Gender Equality

Understanding the uses and implications of non-tariff measures (NTMs) is essential for the formulation of effective development strategies to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Increasing transparency and understanding of NTMs helps traders identify the requirements they face and builds the capacity of policymakers, trade negotiators and researchers to strike the delicate balance between reduction of trade costs and preservation of public objectives. This publication provides an overview of the global transparency effort, including the International Classification of NTMs, data collection and data dissemination, as well as approaches to achieving good regulations, including recent research results and analysis tools, social implications such as gender and environmental effects, a toolkit to assess cost-effectiveness and NTMs, and the NTMs online academy.

E-commerce presents an important opportunity to address some of the major challenges faced by the Jordanian economy and to become a driver of sustainable economic growth. Jordan has experienced an economic slowdown in recent years, with GDP growth dropping from an average of 5.1% in 2000-2015 to 2.0% in 2016-2019. In addition, in 2020 the global COVID-19 pandemic had negative consequences for the Jordanian economy, albeit to a lesser degree than in neighboring economies, with GDP falling by 1.6%. The economy is gradually returning to a growth path, with an expected 1.9% increase of GDP in 2021. The Jordan eTrade Readiness Assessment aims at identifying the main barriers and opportunities for e-commerce development in the 7 eTrade for all policy areas by providing a detailed diagnostic of the digital ecosystem and identifying key policy actions for which support can be mobilized. The information provided in this report is based on qualitative and quantitative data collected from: i) desk research, ii) responses from the 3 online surveys (public, private, and consumer), iii) the results of the national multi-stakeholder and bilateral consultations, and iv) specific contributions made by eT4a and development partners.

Are women any less corrupt than men? This publication is a first, comprehensive foray into this complex, multilayered subject that affects every society and country in the world differently. It underlines the importance of understanding how national, cultural and social norms interact and shape corrupt practices. With the United Nations Convention against Corruption as cornerstone, the publication highlights how many of the gender dimensions of corruption are not sufficiently addressed in national contexts. It examines the evolution and relevance of the key international instruments and emphasises the importance of evidence-based policy making. It also explores how gender equality policies can have a positive effect in preventing and countering corruption and, vice versa.

This toolkit was drafted to support UNFPA offices in designing country investment cases in support of one or more of UNFPA's people-centred transformative results: ending preventable maternal mortality; ending the unmet need for family planning; and ending gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices including female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage. Conceived as a concise and practical guide, it includes tools for: preparing for an investment case; estimating the cost of the investment; developing investment scenarios to determine the scale of the investment's impact; framing the investment angle; and using the investment case in national advocacy efforts.

This publication presents statistics and analysis on the status of women and men in the world, highlighting the current situation and changes over time. The report is the sixth in the series which has been published every five years, as called for in the Beijing Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. This edition emphasizes that progress towards the goal of gender equality has been made in the last two decades in most areas of concern, although uneven and at low pace. Through a life cycle approach, the publication reveals the challenges and opportunities faced by women during their different stages of life and based on where they reside. The different trajectories of women and men are highlighted in the statistical findings of the analysis undertaken in eight chapters of the report, each representing a broad area of concern: population and families, health, education, work, power and decision-making, violence against women, environment and poverty.

The harmful practices of child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) threaten the well-being of millions of girls around the world. In many countries where both practices are common, girls most at risk tend to share certain characteristics, including a low level of education, a rural residence, and a poorer household. Yet distinct drivers are also found, and in many communities where one practice is common, the other is not. This publication thus seeks to identify the extent to which child marriage and FGM co-exist. It presents an overview for all countries in which both practices have been documented, followed by an in-depth analysis for nine countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Yemen). The intersection of these two practices – that is, the share of women who underwent FGM and were married in childhood – is reviewed over time to determine whether the likelihood of experiencing both has changed across generations. Characteristics that most frequently distinguish girls who experience one practice from those who experience both are also identified here.

