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Women’s Rights in Luxembourg

Women’s Rights in LuxembourgWomen’s rights in Luxembourg have progressed in the last five decades. This progress includes closing the gender pay gap, cultural shifts toward equality in the monarchy, and leveraging the country’s primary industries to invest in resources for women. Because of the high cost of living and significant immigration into Luxembourg, however, poverty for working populations, or in-work poverty, continues to affect more vulnerable demographics, particularly women. The Government of Luxembourg continues to work to address these challenges.

Robust Support for Women’s Rights in Luxembourg

The Luxembourg Government prioritizes equality through the sponsorship of the electoral Ministry of Equality Between Women and Men. These efforts have seen significant success: at -.2%, Luxembourg has the lowest gender pay gap in the world.

The Grand Duchess, Maria Teresa, puts the protection of women’s rights in Luxembourg at the “heart of her social and humanitarian engagements”. Duchess Teresa started an initiative in 2019 to support victims of domestic violence and abuse.

Beyond government, Luxembourg is leveraging its expertise in international finance to vie for women’s rights. The Government of Luxembourg kickstarted a 3-year partnership with U.N. Women to, “catalyze global markets, leverage public-private initiatives and design new financial instruments.”

Among the goals of the partnership are the creation of bonds in the Luxembourg Stock Exchange that invest in gender parity (a category currently occupied by 1% of thematic bonds), as well as moving to align gender-sensitive policy to achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Women and the Working Poor

Although the strides Luxembourg has made have been historic and momentous, there are still areas of struggle unique to its demographics, many of these chiefly affecting women.

Despite having the highest GDP per capita in the European Union, Luxembourg has some of the highest levels of working poverty, particularly for women (ranking 1st in the EU with a 13.5%  poverty rate among working women). However, the overall at risk of poverty rate is lower than the European average. This means that in-work poverty is a more significant challenge for women in Luxembourg than in other countries in the European Union.

Approximately half of Luxembourg’s population is of foreign origin. For both women and men immigrating into the country, they have no voting rights. Working poverty remains a low priority for policymakers as a result. The Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies does address poverty generally however, which can aid in reducing the impacts of in-work poverty on the most sensitive populations, such as immigrants who are employed but affected by in-work poverty.

In-work poverty largely affects single parents, a higher percentage of which are women. The high cost of living, highlighted by housing costs, can contribute to greater poverty levels for those in lower wage quartiles. For 91% of the most disadvantaged households, housing costs can make up more than half of disposable income.

In addition to ongoing Government actions, one nonprofit, Femmes en détresse A.S.B.L provides housing and support for women experiencing violence in addition to legal, social and economic assistance. Located in the city of Luxembourg, Femmes en détresse was founded in June 1979 by a working group of women’s rights activists. Its aim was to create, develop and manage a shelter for women in distress, offering women and their children effective protection against gender based violence. They function as a shelter as well as a national 24/7, 365 hotline to support women in Luxembourg.

On the international level, the Government of Luxembourg joined as a member state to the U.N.’s national action plan. Christened the Luxembourgish Child Guarantee National Action Plan (NAP), the policy intends to focus on reducing poverty by enabling access to housing and education for children of foreign parents, targeting some of the most disadvantaged populations in the country when it comes to poverty.

This is especially significant for women and girls. In Luxembourg, women and girls age 10 and up spend 14.4% of their time on unpaid domestic work. Increasing access to housing can help to bridge this gap as it increases the likelihood of labor-saving technologies such as washing machines and stoves.

Conclusion

Overall, Luxembourg continues to make historic strides toward equality for women in and out of the workplace, and in international markets. The need for ongoing reform to provide infrastructure for the working poor who have immigrated to Luxembourg, policy support for single parents, and continuous focus on increasing legislation championing immigrants are among some of the primary foci for the Government of the State when it comes to women’s rights in Luxembourg in the coming decade.

– Ava Johnson
Photo: Flickr

SDG 9 in Lebanon: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)The United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, which replaced the previous Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that started an effort to tackle poverty in 2000. The SDGs have targets catered to ending poverty, hunger, AIDS and discrimination against women and girls. The ninth target tackles industry, innovation and infrastructure and Lebanon has updates on its SDG 9.

SDG 9 And Agricultural Infrastructure

The first update on SDG 9 in Lebanon is part of phase four of Lebanon’s Employment Intensive Infrastructure Programme (EIIP), which ran from January 2021 till December 2023, where the International Labor Organization (ILO) joined forces with the Ministry of Agriculture/Green Plan to enhance farm infrastructure through a collaborative effort. Lebanese Reforestation Initiative (LRI) agreed to provide support in identifying, designing and supervising farm infrastructure projects.

As of October 2023, the program resulted in the employment of 800 farmers, specifically displaced Syrian refugees and financially vulnerable Lebanese citizens, and tackled farms all over the country. According to ILO, the only region with 100% accomplishment is the Akkar one, but there are plans to accomplish the remaining areas by December 2025, which will constitute phase five of EIIP. Those areas are Baalbak-El Hermel, Bekaa, El Nabatieh, Mount Lebanon, North and South, according to the U.N.

Post-Explosion Reconstruction

Following the 2020 explosion in the port of Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, the country suffered the death of more than 200 people, the wounding of more than 6,000 and damage or destruction of approximately 70,000 apartments and 40,000 residential spaces, all within a 10 km distance from the scene of the bomb. Karantina, a neighborhood in Beirut, suffered the most in terms of physical destruction and human losses, with more than 700 households where migrant workers, refugees and impoverished Lebanese people lived. Subsequently, as of January 2023, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a two-phased response strategy in Karantina as part of its “Leave No One Behind” report

Another update on SDG 9 in Lebanon is that an urgent six-month plan is underway to address the immediate aftermath of the explosion in Beirut, focusing on rehabilitating shelters, providing legal assistance, supporting small businesses and implementing energy-efficient solutions. Concurrently, a 12-month sustained response is formulated to meet ongoing needs, including economic empowerment and neighborhood enhancement. The UNDP’s infrastructure recovery plan for Karantina has set a completion date of March 2025.

SDG 9 And Energy Infrastructure

Since the end of 2019, Lebanon has struggled with the depreciation of its currency, the Lebanese Lira Pound (LLP). While before then, $1 had a value of 1,500 LLP, the exchange rate in 2023 is fixed at 15,000 LLP but continues to be traded at 100,000 LLP to the dollar. This economic downfall came with shortages in utilities like energy and water where people are currently relying on privately-owned generators for electricity, and paying anywhere between $50 and $70 every month for electricity.

Starting in 2020, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Ministry of Industry (MOI) and Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) and the Association of North Metn Industrialists (ANMI) developed SwitchMed III MED TEST III, which sought resource-efficient and cleaner production (RECP) for electricity companies by 2023. MED TEST III has three goals. The project plans to help 10 companies in important industries by giving technical support in RECP, studying how to use whey effectively in the dairy sector and providing international expertise through training and analyzing gaps and creating a plan to make industrial areas more environmentally friendly.

There are still no results for this test since MED TEST III is ongoing till March 2024. However, there is a foreseeable success with this test as the previous MED TEST II, from 2013 to 2018, had successful results in water, CO2, solid waste and energy savings.

Innovations in Education

Another SDG 9 update in Lebanon is IDEAS, an organization that works on pushing innovation in Lebanon, which launched the Summer of Innovation (SOI) initiative, alongside Lebanon’s Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Office of Prime Minister Saad Hariri. It had four main goals for Lebanon’s youth: innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and creativity. This initiative launched startups and groups across Lebanon to promote their four goals. In 2018, its success was evident when the events under SOI expanded to the greater population, beyond just youth, which proved effective as 4,000 people participated in SOI events that year. Also in 2018, SOI spearheaded three more programs promoting innovation: IDEAS, Bawabat al Ibtikar and Startup Scouts. While Lebanon is four years into an economic deficit situation as of 2023 with a 12.8% GDP deficit, Summer of Innovation contributed to Lebanon’s 2018 economic growth of 0.2%.

