Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

Every year, nearly 6,500 <keyword id="20068743" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="adolescent-girls" source="keywords">adolescent girls</keyword> in <keyword id="19897710" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="South-Asia" source="keywords">South Asia</keyword> die giving birth. Most of them are minors <keyword id="19895006" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="WHO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="WHO" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="WHO">who</keyword> have limited power over their reproductive health or lives, according to a joint analysis done by <keyword id="20018080" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNICEF" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="UNICEF" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="UNICEF">UNICEF</keyword>, WHO and <keyword id="20802066" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNFPA" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="UNFPA" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="UNFPA">UNFPA</keyword>. South Asia accounts for 290 million <keyword id="22387193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="child-brides" source="keywords">child brides</keyword> - nearly half of the world's burden. In three countries in South Asia, they are also four times more likely to be out of school than their unmarried peers, as per the analysis done by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), <keyword id="19902256" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-health-organisation" source="keywords">World Health Organisation</keyword> (WHO) and United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA). At the two-day regional dialogue on adolescent pregnancy in South Asia, which concluded on Friday, the <keyword id="20679678" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SAARC" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="SAARC" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="SAARC">SAARC</keyword> countries, UNICEF South Asia, UNFPA and WHO called for increased commitment to critical services for over 2.2 million adolescent girls that give birth yearly in South Asia, a joint press release issued by the agencies said. "I appreciate the role of governments, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society for the improvements made by the SAARC region over the years in reducing <keyword id="22387194" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="teenage-pregnancy" source="keywords">teenage pregnancy</keyword>," said Ambassador Golam Sarwar, the Secretary General of SAARC. "But the region still has a long way to go. I call upon everyone to resolutely address the root causes including child marriage, access to adolescent health education, and removing social stigma in managing the teenage population of the SAARC region," he said. Every year, nearly 6,500 adolescent girls die in childbirth in South Asia, according to the analysis by UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA. Most of them are child brides who have limited or negligible power and autonomy over their reproductive health or lives. When young girls give birth, their lives can be at risk as they are not yet physically ready to give birth. Thousands more girls are forced to drop out of school, face stigma, rejection, violence, unemployment as well as lifelong social challenges. Forty-nine per cent of young girls in South Asia are not in education, employment or training - the highest in the world, the press release said. "We must do better for adolescent girls, particularly those who are married, pregnant or parents. In addition to hurdles to learn, get good healthcare and eat nutritious food, they are denied the opportunity to build skills and start businesses -- everything they need as parents to thrive and fulfil their potential," said Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia. "We must work together and invest in opportunities to unleash the promise of more than 170 million adolescent girls in South Asia. Doing so would be transformative for this region," he said. Government and UN officials, adolescent girls, as well as civil society representatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have participated in the dialogue and reaffirmed their commitment to providing better services to support pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers. This includes opportunities to learn, set up their businesses, and earn a living. The event held in Kathmandu over July 11-12 was jointly organised by SAARC, WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA and was inaugurated by the Secretary General of SAARC, Ambassador Golam Sarwar. Adolescent mothers have a much higher risk of dying from maternal causes, compared to women in their 20s and 30s. "It is high time that we reverse this trend. The unique physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and sexual development during adolescence necessitates special attention in national and international policies. Effective strategies to tackle adolescent pregnancy require cross-sectoral collaboration and equitable access to a variety of services," said Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia.

Over 6,500 adolescent girls die giving birth every year across South Asia, says a recent study

With just 2 days to go before finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents the union budget 2024, various sectors are abuzz with their expectations from the first full fledged budget to be presented under PM Modi's third consecutive term. Most experts anticipate the budget to focus heavily on boosting consumer demand and accelerating infrastructure development. In fact, president Murmu has already hinted that the budget will be historic, both in its scope and announcements. As such, what is it that the Indian insurance industry, driven by IRDA's vision of "Insurance for all by 2047" want from this budget? Lets find out <h2>Capture the <keyword id="21409017" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="annuity-market" source="keywords">annuity market</keyword> </h2>Subhrajit Mukhopadhyay, Executive Director, Edelweiss <keyword id="19936531" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="life-insurance" source="keywords">Life Insurance</keyword> anticipates that the upcoming budget should tackle the issue of how annuities are taxed. Currently, they are completely taxable in the hands of customers, which reduce its attractiveness, vis a vis other retirement planning options like NPS (National Pension System). According to a recent report by UNFPA, the population of number of individuals in the country who are aged 60 or more is set to double to around 346 million in the next 30 years. As such, it becomes all the more important to create awareness regarding retirement planning, and ensuring the aged have a secure, stable source of income in their twilight years, which is where annuities come in. "India’s vast ageing population underlines its burgeoning pension and annuity market. Annuity caters to the key dilemma of a pensioner, for a life-long pension at a steady, guaranteed rate and exposes the investors to a reinvestment rate risk especially in a volatile interest rate scenario. Annuities are the only solution, which provide complete protection from the perspective of living longer (i.e. outliving one’s corpus), by providing a regular flow of income throughout one’s lifetime, purchased in lieu of a single lump-sum amount. Currently, tax incentive is offered for people to accumulate corpus in NPS under Section 80CCD (1b ). A similar incentive may also be extended to annuities", noted Mukhopadhyay <h2>Separate sops for <keyword id="19894985" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-insurance" source="keywords">health insurance</keyword> premiums </h2>One of the most vocal demands of the insurance industry at the moment is to increase the tax deduction limit for premiums paid towards life and health insurance. At present, individuals aged below 60 can claim an annual deduction of up to Rs 25,000 towards health insurance premiums paid for self, spouse or children. The limit goes up to Rs 50,000 in case of senior citizens. Mr. Rakesh Goyal, Managing Director, Probusinsurance.com hopes that the budget will raise this limit to Rs 50,000 for self, spouse, and children, and Rs 1 lakh for senior citizens. Anup Rau Managing Director &amp; Chief Executive Officer of Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited, agrees to this. “Making insurance products affordable and accessible to masses will be crucial to ensure India achieves “Insurance for All by 2047” – a goal set by IRDAI - and this calls for certain <keyword id="20071222" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax-incentives" source="keywords">tax incentives</keyword>. The deduction limit on health insurance premium under Section 80D has remained unchanged for the past nine years despite the fact that there has been a significant rise in healthcare costs across the country. Interestingly, India, which surpasses South Asian peers with a medical inflation rate of 14%, last witnessed an enhancement in the deduction limit in 2015-16. Also, these benefits need to be extended to the new tax regime as well since increasing health <keyword id="20998941" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="insurance-penetration" source="keywords">insurance penetration</keyword> is critical", he adds. Goyal goes a step ahead, and advocates for creating a separate exemption limit for insurance premiums, in addition to the existing threshold of Rs 1,50,000. "Right now, Indians get a tax exemption of Rs 1.5 lakh every year, but it's crowded with various financial products. We would expect the limit to increase or to establish a separate exemption limit specifically for life insurance premiums. This move would help increase countrywide insurance penetration", says Goyal. Krishnan Ramachandran, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD&amp;CEO) of Niva Bupa Health Insurance also advocates for the 80D tax exemption to be linked to inflation and revised periodically. Also, per him, tax exemptions should also extend to dependent family members like siblings. Syed Meraj Naqvi,CEO &amp; Principal Officer, Riskbirbal Insurance Brokers also thinks on similar lines. "Adding a portion of medical insurance premiums for tax relief alongside the current 1,50,000 deduction limit would not only ease financial burdens but also encourage the younger generation to embrace saving habits. It’s about nurturing a mindset of financial responsibility while ensuring adequate healthcare coverage for all", he notes. Parimal Heda, Chief Investment Officer, Go Digit General Insurance believes that a good way to increase insurance coverage amongst young individuals is by offering a significant tax discount. "This could also be considered particularly for first-time health insurance buyers, especially youngsters. A tax exemption of 200% of the premium amount can be considered under chapter VIA. This can later be reduced in a phased manner of four years to make the same at par with the existing tax benefit provided under Section 80D", Heda observes. <h2>Don't overlook home, vehicle insurance </h2>Even though motor insurance, which makes up for around 50% of the non-life insurance industry (sans health) grew at around 12.9% in FY24, touching Rs 91,781.3 crore, over 50% of vehicles don’t even have a third-party (TP) motor insurance. To counter this, Heda suggests a one-time tax exemption can be offered to people to renew their lapsed TP policy. Additionally, given the increasing frequency of natural calamities adversely impacting human property, it is necessary to increase home insurance penetration to protect homeowners. Per Heda, the government, with the help of RERA can make home insurance mandatory for new homeowners, for which a tax deduction of up to Rs 25,000 can also be considered on home insurance premiums. However, a word of advice. Do not wait for tax breaks, or budget announcements to buy a life, or health insurance in case you already don't have one. Get one right away!

Budget 2024: Three things the insurance sector want from FM Sitharaman this budget.

Online ed-tech platform <keyword id="14134943" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="physicswallah" source="Orion">PhysicsWallah</keyword> is planning to invest USD 10 million (about Rs 82 crore) in phases in its school-integrated programme <keyword id="2371584" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="vidyapeeth-school" source="Orion">Vidyapeeth School</keyword>, which is currently available in 39 schools, a top company official has said. "<keyword id="17210096" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vidyapeeth-school-centre" source="Orion">Vidyapeeth School Centre</keyword> is a school-integrated programme, which is designed to integrate the concepts and skills required for CBSE exams, along with <keyword id="6392660" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="jee" source="Orion">JEE</keyword>, and NEET preparation into regular classroom instruction, thereby minimising the need for separate coaching classes for the students," PhysicsWallah Vice President <keyword id="4384057" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="imran-rashid" source="Orion">Imran Rashid</keyword> told PTI. Currently, the programme is rolled out in 39 schools across 34 districts spread across 10 states in the country, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana, he added. "We are planning to invest USD 10 million in phases, of which USD 5 million will be spent in setting up infrastructure in the schools and the rest USD 5 million will be utilised for creating top quality content, pedagogy development and academic upgradation. We are investing Rs 8-10 lakh on setting up the infrastructure in each school," Rashid said. PhysicsWallah is looking at rolling out the Vidyapeeth School programme in 300 schools by 2025-26, school sessions in tier III-IV cities, he added. "We aim to expand our reach to tier III-IV cities and towns across the country, thus boosting access to quality education in remote areas. We are charging less than Rs 2,000 a month per student for providing services, including live classes, real-time doubt-solving applications, modules and tests, among others," he said. The programme, rolled out on April 17, offers benefits to grade 11 students who are preparing for CBSE and JEE/NEET exams and will mainly focus on 4 subjects - Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology, Rashid noted. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-new-electric-bikes-in-india-in-2023/articleshow/96269089.cms">Best upcoming electric bikes in India in 2023</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/smallest-countries-in-the-world-by-population-as-per-unfpa/articleshow/99664132.cms">Small is Beautiful: The population of these countries is below one million as per UNFPA</a>

PhysicsWallah to invest USD 10 million in its school-integrated programme

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Phoebe Gates said the worst part of her TikTok fame is "misconceptions" about her family.</li><li>The 20-year-old daughter of Bill Gates said people have "conspiracy theories" about them.</li></ul>Bill Gates' youngest daughter said the worst part about being famous on TikTok was the false opinions people have about <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-melinda-gates-billionaire-family-daughter-jennifer-phoebe-son-rory-2023-2?r=US&amp;IR=T">her family</a>. Phoebe Gates told <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?postID=64047fec3864675a9a464c96&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theinformation.com%2Farticles%2Ftheir-last-names-are-gates-jobs-xie-and-cuban-their-brands-are-still-loading%3Frc%3Drlufcw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Information</a> the greatest downside to posting on the platform was all the "misconceptions and conspiracy theories."The 20-year-old has more than 64,000 followers on TikTok and gives viewers a glimpse into her life with the Microsoft cofounder and her mother, Melinda French Gates. Her parents <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-melinda-divorce-one-of-his-personal-low-points-2022-12">divorced in 2021</a> after 27 years of marriage."I'm pretty realistic that people start following me because of my family name. And people probably find it funny to see my dad being a goof and playing Boxbollen," Gates told The Information in an email. She added: "But once they follow me, they stick around, and I think some of that is because of the issues that I post about, like women's health. And honestly, TikTok is fun."Gates recently <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@phoebegates/video/7203542035352128814?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> clips from a "contraceptive talk with my mom" and a comical video of her dad dancing when he was younger. She <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@phoebegates/video/7181609084809006382?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7091949630548887046" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> one video that shows Bill Gates playing a "boxball" game, which has been viewed 8.3 million times since December. Phoebe is the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-melinda-gates-billionaire-family-daughter-jennifer-phoebe-son-rory-2023-2">youngest of Bill and Melinda Gates' three children</a>. She <a href="https://profiles.stanford.edu/phoebe-gates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">studies</a> at Stanford University and has interned at British Vogue. She also uses her social media to speak about the need for sustainability in fashion. She's planning to launch a start-up called Phia later this year with her Stanford roommate and climate campaigner Sophia Kianni. "We're building out an idea to help make fashion more sustainable ... social media is going to be a big part of that," Phoebe told The Information. Phoebe said her mom was "supportive and curious" about her use of social media and said she "gets" that it's a place for young people to grow, per The Information. "My dad publishes a lot on social, but he doesn't follow it much himself," she added. Phoebe also told the outlet she gets criticized by some users whenever she posts a picture of her boyfriend, another Stanford student, who is Black: "It's 2023. I'm done being memed for being in an interracial relationship."Phoebe Gates didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Bill Gates' Gen Z daughter Phoebe says the worst part about TikTok fame is 'misconceptions and conspiracy theories' about her family

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday. </li><li>UK Prime Minister <keyword id="11911533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boris-johnson" source="Orion">Boris Johnson</keyword> called the move "backwards."</li></ul>UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was a "step backwards.""I want to stress that this is not our court, it's not our jurisdiction," Johnson told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/06/26/johnson-part-1.cnn">CNN's Jake Tapper</a> on Sunday. "So, in a sense, it's for the United States, it's not for the UK. But the Roe v. Wade judgment, when it came out, was important psychologically for people around the world, and it spoke of the advancement of the rights of women, I think."Johnson added: "And I regret what seems to me to be a backward step," he continued. "But I'm speaking as someone looking in from the outside."On Friday, the Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling overturned the 1973 landmark decision that made abortion legal. Several states already have triggered laws that would ban abortion. However, Johnson said he doesn't think it changes the US's role and image as a representative of rights and freedom."I think the United States, for me, it remains a shining city on a hill. It's an incredible guarantor of values, democracy, freedom around the world," he said. Several global reproductive and women's rights groups have condemned the decision, adding that it could have consequences worldwide. "Almost all unsafe abortions currently occur in developing countries, and UNFPA fears that more unsafe abortions will occur around the world if access to abortion becomes more restricted. Decisions reversing progress gained have a wider impact on the rights and choices of women and adolescents everywhere," the United Nations' sexual and reproductive health agency said in a <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/press/unfpa-statement-global-implications-new-restrictions-access-abortion">statement</a>. Sarah Shaw, MSI Reproductive Choices' Global Head of Advocacy, said the impact of the decision will "also be felt around the world.""But while this vote may embolden the anti-choice movement around the world, it has also motivated the global community to reassert the right to choose," ," she wrote in a <a href="https://www.msichoices.org/news-and-insights/news/2022/6/decisions-made-in-the-us-have-an-impact-far-beyond-their-borders-msis-statement-on-roe-v-wade">statement</a>. "To anyone who wants to deny someone's right to make decisions about what is right for their body and their future, our message is 'We are not going back.'"She added, "We will never stop working towards a world where everyone, everywhere has the right to choose, and this attack only strengthens our resolve."

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls overturning of Roe v. Wade a 'backward step,' says the ruling 'spoke of the advancement' of women's rights

'<keyword id="7198124" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="baby-shark" source="Orion">Baby Shark</keyword> Dance', a globally popular sing-and-dance video for the megahit children's song of the same name, became the first video to garner more than 10 billion views in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/over-80-fact-checkers-claim-that-youtube-is-being-weaponised-by-unscrupulous-actors/articleshow/88871830.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">YouTube</a> history, the song's creator has said. The South Korean track had an overwhelming lead over the runner-up, the music video for Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's megahit 'Despacito', which has secured 7.7 billion views, reports Yonhap News Agency. The 'Baby Shark' song, which was first released in June 2016 as part of the Korean band Pinkfong's song series for children, has become a global phenomenon with its catchy tune and addictive lyrics, "Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo." The song set a new Guinness World Records title as the most-viewed video on YouTube by garnering 7 billion views in November 2020 and has since stayed on the throne for 15 consecutive months. It even made it to global music charts, ranking No. 32 on Billboard's Hot 100 and No. 6 on the British Official Charts in 2019. Pinkfong said 10 billion is a huge number that surpasses the world's population of 7.8 billion announced by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). By a simple calculation, the number of views could show that all people living on the planet have seen the video at least once, the group added.

Baby Shark becomes first video to cross 10 billion views on YouTube

<ul class="summary-list"><li>New data from the United Nations' sexual and reproductive health agency suggests the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> will have a globally devastating impact on women.</li><li>If lockdown continues for six months, the <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/featured-publication/costing-three-transformative-results">UNFPA report</a> forecasts it will result in 7 million unplanned pregnancies and 31 million gender-based violence cases.</li><li>The report also indicates there will be a surge in cases of child marriage and female genital mutilation.</li><li>The UNFPA's deputy executive director, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov described the report's findings as "a catastrophe within a catastrophe."</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><a href="https://www.unfpa.org/featured-publication/costing-three-transformative-results">According to a new report</a> from the United Nations Population Fund (<a href="https://www.unfpa.org/featured-publication/costing-three-transformative-results">UNFPA)</a>, the United Nations' sexual and reproductive health agency, the coronavirus will have a devastating impact on women worldwide.As the COVID-19 pandemic ravages nations across the globe, health systems continue to be overloaded — facilities remain closed down or continue to limit the services they offer, including services to women and girls.The UNFPA report suggests COVID-19 is already having a profound impact on women across the globe, with many women choosing to skip crucial medical checkups through fear of contracting the virus.<div type="image" title="Female doctor teaching How to wearing Surgical mask for protect Covid-19 (coronavirus) and pm 2.5 air pollution - stock photo" height="1223" width="1631" msid="75447056" hostid="261"></div>However, the outcomes for women and their respective communities don't stop there.Speaking with Business Insider, UNFPA's deputy executive director, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov said: "Globally, roughly 70% of the health workforce is comprised of women. At the moment, there's more risk of women being exposed [to the coronavirus] as a frontline worker.""These issues aren't exclusive to the developing world. <keyword id="6411412" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="inequality">Inequality</keyword> is less pronounced in the developed world but it's still there. It's a catastrophe," said Alakbarov. "Women are the first to lose their jobs during these crises, they're the first to stand up for the family, they take most of the brunt economically. But this report is a catastrophe within a catastrophe."<h2>The pandemic is having a profound effect on women's health</h2>The number of cases of women without access to family planning, facing unplanned pregnancies, and gender-based violence could skyrocket by millions in the months to come."The pandemic is deepening inequalities, and millions more women and girls now risk losing the ability to plan their families and protect their bodies and their health," said Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director."Women's reproductive health and rights must be safeguarded at all costs," Kanem said. "The services must continue; the supplies must be delivered, and the vulnerable must be protected and supported."<h2>If lockdown continues for six months, seven million unplanned pregnancies are expected</h2>Access to family planning is a human right, but it also saves lives and promotes healthier populations: on a national scale, it can bolster the efficiency of both healthcare systems and economies.As part of social distancing measures, many healthcare facilities have closed. Medical staff usually at the disposal of family planning services have had to rechannel their efforts into other areas of the healthcare system to help battle the pandemic.<div type="image" title="WUHAN, CHINA - FEBRUARY 21: A nurse holding a baby in a private obstetric hospital on February 21, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Due to the shortage of medical resources in Wuhan, many pregnant women choose to give birth in private hospitals. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on January 30 that the novel coronavirus outbreak has become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). (Photo by" height="600" width="800" msid="75447059" hostid="261"></div>In addition, there is understandable hesitation among women to visit those healthcare facilities that remain open, due to concerns about COVID-19 exposure and lack of PPE. It is evident that the pandemic has already hampered women's access to and continued use of contraception.As well as the direct impact of social distancing measures on women's access to contraceptives, global supply chain disruptions may also lead to significant shortages of contraceptives.It will continue to do so the longer lockdown continues: for every three months the lockdown continues, up to an additional two million women may be unable to access modern contraceptives.If the lockdown carries on for six months, 47 million women in 114 low- and middle-income countries may not be able to access modern contraceptives — UNFPA projections suggest this would result in 7 million unintended pregnancies.<div type="image" title="WUHAN, CHINA - FEBRUARY 19: A doctor examines a pregnant woman in a private obstetric hospital on February 19, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Due to the shortage of medical resources in Wuhan, many pregnant women choose to give birth in private hospitals. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on January 30 that the novel coronavirus outbreak has become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). (Photo by Getty Images)" height="600" width="800" msid="75447060" hostid="261"></div>Alakbarov told Business Insider that unintended pregnancies can have serious repercussions even when family planning is available."As well as resulting increased risk of abortions, hemorrhages, and miscarriages," he explained, "unwanted pregnancies effectively raise maternal mortality. Children and households will be left without mothers. It launches up a whole vicious circle."<h2>The incidence of gender-based violence will soar</h2>Gender-based violence occurs in all countries and economic and social groups.From domestic abuse to child marriage and female genital mutilation, the UNFPA's report suggests that, in the next decade, we'll see a surge not only in the number of cases but also in the levels of gender-based violence.For every three months the lockdown continues, an additional 15 million extra cases of gender-based violence are expected, the UNFPA says.<div type="image" title="Four-year-old Khadija lies in her family’s temporary shelter in the Regreshan IDP camp in Herat Province, Afghanistan, June 17, 2019. Her father, Abdul Haq, agreed to sell her to a money lender to pay off his debts. The money lender intended to give Khadija to his 15-year-old son to be his child bride. Abdul reneged on the agreement and is still attempting to pay his debts. (Photo by Kate Geraghty/Fairfax Media via Getty Images via Getty Images)" height="680" width="907" msid="75447063" hostid="261"></div>Were the lockdown to continue for another six months, efforts that would otherwise have prevented many instances of gender would be thwarted. The UNFPA indicated this would result in 31 million more cases of gender-based violence.<h2>2 million otherwise preventable cases of FGM will go ahead</h2>Often a precursor to child marriage, early marriage, and forced marriage, an estimated 200 million women alive today have already undergone FGM.As well as being detrimental to the health of young girls to the point of being life-threatening, FGM dims their prospects and has hefty economic costs, costing around $1.4 billion annually according to the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/06-02-2020-economic-cost-of-female-genital-mutilation">WHO</a>.The COVID-19 pandemic has already disrupted programs working with the UNFPA against FGM.<div type="image" title="A woman protesting during the International Day against... MADRID, SPAIN - 2016/02/06: A woman protesting during the International Day against female genital mutilation . (Photo by Marcos del Mazo/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)" height="683" width="911" msid="75447066" hostid="261"></div>Over the next decade, the UNFPA has predicted this delay will result in 2 million female genital mutilation cases that would otherwise have been prevented.<h2>Efforts to prevent 13 million child marriages will be thwarted</h2>Leading up to 2030, COVID-19 will also hinder efforts to end child marriage: the UNFPA has estimated that it could result in an additional 13 million child marriages, depending on how long lockdown continues.Through challenging social and cultural norms and keeping girls in the education system, many interventions until now have helped reduce the incidence of underage nuptials.<div type="image" title="DHAKA, BANGLADESH - 2014/12/03: Woman organizations protest against child marriage in front of Press Club in Dhaka. Child marriage is a big problem in Bangladesh, it now reaches to 66% those who marry before the age of 15 that lead them to many kind of health problems. (Photo by Mohammad Asad/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)" height="683" width="911" msid="75447068" hostid="261"></div>Researchers previously predicted such interventions would have reduced the number of child marriages by almost 60 million in the period between 2020 and 2030. Deferring these interventions by just one year, on average, will reduce the number of child marriages averted by around 7.4 million.Poverty is a key contributory factor in child marriage — the severe worldwide economic fallout anticipated as a result of the pandemic would translate to poverty levels rising in low-income countries where child marriage is most prevalent.This spike in rates of poverty is expected, in turn, to increase rates of child marriage in vulnerable communities.<h2>The UN anticipates a surge in other forms of violence against women</h2>The COVID-19 pandemic is also expected to increase levels of violence. There are already indications that the incidence of domestic violence incidence is on the rise.According to research by <a href="https://kareningalasmith.com/2020/04/15/coronavirus-doesnt-cause-mens-violence-against-women/">Counting Dead Women</a>, in the UK alone, at least 16 domestic abuse killings of women and children took place in the initial three weeks of the lockdown. As well as being double the average rate, it was the largest number of killings in a three-week period for 10 years.According to the UNFPA report, research conducted by Avenir Health showed that a delay in prevention efforts will result in another 2 million more instances of intimate partner violence in 2020-2021. This translates to almost 200 million fewer cases of violence being averted by 2030.<div type="image" title="A mother and her child pose in a room in a temporary apartment of the Home association in Paris on November 22, 2016. The Home association, created in 2006, rents 3 apartments and a house in the surburbs of Paris, for a temporary relocation for women aged 18 to 30, victims of domestic violence or in family breakdown. / AFP PHOTO / GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT (Photo credit should read" height="600" width="800" msid="75447069" hostid="261"></div>In the short term, the main driver of this violence is likely to be the effects of stay-at-home orders and movement restrictions, which may increase women's contact time with violent partners.Mounting household tensions and economic stresses may also be a contributory factor.For an average lockdown duration of three months, projections suggest that if violence increases by 20%, there will be another 15 million cases of intimate partner violence in 2020.This figure will jump to 31 million cases for an average lockdown of six months and 61 million if the average lockdown period were to be as long as one year.<h2>Developing and developed countries will be impacted</h2>Women's suffering will have knock-on effects on their communities and entire countries' economies.Alakbarov also highlighted that communities outside of developing countries would be affected, saying: "These effects on women will also put pressure on diaspora communities outside of economically developing countries.""The map of COVID-19 is a map of poverty, of social exclusion, of lack of investment in social and economic development and its prioritization," he added.The UNFPA is working with governments to prioritize the needs of women and girls of reproductive age and to respond urgently during the challenging public health emergency.<div type="image" title="Nurse washing hands to avoid Covid 19 virus. - stock photo Nurse doing hand hygiene to prevent Coronavirus infection." height="1476" width="1968" msid="75447071" hostid="261"></div>Alakbarov said that, in order to tackle the structural inequalities girls and women face, individuals, nations, and businesses all need to reconsider their roles."Reprioritization of national budgets is needed," he stressed. "Governments have to reconsider [their priorities], as well as citizens and private sectors. If we don't over the next six months, we will see the above projections come to fruition.""This crisis has shown us that the true threat to national security doesn't come from military sources; it comes from underinvestment in basic social goods and social services. Women should be a priority," Alakbarov said."Every dollar invested in women's education and health brings back three dollars to the economy," said Alakbarov. "It's pretty much the smartest investment any government or society can make."Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/structural-inequality-gender-equality-coronavirus-pandemic-outbreak-contraceptives-pregnancy-fgm-2020-4">Business Insider</a>