Over the next decade, up to 10 million more girls will be at risk of becoming child brides as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the pandemic profoundly affects the everyday lives of girls – including their physical and mental health, their education, and the economic circumstances of their families and communities – these changes put girls at higher risk of becoming child brides. The actual number of girls who have been married since the beginning of the crisis is unknown, as most marriages are not registered and many girls live with a partner in an informal union. Still, pre-COVID data can be used to predict the impact of the crisis on child marriage in the near future, examining existing patterns and demographics of child marriage as well as historical information on the effects of educational disruption, economic shocks and programme efficacy on this harmful practice. In bringing such estimates into focus, this publication demonstrates that urgent action is needed for a COVID-19 response strategy that extends beyond health and prioritizes a broader set of rights for children.

This publication focuses on the ways in which the nexus of time and income poverty shapes or constraints the lives of women. It argues that addressing this double bind is critical to achieving sustainable development, particularly in low-income contexts, and presents an integrated policy agenda for doing so. The report finds large gender gaps in extreme poverty rates, especially between the ages of 25 and 34, coinciding with the phase of life oriented around family formation and child-rearing. During this phase, women and their households face increased expenses associated with having children, while also experiencing constraints on the time they have available for engaging in paid work. To address this double bind, public action must be geared towards supporting women at critical stages of their life course in an integrated manner through a combination of gender-responsive social protection and labour market interventions, as well as investments in time-saving public services (e.g. childcare, transport) and basic infrastructure.

This publication presents the highlights of the report World Population Policies 2017: Abortion Laws and Policies. It provides an overview of the laws and policies relating to induced abortion. It includes consideration of the various legal grounds and selected requirements for induced abortion, including gestational limits, the number of personnel required to authorise an abortion, mandatory third-party consent, and compulsory counselling and waiting periods.

Atteindre l'égalité entre les femmes et les hommes et éliminer toutes les formes de discrimination à l'égard des femmes sont des droits humains fondamentaux et des valeurs des Nations Unies. Partout dans le monde, les femmes subissent néanmoins régulièrement des violations de leurs droits humains tout au long de leur vie, et la réalisation des droits humains des femmes n'a pas toujours été une priorité. La réalisation de l'égalité entre les femmes et les hommes nécessite une compréhension globale des manières dont les femmes subissent la discrimination et se voient refuser l'égalité afin de développer des stratégies appropriées pour éliminer une telle discrimination. Cette publication fournit une introduction aux droits humains des femmes, en commençant par les principales dispositions du droit international des droits humains et en expliquant des concepts particulièrement pertinents pour comprendre pleinement les droits humains des femmes.

Este Guia descreve detalhadamente o conteúdo de uma legislação abrangente contra a discriminação. Fornece aos legisladores e defensores as ferramentas para desenvolver legislação anti-discriminação consistente com as normas jurídicas internacionais sobre os direitos à igualdade e à não-discriminação. Visa ajudar os Estados a cumprir as suas obrigações fundamentais de direito internacional de respeitar, proteger e cumprir os direitos à igualdade e à não discriminação. Este Guia também inclui exemplos práticos para ajudar os legisladores e os decisores políticos. Fornece também orientações específicas sobre a ligação entre a legislação antidiscriminação, por um lado, e os direitos das minorias, por outro.

This edition of the Social Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean addresses the challenges of labour inclusion as a key axis for inclusive social development. Despite a recovery in social indicators in 2022 (reduction of poverty and inequality, recovery of employment), the region faces a double trap of low growth and high levels of poverty and inequality. Labour inclusion is key to combating poverty, reducing informality and inequality and moving towards inclusive social development. Gender gaps in labour market inclusion are driven by the unequal distribution of the burden of care work, which is largely borne by women. In the case of migrants, overqualification and discrimination also affect their labour market inclusion. The efforts made by countries in terms of investment in labour policies, which on average amount to 0.34% of GDP, are insufficient. What is needed is a shift from labour market integration to labour market inclusion, guaranteeing access to quality employment, income above the minimum wage and access to social protection, particularly for women and young people.