Making Progress

Lebanon has made strides in its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ranking 95th out of 166 countries in overall SDG performance, with the updates on SDG 9 maintaining achievement. As of 2021, Lebanon’s most successful aspects of SDG 9 are increasing the population using the internet to 86.6%, a population of 77.8 per 100 people on mobile broadband subscriptions and 0.8 per 1,000 population of articles published in academic journals. Overall, Lebanon is steadfast in completing its SDG 9 goals by 2030, with most of the initiatives as mentioned earlier and programs to be completed in 2025, according to the U.N.

– Lucciana Choueiry
Photo: Flickr

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Update on SDG 14: Life Below India’s Waters 

SDG 14
All member states of the United Nations (UN) adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 to ensure a collective global effort toward meeting urgent environmental, social and economic needs. The UN adopted 17 such goals, ranging from no poverty and zero hunger to clean energy and decent work, in pursuit of developing every country together in a holistic way. One of these goals is SDG 14: Life below water, broadly focusing on the conservation and sustainable usage of oceans, seas and marine resources. It includes the sustainable management and conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems, reduction of marine pollution, minimization of the effect of ocean acidification, prohibition and limitation of certain forms of fisheries and increase in the economic benefits to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), among many other concerns.

India and Its Need for SDG 14

In a country as populous as India, water is an in-demand resource. With approximately 18% of the world’s population residing in India, the country faces challenges in ensuring its citizens have access to safe and clean drinking water. According to the Composite Water Management Index that the Indian government published in 2018, India is undergoing the worst water crisis in its history, with more than 600 million people already facing acute water shortages. India has a coastline that spans more than 7,500 kilometers. Although this position allows it to utilize oceanic resources, it also leaves the country susceptible to overexploiting the same resources and contributing to marine pollution.

A study in Science Journal reports that India ranks 12th, amongst 192 countries, for disbursing the maximum amount of plastic waste into the high seas from their coastline. According to UNEP, 60 major Indian cities generate 15,000 MT of waste per day which ends up in the South Asian seas. In light of this, the need to address and make progress on SDG 14 becomes even more pressing for India.

The Intersection of Water and Poverty in India

The unavailability of water has become one of the most important issues affecting India’s poor. Out of India’s population, 6% of the people lack safe water access and more than 50% lack access to safely managed household sanitation facilities. This makes the Indian population, particularly the poor, more vulnerable to numerous waterborne diseases such as cholera, acute diarrhoeal diseases, typhoid and viral hepatitis (which have caused 10,738 deaths in the period between 2017 to 2022). Toxic waste in water bodies, such as pesticides and fly ash among others, affects the ecology and the marine population and poses a challenge to fishermen and other communities, resulting in a loss of livelihood.

Furthermore, rapid industrialization and pollution of groundwater have also become a looming crisis for the country and its people.  

Efforts for Betterment

The Indian government has consistently been making efforts to address the issues of sanitation, water pollution and water availability. The country has come up with a State SDG Index, modeled after the international SDG Index, which allows for a decentralized and area-specific plan to emerge to achieve SDG targets within the country. India has also come up with a Marine Protected Area (MPA) network which is used to manage and conserve marine biodiversity. In 2021, the Indian government notified Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, banning the use of single-use plastics in the country, in an effort to reduce the plastic waste generated.

Furthermore, India has initiated various projects to enhance water quality and safety, notably through initiatives like the National Mission for Clean Ganga. This program concentrates on activities such as wastewater and effluent treatment, the management of solid waste and the development of riverfront areas. Another such project was a 75-day-long coastal clean-up drive called “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” which aimed at reducing 1,500 tonnes of garbage from the coast. The Indian government has partnered with the World Bank on various initiatives, including the Atul Bhujal Yojana, to enhance groundwater management and provide clean drinking water to rural Indian communities.

The Indian government has also been working to reduce open defecation in the country through the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Campaign), through which the number of people defecting in the open has been significantly reduced by an estimated 450 million.

Looking Ahead

India still has a long way to go to fully achieve the goals highlighted under SDG 14, but the country has made notable progress. The initiatives undertaken by the Indian government in this direction indicate hope that the country is on a path to sustainable development and that the SDG targets might see improvement, if not fulfillment, in the near future.