Coronavirus crisis will see 7 million unplanned pregnancies and 31 million gender-based violence cases, the UN says

Ongoing lockdowns and major disruptions to health services during the COVID-19 pandemic could leave 47 million women in low and middle-income countries unable to use modern contraceptives, leading to seven million unintended pregnancies in the coming months, according to data released by the <keyword id="73033" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="UN-Population-Fund">UN Population Fund</keyword> (UNFPA) and partners. The agencies estimate that the number of women unable to access family planning or facing unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence and other harmful practices, could "skyrocket" by millions due to the crisis. "This new data shows the catastrophic impact that COVID-19 could soon have on women and girls globally," UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem said on Tuesday. "The pandemic is deepening inequalities, and millions more women and girls now risk losing the ability to plan their families and protect their bodies and their health," Kanem said. As a clear view of the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic is only beginning to take shape, experts estimate that the human cost could be extraordinary. The economic and physical disruptions caused by the disease could have vast consequences for the rights and health of women and girls, the new analysis by the UNFPA and partners noted. Globally, around 450 million women across 114 low and middle-income countries use contraceptives, the study said. "Significant levels of lockdown-related disruption over 6 months could leave 47 million women in low- and middle-income countries unable to use modern contraceptives, leading to a projected 7 million additional unintended pregnancies. Six months of lockdowns could result in an additional 31 million cases of gender-based violence," it said. The pandemic is also expected to cause significant delays in programmes to end female genital mutilation and child marriage, resulting in an estimated two million more cases of FGM over the next decade than would otherwise have occurred. These delayed programmes, on top of growing economic hardships globally, could result in an estimated 13 million more child marriages over 10 years. There also will be 31 million additional cases of gender-based violence during the same period, with a further 15 million more cases expected for every three months the lockdowns continue. These figures – produced in collaboration with partners Avenir Health, <keyword id="210763" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Johns-Hopkins-University">Johns Hopkins University</keyword> (USA) and <keyword id="212104" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Victoria-University">Victoria University</keyword> (Australia) – are rough estimates. The analysis said while a great deal is still unknown about how the pandemic, and the response to it, will unfold around the world, the projections offer an alarming view of the future that could confront women and girls if efforts are not urgently made to secure their welfare and ensure their rights. COVID-19 is having an enormous impact on women and girls as health systems become overloaded and facilities close, or provide a limited set of services which they need. At the same time, many women and girls also are skipping important medical check-ups for fear of contracting the virus, the study said. Disruptions to global supply chains could lead to significant shortages of contraceptives, it said, while gender-based violence – already on the increase due to the pandemic, is expected to rise still further as women are trapped at home for prolonged periods. The UNFPA is working with governments and partners to prioritise the needs of women and girls of reproductive age during the pandemic. The agency is focused on strengthening health systems, procuring and delivering essential supplies to protect health workers, ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services, and promoting risk communication and community engagement. "Women's reproductive health and rights must be safeguarded at all costs. The services must continue; the supplies must be delivered; and the vulnerable must be protected and supported," Kanem said. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75441608" title="This is how global economies are expected to grow in the first year after Coronavirus pandemic" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Covid can cause 7 million unintended pregnancies as contraceptive access is disrupted says UN