Official records of the Report of the Commission on the Status of Women on the sixty-seventh session (25 March 2022 and 6–17 March 2023). The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. During its annual two-week session, representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York to discuss progress and commit to further action. The outcomes and recommendations of each session are forwarded to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Commission’s parent body, for follow-up.

This publication examines the key role of parliamentary diplomacy in foreign affairs, focusing specifically on its influence in the field of disarmament. It analyses the impact parliamentarians can have on these issues, identifying a number of good practices and effective strategies. In addition, it offers specific policy recommendations and highlights resources available to strengthen the capacity of parliaments and other stakeholders to enhance and expand their influence in promoting effective disarmament agreements at the international level.

The “Women’s economic empowerment strategy” articulates UN Women’s vision for enabling women’s economic agency, autonomy, and well-being. The strategy assesses the global landscape and UN Women’s role in realizing the economic rights of women and girls. It lays out the global context for work on women’s economic empowerment, provides a rights-based and transformative definition of economic empowerment, identifies gaps in current global efforts to achieve women’s economic empowerment, and then situates UN Women’s work on women’s economic empowerment within these broader efforts. Drawing on UN Women’s unique mandate and comparative advantage, it then lays out the opportunities for accelerating progress. Its objective is to provide a framework that galvanizes internal and external stakeholders to work together at the local, national, and global level through transformative solutions that improve the lives of women and girls with no one left behind.

Le rapport sur l'état de la population mondiale 2023 discutera du cap des 8 milliards récemment atteint par la population humaine et des récits entourant l'évolution de la population. Nous nous intéresserons en particulier aux discours qui mettent en avant l'idée de « trop » ou de « trop peu » de personnes et au mal que cela peut causer aux femmes et aux filles dont les choix reproductifs sont en jeu.

This revised edition strengthens the widely recognized and highly valued Istanbul Protocol standards on the effective investigation into and documentation of torture and ill-treatment. Relying on multi-sectoral engagement, specialized global expertise, and practical experiences of law, health, and human rights professionals in the field, including members of United Nations anti-torture bodies, the updated edition seeks to fortify the implementation of international norms and preventive tools to assist survivors of torture worldwide. The Istanbul Protocol and the accompanying “Istanbul Principles” also serve as a global standard against which the delivery of expert legal and medical evidence can be benchmarked in the investigation and prevention of torture. The Istanbul Protocol should appeal to a wide variety of stakeholders, including States, civil society, doctors, psychologists, social workers, lawyers, forensic specialists, asylum officers, human rights officers, and many others.

This revised edition strengthens the widely recognized and highly valued Istanbul Protocol standards on the effective investigation into and documentation of torture and ill-treatment. Relying on multi-sectoral engagement, specialized global expertise, and practical experiences of law, health, and human rights professionals in the field, including members of United Nations anti-torture bodies, the updated edition seeks to fortify the implementation of international norms and preventive tools to assist survivors of torture worldwide. The Istanbul Protocol and the accompanying “Istanbul Principles” also serve as a global standard against which the delivery of expert legal and medical evidence can be benchmarked in the investigation and prevention of torture.

État de la population mondiale 2022 s'intéresse aux grossesses non intentionnelles et analyse ses données clés et ses répercussions. Le rapport examine les causes et les conséquences de la non-satisfaction des besoins en matière de planification familiale, mais aussi la multitude de facteurs contribuant aux grossesses non intentionnelles et les conséquences que celles-ci peuvent avoir sur la santé de la femme ou de l'adolescente, leurs revenus potentiels et plus encore.