– Manasvi Kadian
Photo: Flickr

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Tackling Malnutrition in Guatemala With Digital Tools

Malnutrition in GuatemalaA recent UNICEF report states that malnutrition across the globe worsens due to conflict, poverty and climate fluctuations, with disproportionate effects on the world’s most vulnerable women and girls. The report highlights the heightened threat that women and girls of childbearing age — and their children — face as a result of gender inequality. As of March 2023, no region of the world is set to achieve the World Health Assembly and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of halving anemia among women and girls and reducing low birthweight by 30% by 2030. On the contrary, acute malnourishment among pregnant and breastfeeding women rose by an estimated 25% between 2020 and 2022. Especially prevalent in the countries hit hardest by the global food crisis, including Afghanistan, Yemen and Ethiopia, this trend is expected to continue in 2023. UNICEF is calling for immediate action.

Barriers to Food Security

A 2023 report identified numerous barriers to improving nutrition among women and girls. These include:

  • Social and gender inequities that limit women’s and girls’ access to nutritious diets
  • A lack of nutrition and social protection programs that address the needs of women and girls
  • Insufficient policy protection for undernourished women and girls

Globally, COVID-19 heightened such barriers. However, in Guatemala, the pandemic’s outbreak also revitalized political interest in reducing malnutrition, leading to a new wave of policymaking focused on using digital tools to improve the nutrition of women and children and strengthen the physical, social and economic health of communities at large. Ranking seventh in the world for chronic malnutrition, the country exemplifies how progress can begin with better policymaking and unlocking the full potential of digital technology.

DIGITARO Project

A World Bank pilot initiative, Guatemala’s DIGITARO project offers an innovative solution to acute malnutrition. DIGITARO harnesses digital tools to advance women’s participation in agriculture and incorporate female farmers into Guatemala’s national School Feeding Program (SFP). The project seeks to resolve the lack of female agency within agriculture and the home while reducing the country’s malnutrition rates.

DIGITARO points to research revealing that women’s lacking economic agency and decision-making power in Guatemalan households directly impacts the produce bought for their homes. This has led to higher rates of malnutrition, especially among children. Recognizing this intersection between female agency and malnutrition is vital for improving food security across the country.

DIGITARO seeks to increase both female smallholder farmers’ market access and children’s and families’ access to healthy, responsibly produced food. Through digital tools, it improves women’s understanding of the SFP, connects female farmers to schools and supports them in supplying the SFP sustainably. The three main digital tools it engages are:

  • An e-commerce platform that ensures secure, transparent and mutually-beneficial transactions between schools and producers.
  • Training videos that inform women about good agricultural practices, SFP food quality standards and how to register with the SFP.
  • A digital campaign aimed at increasing women’s awareness of the SFP and connecting schools to verified female producers.

Impacts on Female Empowerment

Pilot data indicate that DIGITARO raised women’s awareness that the SFP purchases food from local farmers by more than 60% and increased their understanding of how to register as an SFP provider almost twofold. The initiative also improved women’s selling decisions and business productivity. It sparked a 20% increase in female farmers’ overall sales of commonly-demanded SFP animal products.

Impacts on Malnutrition

Furthermore, DIGITARO has improved the effectiveness and reliability of the SFP for thousands of Guatemalan children. By identifying and remedying the issues undermining the program, the project provided them access to a more reliable supply of nutritious, high-quality foods and produce.

The e-commerce platform has now connected nearly 25,000 schools across the country with some 45,000 sellers. However, more must be done to encourage schools and female farmers to connect through such initiatives. Nonetheless, DIGITARO’s promising results demonstrate that, in combination with strategic policymaking, digital technology can help tackle the growing issue of malnutrition among women and children everywhere and pave the way for a brighter global future.

– Ariana Mortazavi
Photo: Flickr

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How Tackling SDG1 and SDG5 Simultaneously Can Eradicate Poverty

SDG1 and SDG5In 2015, the leaders of 191 United Nations (U.N.) member states came together to develop the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives that aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. Among these goals, SDG1 and SDG5 are particularly interrelated and mutually reinforcing. SDG1 focuses on eradicating extreme poverty and reducing inequality, while SDG5 promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment. According to the U.N., by tackling these two goals simultaneously, the world can achieve a more inclusive and sustainable development that benefits everyone, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Patterns of Progress 

According to the U.N., global poverty has vastly decreased since the 1990s, with 44% of the population living below the poverty line in 1991 compared to 15% in 2016. However, the pandemic significantly reversed this progress, increasing global poverty by 9% between 2019 and 2020.

The progress of SDG5 mirrors this pattern. The U.N. reports that since 2000, there has also been a vast improvement globally regarding gender equality. For instance, women’s role and representation in parliament have increased from 9.1 % in 2000 to 20.9% in 2020. However, much like with SDG1, the pandemic significantly pushed progress backward. 

To achieve SDG1, U.N. Women emphasizes the importance of working toward a future free of gender inequalities and inequities. Ending poverty “in all its forms everywhere”, requires countries to make efforts towards reaching SDG1 and SDG5 simultaneously.

Country Insight: Bangladesh

According to the World Bank, Bangladesh is a developing country. One of the fastest-growing economies in the world, Bangladesh aims to become an upper-middle-income country by 2031. Regarding SDG1 and SDG5, Bangladesh has “significant challenges” along the way. Whilst encouraging progress has been made to eradicate poverty in the country, progress on achieving gender equality is slower. To achieve SDG1, Bangladesh must improve its score for SDG5. There were 1627 rapes reported throughout the country in 2020 alone, though it is widely known that many instances of assault go unreported.

Links Between SDGs in Bangladesh

Reports suggest that one of the ways that SDG1 and SDG5 can work hand in hand is through the introduction of women into an equitable and inclusive workplace. However, in the context of employment in Bangladesh, there are many instances of gender-based violence in the workplace. For instance, a report detailing the experiences of women working in the Ready-Made Garments sector in Bangladesh reveals that it is an industry rife with “sexual harassment, pay inequity and improper benefits”. Links between poverty reduction and equal opportunities for women are widespread in the literature, and women in Bangladesh have the opportunity to work. This highlights a need for the country to focus on women’s equality of voice and equality under the law.

Looking Ahead

In striving to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the interlinkage between SDG1 and SDG5 is crucial, as emphasized by the United Nations. While progress has been made globally in reducing poverty and promoting gender equality, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant setbacks. Bangladesh, a developing country, faces challenges in achieving both goals, with the need to address issues of gender-based violence and empower women in the workplace. Overall, acknowledging how SDG1 and SDG5 synergize could open up the path to a more sustainable and inclusive future.

–        Eloïse Jones

 

Photo: flickr

Renewed UN Commitment to Reach Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development GoalsSince the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, the United Nations has made significant progress in meeting these goals. The idea of these 17 goals is to reduce poverty, promote health care and education for countries all over the world and overall make the planet more sustainable for humanity. Recently the U.N. held a High-Level Political Forum meeting in which it renewed its commitment to reaching the SDGs.

The COVID-19 Pandemic

Despite the success of many countries in reaching the SDGs over the last several years, they need to continue their progress to meet the goals by 2030. The COVID-19 Global Pandemic has certainly made addressing these issues more difficult. The U.N. recently held its annual High-Level Political Forum which lasted from July 5th until July 15th and was the first time that the group had met in person in two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic still exist and the socio-economic complications remain a top priority for the U.N. High-Level Political Forum. However, the main theme of this meeting was how a global community can quickly move past these issues to get back on track for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Summary of the Meeting

The main purpose of the meeting was for the countries in the U.N. to revitalize their agenda for ending the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure that no country gets left behind in the recovery process. The U.N. will evaluate any country that struggles with the recovery process of the pandemic era for how social protection aid can increase its economic recovery speed.

Over 100 political delegates and 40 heads of state were a part of the discussion during the entire two-week period. The discussion revolved around each nation’s commitment to leave no country behind in economic recovery and in economic prosperity for the future.

Voluntary National Reviews

One of the biggest successes of the High-Level Political Forum meeting was the promise of 44 nations to conduct voluntary national reviews (VNRs) on their nation’s progress with the implementation of the SDGs to determine if they are on pace with the 2030 goal deadline. These national reviews are evidence of the U.N.’s commitment to reach the SDGs because dozens of countries will now be actively monitoring their progress and changing policy as necessary in order to stay on pace with these goals.

