UN Women Research Articles

The Impact Between Self-Efficacy and Community Engagement on Psychological Empowerment in a Gender-Focused Tourism Curriculum: Insights from the WTIDcamp 2023 Program

In numerous studies, psychological empowerment is considered crucial for assessing the extent to which individuals perceive their ability to shape their roles and overcome job difficulties (Speitzer, 1995). As an industry, tourism stands out as one of the sectors predominantly occupied by women, accounting for as much as 55% (UN Women, 2020), thus frequently utilized as a tool for empowerment by various stakeholders (Staudt, 1990; Scheyvens, 2000; Chevalier, 2023). Consequently, it is intriguing to examine how psychological empowerment is construed by tourism workers. The objective of this research was to investigate the influence of self-efficacy and community engagement on the psychological empowerment of participants in the WTID Camp 2023. WTID Camp 2023 is a program initiated by Women in Tourism Indonesia aimed at raising awareness among tourism students and fresh graduates regarding the importance of gender equality in the Indonesian tourism industry workforce. This study employed quantitative research using multiple linear regression analysis (Sugiyono, 2010), where multiple linear regression aimed to predict the fluctuations in the dependent variable when two or more independent variables were manipulated (increased or decreased in value). There were 56 samples comprising tourism students participating in the WTID Camp 2023, aged between 18 and 24 years. Data were obtained through questionnaires constructed using Likert scales. The results indicate that community engagement significantly influences psychological empowerment. Similarly, self-efficacy significantly influences community engagement. However, self-efficacy does not significantly influence psychological empowerment.

Health Workers in Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Care for Refugees: Insights from Frontline Health and Humanitarian Professionals in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement, Uganda

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a marked global increase in cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) has been noted (Johnson et al. 2020). In the refugee settlements of Uganda, this is dramatically illustrated by an escalating crisis of teenage pregnancies (UN Women 2020; Diallo et al. 2023). During lockdowns, conflicts among families and couples increased and vulnerable community members, particularly children and young people, were exposed to heightened risks of abuse (Datzberger et al. 2023). For the humanitarian community, the escalation of the past years highlights the urgent need to sustainably improve SGBV prevention, care and case management in refugee settings.

Climate Change and Its Impact on Violence Against Rural Women in India: An Interdisciplinary Perspective

This research paper explores the complex relationship between climate change and gender-based violence, particularly focusing on rural women in India. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the paper investigates how rising temperatures, economic disruptions, and migration due to climate change exacerbate gender inequalities and increase instances of domestic violence. Drawing on data from UN Women, JAMA Psychiatry, and various Indian scholars such as Radhakamal Mukerjee, Indra Munshi, Bina Agarwal, and Shobhita Jain, this study provides a theoretical and empirical analysis of this phenomenon

Campaigning Against Women’s Rights? Britain’s Global Colonial Legacy in the Early UN Women’s Rights Agenda 1950–1962

This article assesses the impact of British colonialism in relation to UN women’s rights conventions in the 1950s and early 1960s. Building on the body of scholarship on the role of colonialism on the development of human rights frameworks at the UN, it focuses on Britain’s diplomatic engagements on women’s rights at the global level and finds that Britain’s global colonial legacy on the UN women’s rights agenda in this period was as a conservative and obstructive state actor. Britain’s lack of interest in conventions to support women’s rights, and insistence on the need for ‘Territorial Application Clauses’, outweighed any acknowledgement of the importance of establishing universal rights for women, or the importance of these rights for indigenous women within British colonies. Further still, Britain’s conservativism impacted the very contours and political weight of the conventions themselves. As well as exposing the geopolitics of British colonialism on these specific conventions, this article highlights the critical need to challenge myths surrounding British colonial benevolence and to interrogate the notion that that ‘Western’ governments such as Britain have consistently sought to export women’s rights at the UN.

