LONDON / WORLD POPULATION REPORT LAUNCH

UNFPA launches the latest State of the World Population report which says that discrimination against women not only exposes them to the worst effects of disaster and war, including rape, but also deprives their countries of a prime engine for recovery. UNFPA

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:49
• Production Date: 20 October 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND - UNFPA
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; POPULATION; SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT; WOMEN'S RIGHTS; DISCRIMINATION; HUMAN RIGHTS
• MAMS Id: U101020b

Description

STORY: LONDON / WORLD POPULATION REPORT LAUNCH
TRT: 1.49
SOURCE: UNFPA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 20 OCTOBER 2010, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, exterior of the Royal Society entrance
2. Close up, Royal Society sign
3. Close up, copies of the State of the World Population Report
4. Med shot, table with copies of the report for guests
5. Wide shot, panel
6. Cutaway, audience
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA:
“While woman rarely wage war they suffer the worst of its consequences and woman participation in peacebuilding is a pre-requisite to its success. This years report is about three Rs: resilience of communities; renewal of societies and redefining roles between boys and girls and women and men.”
6. Cutaway, audience
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA:
“When women enjoy rights and opportunities they are more resilient to disaster and conflict and can play a central role in reconstruction, peacebuilding and recovery. On the other hand when women and girls suffer deep discrimination they are more vulnerable to the worst effects of disaster and war including rape, less likely to contribute to peace building which threatens long term recovery.”
8. Cutaway, audience
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA:
“UNFPA’s State of World Population report argues that rebuilding societies is just as important as rebuilding homes and re storing essential services after conflict or disaster and we must not build back, but build back better and renew societies. Renewal means creating new opportunities and rectify entrenched inequalities. Renewal requires empowerment of all members of the society who are vulnerable, women, the young and the elderly.”
10. Various shots, journalists

Storyline

Discrimination against women not only exposes them to the worst effects of disaster and war, including rape, but also deprives their countries of a prime engine for recovery, according to the 2010 State of the World Population report launched today (20 October).

“This year’s report is about the three Rs: resilience, renewal and redefining roles between boys and girls and men and women,” head of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Thoraya Ahmed Obaid said at the official launch in London of the report.

The report uses stories of individuals affected by conflict or catastrophe in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, Liberia, the occupied Palestinian territory, Timor-Leste and Uganda to bring home its message.

It shows how communities and civil society are healing old wounds and moving forward, while stressing how much more still needs to be done to ensure that women have access to services and have a voice in peace deals or reconstruction plans.

Obaid added that “when women and girls suffer deep discrimination, they are more vulnerable to the worst effects of disaster and war, including rape, and less likely to contribute to peacebuilding, which threatens long-term recovery.”

The case examples are the first time the annual study has been based on reports from the field to show how countries that have experienced conflict or disasters are on the road to recovery, however rocky the path and uncertain the destination.

A principal recommendation in the report is that Governments need to seize the opportunities arising out of post-conflict or post-disaster recovery to increase the chances that countries “are not just rebuilt, but built back better and renewed, with women and men on equal footing, with rights and opportunities for all and a foundation for development and security in the long run.”

The release of the report “From Conflict and Crisis to Renewal: Generations of Change” coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Security Council’s landmark resolution 1325, which aimed to end sexual violence against women and girls in armed conflict and to encourage greater participation by them in peace-building initiatives.