Women and gender issues

Global foreign direct investment flows in the first half of 2021 reached approximately $852 billion, showing stronger than expected rebound momentum, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said today (UNCTAD).  Developed economies saw the biggest rise at an estimated $424 billion, UNCTAD noted.

In Nigeria, the World Food Programme today warned that it might cut food aid as early as next month to more than 500,000 people in the north‑east unless it receives at least $55 million in urgent funding.  The cuts come as severe hunger reaches a five-year high due to years of conflict and worsened by COVID-19.

Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message to the third Eurasian Women’s Forum, held today:

Following is UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of the Girl Child, observed on 11 October:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World Health Day, observed on 10 October:

In Afghanistan, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that its first aircraft carrying life‑saving medical supplies arrived yesterday in Kabul through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Airbridge.  It will cover the needs of 100,000 children and women for the next three months.

A new report by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) underscores the need to cut global emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 in order to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.  By contrast, recent data reveal that emissions are currently on track to increase by 16 per cent over 2010 levels by that date.

The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it will be forced to suspend food aid delivery to more than 100,000 displaced people in parts of South Sudan, beginning in October, due to funding shortfalls.  It warned that further cuts may be inevitable if an additional $154 million is not raised in the next four months.  

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, following consultations with Member States and the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), today announced the appointment of Sima Sami Bahous of Jordan as Executive Director of UN-Women.

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to a virtual side event of the Economic and Social Council’s High-Level Political Forum on “Equity in the era of COVID-19 and the Sustainable Development Goals:  Improving Accountability for the Health and Rights of Vulnerable Women, Children and Adolescents”, on 13 July: