Gender | Commonwealth

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International Women’s Day 2018: ‘Progress for Women and the Vote in the Commonwealth’

To commemorate International Women’s Day, the Commonwealth’s Gender Section hosted an event at Marlborough House entitled ‘Progress for Women and the Vote in the Commonwealth’.

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Commonwealth marks International Human Rights Day

Forced labour, child labour and exploitation were all addressed at an event marking International Human Rights Day.

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Women survivors must be at centre of fight against sexual violence

The horror of sexual violence in conflict must be challenged by educating women about their human rights and empowering men and boys as champions against such abuses, says leading women's rights activist Dr Denis Mukwege.

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Guide to helping end violence against women and girls praised by experts

A practical guide aimed at ending violence against women in parts of Asia has been praised by experts.

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Fight to prevent violence against women and girls steps up in Asia

The fight to end violence against women and girls will be bolstered by the publication of a new guide offering support to judges across Asia.

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More countries must commit to tackle child marriage

A coordinated response to tackle the scourge of child marriage has never been more pressing in the Commonwealth, where a child is married every 17 minutes.

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Commonwealth focus on economic cost of violence against women and girls

A project to raise awareness of the economic cost of violence against women and girls in the Commonwealth has been launched.

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Commonwealth produces checklist to support more women into politics

Experts from around the globe have discussed ways to support more women into politics during two significant events hosted by the Commonwealth.

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Women’s political participation in the Commonwealth

A group of 25 people will be attending a workshop on Friday 7 July to discuss the findings of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s studies on women’s political participation in the Commonwealth.

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Working together to end child marriage

At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Commonwealth and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights jointly hosted a side event on ending child, early and forced marriage.

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Ending Child, Early and Forced Marriage - Achieving SDG 5.3 - The role of National Human Rights Institutions

Event

The Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will be hosting the side event 'Ending Child, Early and Forced Marriage' in the margins of the 35th session of the Human Rights Council.

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Protect spaces for sport and promote physical activity, says report on global goals

Protecting green spaces in towns and cities, ring-fencing school budgets for physical education, and empowering women and girls through sport, are among a set of policy prescriptions set out in a report on global goals published today.

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Commonwealth countries ‘doing very well’ in human development

The 2016 UNDP Human Development Report's lead author, Dr Selim Jahan, describes Commonwealth countries as “doing very well” in terms of human development.

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Unlocking the door to women’s political leadership

The Caribbean and Africa will be the first to benefit from action to get more women into political leadership, the Commonwealth Secretariat has announced.

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Commonwealth in global talks on gender equality and women’s rights

The Commonwealth has joined ministers and civil society leaders from across the globe to make strong commitments on women’s rights and empowerment at the 61st Session of United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

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Mentorship programme to empower Commonwealth young women

Young women across the Commonwealth are set to benefit from a new initiative to help them acquire critical life skills and to progress in their careers.

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Commonwealth Women’s Mentorship Scheme

Event

The Commonwealth Women’s Mentorship Scheme will match aspirational young women with experienced professionals in their fields in a new initiative to empower young women.

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Working together to reap benefits for the Commonwealth

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland and Secretary-General Designate Dr Joanna Newman, of the Association of Commonwealth Universities met on International Women’s Day todiscuss how their two organisations could work even more closely together.

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Ending domestic violence campaign builds momentum

Campaigners, Commonwealth high commissioners, parliamentarians and members of civil society today stood behind a new initiative to support its member governments to eliminate domestic violence.

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Secretary-General’s message for International Women’s Day 2017

International Women’s Day 2017 is being celebrated as we complete twelve months of celebrating ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth’, and our focus for the year ahead shifts to ‘A Peace-building Commonwealth’.

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Peace in the home initiative to empower domestic violence survivors

The Commonwealth launches new initiative to help member states bring down rates of domestic violence.

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Peace in the home: ‘Why do we turn a blind eye to domestic violence?’

As the Commonwealth launches the Peace in the Home: Ending domestic violence together initiative, we look back on some of the best articles from young Commonwealth Correspondents on gender equality and tackling violence and discrimination.

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Commonwealth is uniquely placed to counter violence says leading expert

A leading international academic on the prevention of violence says the Commonwealth is uniquely placed to take forward cross-sector policy interventions that could protect millions of lives.

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Peace in the home means peace in our communities, says Secretary-General

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has made her inaugural speech at the High Level Segment of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

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Commonwealth Peace in the home: Ending domestic violence together initiative

8 March 2017 to 8 March 2017

Event

Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will launch a pioneering Peace in the home: Ending domestic violence together initiative as part of the larger strategy focused on ‘A Peace-building Commonwealth’ – the theme for Commonwealth Day and the rest of the year.

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