UN This Week: Oct 30-Nov 3

UN Bodies and Agencies

For the full month of October, the General Assembly's Social Policy Committee, often referred to as the Third Committee, met twice a day and engaged in dialogues with independent experts and special rapporteurs to discuss issues pertaining to human rights and social development. Most of the reports featured progressive ideas about human flourishing and societal advancement. During the upcoming weeks, the Committee will take action on proposals👀
UN Women held an event on the International Day of Care and Support to recognize and celebrate domestic work performed by women, be it paid or unpaid. Several panelists urged for a “radical” transformation of the care system. They want men and women everywhere to dedicate an equal amount of time to domestic work and also envision a world with more civil society organizations and state programs to take care of the elderly and children so that women can “focus” on their academic and professional goals or have more time to rest. The event also pushed for transforming the the current understanding of masculinity and gender norms. Watch the full event here.
A group of UN experts issued a policy position arguing for the inclusion of trans people into women’s sports and expressing concern at attempts to use the male-female categorization in sports;
CEDAW (the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) issued its findings on several UN member states and raised concerns about:

"The criminalization of abortion in Guatemala, except in cases of threats to the life of the pregnant woman, and women’s limited access to safe abortion and post-abortion services." It called on the State party to legalize abortion and decriminalize it in all cases and ensure that "women and adolescent girls have adequate access to safe abortion and post-abortion services, fully guaranteeing their reproductive rights."
"Reported teacher bias and discomfort in teaching lessons on sexual and reproductive health, family planning and HIV/STI prevention in Jamaica, and that the school curriculum does not adequately address issues related to LBTI women.”

Interesting Facts

“Artistic” moment during the UN Women event on the International Day of Care and Support 🥴

C-Fam Friday Fax

ANALYSIS: For Western Countries Freedom of Religion Ends Where LGBT Rights Begin;
UN Expert shared a report on how heteronormativity in Africa is a product of colonialism, goes against the cultural roots of those communities, and should be eliminated.

Other News

Malawi students rejected Planned Parenthood affiliates and chased them from school. Read more here.
The 2023 U.S. Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security is addressing “deepfakes and builds on the administration’s work to address technology-facilitated gender-based violence, which, as we all know, disproportionately impacts women and LGBTQI+ political and public figures, leaders, journalists, and activists, and can deter them from participation.” Misgendering someone online may account for technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Macron wants to amend the French Constitution to include the right to abortion, read full article here
USAID is dedicated to collaborating with the Indian government to support India's family planning and reproductive health objectives, which also encompass abortion targets. They have recently announced the second cohort of the Yash Entrepreneurs Programme, a project that sponsors 11 enterprises to focus on regional reproductive health and family planning initiatives. Read more here.

UN This Week: Nov 6-9