Independent journalism is in peril. The rapid erosion of the business models underpinning media sustainability has deepened a crisis in the freedom and safety of journalists around the world. Over the past five years, approximately 85 percent of the world’s population experienced a decline in press freedom in their country. Even in countries with long traditions of safeguarding free and independent journalism, financial and technological transformations have forced news outlets, especially those serving local communities, to close. The subsequent COVID-19 pandemic and its global economic impact have exacerbated this trend, now threatening to create an “extinction level” event for independent journalism outlets. The 2021/2022 global edition of the flagship series of reports on World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development examines these questions with a special focus on “journalism as a public good”.

Since 2016, UNCTAD has been working to support women in informal cross-border trade in sub-Saharan Africa, carrying out analytical, capacity-building and policy advocacy activities. This report describes the results of an impact assessment of the capacity-building activities that UNCTAD conducted in Malawi, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia during 2019-2021. The capacity-building activities consisted of a 6-day training programme on trade rules and procedures, and entrepreneurship skills building, and were aimed at small-scale and informal cross-border traders, mainly women. This report assesses the impact of UNCTAD training programme on former participants, and looks at issues such as familiarity with trade rules, customs procedures and trader rights and obligations; enhanced use of official border posts; business resilience and adaptation; business formalization; and understanding of COVID-19 measures. It draws evidence from Malawi, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia, taking into consideration cross-border trade in the pre- and post-pandemic environment. Finally, it presents four case studies.

Cette publication présente un aperçu du lien entre le commerce et le genre dans une perspective de développement. Il examine les conséquences du commerce international pour l'autonomisation économique et le bien-être des femmes et l'impact de l'inégalité entre les sexes sur le commerce. Après une brève introduction, la section 2 présente ce que sont le genre et l'égalité des sexes, et les différentes manières dont l'économie est une structure sexospécifique, comme base pour comprendre comment les changements dans le commerce et la politique commerciale sont susceptibles d'avoir des répercussions sexospécifiques. La section 3 traite du lien entre le commerce et le genre et donne un aperçu des multiples canaux d'interaction entre le commerce et le genre. La section 4 présente les diverses tendances de l'intégration du genre dans la politique commerciale et examine de plus près les évaluations d'impact sexospécifiques ex ante des accords commerciaux, les dispositions relatives au genre dans les accords commerciaux et le commerce et le genre dans l'Organisation mondiale du commerce.

Decision-makers in the field of land administration need a broad understanding of emerging issues and developments that are expected to shape the future of the sector. To this end, the UNECE Working Party on Land Administration agreed to elaborate scenarios for future land administration and land management solutions. This study discusses the future scenarios for the land administration sector, based on the relative importance and anticipated impacts of global megatrends and drivers specifically related to the sector.

This publication is the ninth teaching manual on trade and gender prepared by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). It has been developed with the goal of enhancing the capacity of policymakers, civil society organizations, and academics to examine the gender implications of trade flows and trade policy and of developing gender-sensitive policies on gender and trade. The first three modules provide a review of theoretical frameworks and empirical studies on the two-way relationship between gender and trade and are followed by additional teaching materials. Covering 47 countries from different geographical regions (33 from Africa, 9 from Asia, 4 from the Pacific, and 1 from the Caribbean), the publication further adopts the UNCTAD (2019c) grouping of LDCs as the African LDCs and Haiti, the Asian LDCs, and the Island LDCs based on their geographical and structural characteristics. Economic and social indicators are calculated as a weighted average for each LDC group throughout, and, where data is available, regional averages are presented for sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, South-eastern Asia, and Pacific Island Small States or Small Island Developing States to put the LDCs in perspective.

Decision-makers in the field of land administration need a broad understanding of emerging issues and developments that are expected to shape the future of the sector. To this end, the UNECE Working Party on Land Administration agreed to elaborate scenarios for future land administration and land management solutions. This study discusses the future scenarios for the land administration sector, based on the relative importance and anticipated impacts of global megatrends and drivers specifically related to the sector.

