United Nations

Beauty Pageant Keeps Stealing the U.N.’s Style

By Amy Lieberman ● Uncategorized ● May 13, 2013

Contestants are called ambassadors and expected to understand the workings of the U.N. and have a good roster of civic involvements. The problem is, the U.N. wants nothing to do with it.

Latest in United Nations

Feisty Mountain Crew Cussed, Drank, Broke Ground

By Christine Byl ● Uncategorized ● April 19, 2013

While it was rare to see other female workers maintaining the trails at Glacier National Park in Montana, Christine Byl says in this excerpt from “Dirt Work” that one crew helped transform a summer gig into a decades-long job working outdoors.

Political Cauldron Boils on U.N. Women’s Rights

By Amy Lieberman ● Arts & Culture ● March 21, 2013

As the U.N. superagency loses its founding leader, participants at the Commission on the Status of Women expect the fight between conservative and progressive factions to intensify over sexual orientation, reproductive rights and even domestic violence.

Bangura Rethinks U.N.’s Sex-Violence Patrol

By Amy Lieberman ● Uncategorized ● December 10, 2012

The new U.N. point person on sexual violence in armed conflict doesn’t plan to do it on her own. Zainab Bangura, a former health minister from Sierra Leone, is tapping governments to work alongside her nine-person staff.

World Court Struggles to Finish Mass Rape Cases

By Amy Lieberman ● Crime & Law ● November 21, 2012

Leaders of the international tribunal for Sierra Leone–known for its focus on gender-based crimes–are struggling to keep it open through the appeals trial of Liberia’s Charles Taylor.

Perpetrators Missing from U.N. Anti-Violence Forum

By Amy Lieberman ● Uncategorized ● September 29, 2012

The U.S. ambassador-at-large for global women’s issues was upbeat last week about high-level attention to sexual violence at a U.N. meeting. But Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee was disappointed that African leaders weren’t in the room.

Global Family Planning Enjoys a Surge in Backing

By Deena Shanker ● Uncategorized ● July 25, 2012

A major battle is underway in the United States over covering the costs of family planning. But in international circles, support for contraception is gaining momentum, boosted by two recent studies and billions in fresh funding pledges.

Hotel Group Adopts Rules to Stop Child Sex Traffic

By Sadiya Ansari ● Crime & Law ● June 12, 2012

The first U.S. hotel management company signed a code of conduct at a June 14 press conference to help protect children from exploitation driven by tourism. It joins 40 other companies worldwide.

Envision a Sex Worker Movement Sans Feminism

By Audacia Ray ● Crime & Law ● April 28, 2012

“Momentum: Making Waves in Sexuality, Feminism and Relationships” is a collection of essays from an annual conference on sexuality. In this excerpt, Audacia Ray wants a broader discussion of human rights and the complexity of the sex industry.

Advocates Blast Canadian Probe of Missing Women

By Sadiya Ansari ● Commentary ● April 17, 2012

Fifteen organizations last week intensified their opposition to a government inquiry into missing women in Vancouver’s downtown eastside. In an open letter, detractors said they would instead cooperate with a U.N. probe launched in December.