Calls for Progress

Another major aspect of the High-Level Political Forum was Pakistan’s Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal calling for the U.N. to update an emergency plan of action to assist poor nations with food production and economic supply chain issues, especially in the face of a global pandemic. Pakistan has played a key role in providing necessary action for struggling developing countries and proposed that the U.N. address the systemic issues behind the lack of food production in developing countries so that no one is left behind.

A Renewal For the Future

The meeting of the High-Level Political Forum was overall very optimistic for all of the countries in attendance. The promise to conduct national reviews and the advocacy for more emergency preparedness in the face of dire food shortages or economic turmoil are just some of the successes of the High-Level Political Forum. The U.N.’s renewed commitment to reach the SDGs by 2030 is excellent news for the fight against global poverty.

– Declan Harkness
Photo: Flickr

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3 Ways the U.S. Could End Global Poverty by 2030

End Global Poverty by 2030In 2015, the United Nations (UN) created the Sustainable Development Goals, a group of 17 goals that aimed to create an equal and prosperous society. Many of the goals are centered around ending discrimination, providing quality education to all, and other measures to improve equality. However, the most important goal out of the 17 developed is to end global poverty by 2030, which would significantly impact the lives of billions around the world. With America having the strongest economy in the world, even during the pandemic, the U.S. has many ways to reach this goal and finally end global poverty.

Provide Natural Resources

Currently, the U.S. holds the greatest amount of natural resources in the world, especially oil and natural gas. These resources are extremely important to help those in other countries. For instance, in countries without access to electricity, life expectancies are 20 years shorter. Electricity is necessary to provide better education, improve food supplies, upgrade healthcare and so much more. Thus, by improving electricity, America can provide the resources necessary for families to survive and potentially end global poverty by 2030.

Similarly, while electricity is essential to uplift people in developing countries, it also provides profits to America itself. The most important of these benefits is that when the U.S. exports more energy, allied countries have to rely less on authoritarian countries such as Russia and China. This helps reduce prices for these countries to purchase energy and improves confidence in the energy supply. For America, it means that trade will boost the economy and will invest in American citizens.

Improve COVID Aid

In countries across the globe, COVID has been surging due to a lack of vaccines. In fact, in Africa, the number of cases rose by 39% in June 2021. Similarly, at least 20 countries in Africa have experienced a third wave of infections. Nevertheless, wealthier nations have only promised to deliver vaccines to Africa by 2023, prolonging the spread of COVID throughout the continent.

While the U.S. has tried to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Africa, they failed in 2020 to meet the requirements for a sustainable recovery. For example, out of the $9.5 billion that the U.S. was required to contribute as part of a 2020 COVID global response, they only contributed $3.8 billion. In fact, in countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines, the U.S. only contributed 27.2% of the necessary funds.

However, in 2021, America has made many improvements to its foreign policy to aid countries in fighting COVID. The most significant of these is the $11 billion of foreign aid issued as part of the American Rescue Plan in March 2021. Furthermore, the U.S. has provided over $2 billion to COVAX, an organization that provides COVID vaccines to 92 low-income countries. With the vaccines helping potentially millions of people, the U.S. is aiding these countries to exit the current pandemic-induced recession. Although this effort likely won’t be able to end global poverty, America is providing a strong foundation for families in low-income countries.

Help Children in Poverty

Even though billions of adults live in poverty, children are twice as likely to live in poverty. Over 1 billion children worldwide are multidimensionally poor, meaning that they have no access to education, nutrition, housing, water, and more. Children who experience multidimensional poverty die at twice the rate of their peers from wealthier families.

To address this, the United States needs to recognize the flaws currently in place with regards to aiding children. For instance, only 2.6% of humanitarian funds go to education, stifling 128 million children from going to school and having the necessary abilities to succeed in the future. Financial contributions by the U.S. could help millions achieve a quality education. With better education, these students will have the resources to economically support themselves and ultimately lift themselves out of poverty.

While economic problems continue to persist, especially during the pandemic, the U.S. can help millions of families. If the U.S. uses its economic might, it could finally remove burdens for families and end global poverty.

– Calvin Franke
Photo: Pixabay

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Ending Female Genital Mutilation in Sudan

Female Genital Mutilation in SudanAlthough six African states issued legislation to prohibit female genital mutilation, the north African state of Sudan was lagging behind in these efforts. Female genital mutilation ( FGM) was illegal in some Sudanese states but the bans were widely ignored. Under the leadership of Omar al-Bashir, parliament rejected recommendations to ban the practice.