The Critical Role of School Environment in Preventing Online Gender-Based Violence

Data from the UN Women for the Asia Pacific region in 2021 showed that more than 88% of women in this region had experienced violence in cyberspace. UN Women also claimed that there has been an increase in cases of Online Gender Based Violence (OBGV) during the COVID-19 pandemic due to internet usage, which increased dramatically when countries imposed lockdown policies. We argue that OBGV is preventable by using various approaches and involving different actors simultaneously. In this case, we argue that the school environment plays a critical role in preventing gender-based violence, including OBGV. This research was based on community service activities that were carried out in one of the senior high schools in the Riau province. From these activities, we observed that understanding of gender and gender-based violence in schools is low in spite of this concept being the basis for understanding how to prevent gender-based violence in any form. We recommend that schools adopt interventions that include the whole school community, from students, teachers, staff, student organizations, and parent-teacher associations. The school-based interventions can range from developing proactive policies and strategies to educating on internet security. Keywords: gender based violence (GBV); online GBV; gender inequality; school-based intervention

Does gender equality matter? Gender responsive corporate procurement efforts of inter-governmental organizations

Public sector organizations, particularly intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), are expected to integrate gender-responsive practices into their operations to promote gender mainstreaming and diversity. Such initiatives can also be incorporated into these IGOs' corporate procurement endeavors since they have more control over their corporate spending, and it can directly affect the socioeconomic development of the stakeholders involved. In the following research, the gender-responsive procurement (GRP) practices of four major development-focused IGOs - the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), UN Women, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the World Bank Group (WBG)—are assessed. Utilizing in-depth key-informant interviews and interpretive document analysis, case studies are developed to log the goals, efforts, policies, etc. of the selected IGOs towards gender-responsive corporate procurement. Lastly, this study also demonstrates a summary of various actionable tools and approaches utilized by these organizations, thereby expanding the research area on GRP to encompass the efforts of IGOs.

The Unspoken Side of Neurodivergencies

Abstract Penny Hooper MBCS, cybersecurity professional, author and UN Women's Delegate, shares her experiences of neurodivergence — specifically, the little known area of selective mutism.

PERAN UN WOMEN DALAM ISU KETIDAKSETARAAN GENDER DI PAKISTAN

In 1994, UNDP released a report on human security, which included a point on personal security. The issue of gender inequality is a threat to personal security. Pakistan is a country that continues to advocate for and work towards gender equality. Inequalities in socio-economic development and the influence of a social structure based on a feudal system led to differences in the level of gender inequality in Pakistan. The high level of gender inequality in Pakistan affects women's ability to fully enjoy their rights. Using the concepts of international organizations, human security theory, and gender equality, this research aims to examine the role of the international organization UN Women in increasing gender equality in Pakistan. Employing a qualitative method with a descriptive approach as the framework, this research found that UN Women serves as a facilitator, communicator, and motivator in advancing gender equality, promoting Sustainable Development Goal 5, and protecting women from violence and discrimination. UN Women actively plays a role in achieving gender equality in Pakistan.

WANTED: SAKLOLO The Discourses of “Wanted sa Radyo’s” VAW-related Episodes

Today, the media holds an indisputable influence over public opinion, serving as a formidable tool for information dissemination, persuasion, and the molding of collective perspectives (Allen, 2017; Impe, 2019). This study conducted an in-depth examination of the discourse within the Philippines’ Radyo 5 program, 'Wanted sa Radyo,' hosted by broadcaster and senator, Raffy Tulfo (Afinidad-Bernardo, 2019). Recognized as a public service program aiming to assist those in need, this research specifically scrutinized episodes that shed light on the distressing issue of violence against women (UN Women, 2023). Through a comprehensive utilization of textual analysis as the methodology (McKee, 2003; Luo, 2019), this study aimed to ascertain how the program presented and addressed these sensitive issues during live broadcasts. The findings of this research showed that the program exhibited sensitivity when discussing the delicate topics that surrounded violence against women (GMA Integrated News, 2023). With careful consideration and tactful handling of such issues, Raffy Tulfo, the program's host, showcased a remarkable empathetic approach toward complainants while impartially interrogating the accused (Raffy Tulfo in Action, 2018). As a result, it became evident that 'Wanted sa Radyo' remained true to its core mission as a public service platform (ABS-CBN News, 2022). Shedding light on the effectiveness of public service program in amplifying marginalized voices, addressing pressing social concerns, and ultimately contributing to the betterment of society (Impe, 2019; Atkin, 2013). This aligns with the broader goals of media studies in understanding and evaluating the impact of media on society (Abowitz et al., 2010; Spitulnik, 1993). Keywords: Media, violence against women, abuse, public service, feminism.