Official records of the Report of the Commission on the Status of Women on the sixty-third session (23 March 2018 and 11–22 March 2019). The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. During its annual two-week session, representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York to discuss progress and commit to further action. The outcomes and recommendations of each session are forwarded to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Commission’s parent body, for follow-up.

This study analyses the Mozambique experience of protecting and promoting fisheries with an emphasis on exploring geographical indication (GI) protection for the white prawn of Mozambique. It is achieved through an in-depth review of data collected from local stakeholders, reports based on past technical support provided by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the literature on GIs, and international and regional treaties and reports, among others. Fishery products such as Mozambican prawns are highly recommended for GI certification, as they have high demand from both local and international consumers.

Launched in 2019, the #Youth4Disarmament (Y4D) initiative of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) seeks to engage, educate and empower young people to facilitate their meaningful contribution to disarmament efforts. The “Spotlight Stories” section of the Y4D community website (https://www.youth4disarmament.org/youth_spotlight) offers a space for young people to share – in their own voices and from their own perspectives – why the work of disarmament is critical to building peace and how they are helping push the field forward. This compilation of stories reveals the hope for a better future shared by members of the largest generation in history, and it shows some of the diverse ways they are finding to pursue peace through disarmament in the twenty-first century.

A third of all entrepreneurs in the world are women. Their contribution to development is clear: as their business grow, they inspire, create jobs, and offer themselves, their families, and their communities a chance for a better, more inclusive future. But a third is still too low and women businesses face intersectional challenges that limit their potential, and require bold and collective action to be overcome. The main goal of UNCTAD’s Empretec Programme is to support women entrepreneurs reach their full potential through capacity building, skill development, and business transformation. The Women in Business award is part of the programme. Stories included in this edition showcase women breaking into what had been considered men dominated industries, like mechanics, agriculture, security, and construction. Through them, we learn how women entrepreneurs can face and defeat prejudice with professionalism, technical skill training and advisory.

The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, Volume 46 (Part I): 2021 is a compilation of the resolutions and decisions of the 76th session of the General Assembly, the voting patterns in the General Assembly and the First Committee, lead sponsors, sponsors and co-sponsors, references to First Committee report and dates of adoption.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the challenges of facing a health crisis and its impact on society and economies. The disruptions caused by the pandemic could potentially leave a lasting scar on the global economy. In an effort to ensure that global supply chains remain functional despite the pandemic, the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) has developed this paper to outline measures to mitigate the adverse impact of the pandemic on trade flows.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the challenges of facing a health crisis and its impact on society and economies. The disruptions caused by the pandemic could potentially leave a lasting scar on the global economy. In an effort to ensure that global supply chains remain functional despite the pandemic, the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) has developed this paper to outline measures to mitigate the adverse impact of the pandemic on trade flows.

This report argues that power in fact rests in the hands of the people, as can be seen in countless local, national and international movements to redistribute power and bring greater attention to neglected issues. Mass movements to redistribute power often have humble beginnings, born out of desperate need or simmering injustice—sparks of frustration that ignite infernos of change. In the early days of the HIV response, grossly insufficient leadership and medical care ignited a global civil society movement. It was the loud and persistent voice of people living with HIV and key populations at high risk of infection that accelerated the pace of research on antiretroviral medicines and drove down their prices, and it is that same determination that continues to expand the provision of affordable, life-saving treatment to millions of people around the world living with HIV.

Cette publication résume les développements et les tendances en 2019 sur les questions clés de considération multilatérale aux niveaux international et régional. Elle examine l'activité de l'Assemblée générale, de la Conférence du désarmement et de la Commission du désarmement. Elle contient une chronologie qui met en lumière les événements du désarmement multilatéral en 2019. Elle contient un avant-propos rédigé par le Haut Représentant pour les affaires de désarmement.