Female Genital Mutilation

FGM is defined as procedures that deliberately alter or cause injury to female genital organs. It is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and adolescence and occasionally performed on adult women. These procedures are nonmedical and provide no health benefits, only harm to the female. It involves removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissue, therefore, it interferes with the natural functions of the female body.

The reasons behind FGM vary between regions due to a mix of sociocultural factors. The procedure is routinely executed by a midwife without anesthesia. There are four types of FGM. Type one is the partial or total removal of the clitoris. Type two is the removal of the clitoris and inner labia. Type three is the removal of all the external genitalia or narrowing of the vaginal opening. Type four is any other type of damage to the female genitalia, such as burning, scraping or piercing.

Females experience either short-term or long-term effects. The short-term effects include severe pain, excessive bleeding (hemorrhage), genital tissue swelling, fever, infections, wound healing issues. The more dangerous and life-altering long-term effects include urinary problems, menstrual problems, increased risk of childbirth complications, the need for later surgeries or psychological problems.

According to UNICEF, 87% of Sudanese women aged between 14 and 49 have undergone a form of FGM. FGM is also more prevalent among the poorest women.

Actions to End Female Genital Mutilation

In 2008, the National Council of Child Welfare and UNICEF joined together to launch the Saleema Initiative, which focused on abandoning FGM at a community level.  The initiative educated women about the health risks and encouraged females to say no to the procedure.

Additionally, the United Nations General Assembly took action in 2012 by calling on the international community to enhance efforts to end FGM. In 2015, the global community agreed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include a target under Goal 5 to eliminate all harmful practices, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation by 2030.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is addressing the issue by implementing guidelines, tools, training and policy to allow healthcare providers the opportunity to offer medical care and counseling to females suffering the effects of FGM.  The WHO also aims at generating knowledge to encourage the abandonment of the FGM procedures. One final measure by the WHO is increased advocacy through publications and tools for policymakers.

Criminalizing Female Genital Mutilation in Sudan

In May 2020, the Sudanese Government criminalized FGM and made it punishable by up to three years in prison. But, experts remain concerned that a law is not sufficient in ending the practice due to religious and cultural ties to the procedure.

The sociocultural and religious ties surrounding female genital mutilation in Sudan complicate attempts to end the practice. Criminalizing FGM in Sudan may not be enough to end the practice. The National Council of Child Welfare, UNICEF, the United Nations General Assembly and the WHO are taking major steps to eliminate FGM or assist those already affected by the practice.

– Rachel Durling
Photo: Flickr

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The Future of Food Systems Around the Globe

Food SystemsIn the next 30 years, the world population will grow by two billion: approximately 25% of the current population. Food demand will increase significantly during this time and international organizations are prioritizing the development of strategies to address this concern. Framing the future of food systems, which encompass producing, processing, transporting and consuming food, is key to continued efforts in reducing poverty and extreme hunger.

Population Growth in Africa

Global population growth does not imply an equal or even proportional increase in every region of the world. The population of sub-Saharan Africa, for example, is estimated to double by 2050, from approximately one to two billion. This number accounts for half of the global population growth expected. Such substantial growth in a population already experiencing food insecurity, if not coupled with sustainable food system developments, will exacerbate the issue and make advancement more difficult.

Facets of Food Security

Increasing demand for food is not the only threat to the future of food systems around the world. The cultivability of land is changing with the climate, requiring workers in the agriculture sector to adjust crop selection and techniques. Instability in the industry detracts from the appeal of such an occupation and further strains the food supply.

Many producers of food are among the hardest hit by the effects of food insecurity. In India, 41% of the workforce falls under agriculture, yet the country is home to the largest number of people experiencing hunger in a single nation — approximately 189 million. With the food supply responsibility falling on some of the most at-risk populations, food systems are even more vulnerable when confronted with adversity.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an example of adversity faced by food systems. Limits put in place to prevent further spread of the virus weaken the agriculture sector of the workforce and economy. This stress on food systems extends to the global economy, education, peace efforts and human rights, among others.

The Decade of Action

Just 10 years remain to meet the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The second SDG necessitates improvements in food security, nutrition and agriculture across the globe, marking the next 10 years as the Decade of Action. The 2021 U.N. Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) has been planned to foster discussions of global challenges, priorities, opportunities and solutions in the food system sector, hopefully resulting in unified and inclusive efforts toward achieving the SDGs. In a lead up to the 2021 UNFSS, 13 organizations collaborated to host the two-day Bold Actions for Food as a Force for Good event in November 2020.

Food System Innovations

Along with the need to shift toward more sustainable consumption, gender-equity in food systems, agricultural innovations and financing for solutions, the Bold Actions for Food as a Force for Good event emphasized the importance of novel approaches to reducing extreme hunger with the Food Systems Innovation Challenge. In this challenge, teams of students from 20 universities proposed innovative ideas to transform the future of food systems. Solutions proposed by these teams include online systems connecting producers and consumers to keep all facets of the food market current on need and capacity. Apps and food labels to provide guidance on reducing food waste and making more sustainable dietary choices as well as food packaging that minimizes waste and carbon footprints formed part of these solutions.

A Sustainable Future

Projections for global population growth alongside new challenges stemming from climate change and COVID-19, make food security a top concern. By promoting the now-underway Decade of Action, the U.N. is leading unified efforts to establish sustainable and equitable food systems worldwide. Progress will depend on effective mobilization, collaboration and innovation— the backbones of development toward more stable food systems.

– Payton Unger
Photo: Flickr

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The Samsung Global Goals App: Supporting SDGs With a Tap

The Samsung Global Goals App, Supporting SDGs With a TapIn 2015, the United Nations General Assembly announced a pledge to change the world for the better by the year 2030. That pledge led to the Sustainable Development Goals, also known simply as the Global Goals, which aim to eradicate hunger, combat inequality and clean up the planet. To this end, Samsung has joined the efforts to see the world accomplish these goals and released the Samsung Global Goals app in 2019.

The Samsung Global Goals

The Samsung Global Goals app’s purpose is to “take action on the Global Goals and make the world a better place,” according to the app’s Google Play Store listing. The app has three intentions:

  1. Know the Goals: This allows the user to discover what all 17 goals are about and lets the user determine which one they care about the most and want to support the most.
  2. Get the Facts: Lets the user see statistics about the Global Goals and what important areas organizations are working on to alleviate global poverty and build a sustainable world.
  3. Monitor Donations: This function allows the user to track their donation history and see which of the Global Goals are progressing worst than others.

Donating With a Simple Tap

The app puts Samsung’s advertising revenue to good use. Every ad the user views inside the app earns money that can be donated toward a goal, the user can choose to keep donating to one goal or keep switching between goals. If the user is using the app on a Samsung phone or tablet in the U.S., Singapore, Canada or the U.K., they can use Samsung’s own payment system, Samsung Pay, or if they are on another Android device, they can use Google Pay.

Samsung will also match the user’s donation as the South Korean tech giant’s attempt to brand themselves as a “global corporate citizen.” If the user cannot donate, then they can raise funds by allowing the app to place ads on the user’s lock screen as they charge their devices and the user can select which of the goals those funds will go toward. After an update on January 2020, the app allows users to put inspiring messages and quotes from famous humanitarians and messages about the planet’s climate situation.

United Nations’ Initiatives to Accomplish its SDGs

The Samsung Global Goals app is just one of the new ways the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is attempting to advertise the Global Goals. The UNDP is partnering with different companies to promote the idea and raise awareness of the Global Goals. In America, the UNDP teamed up with iHeart Media to create short messages from famous pop stars about the Global Goals and how citizens can help accomplish them.

Even though the Samsung Global Goals app comes from a place of philanthropy, it would probably do more good for the Global Goals and the UNDP if the app was not limited to just Samsung and the Android platforms. Instead, it should become available to outside platforms, such as Apple’s iOS, to raise even more awareness for the Global Goals, and ultimately our planet.

As we grow closer to the deadline for the SDGs, the world should see more companies following Samsung’s lead and helping the United Nations build a sustainable world by 2030.

—Pedro Vega
Photo: Flickr