Tens of millions of females are missing from societies around the world thanks to neglect, gender-specific abortions, murder and sexual violence, leaving skewed gender ratios that endanger countries’ survival. Traditional favoritism for male children combined with modern preferences for small families is helping to drive the trend.
UN honors Shakira for work with poor children
Shakira has received a medal from the U.N. labor agency for her work to help impoverished children. The 33-year-old Colombian pop star has worked as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. Her Barefoot foundation provides nutrition to more than 6,000 children in Colombia, and she is member of the ALAS foundation that advocates for children across Latin America.
UN launches a plan to battle HIV/AIDS among women
UNAIDS has launched a five-year plan to focus on issues that contribute to spread of HIV/AIDS among women. HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age worldwide, and the initiative will look at ways to curb violence against women, provide greater access to health care and promote human rights worldwide
Use of contraception gains ground in Afghanistan
The number of Afghan women using contraception is growing thanks to the efforts of health workers and local religious figures. Afghan women give birth to six babies on average in a country that has the world’s second highest maternal mortality rate.
Female peacekeepers are role models in Liberia
An all-female peacekeeping unit in Liberia has won praise for holding down the peace as well as serving as role models for Liberian women — many of whom have suffered as the victims of severe and systematized sexual assault. In addition to serving as trusted security figures, the Indian women of the unit have assisted local women with health care typically unavailable in Liberia.
WFP increases focus on children under 2
The World Food Program is ramping up efforts to battle malnutrition in children under 2 and is calling on medical experts to help develop foods to fill gaps in nutrition, Executive Director Josette Sheeran says. “We know if a child under 2 is deprived of adequate nutrition that the damage is irreversible and that the loss of brain and body development cannot be recovered,” Sheeran warned.
Child-Free Zone in Berlin Café Raises Eyebrows
First it was smokers, now it is children. A Berlin café has excited
debate by establishing a no-child section. For a nation with a low birth
rate that is trying to encourage its citizens to have more babies, such
an anti-child policy is cause for concern.