Lori Silberman Brauner

lorisilbermanbrauner.contently.com

Lori Silberman Brauner is an award-winning journalist, editor and freelance writer who most recently served as deputy managing editor at the New Jersey Jewish News. She received a B.A. in political science from Muhlenberg College; an M.A. in international affairs from Drew University; and an M.S. from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She was one of 10 North American journalists who took part in a ICFJ-UN Foundation Reporting Fellowship in September 2016 to explore the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

TOPIC: WOMEN

For This Afghan Woman, Midwifery Is a Labor of Love

November 8, 2020

by Lori Silberman Brauner

From a young age, Zahra Mirzaei, 32, decided to become a midwife after she encountered a kind doctor who encouraged her to pursue studies in the field. Observing the role that midwives played in her country — Afghanistan — while challenged by extremely limited educational opportunities for women and girls, Mirzaei said: “It spoke …

Health and Population, Women

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At the UN Oceans Forum in June, Will the US Play a Bit Part?

May 17, 2017

by Lori Silberman Brauner

In just a few weeks, the United Nations is convening a world gathering to discuss the health of the world’s oceans and seas, with member states, government and nongovernmental organizations, corporations and members of the scientific community and academia signed up to take part. Yet while representatives from America’s private sector and academic community …

Climate and Environment, Sustainable Development Goals, US-UN Relations

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Who’s on the Security Council? New York City Junior Ambassadors Tour the UN

March 17, 2017

by Lori Silberman Brauner

They have years to go before they could conceivably sit in the Security Council seat as the United States ambassador to the United Nations, participate in a high-level summit on refugees or cast a vote for their country in the General Assembly. But for a select group of New York City students, the ways …

Education, Security Council, UN Diplomats, UN-NY Relations

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Eerie Parallels With Nazi Propaganda and Today’s Populism Revealed in UN Exhibition

February 3, 2017

by Lori Silberman Brauner

While intended to coincide with the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, a new exhibition at the United Nations on Nazi propaganda contains eerie parallels to today’s heated political climate in the United States and beyond concerning refugees, immigration and other urgent problems that have helped far-right parties …

Human Rights

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TOPIC: WOMEN

In Reducing Maternal Deaths, Too Much Care Can Be as Damaging as Too Little

October 31, 2016

by Lori Silberman Brauner

The United Nations has been loudly broadcasting the good news in the last few years about the overall reduction in maternal mortality globally, but what it has not vocalized as well is that the gap doubled between countries with the lowest and highest rates of maternal deaths from 1990 to 2013. That gap continues …

Gender-Based Violence, Health and Population, Women

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Only 1 Woman in Top-3 Winners Again in UN Secretary-General Vote

August 5, 2016

by Lori Silberman Brauner

With 11 candidates left in the race this year for United Nations secretary-general, the Security Council held its second straw poll on Aug. 5, showing a slight shift in levels of support by the council’s 15 members, but placing António Guterres of Portugal at the top again. Yet once more, only one woman, this …

Secretary-General

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At UN, Momentum Is Gaining to End Modern-Day Slavery and Human Trafficking

April 11, 2016

by Lori Silberman Brauner

Experts on human trafficking and slavery are calling for strong involvement by the private sector in tackling the enormous challenge of these abuses, particularly with girls and women. At the same time, the experts, who spoke at a recent panel discussion held at the United Nations, recognized the daunting task in asking industry to …

Asia, Human Rights, Human Trafficking, Poverty, Sustainable Development Goals, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Women

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A New Campaign, #EveryHourMatters, Urges Instant Post-Rape Care

March 28, 2016

by Lori Silberman Brauner

Maureen Phiri, a young girl from a poor family in Malawi, was only 11 years old when she was raped by the man who had hired her to do housework for him and his wife. Not only did Maureen continue to experience sexual abuse from the man she worked for, he left her with another …

Gender-Based Violence, Health and Population, UN Agencies, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Women

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As Women’s Rights Gain Broadly in Africa, the Global Picture Looks More Mixed

March 15, 2016

by Lori Silberman Brauner

Hailing from various corners of the world, five activists gathered in New York recently to assess the progress of women’s rights globally — presenting a mixed picture of gains in Africa but threats to women’s rights through new programs countering violent extremism — just as the world celebrated International Women’s Day. The five women, …

Africa, Gender-Based Violence, Human Rights, Latin America, Women

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Ending Female Cutting: Cause for Celebration or Worry?

February 15, 2016

by Lori Silberman Brauner

It is not often that the word “clitoris” is uttered in public forums of the United Nations. Yet participants in the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation at UN headquarters recently heard that word repeatedly, along with poignant stories of survivors of the painful, bloody and sometimes-fatal procedure at an event marking …

Gender-Based Violence, Women

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The UN’s Support of Midwifery and the Serious Gaps That Remain

December 21, 2015

by Lori Silberman Brauner

Midwifery is one of the world’s most ancient vocations, its practitioners playing a prominent role dating back to the Bible. In much of the world, midwives continue to play an important role in maintaining the health of women and newborns. It should come as no surprise, then, that investments in this occupation, according to …