Η Ψυχή. Study of the Soul and Its Feminine Side.

The progress in any field depends, first and foremost, on the people who work in it. Luckily, today the indispensable contribution of women to all areas of knowledge is widely recognized. However, it is crucial to continue advocating, challenging prejudices and promoting empowerment of women worldwide. International and regional platforms to address gender equality issues, the UN Women initiative and the annual Women's History Month, which is celebrated in March in many countries across the globe, are intended to emphasize the role of women in world history and the development of modern society. While mental sciences by their very name refer to Psyche, the young heroine of ancient Greek myths, women began to contribute fully to psychology and psychiatry as late as the beginning of the 20th century. Sabine Spielrein (1885) is known to be the first woman psychoanalyst. She was a student, a friend and a colleague of Freud and Jung. Karen Horney, born in the same year, was one of the key figures of neo-Freudism. At the end of the 19th century, Ivan Mikhailovich Balinsky gave lectures on psychiatry to the young women attending medical courses. Why do women increasingly choose the path once dominated by men? What motivates bright young women to pursue this career? Why have some of them dedicated their lives to caring for others' mental health? We had an opportunity to talk to several female psychiatrists and psychologists, members of the editorial board and authors of Consortium Psychiatricum. We asked our interviewees, explorers of human mind, a few simple questions so that this time, they could open up their own souls and share. The key features that distinguish our interviewees are the desire to follow their vocation despite stereotypes, a true passion for science, the ability to empathize and to create a safe space for themselves and others wherever they go. We hope that their memories, reflections and guidance will inspire and support the next generation of women working in the mental health field.

KERJA SAMA UN WOMEN DENGAN GOJEK DALAM MENDUKUNG AGENDA SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS-5: GENDER EQUALITY DI INDONESIA

This article aims to describe the collaboration between UN Women and Gojek which was agreed in July 2020 in pushing for the achievement encouraging the SDGs-5: Gender Equality in Indonesia. The theory used is gender equality in the perspective of feminism, feminist institutionalism theory, and sustainable development in the type of qualitative research. Data collection was taken through internet-based research and data analysis techniques using interactive data analysis models. The results of the research show that the cooperation by UN Women and Gojek is divided into three framework areas of work namely increasing women's capacity, strengthening the capacity of MSMEs, and promoting women's safety in public spaces. The collaboration between UN Women and Gojek is shown as one of the parties involved in helping achieve the SDGs 5 agenda. This is also evidenced by data from the WEF report on the 2022 Global Gender Gap, where the gender equality index in Indonesia has increased from last year

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on violations of the right to integrity of the person

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been having a devastating impact on society not only from a health and economic perspective but also due to its direct and indirect effects on the human rights of citizens. In particular, the pandemic has had several negative effects on citizens’ right to integrity. For example, lockdown measures adopted by governments to manage the pandemic frequently resulted in increased levels of violence against women and girls; so much so that the UN body working on gender equality (UN Women) coined a new term—‘shadow pandemic’—to refer to the severe intensification of all forms of violence against women and girls that occurred during the pandemic, particularly domestic violence. In addition, in some cases, police officials have employed disproportionate force to ensure strict adherence to public health measures. Finally, hate crimes against individuals of Asian origin or descent have increased substantially in Western countries. However, and perhaps more surprisingly, there have been situations in which the pandemic, directly or indirectly, has seemingly led to a decrease in specific forms of violence. Researchers have, for instance, observed that at the height of the pandemic, there has been a decrease in reported cases of street violence against women, because of fewer people leaving their homes.Based on document analysis and a review of selected country case studies, this article aims to provide a thorough overview of the different types of violations of the right to integrity of the person that have emerged, worsened, or, possibly, decreased as a direct or indirect consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on three key types of violations: domestic violence, violence against women in public spaces, excessive use of force by law enforcement agents, and racial violence against individuals of Asian origin or descent. The article starts by introducing the right to integrity of the person and then focuses on the different forms of integrity rights violations that have emerged as a direct or indirect consequence of the pandemic. It concludes by reflecting on lessons learned and by providing some evidence-based recommendations on possible rights-infringement mitigation strategies during public health crises.