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Groups are rushing to get emergency contraception and <keyword id="11901426" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="abortion" source="Orion">abortion</keyword> pills to Ukrainians.</li><li>The increased demand is linked, in part, to reports of <keyword id="13553399" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sexual-violence" source="Orion">sexual violence</keyword> by Russian soldiers.</li></ul>Local and <keyword id="6356001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="international" source="Orion">international</keyword> groups are rushing to get post-rape kits, emergency contraception, and abortion pills to Ukrainians amid growing evidence that Russian soldiers have used sexual violence as a weapon of war.<keyword id="11985141" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ukraine" source="Orion">Ukraine</keyword> says it's received <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-says-400-sexual-violence-rape-cases-russia-troops-2022-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">more than 400 reports</a> of sexual violence, including <keyword id="11911221" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rape" source="Orion">rape</keyword>, in two weeks.Existing data is unlikely to "convey an accurate picture" of the true magnitude of sexual violence in the country because rape so often goes unreported, even in times of peace, Jaime Nadal Roig, the UNFPA's representative to Ukraine, told Insider.Though Insider has been unable to verify the allegations independently, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-woman-raped-by-russian-soldiers-sexual-violence-investigation-2022-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">reports</a> of rape have emerged from across Ukraine. "These stories are revolting that are being told by women, and many of them are becoming pregnant," said California Rep. Jackie Speier, a cochair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, during an interview with Insider.Lyudmyla Denisova, Ukraine's ombudsman for human rights, said that in Bucha, where a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/timeline-disproves-russia-claims-that-bucha-massacre-is-ukraine-hoax-2022-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">massacre</a> took place in March, about 25 girls and women — ages 14 to 24 — were raped during the occupation of a house. Nine of them are now pregnant, Denisova said, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61071243">BBC News</a> reported.And because of pregnancies such as these, Speier said, there's now a critical race to quickly get reproductive-health supplies to Ukrainian women in need.<div type="image" title="A woman, standing in a crowd. with a white scarf over her head holds a tissue to her face." height="4364" width="6546" msid="91401278" hostid="261"></div>Caroline Hickson, the regional director of the European Network of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said the organization had sent 2,880 packets of emergency contraception to Ukraine.Emergency contraception, also known as the morning-after pill, must be taken within five days of sexual contact to be effective. Abortion pills can be taken up to 11 weeks into pregnancy.It can't be determined if all the pills are to help rape victims, but Hickson said demand was highest in the east of Ukraine, "where the conflict is."<div type="image" title="A woman organizes donated medical supplies at a central aid processing and distribution centre on 2 May 2022 in Lviv, Ukraine." height="5292" width="7055" msid="91401407" hostid="261"></div>Emergency contraception and abortion were easily accessible in Ukraine before the war, but they have become near impossible to get as the war rages on and supply chains are disrupted. Lygiai, a Lithuanian nongovernmental organization, is another group working to supply Ukrainians with emergency contraception, and it's sent 1,736 tablets since the beginning of the war, it said."The organizations we work with are also small organizations, so they find out about the need, and we know about it right away. So we can address those needs quickly because there's no bureaucratic process, and there's no red tape internally in our organizations," Lygiai's Skirmante Cairns said. <h2>Ukrainian refugees are fleeing to countries with limited abortion access</h2>A large number of <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60555472">Ukrainian refugees</a> have fled to <keyword id="11937111" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="poland" source="Orion">Poland</keyword>, which has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe.Although abortions in the case of rape are technically allowed, it is "almost never performed," said Women Help Women, an organization partnered with Abortion Without Borders."The process of obtaining one is incredibly traumatic and includes obtaining a certificate from a prosecutor to prove rape occurred, which in the case of Ukrainian women is obviously impossible," the organization said in a statement to Insider.Pregnant Ukrainian refugees who are too far along to use abortion pills are forced to travel to countries such as England and the Netherlands to seek out medical abortions, Women Help Women said.<div type="image" title="Ukrainian refugees in Poland" height="1333" width="2000" msid="91401410" hostid="261"></div>"They're going to a strange land, some of them with no economic means, and if they're lucky to have escaped, they could possibly be pregnant with a Russian rapist's baby," said Florida Rep. Lois Frankel, a cochair of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DemWomenCaucus/about">Democratic Women's Caucus</a>, during an interview with Insider. "What could be more horrifying than that?"Hickson, IPPF Europe's regional director, said abortion was also strictly controlled in Hungary and Slovakia, where many Ukrainian refugees have also fled.She said that emergency contraception was available via prescription in Poland and Hungary, but that it could be extremely difficult to obtain."There are a lot of doctors who will simply not give that prescription or make it very difficult, or we've even heard reports that doctors will pretend that they're not allowed to give out that prescription," Hickson said.She added, "There's a whole chilling effect that makes it extremely difficult for women from the country and then twice as difficult, of course, if you arrive and don't have any connections or know where to go."<h2>For many, wartime is not the right time to have a baby</h2>The demand for abortions and emergency contraception isn't solely from survivors of rape. There are those whose lives have been turned upside down by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and who no longer feel they can carry out their pregnancies."You may be displaced, separated from your partner, your family, your support systems. You've lost your job, your income, and your life is completely uncertain," Hickson said. "It may very well not be the moment you would wish to be pregnant."<div type="image" title="A woman collects debris to throw outside at an apartment damaged by a missile explosion in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, on May 5, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine." height="4001" width="6000" msid="91401413" hostid="261"></div>Many may feel that wartime is an unsuitable time to have a baby. Not least of all because the trauma of war, reports say, makes for increasingly difficult pregnancies.Doctors in Poland say they are seeing higher rates of pregnancy complications, premature births, and stillbirths because of the stresses of war and limited access to <keyword id="11897506" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="healthcare" source="Orion">healthcare</keyword> for Ukrainian refugees, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ukrainian-refugees-confront-increase-pregnancy-complications-rcna25467">NBC News</a> reported.And within Ukraine, one doctor told the <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/ukrainian-women-giving-birth-prematurely-trauma-war-1599583">i newspaper</a> that he attributed a 50% increase in preterm births in his hospital this year to the "psychological and physical suffering" brought on by the war.<h2>The Democratic Women's Caucus hopes to 'put a spotlight' on the issue</h2>The Democratic Women's Caucus, its cochairs Speier and Frankel said, wants to show solidarity with Ukrainian women who require reproductive healthcare.Members of the caucus, Frankel said, have spoken to Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the issue. They now hope to "put a spotlight" on it."There's going to be recognition of the need to offer these services around the world, and particularly in war-torn areas," Speier said.The issue of reproductive freedom is likely to resonate with many Americans at the moment amid the <keyword id="11893589" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news" source="Orion">news</keyword> of a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/roe-wade-abortion-live-updates-2022-5">potential overturning</a> of the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision.Speier said, "I think there is just a heightened sensitivity and awareness, certainly in the United States, about the potential loss of a right that women have had for almost 50 years."

You Searched For "UNFPA" and got 9 results

Over 6,500 adolescent girls die giving birth every year across South Asia, says a recent study

PTI

Budget 2024: Three things the insurance sector want from FM Sitharaman this budget.

Ira Alok Puranik

PhysicsWallah to invest USD 10 million in its school-integrated programme

PTI

Bill Gates' Gen Z daughter Phoebe says the worst part about TikTok fame is 'misconceptions and conspiracy theories' about her family

Jyoti Mann

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls overturning of Roe v. Wade a 'backward step,' says the ruling 'spoke of the advancement' of women's rights

Sarah Al-Arshani

Baby Shark becomes first video to cross 10 billion views on YouTube

IANS

Coronavirus crisis will see 7 million unplanned pregnancies and 31 million gender-based violence cases, the UN says

Ruqayyah Moynihan

Covid can cause 7 million unintended pregnancies as contraceptive access is disrupted says UN

PTI

The race to get emergency abortions and contraception to Ukrainian women amid reports of mass sexual violence by Russian soldiers

Alia Shoaib,Joshua Zitser

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides