Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New York (Agenzia Fides) – With an historic move, the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation has instituted a new entity for the protection and promotion of women all over the world. The entity will come into being in January 2011. The UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as 'UN Women', is the result of years of negotiations between UN member nations and women's promotion groups. The new entity will increase to a maximum level UN efforts to promote gender equality and greater opportunities and to eliminate discrimination against women.
The institution of 'UN Women' is a landmark although it is not clear yet how the entity intends to intervene to ensure a safer and better life for unprotected women. An estimated 6 out of 10 women in the world, at some time in their lives, are subject to physical and psychological abuse including sexual abuse, more than 100 countries lack specific laws against domestic violence on women.
(AP) (29/7/2010 Agenzia Fides)
