The child was stillborn and she developed obstetric fistula. 16 years – that is how long Dah had to live with the agonising condition, undergoing eight different surgical procedures before finally getting the fistula repaired. In recognition of the over 500,000 women like Dah who are forced to endure what is a highly treatable condition, the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula is being marked on Friday. Obstetric fistula is a medical condition which refers to the development of a small hole between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum, leading to leaking urine or faeces. This year's theme, 'Her Health, Her Right: Shaping a Future without Fistula' will seek to make progress towards the goal of eliminating fistula by 2030. Women's bodies become battlegrounds — not only through sexual violence but through deliberate denial of reproductive rights and health – Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women 'Women's bodies become battlegrounds — not only through sexual violence but through the deliberate denial of reproductive rights and health services' said Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women. 'A silent crisis' It is often brought on by prolonged or difficult childbirth. Most of the half million women suffering the condition live in the Global South. Many women who have a fistula experience social isolation and exclusion brought on by leaking urine or faeces. This, in turn, can lead to depression and exacerbated poverty. Kambiré, a small business owner who lives in Bouna, lived with obstetric fistula for 23 years. She even had another child before getting medical assistance. 'I preferred to isolate myself because of the fistula,' she said. 'I couldn't sit for long for fear of getting wet.' She only learned that it was treatable when listening to a radio show, inspiring her to go to a UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA)-supported hospital for treatment. Now, she owns a small pot-making business. Entirely preventable and treatable UNFPA set the goal of elimination by 2030 – which seems doable given that, as a medical condition, it is both completely preventable and fully treatable. Between 2003 and 2024, UNFPA supported nearly 150,000 surgical fistula repairs, 4,400 of which alone happened in Côte d'Ivoire for women like Dah and Kambiré. Catherine, a mother of two in Bouna, also received medical assistance from a UNFPA-supported hospital. 'Now that I'm healthy, I'm happy. I can run my business and spend time with my friends,' she said. Nevertheless, obstetric fistula has remained stubbornly persistent throughout the world due to disparities in global health systems. UNFPA says that midwives are key to preventing fistula, and other childbirth injuries. However, there is a global shortage of over 900,000 midwives, 500,000 of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Reproductive health education and empowerment are similarly essential to addressing and preventing obstetric fistula. 'The most effective shield we can offer women and girls is their own power, voice and leadership,' Ms. Bahous said. Networks of solidarity After Dah received successful treatment for her obstetric fistula, she, like Kambiré, began a seasonal food business through which she prepares and sells produce. She has also banded together with other fistula survivors from Bouna to enhance community awareness and reduce stigma. 'When women lead, they protect not only themselves but their families and communities … The impact is transformative,' Ms. Bahous said.
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
‘A Silent Crisis': Obstetric Fistula Affects 500,000 Women, Yet It's Fully Treatable
16 years – that is how long Dah had to live with the agonising condition, undergoing eight different surgical procedures before finally getting the fistula repaired. In recognition of the over 500,000 women like Dah who are forced to endure what is a highly treatable condition, the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula is being marked on Friday. Obstetric fistula is a medical condition which refers to the development of a small hole between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum, leading to leaking urine or faeces. This year's theme, 'Her Health, Her Right: Shaping a Future without Fistula' will seek to make progress towards the goal of eliminating fistula by 2030. Women's bodies become battlegrounds — not only through sexual violence but through deliberate denial of reproductive rights and health – Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women 'Women's bodies become battlegrounds — not only through sexual violence but through the deliberate denial of reproductive rights and health services' said Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women. 'A silent crisis' It is often brought on by prolonged or difficult childbirth. Most of the half million women suffering the condition live in the Global South. Many women who have a fistula experience social isolation and exclusion brought on by leaking urine or faeces. This, in turn, can lead to depression and exacerbated poverty. Kambiré, a small business owner who lives in Bouna, lived with obstetric fistula for 23 years. She even had another child before getting medical assistance. 'I preferred to isolate myself because of the fistula,' she said. 'I couldn't sit for long for fear of getting wet.' She only learned that it was treatable when listening to a radio show, inspiring her to go to a UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA)-supported hospital for treatment. Now, she owns a small pot-making business. Entirely preventable and treatable UNFPA set the goal of elimination by 2030 - which seems doable given that, as a medical condition, it is both completely preventable and fully treatable. Between 2003 and 2024, UNFPA supported nearly 150,000 surgical fistula repairs, 4,400 of which alone happened in Côte d'Ivoire for women like Dah and Kambiré. Catherine, a mother of two in Bouna, also received medical assistance from a UNFPA-supported hospital. 