An Attempt to Gain Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment In Social Media

Social media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and crafting narratives around gender issues. The active participation of the community on various social media platforms enriches discussions about gender with diverse perspectives and experiences. Through campaigns, hashtags, and visual content, social media not only provides a space for narratives but also shapes paradigm shifts and social norms related to gender issues. This research aims to identify how the Instagram account @unwomen represents gender equality and women's empowerment issues and explores how @unwomen can influence individuals' perceptions of these issues. The method used is qualitative descriptive with a critical paradigm. Data were collected using a random selection method on posts from the Instagram account @unwomen to provide a fair and representative overview. The posts contain content related to women's rights, employment, closing gender gaps, and the role of women in development. The analysis process involves using critical discourse analysis by Sara Mills, incorporating two concepts: subject-object position and writer-reader position. The analysis includes the identification of text, narratives, and images reflecting gender equality and women's empowerment issues, followed by noting keywords or phrases used in the discourse. Research findings reveal that social media, particularly through the @unwomen account, significantly influences public opinion on gender issues. The subject-object position in gender discourse is reflected in the active role of UN Women as the subject designing messages to influence public opinion as the object. The writer-reader position is reflected in the active role of UN Women as writers responsible for creating messages and content shared using language, images, and specific formats to convey messages and influence the audience. Readers (audience) are individuals or groups consuming and responding to content shared by the @unwomen account. They shape perceptions, interpret messages, and provide feedback. This research integrates Mills' concepts of subject-object and writer-reader positions in the context of social media, highlighting the importance of understanding power dynamics in shaping gender narratives. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of how social media can be used to advocate for gender equality and women's empowerment. Globally, the implications can guide further strategies in addressing gender issues and women's empowerment through social media platforms.

Digital Feminist Placemaking: The Case of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” Movement

Throughout Iran and various countries, the recent calls of the “Zan, Zendegi, Azadi” (in Persian), “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” (in Kurdish), or “Woman, Life, Freedom” (in English) movement call for change to acknowledge the importance of women. While these feminist protests and demonstrations have been met with brutality, systematic oppression, and internet blackouts within Iran, they have captured significant social media attention and coverage outside the country, especially among the Iranian diaspora and various international organizations. This article, grounded in feminist urban theories of the Global South, analyzes the digital feminist placemaking movement in Iran. As the first counter-revolution led by women, the movement utilizes digital art, graffiti, and protest movements to embody women’s solidarity groups and sympathy rallies. Our analysis employs various digital research methods, including social media scrutiny and the study of protest illustrations. Analyzing the digital feminist placemaking in Iran will enable us to compare the commonalities, differences, challenges, and opportunities between the minorities and majorities in the world’s countries. The outcomes of this research can help international organizations such as Amnesty International and the United Nations Agency for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (UN Women), as well as policymakers, institutions, academics, and NGOs, to highlight the various ways in which broader public participation could be encouraged in the process of digital feminist insurgent placemaking.

Semiotic Violence

Semiotic Violence

Framing vulnerability: An ecolinguistic analysis of gender and climate change discourse

This study examines how climate change organizations employ discourse strategies to highlight the vulnerability of women to climate change. It also explores how these strategies disrupt the conventional climate change narrative by integrating gender issues and emphasizing women's social and cultural experiences. The study utilizes the framework of ecolinguistics to examine narratives woven into the textual discourse. The research, based on 40 tweets from organizations such as the UN Environment Program and UN Women, offers insights into how these organizations utilize ecolinguistic techniques in communicating climate issues. The findings of the study revealed that gender intersections with other social identities determine vulnerabilities to environmental changes, as the research highlights the disproportionate impacts on women, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. This study contributes to the existing literature in terms of exploring the depiction of this issue in the Twitter discourse of international organizations.

Recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in policing: Lessons learned from the IAWP Gender-Responsive Policing Summit

Abstract Despite persistent support for increasing gender diversity in US policing, women remain underrepresented. Yet, barriers to women in policing are not universal. Many police organizations in the USA and internationally have implemented promising gender-responsive approaches. The International and Nebraska Associations of Women Police (IAWP/NAWP) and UN Women convened a Gender-Responsive Policing Summit to share successful efforts to improve recruitment, retention, promotion, and wellness of women in policing. Researchers conducted systematic observations of Summit sessions, paying particular attention to solutions offered to advance gender-responsive policing. This instrumental case study summarizes lessons learned based on multistage inductive coding of Summit observation notes. Themes emerged around strategic planning and data use, leadership and promotion, health and wellness policies, associations, and support initiatives. This study provides real-world strategies police agencies can use to improve gender diversity, informed by police professionals committed to improving women’s experiences in policing on an international scale.

A Research on Sexual Harassment among Schools Youngsters

Sexual harassment exists throughout the world. According to various studies, approximately 15 million adolescent girls worldwide have experienced forced sexual intercourse or other sexual acts at some point in their life. Out of these, 9 million adolescent girls were victimized within the past year. Based on data from 30 countries, only one per cent ever sought professional help (UN Women, 2018). Despite of the severity of the problem, it has not yet received the attention it should. The lack of researches in these areas is also one of the major reasons for the failure of effective measures to tackle these problems. Sexual harassment is not well received as sexual abuse or rape or sexual violence because it doesn’t produce as severe consequence as the latter ones do. This article based on the research on schools of Godawari Muncipality ward No.3 of Lalitpur district and followed by exploratory research design. For quantitative information, interview schedule was used. Only 50 adolescent students both boys and girls were selected for the respondents. The findings show that almost all the respondents have known the types and forms of sexual harassment. Almost all of the respondents have felt harassed once in their lifetime. Girls are the easiest target for harassment. Mostly, perpetrators are mainly stranger and held in public places but some respondent share being harassed by their own relatives and known person like school teachers, friends. Male victims were less like to report cases as they feel humiliation in this male-dominated society. Most of the females also find not reporting cases as they fear of questioned by society of their characters. It is very important to aware from sexual harassment from young age and strict laws should be implemented regarding the sexual harassment.

Upaya United Nations Women Terhadap Kekerasan Perempuan pada Pandemi Covid-19 (Shadow Pandemic) di Indonesia

This research is motivated by the rampant sexual violence that occurs against women in Indonesia during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The existence of the COVID-19 Pandemic has created a shadow Pandemic, namely the increasing number of sexual violence against women. This then attracted the attention of an international organization, namely UN Women. UN Women called this phenomenon “The Shadow Pandemic” and implemented policies to save women from this crisis. This research is based on the theory of international organizations and women's empowerment which is the main focus of UN Women. The purpose of this research is to analyze the application of UN Women's policies on sexual violence against women in Indonesia. In this study the authors used qualitative observation research methods. Qualitative observations will result from data interpretation by providing analysis and description. The results of this study indicate that in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it has caused many problems for human life throughout the world, especially for the people of Indonesia. These problems include psychological, economic, social suffering, and have even led to "The Shadow Pandemic". An example of a case from The Shadow Pandemic is violence against women that occurred at the same time as the excitement of the Covid-19 Pandemic. The state cannot handle this case alone, the state needs external assistance to help resolve this problem such as assistance from relevant international organizations, one of which is UN Women. Therefore, this study shows the implementation of UN Women's policies in dealing with sexual violence against women in Indonesia.

Factors associated with running out of food in the households during COVID-19 in Indonesia: Analysis RGA UN Women data 2021

The issue of food insecurity during COVID-19 has occurred around the world, including in Indonesia. This study focused on factors associated with running out of food in the households as the outcome. The objective of this study was to examine the variables associated with running out of foods during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. This study used secondary data RGA from UN Women website to explore univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis. The results revealed that the main factors influencing running out of foods are five variables such as worries would not having enough food to eat, being unable to eat healthy and nutritious food, eating only a few kinds of foods, eating less than enough, and being hungry but did not eat. There are two variables that revealed moderate correlation such as skipping a meal and going without eating for a whole day. The strongest variable is HH’s head reported were hungry but did not eat which were 5.48 times more likely to run out of foods during the pandemic. Intervention and collaboration with other stakeholders need to be arranged well to prevent the severity food insecurity.