Baroness Goudie Blog: September Newsletter
The treatment of the Rohingya people cannot be ignored. The ethnic cleansing taking place needs the world's attention. There are reports of whole villages being set on fire, families being slaughtered and horrific accounts of rape and sexual assault against Rohingya women and girls fleeing unrest in Myanmar.
During a turbulent time across the globe, it can be difficult to think of those in far off lands, but we cannot allow a genocide to take place in 2017, we must learn the lessons of the past and ensure that these people are protected.
This month, I share with you some critical reading around what is happening to the Rohingya people, as well as some additional articles on women's economic empowerment. Please share, talk and do what you can to ensure our governments and communities are listening.
Inside a Rohingya Refugee Camp Born of Massacre
New York Times reports from a sprawling makeshift city that houses hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people, driven from their homes by Myanmar's military.
Rohingya refugees share stories of sexual violence
Myanmar's army killed many of the women they raped. Survivors in refugee camps in Bangladesh say they want justice.
Horrific accounts of sexual violence against Rohingya ‘just tip of the iceberg’ – UN agency
Warning that the horrific accounts of rape and sexual assault against Rohingya women and girls fleeing unrest in Myanmar could be “just the tip of the iceberg,” the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) underscored the need to ensure that such violence is prevented and called for additional resources so that it can reach all those in need of assistance.
How Men Can Promote gender-inclusive disaster risk reduction
Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security
Gender’s importance and the vital roles played by women in all facets of development, humanitarian aid, and disaster response are increasingly recognized. But recognition is not implementation. As we see in places like Haiti, Nepal, and even the United States, women are affected differently in disasters—and often suffer the brunt of both immediate effects, and recovery challenges.
Bottom Line Up Front: Women Key to Economic Growth
To their detriment, the world’s economies don’t fully utilize women’s talents and skills to drive economic growth and create jobs. If women participated in the labor force at the same rate as men, global GDP could increase from $12 to $28 trillion by 2025. To translate, this is an 11-26 percent increase, which at the highest level is roughly equal to the GDP of the U.S. and China, the world’s largest two economies. Bringing it home, U.S. GDP could increase by five percent.