Official records of the Report of the Commission on the Status of Women on the sixty-fifth session (15–26 March 2021). The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. During its annual two-week session, representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York to discuss progress and commit to further action. The outcomes and recommendations of each session are forwarded to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Commission’s parent body, for follow-up.

This is the official report submitted to the General Assembly by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its Seventy-sixth session (29 June–9 July 2020), Seventy-seventh session (26 October–5 November 2020), Seventy-eighth session (15–25 February and 4 March 2021).

This Guide sets out in detail the content of comprehensive anti-discrimination law. It provides legislators and advocates with the tools to develop anti-discrimination legislation consistent with international legal standards on the rights to equality and non-discrimination. It aims to assist States in meeting their core international law obligations to respect, protect, and fulfil the rights to equality and non-discrimination. This Guide also includes practical examples to assist law- and policy-makers. It also provides specific guidance on the link between anti-discrimination law on the one hand, and minority rights on the other.

This is the annual report submitted to the General Assembly by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its activities for the fifty-second session, fifty-third session, and fifty-fourth sessions.

Official records of the Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Fortieth Session (14 January-1 February 2008), Forty-first Session (30 June-18 July 2008)

The 2021 edition of the World Population Policies provides a brief overview of global fertility levels and trends since the early 1960s and explores government’s views and policies related to fertility. The analysis of views and policies draws on data gathered through 2019 and available in the World Population Policies Database (box 1), reflecting the situation before the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The report then presents five case studies of countries from different regions and with a range of fertility levels, exploring in more detail the origin and evolution of national fertility policies. The case studies are followed by an assessment of known or potential direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on fertility patterns and trends. The report concludes with an exploration of policy options that governments may wish to consider in the current context.

The eTrade Readiness Assessment of Mongolia is the thirty-third such assessment conducted by UNCTAD. The Assessment examines the current challenges and opportunities of the digital economy in Mongolia, offering policy recommendations on how the government and development partners can maximize the benefits of digitalization for trade. The digital transformation underway in Mongolia is conducive to the development of e-commerce, both at the domestic and cross-border levels. The assessment shows that public and private sector stakeholders have prioritized further facilitation of cross-border trade and logistics, high-level political support, and supportive legal framework among the key factors which could be conducive to e-commerce growth in Mongolia. This report is expected to contribute to the efforts of the Government of Mongolia to build a robust, safe, and business-friendly environment for e-commerce and digital economy development. Ensuring the potential benefits of e-commerce requires a strong prioritization from the government and a great commitment from development partners. With the eTrade for all partners and coordination through the United Nations Resident Coordination Office in Ulaanbaatar, UNCTAD is committed to supporting Mongolia in its resolve to make e-commerce work for the country’s economic diversification and overall development.

The study identifies and analyzes the existing regional value chains between Mozambique and its neighbouring countries. The study then looks at the potential insertion of women cross-border traders into the identified value chains, with a focus on the challenges faced by these traders and the presentation of a set of policy recommendations.

Le présent examen des politiques se penche sur les opportunités que le commerce électronique offre aux petites entreprises dirigées par des femmes et appartenant à des femmes dans les pays en développement et les pays les moins avancés, et les défis auxquels ces entreprises sont confrontées pour s'engager dans le commerce électronique. Bien qu'il existe déja une vaste documentation sur le commerce électronique, l'examen du commerce électronique sous l'angle de l'égalité des sexes est une entreprise plus récente. Cette publication se propose d'y contribuer. Elle s'adresse à une variété de parties prenantes, mais surtout aux décideurs politiques, dans le but de fournir des conseils sur la manière de concevoir des politiques et des mesures qui améliorent la participation bénéfique des femmes à l'économie en tirant parti du commerce électronique. Le secteur privé est encouragé à examiner les conclusions de cet examen des politiques afin de déterminer les possibilités de collaboration avec le gouvernement, notamment par le biais de partenariats public-privé.

