For information only - not an official document
UNIS/CP/903
4 March 2016
VIENNA, 8 March (UN Information Service) - In every field of human endeavour - science, law, politics, and many others - women have made incredible contributions. Across the globe, however, the daily story of millions of women and young girls is too often not one of success, attainment and accomplishments; instead, it is a frightening story of alarming discrimination, economic disparity and appalling violence, including sexual violence.
This must end. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is dedicated to enabling all women to fully participate in every society. UNODC's work includes upholding its mandates on criminal justice, combatting human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and efforts in numerous other areas. These activities support gender equality, the protection of women in the prison system and eliminating violence against women.
By doing so, UNODC is committed to helping to achieve Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals. This goal calls for ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls everywhere. Goal 5 also calls for the elimination of violence, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation, as well as the elimination of harmful practices such as forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
UNODC works ceaselessly to promote international standards to eliminate all discrimination against women and girls in the justice system. All countries are encouraged to adopt and to apply gender sensitive statements, laws, policies and practices. On International Women's Day, I pledge that UNODC will work with its partners to seek parity, fairness and equality for women around the world, while seeking to end the violence and stop the killings of women and young girls that undermines this work.
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For further information please contact:
David
Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Phone: (+43 1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org