'Now that I'm healthy, I'm happy. I can run my business and spend time with my friends,' she said. Nevertheless, obstetric fistula has remained stubbornly persistent throughout the world due to disparities in global health systems. UNFPA says that midwives are key to preventing fistula, and other childbirth injuries. However, there is a global shortage of over 900,000 midwives, 500,000 of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Reproductive health education and empowerment are similarly essential to addressing and preventing obstetric fistula. 'The most effective shield we can offer women and girls is their own power, voice and leadership,' Ms. Bahous said. Networks of solidarity After Dah received successful treatment for her obstetric fistula, she, like Kambiré, began a seasonal food business through which she prepares and sells produce. She has also banded together with other fistula survivors from Bouna to enhance community awareness and reduce stigma. 'When women lead, they protect not only themselves but their families and communities … The impact is transformative,' Ms. Bahous said.
See - Sada Elbalad
21-03-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
OIC, UN Women Sign New MoU
Mohamed Mandour The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing women's rights and gender equality through the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the UN Headquarters in New York. Ambassador Hameed A. Opeloyeru, the Permanent Observer of the OIC to the United Nations, signed the MoU on behalf of the OIC, while Dr. Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, represented her organization. In his remarks, Ambassador Opeloyeru emphasized the significance of the renewed collaboration between the two institutions. "Today's event is yet another milestone in the inter-institutional cooperation between the OIC and UN Women. It is clear evidence of our shared commitment to the advancement of women's rights and welfare, in alignment with the goals of both organizations," he stated. He further highlighted OIC's recent initiatives, including the establishment of the Women Development Organization (WDO) headquartered in Cairo and the successful convening of the International Conference on Women in Islam in Jeddah in 2023. These efforts reflect the OIC's dedication to promoting women's economic participation, leadership, and protection against gender-based challenges. Dr. Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, welcomed the MoU as a crucial step toward ensuring lasting progress in women's empowerment and their full participation in all aspects of society worldwide. " The partnership between UN Women and the OIC is built on a shared vision of empowering women in all aspects of life. This renewed agreement provides a robust framework for strategic initiatives that will drive tangible change, particularly in economic empowerment, leadership opportunities, and protection of women's rights within OIC member states and beyond," she stated. She also praised OIC's efforts in advancing the status of women in the Islamic world and reiterated UN Women's commitment to supporting these initiatives through expertise, resources, and advocacy. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) News Ireland Replaces Former Israeli Embassy with Palestinian Museum News Israeli PM Diagnosed with Stage 3 Prostate Cancer Lifestyle Maguy Farah Reveals 2025 Expectations for Pisces News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
Arab News
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi Vision 2030 is ‘the beginning of a very good story,' says head of UN Women
NEW YORK CITY: Vision 2030 has become a reality of empowerment for all women and girls in Saudi Arabia, according to Sima Bahous, the executive director of UN Women. She predicted that the rise of women and their role in the Kingdom in recent years is just the beginning — 'and the beginning of a very good story.' Bahous was speaking at a high-level event on the sidelines of the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, during which Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Kingdom's envoy to the UN and chairperson of the commission this year, outlined the transformative strides Saudi Arabia has taken to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women in various sectors. The event, titled 'From Vision to Reality: Saudi Arabia's Story of Women's Empowerment,' highlighted the policies and initiatives that have helped to propel the participation of women in the Kingdom's labor market, and promote their roles in diverse fields such as technology, innovation and renewable energy. 'We have seen the removal of employment restrictions, growing opportunities for female entrepreneurs, and the rise of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and leadership roles,' Bahous said. 'This is a shift not just about numbers but it is a shift about impact, and it is only the beginning of the story — and the beginning of a very good story.' The way forward, she continued, is clear: partnerships need to be strengthened, policies must be implemented and institutions should be reinforced. 'We need inclusive economies, gender-balanced leadership and data-driven solutions to track and sustain progress,' Bahous said. 'And we need to listen to young women, to grassroots leaders, to those driving change from the ground up.' The momentum in Saudi Arabia is undeniable, she added, and continues to build: 'The journey is going but it is not over. The path ahead demands more transformative action. It calls for more progress that is not just imagined by some, but lived by all.' Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia's plan for national development and the diversification of its economy to reduce the reliance on oil.
