An expert in human rights, political development and stakeholder engagement, Christine Chung has worked for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. She focuses on women’s political participation and women’s and girls’ rights, with diverse experience in community health projects in rural Haiti, studying the legacy of family planning policies in India and advising on agri-business development. She is a senior advisor to the Leiden Asia Centre and the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/contributor/christine-chung/rss en Overweight and Obesity Fri, 15 Dec 2017 03:17:41 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/malnutrition/articles/2017/12/15/obesity-and-malnutrition-two-sides-of-one-crisis-2 https://www.newsdeeply.com/malnutrition/articles/2017/12/15/obesity-and-malnutrition-two-sides-of-one-crisis-2 Nearly one-third of the world is obese or overweight, leading to a rise in chronic diseases in developing countries. Combating the problem requires funding, innovation and an understanding of the link to undernutrition. Maternal and Child Health Fri, 15 Dec 2017 03:16:49 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/malnutrition/articles/2017/12/15/to-end-malnutrition-empower-women-say-experts-2 https://www.newsdeeply.com/malnutrition/articles/2017/12/15/to-end-malnutrition-empower-women-say-experts-2 Malnutrition doesn’t begin or end with stunted toddlers. Nearly 800 million people are going hungry – an intergenerational cycle of undernutrition with severe consequences. Solving it requires women’s empowerment. Wasting Fri, 15 Dec 2017 03:12:09 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/malnutrition/articles/2017/12/15/why-ending-malnutrition-means-looking-at-rapid-urbanization https://www.newsdeeply.com/malnutrition/articles/2017/12/15/why-ending-malnutrition-means-looking-at-rapid-urbanization Half of the world’s population lives in cities and half of the world suffers from malnutrition. Laurence Haddad, executive director of GAIN, explains that seeing how the two issues are linked will be key to meeting the SDGs on urbanization, hunger and nutrition. Micronutrient Deficiency Fri, 15 Dec 2017 03:10:34 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/malnutrition/articles/2017/12/15/how-fortified-foods-can-tackle-hidden-hunger-2 https://www.newsdeeply.com/malnutrition/articles/2017/12/15/how-fortified-foods-can-tackle-hidden-hunger-2 Some 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient malnutrition, with consequences that include cognitive delays, weakened immunity and increased risk for birth defects. Food fortification is one low-cost solution – and it’s already working. Maternal and Child Health Fri, 15 Dec 2017 03:09:32 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/malnutrition/articles/2017/12/15/why-more-mothers-dont-breastfeed-their-babies-2 https://www.newsdeeply.com/malnutrition/articles/2017/12/15/why-more-mothers-dont-breastfeed-their-babies-2 From barely regulated marketing to a lack of healthcare services, there are many factors that make it difficult for mothers in developing countries to breastfeed their babies. The solution, say experts, requires more than just saying “breast is best.” Health Thu, 17 Nov 2016 16:27:42 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/11/17/women-forefront-fight-eliminate-blinding-trachoma https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/11/17/women-forefront-fight-eliminate-blinding-trachoma Women in the world’s poorest countries may be four times more likely to need eye surgery due to trachoma, but they are also the key to overcoming the cultural barriers that block efforts to eradicate the disease. Health Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:39:59 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/11/15/ending-malnutrition-means-looking-rapid-urbanization https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/11/15/ending-malnutrition-means-looking-rapid-urbanization Half of the world’s population lives in cities and half of the world suffers from malnutrition. Laurence Haddad, executive director of GAIN, explains that seeing how the two issues are linked will be key to meeting the SDGs on urbanization, hunger and nutrition. Crisis and Conflict Mon, 07 Nov 2016 16:27:22 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/11/07/north-korean-mothers-fight-reunite-children-left-china https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/11/07/north-korean-mothers-fight-reunite-children-left-china After escaping North Korea for China, many mothers have been forced to make the difficult decision to abandon their children while fleeing again, this time for South Korea, to avoid repatriation. Now those women are fighting for access to the children they left behind. Health Reproductive Rights Solutions Tue, 01 Nov 2016 11:25:15 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/11/01/newborn-survival-kits-help-children-live-past-first-month https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/11/01/newborn-survival-kits-help-children-live-past-first-month Last year, around 45 percent of all deaths of children under the age of five occurred in the first 28 days of life. A new neonatal survival kit puts medications and supplies into the hands of mothers to help them keep their babies alive. Politics and Policy Wed, 26 Oct 2016 13:45:03 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/10/26/beyond-head-counts-measure-african-womens-political-influence https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/10/26/beyond-head-counts-measure-african-womens-political-influence Studies of women’s political participation tend to focus on totting up MPs and cabinet ministers. A pilot investigation into women’s leadership in African governments and legislatures adds two new indicators to look at their influence, not just the numbers. Health Thu, 13 Oct 2016 12:38:54 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/10/13/blind-bias-women-suffer-preventable-vision-disabilities https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/10/13/blind-bias-women-suffer-preventable-vision-disabilities As the health community marks World Sight Day, women from low- or middle-income countries still make up two-thirds of blind people around the globe – and most of them have a condition that can be cured or prevented. Education Wed, 12 Oct 2016 12:28:04 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/10/12/girls-take-place-table-discuss-u-n-s-2030-agenda https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/10/12/girls-take-place-table-discuss-u-n-s-2030-agenda The U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals promise gender equality, but a panel marking the International Day of the Girl agreed that achieving the goals requires monitoring and active participation by girls to make sure governments deliver. Reproductive Rights Solutions Fri, 07 Oct 2016 10:45:49 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/10/07/path-11-innovations-cut-maternal-child-deaths https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/10/07/path-11-innovations-cut-maternal-child-deaths From clean water solutions to detecting pneumonia and pre-eclampsia, a new report from PATH highlights a handful of key measures that could avert the deaths of over 6 million mothers and children by 2030. Education Gender-Based Violence Tue, 27 Sep 2016 13:12:04 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/27/the-u-n-s-working-group-on-discrimination-against-women-explained https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/27/the-u-n-s-working-group-on-discrimination-against-women-explained The Working Group is a relatively new addition to the U.N.’s arsenal against abuses of women’s rights. Hannah Wu of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights tells us how the group covers its “unique and broad” mandate. Minority Rights Politics and Policy Mon, 12 Sep 2016 11:22:15 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/12/georgia-and-kyrgyzstan-look-to-women-mps-quotas-to-buck-patriarchy https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/12/georgia-and-kyrgyzstan-look-to-women-mps-quotas-to-buck-patriarchy To reach the U.N.’s recommended goal of 30 percent women in parliaments, “temporary special measures” like quotas are often recommended. Two of Central Asia’s more robust democracies are going tentatively down this path. Education Tue, 06 Sep 2016 12:26:37 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/06/a-second-chance-at-education-for-girls-in-niger https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/06/a-second-chance-at-education-for-girls-in-niger In Niger, where 75 percent of girls are married by 18, families often consider their schooling unnecessary. To help some of these girls improve their future prospects, Mercy Corps’ SAFE Schools program combines intensive remedial education with family support. Crisis and Conflict Politics and Policy Mon, 05 Sep 2016 12:13:39 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/05/slow-progress-in-ending-kyrgyzstans-bride-kidnapping-culture https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/09/05/slow-progress-in-ending-kyrgyzstans-bride-kidnapping-culture With existing laws doing little to stop the widespread abduction of women, one-third of Kyrgyzstan’s marriages are non-consensual. Experts say the government must completely overhaul its strategy in order to empower the country’s women and girls. Crisis and Conflict Health Wed, 31 Aug 2016 11:16:51 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/08/31/as-populations-age-women-bear-a-heavier-burden https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/08/31/as-populations-age-women-bear-a-heavier-burden Developing countries are seeing the fastest acceleration in population aging, but policies for hospices and caregivers aren’t keeping pace. For many women, age-based discrimination exacerbates a lifetime of gender inequality. Health Reproductive Rights Mon, 22 Aug 2016 10:10:47 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/08/22/the-search-for-low-cost-solutions-to-infertility https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/08/22/the-search-for-low-cost-solutions-to-infertility Ten percent of women experience infertility, but policymakers and health bodies don’t see it as a priority. Some experts say the inability to have children should be considered a human rights issue, and are looking for ways to get treatment to everyone who needs it. Health Solutions Tue, 16 Aug 2016 09:47:52 +0000 Christine Chung https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/08/16/fighting-the-silent-killer-with-cleaner-cooking https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/08/16/fighting-the-silent-killer-with-cleaner-cooking Each year more than 4 million people die prematurely because of indoor air pollution, with women and children particularly vulnerable. But some organizations say a simple solution already exists: cleaner cookstoves.