You’ve seen it before. Probably many times. Panel discussions featuring men only. Maybe they’re talking about economics or policy or community engagement or health. The panelists may be experts in their fields, but the panels are missing something. Women.
Across the Caribbean, young women and single mothers are getting the support they need to weather the pandemic and achieve their potential. Here, we visit UN projects in Trinidad and Tobago and, further north, in Saint Lucia.
We are living in unprecedented times. COVID-19 continues to devastate health systems, cripple economies, and exacerbate inequalities across the globe. As I write these words, the Caribbean region remains a hotspot of a disease, which is highlighting a simple reality: global crises require global solutions. This pandemic is our opportunity to strengthen regional collaboration and global solidarity to address our shared challenges and move forward. This can only happen if we are courageous and dedicated enough to seize the opportunities presented to us.
It's your first year of university and your best friend is kidnapped for marriage by a group of men. What do you do? That's the question that drives ‘Spring in Bishkek’, a mobile game that has been launched with the support of Spotlight Initiative in Kyrgyzstan.
As a 42-year-old man, who has worked for almost three decades in local construction, Jonathan acknowledges that it wasn't strange that women that walk passed a construction job site were victims of all kinds of personal attacks - insults, hisses, catcalling – and other forms of harassment.
"I am vaccinated. I am protected. I protect others. " That's the message you can read on the vaccination record card Machad, a health worker in Benin, received. Machad is proud to be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Despite a sore arm, Jemimah Katama, a nurse, is delighted to have received a COVID-19 vaccine. As lead coordinator at Kenyatta National Hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control department, she knows better than most how important the immunization can be.
Every Thursday, Jennifer Barros goes to Rondon 3, a refugee camp in northern Brazil near the border of Venezuela. The camp hosts 844 Venezuelan refugees and migrants, and Jennifer teaches Portuguese there. Kaleth Colmenares, 12, is always waiting for Jennifer at school. Last February he started attending a Brazilian public school and was still adapting to the new language when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Now, once a week, he gets tutoring sessions in several subjects, not least of all Portuguese.
As Arab States tackle challenges to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), COVID-19 recovery efforts offer an opportunity to reshape more productive, inclusive and sustainable economies. This can only be achieved through increased solidarity, ambition and concerted action at the regional level.
Deliveries of the COVAX-backed vaccines are arriving every day across the world. These deliveries symbolize a road to recovery. Those on the frontline of the pandemic share their excitement with us.
