U.N. struggles to capitalize on Year of the Woman

2018 saw women's movements grow and spread around the world.

In the U.S., 2018 was also named the Year of the Woman, because of a
record number of women running for political office.

But in many countries women's rights continue to be undermined….and as
Nick Harper reports the Year of the Woman has had little impact in
countries where governments are unable or unwilling to tackle issues
that affect or harm women.

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TAKE VO
In the hands of justice. In South Sudan, women are coming forward to
relive the nightmare of rape or other acts of sexual violence.... as
their attackers stand trial.
TAKE VO
This mobile court, supported by the UN, is hearing cases in the
northern town of Bentiu for the first time in over four years.
TAKE VO
Meantime, the UN just ended its annual End Violence against Women campaign.

SOT - Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General: "Violence
against women and girls must end now, and we all have a role to play.
We need to do more to support victims and hold perpetrators
accountable."

TAKE VO
But during the two-week focus on sexual violence here at the UN, more
than 150 women and children came forward in South Sudan with stories
of mass rapes taking place over a 12-day period.

TAKE VO
Women's movements like #MeToo have spread around the world, demanding
an end to sexual harassment and violence.
TAKE VO
This year's Nobel Peace Prize even paid tribute to two people working
to combat sexual violence in Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the
Congo.
TAKE VO
But rape continues to be used as a weapon of war.

SOT - Asa Régner, UN Women, Deputy Executive Director: "We must think
and believe it can be eliminated. And the UN can do a lot together
with its member states. I think the good thing there is that lots of
states, countries come forward and say that they want to do things -
the rhetoric is there, the awareness is there. But the reality is so
far behind."

TAKE VO
And although globally, the fundamental issue of protecting women's
rights is the same, conflict countries often struggle to sufficiently
deal with that.

SOT - Simon Adams, Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect: "I
don't think any government or multi-lateral organization has really
figured out to relate to the core elements of the MeToo movement and
translate it into something meaningful for their own populations,
especially in situations where populations are at risk."

TAKE VO
And in terms of gender equality, the UN is leading by example. This
year, it achieved gender parity in its senior management team and
among its officials leading in-country teams.
TAKE VO
But in many of those places, the laws work against those goals - from
discriminatory land rights, to laws about child marriage and female
genital mutilation.
TAKE VO
And although the UN is pushing countries to improve accountability,
this year, South Sudan saw 1,157 rapes, the highest on record since
2015. All of which, the UN says, is denying women basic human rights.
SOC