The study identifies and analyzes the existing regional value chains between Mozambique and its neighbouring countries. It looks at the potential insertion of women cross-border traders into the identified value chains, with a focus on the challenges faced by these traders and the presentation of a set of policy recommendations.

Les lignes directrices concernant l’élaboration de normes tenant compte des questions de genre proposent des étapes pratiques pour établir des politiques et des pratiques efficaces, qui soutiennent la participation égale des femmes en tant que priorité stratégique. Le rapport reconnaît que la normalisation est traditionnellement un monde dominé par les hommes et cherche à offrir une base de référence aux organismes d'élaboration de normes (OEN) visant à assurer l'équité dans leurs processus de travail et une plus grande efficacité dans les normes qu'ils élaborent. Les lignes directrices encouragent les organismes d'élaboration des normes à prendre des mesures concertées et à renforcer leur engagement en faveur de l'égalité entre les sexes. Les organismes gouvernementaux sont invités à considérer les normes comme des instruments de changement, capables de soutenir les communautés marginalisées et d'accélérer la réalisation du Programme de développement durable à l'horizon 2030.

Authored by Kerilyn Schewel, this publication in the IOM Migration Research Series explores the aspirations, opportunities and constraints young women navigate as they transition into adulthood, and the rationale behind a decision to migrate as a domestic worker. Based on an in-depth study of the migration decision-making of young women in one rural district of Oromia, Ethiopia, it shows how migration to the Middle East is one way to avoid an early marriage and to access capital otherwise unavailable to low-skilled women in Ethiopia. It then evaluates work opportunities at one Dutch-owned flower farm in the same district, and shows why these jobs will not necessarily act as a substitute to international migration.

The Social Outlook is a flagship ESCAP publication produced every two years with a dedicated focus on social development issues in Asia and the Pacific. In 2022, under the theme of “The Workforce We Need”, the Social Outlook focuses on building a healthy, protected and productive workforce in Asia and the Pacific to achieve inclusive and sustainable development and build back better after COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the presence of four key megatrends including climate change, ageing, digitalization and rising inequalities which has already prompted green, demographic and digital transitions that are altering the future world of work. Through its analysis, the Social Outlook aims to strengthen the evidence base and build capacity of policymakers on how to design and expand social protection, active labour market policies and health systems to achieve a resilient workforce today and in the future. The Report is structured along six chapters. Chapter 1 sets the latest social development context in the region highlighting the need for deepening solidarity and rebuilding trust to implement the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Next, Chapters 2-4 delve into three components of a resilient workforce, namely a healthy, productive, and protected workforce and emphasize the role of such a workforce in inclusive and sustainable development. Chapter 5 discusses policy recommendations for attaining such a workforce in Asia and the Pacific and proposes the renewal of the social contract which can put the region on a path for breakthrough and prosperity. Chapter 6 concludes.

Con cientos de referencias a la jurisprudencia de los mecanismos de derechos humanos de las Naciones Unidas, este manual brinda a los profesionales electorales y de derechos humanos una imagen clara de la estrecha interacción entre las elecciones y el derecho internacional de los derechos humanos. El manual analiza los estándares internacionales de derechos humanos con respecto a los procesos electorales y la participación política, y cómo estos estándares se aplican a aspectos específicos de las elecciones. Temas actuales como la violencia de género en la política, la desinformación y la manipulación de datos, y el impacto de los apagones de Internet se consideran a la luz del derecho internacional de los derechos humanos y las recomendaciones de los expertos de las Naciones Unidas.

With hundreds of references to the jurisprudence of United Nations human rights mechanisms, this handbook provides human rights and electoral practitioners with a clear picture of the close interplay between elections and international human rights law. The handbook discusses international human rights standards regarding electoral processes and political participation, and how these standards apply to specific aspects of elections. Current issues such as gender-based violence in politics, disinformation and data manipulation, and the impact of Internet shutdowns are considered in the light of international human rights law and the recommendations of United Nations experts.