Voice of America
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Women's rights advocates warn UN to confront backlash against progress
Female activists raised their voices at the United Nations on Friday as they marked International Women's Day amid a global trend of backsliding on hard-won rights. "International Women's Day is a powerful moment, and this year, more than ever, the call of gender equality has never been more urgent, nor the obstacles in our way more apparent, but our determination has never been more unshakable," said Sima Bahous, executive director of U.N. Women. Bahous called on women everywhere to confront the backlash, emphasizing that their movement is powerful and growing. "Equality is not to be feared, but instead to be embraced," she said. "Because an equal world is a better world." Women in all parts of the world are facing challenges to their reproductive rights, personal safety, education, equal pay and political participation. This year marks the 30th anniversary of a women's conference in Beijing that recognized women's rights as human rights, producing an action platform that has helped drive policy and progress. The United Nations says more girls are in school and more women hold positions of power today than before, but they still face violence, discrimination and financial inequality. "We cannot stand by as progress is reversed," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the gathering. "We must fight back." At the current pace, he said, eradicating extreme poverty for women and girls will take 130 years. "The fight for gender equality is not just about fairness," Guterres emphasized. "It is about power — who gets a seat at the table and who is locked out." U.N. goodwill ambassador for Africa Jaha Dukureh endured female genital mutilation (FGM) as an infant. At age 15, she was forced into marriage with a much older man in her homeland, Gambia. Her organization, Safe Hands for Girls, works to end the practice of FGM and address the physical and psychological toll on its victims. Dukureh told the gathering that governments have a duty to invest in social protection and education for women and girls. "For all women and girls, economic independence is the foundation of freedom," she said. "A woman who can provide for herself can make choices. A girl who has an education can build her own future." Commission on the Status of Women On Monday, hundreds of women's advocates and activists will descend upon U.N. headquarters to hold their annual meeting known as the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The 10-day gathering is dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the rights and empowerment of women. Sarah Hendriks, director of policy for U.N. Women, told reporters on Thursday that anti-women's rights actors are increasingly well-funded and coordinated. "Where they cannot roll back legal or policy gains altogether, they seek to either block or slow down their implementation," she said. Thirty years after Beijing, Hendriks said, progress is still too slow, too fragile, too uneven and not guaranteed. She said U.N. Women is proposing an action agenda to accelerate progress on the sustainable development goals, of which goal number five focuses on achieving gender equality. "It is our ambition that 2025 will be remembered as a pivotal year," she said. "That it will be remembered as a year that history looks back and says, 'This was the year that we refused to back down, that we held ground, that we refused to step back, that we indeed actually stood our ground.'" CSW is expected to approve a political declaration by consensus on the first day. Negotiations on the document have been going on for about two weeks. But how strong it will be and what will be missing from it — for instance, reproductive rights — remains to be seen.
