CONTINUING COVERAGE ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY AND BEJING +15

Afrol News reported on 8 March on a ranking of countries according to the status of women compiled and released by CARE Norway to coincide with International Women’s Day. The ranking is based on the UN's Gender Empowerment Index and Gender-related Development Index; WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and World Bank statistics of women's health; the Human Development Index and information provided from CARE offices in developing countries. Read: Afrol News

LATIN AMERICA: Multiple media outlets reported on 8 March on UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid’s statement marking International Women's Day. In her statement, Ms. Obaid called on governments around the world to support women’s rights.  Read in Spanish: Ciudadania Express (Mexico), El Nuevo Diario (Nicaragua), PPN (Paraguay) and Neike (Paraguay), Reporte360 , EntornoInteligente, Biosalud and Analítica (Venezuela)

BHUTAN: Kuensel reported on 9 March that in her statement on International Women’s Day, Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, president of RENEW and goodwill ambassador of UNFPA, urged the government and the people of Bhutan to take personal responsibility to embrace this year’s theme, “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress For All.” Read: Kuensel

BOLIVIA: Radio FM Bolivia reported on 8 March that, on International Women’s Day, United Nations representatives, the Mayor of La Paz and the Brigade for the Protection of the Family launched the campaign “Unite to end violence against women and girls.” UNFPA Representative Jaime Nadal explained that the campaign is based on four areas of work and in revising existing legislation to ensure compliance with the rights of women, adolescents and girls.

Correo del Sur reported 8 March that in Sucre, the Network Against Gender Violence called for all sectors to be part of the demonstration and mobilization against violence, femicide and impunity and for reduction of maternal mortality. UNFPA estimates that 290 Bolivian women die every year in pregnancy and childbirth. Read in Spanish: Correo del Sur

CAMEROON: The Cameroon Tribune reported on 9 March on a parade to mark International Women’s Day in the country. As the women marched past under the cover of umbrellas of UNFPA, they were joined at one point by the Minister of Women's Empowerment and the Family, Marie-Therese Abena Ondoa Obama. Read: Cameroon Tribune

COLOMBIA: SNE reported 8 March that Colombia was invited as keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the exhibition 'Portraits of War and Women on the Frontline” photo and video exhibit in Geneva (Switzerland). The Director of UNFPA’s office in Geneva, Alanna Armitage, made the event’s official presentation. Read in Spanish: SNE

CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Congo-site and Tele-Congo reported on 9 March that 60,000-women marched on International Women's Day, led by Gender Minister Jeanne Leckomba Loumeto, and UNFPA Representative David Lawson. The march culminated at the Parliament where messages of support to women were delivered by representatives of youth, women, men, the UN system and the Gender Minister. This march has been registered as largest ever gathering of Congolese women. Read in French: Congo-Site and Watch in French: Les Depeches de Brazzaville

Congo-site reported on 11 March on the message by Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA Executive Director, on gender equality, delivered in the Republic of Congo by Representative, David Lawson, on the occasion of International Women's Day, stressing that UNFPA would work in cooperation with its partners to support women autonomy, gender equality, reproductive and sexual health rights. Read: Congo-Site

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: El Nuevo Diario , Hoy Digital and Listin Diario reported on 8 and 9 March that President Leonel Fernández honored 10 outstanding women with the Medal of Merit of Women for their contributions to national development in various areas, an event that is part the celebration of International Women's Day. Others recognized at the event, were Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, director of UNFPA and Mirta Roses , regional director of WHO. Read in Spanish: El Nuevo Diario and Hoy Digital and Listin Diario

EGYPT: Multiple media outlets reported 8-16 March on celebrations of International Women's Day. Al Mesasaeya reported on 10 March on a statement by UNFPA representative Ziad Rifai, who noted the 100th anniversary of the Day. Mr. Rifai described the position of women as an important issue in human rights; moreover he said that it is clear that women are less fortunate in the fields of education and specifically suffering from violence against women, labor and economic discrimination. There are social and religious contraints to the achievement of equality for women. Rural women are those that face the most unjust treatment of all. Women’s rights is not specific to women only, but rather an issue of development itself in the first place.

IRAN: Iran News published UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid’s statement marking International Women’s Day on 8 March.

JAMAICA: The Jamaica Observer reported on 9 March on a ceremony where staff reporter Nadine Wilson and All Woman Editor Petulia Clarke were honored with awards for for their outstanding contribution to various sectors of the society as part of celebrations to mark International Women's Day and the launch of the Inter-American Year of Women. At the ceremony, Director of the UNFPA sub regional office of the Caribbean Dr Hernando Agudelo pointed out that gender equality remains one of the greatest challenges, despite the fact that, "In every part of the world women are the weavers of the fabric of the society.” Read: The Jamaica Observer

JAMAICA: The Jamaica Gleaner reported on 9 March that women from all spheres of Jamaican life gathered downtown Kingston to mark International Women's Day, and to launch the Inter-American Year of Women . Hernando Agudelo of UNFPA said that women were the weavers of the fabric of society and that gender equality was one of the greatest challenges of our times. Read in Spanish: Jamaica Gleaner

JAPAN: The Manichi Daily News reported on 11 March on a symposium entitled "Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all -- Beijing at 15: Gender equality, development and peace," organized by 19 U.N. organizations with offices in Japan and media outlet Nikkei Inc. event hosted a celebrity line-up of speakers, including UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and former Olympic marathon runner Yuko Arimori, and singer, writer and Ambassador of the Japan Committee for UNICEF Agnes Chan, who both stressed the need to improve the brutal living conditions of girls and women they witnessed in numerous developing countries they visited in their U.N. capacities. Read: The Manichi Daily News

NAMIBIA: The New Era reported on 10 March that, under the theme ‘Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All," Namibian women celebrated International Women’s Day along with the rest of the world. Fabian Byomuhangi, UNFPA representative in Namibia, said from a statement by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that gender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental to the global mission of the United Nations to achieve equal rights and dignity for all. Read: New Era

NAMIBIA: New Era reported on 10 March on an event marking International Women’s Day in Namibia. Fabian Byomuhangi, UNFPA representative in Namibia, read a statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that gender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental to the global mission of the United Nations to achieve equal rights and dignity for all. Read: New Era

NIGER: Le Sahel Quotidien reported on 10 March that during the commemoration of the International Women’s Day, the UNFPA Country Office in Niger received, from the Minister of Population, Women’s Promotion and Children’s Protection,  Sanady Tchimaden Hadattan, a trophy for the best actor in gender equity promotion on behalf of the “Promotion and Incubation Centre for Entrepreneurship and Leadership of Niger – CIPEL.” The ceremony took place on the occasion of the first edition of the international trophy for African active women –TIFAA 2010.

SIERRA LEONE: Awoko reported on 8 March that as the world marks the International Women’s Day Celebration around the world UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid stated in her message that in every part of the world women are the weavers of the fabric of society, and progress towards equality is still not being made. Read: Awoko

SOUTH AFRICA: SABC International News featured an interview on 8 March with UNFPA Assistant Representative Nonhlanhla Zindela on progress towards realizing women’s rights in South Africa, UNFPA’s experience in different countries, UNFPA’s mandate to advance the rights of women and the theme for this year’s International Women's Day, which was Beijing +15.

SABC Africa featured  interviews on radio and television on 7 and 8 March with UNFPA Deputy Representative/OIC Mark B. Schreiner and the UNFPA Assistant Representative, that included a discussion on the history of International Women’s Day along with issues including the impact of climate change on women and connections between gender, population and climate change.

TANZANIA: The Citizen published on 11 March a statement by UNFPA Representative Julitta Onabanjo marking International Women’s Day on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania. Ms. Onabanjo urged Tanzania to build on past progress on women’s rights and continue to prioritize women’s education and health and pledged the UN’s ongoing commitment to support Tanzania’s government in its efforts to meet the goals named in the the 1994 ICPD Programme of Action, the 1995 Beijing Platform of Action and the MDGs.

The Citizen reported on 8 March on International Women’s Day observations in Tanzania. “As long as one in three Tanzanian girls are beaten, coerced into sex, or abused in some way and these crimes remain unpunished, we have to enact and enforce equitable laws and practice justice. As long as every third woman in Tanzania can neither read nor write, we have to stand up for equal rights and opportunity,” said UNFPA Representative, Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania. Dr Onabanjo, said that the UN is committed in supporting the country to fight this challenges. Read: The Citizen

TIMOR-LESTE: Diario Nacional reported on 9 March that the Grupo Mulheres Parliamentarian Timor-Leste (GMPTL), Parliamentary Committee’s and local and community leaders held a one-day conference on Sex Education, Family Planning and Reproductive Health on 4 March in the Oecusee District. The event was in celebration of International Women’s Day. The conference was supported by UNMIT, UNIFEM, UNFPA, UNICEF, Alola Foundation, Rede feto, Fokupers, Catholic Relief Services, Marie Stopes International, Diocese Dili, Cannosian Sister, the Minister of Education, Ministerio Saude and fully supports from GRC national parliament.

TURKEY: Xinhua (China) reported on 8 March that as the world celebrates the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, Turkish women still have difficulty getting support for combat against domestic violence.This is the conclusion of a one-day conference titled “End Violence Against Women,” hosted by local daily Hurriyet in Istanbul. Coordinator of UNFPA Gender Programme Meltem Agduk, who attended the meeting, said between one-fifth and one-third of women worldwide suffer from physical and sexual violence – with no significant difference in rates of domestic violence between Turkey and the West.

UNITED STATES: The Huffington Post published a blog by Sharon Camp, President and CEO of The Guttmacher Institute on 8 March arguing that, as political leaders, policymakers and advocates gather at the United Nations to assess global progress on these issues, they will have at their disposal a clear roadmap to guide future investments in global reproductive health--a December 2009 report from the Guttmacher Institute and the UNFPA documenting the enormous benefits that accrue from increased funding for both family planning and pregnancy-related and newborn care. Read: The Huffington Post

UGANDA: The Daily Monitor published an International Women’s Day supplement, featuring UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid’s statement on the day and an interview with UNFPA representative Janet Jackson.

URUGUAY: La Diaria reported on 11 March that in the framework of International Women's Day, UNFPA issued a study on implementation in Uruguay of public policies on population, sexual and reproductive health and gender. Read in Spanish: La Diaria

VENEZUELA: ABN reported on 8 March that before the centennial celebration of International Women's Day, feminists posed new challenges for achieving gender equity as the democratization of productive and reproductive work and equal pay and conditions, and the eradication of violence against women. Project coordinator for UNFPA, Morelba Jimenez, said that women "have not achieved the separation between the productive and reproductive work, which is why women work 24 hours in a triple shift, which includes community work. Read in Spanish: ABN

VIET NAM: Voice of Viet Nam, Nhan Dan, Family and Society and Dai Doan Ket reported on 13 March that the occasion of the International Women’s Day, the United Nations in Viet Nam, in collaboration with the Gender Equality Department (MOLISA) organised a workshop “Gender equality and women’s empowerment 15 years after the fourth World Conference on Women” on 12 March in Ha Noi. Addressing gender-based violence, UNFPA representative Bruce Campbell said: “While Viet Nam has made great progress in putting in place legislation to protect women from violence, there are still many challenges to address in implementing the new Domestic Violence law, including inadequate financial resources for services and programmes, limited awareness of the new law, existing attitudes that accept violence, and the need for clear legal guidelines for the justice system.”Read: Voice of Viet Nam and in Vietnamese: Nhan Dan; Voice of Viet Nam; Family and Society

YEMEN: Multiple media outlets reported on 8  and 10 March that UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid, issued a message on International Women’s Day, in which she paid tribute to all women worldwide who contribute so much to the well-being of their families, communities and nations. Read in Arabic: Althawra, Nabaneews, and Al-tagheer

ZAMBIA: Afrique en Ligne reported on 8 March that in Zambia, 8 March is observed as a public holiday to commemorate the Day. Activists argue that the struggle for the full emancipation of women is far from over and are calling for more participation of women in political and economic decision-making to realise econ omic development in the country. In a message released to commemorate the Day, the UNFPA executive director, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, paid tribute to all women worldwide who contribute so much to the well-being of their families, communities and nations. Read: Afrique en Ligne

ZIMBABWE: The Standard reported in its 7-13 March issue on the history of International Women’s Day and published a message from UNFPA marking the day with a call for support for women’s rights and reiterating its commitment to women’s empowerment, gender equality and reproductive health and rights.