The executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Waly on Sunday said that women represent around one third of drug users, yet far fewer women than men get the treatment they need.
In a statement on International Women’s Day, Waly also said that 75 percent of all detected victims of human trafficking are female, and over half of female victims of homicide are killed by a partner or family member.
The UNODC is helping women access prevention and treatment services for drug use and associated disorders, he stated.
“We manage the only UN Trust Fund addressing the needs of women and girl victims of human trafficking, which provides direct assistance to 3,500 victims a year in over 60 countries. With our UN partners, UNODC promotes holistic approaches to gender-based violence, bringing together health, social, police and justice sectors to build prevention strategies and provide support services, she said.
“We help integrate gender perspectives in responses to terrorism and prison management.”
A world where every woman and girl can realize all her rights was the goal of leaders in Beijing 25 years ago, when they signed on to an ambitious declaration and plan of action, she added.
“A generation later, we have achieved much progress, but discrimination and violence against women and girls are still keeping us from fulfilling the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): to leave no one behind,” Waly added.
“Together, on today’s International Women’s Day, let us pledge to realize the commitments of the Beijing Declaration and the SDGs in the Decade of Action.”
