DECEMBER 10 message-(Editor’s Note) President Margaret sent this letter to us from letter posted on the Hamlin Society website from James Grainger,Executive Officer Hamlin Fistula® Relief and Aid Fund and asked me to share it with Soroptimists on our Programme Blog! We are all pleased to get this recognition from our partner on their website!
“Restoring Dignity – Securing a Future”
The 2008 Soroptimist International President’s Day Appeal – 10th December 2008 - is supporting the further development of Desta Mender, the special village which provides long term care and rehabilitation to fistula patients who cannot be completely cured. The 2007 President’s Day Appeal raised substantial moneys from Soroptimists around the world and the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital and the Hamlin Fistula® Relief and Aid Fund in Australia is once again very appreciative of Soroptimist International’s continuing support for this vital work of restoring dignity and securing the future of long term sufferers of obstetric fistulae. For further details click on the following link: www.soroptimistinternational.org/html/president_s_appeal.html] ..
In addition, there will certainly be appreciation given for SI support past and present in the next quarterly Newsletter. ( for more information on this you can also look at our 10/23/08 posting-More SI News for Members)
( President Elect Hanne recently completed her visit to our UN Centre in Vienna. She has written a really interesting article that will be posted in its entirety on the SI Webite at www.soroptimistinternational.org. Here is an excerpt to whet your appetite!)
Report from a Visit at UN in Vienna
By SI President Elect Hanne Jensbo.
To enter a UN centre is for me great and overwhelming and the imposing buildings make me feel tiny and insignificant.
But guided and mentally backed-up by our two efficient and committed UN representatives in Vienna, Roswitha Benesch and Karin Tripp I was led to different interviews at the UN centre in Vienna in October, where Roswitha and Karin had arranged some meetings with interesting UN staff members in the two departments UNODC and UNIDO. Both of them have their headquarters in Vienna and are the two main areas, where SI is lobbying.
UNODC stands for United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. SIs main interest is related to the sectors on Drug Abuse and Human Trafficking, which are two of the important departments of the UNODC.
UNIDO stands for United Nations Industrial Development Organization, which, assisted by 2800 experts, works for reducing poverty through sustainable growth in 78 countries.
My main impression from the 6 interviews, we had, are
*that the UN staff appreciated our “knocking-at-the-door”, as very few NGO’s come spontaneously for a visit and a talk,
*that they were interested to hear about SIs activities within their fields and were open for discussion on closer cooperation
* that they all appreciate the work which is done by SI and other NGOs and said “please continue your nagging. It is so important for UN and the member states to hear the voices from the grassroots.”
*that SI is well known and respected as a NGO at UN in Vienna........
(..... now go to our SI Website http://www.soroptimistinternational.org/ to read more specifics from PE Hanne's interesting report!)
Friday, December 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 16 Days & DOHA!
URGENT NEED FOR SOROPTIMISTS TO SIGN THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS!
We have received a request from the United Nations to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They are hoping to have a billion signatures including YOURS. Please cascade widely. Here is the link:
http://www.everyhumanhasrights.org/
INFORMATION KIT FOR OBSERVING 2008 Human Rights Day ( DECEMBER 10)
Dear Colleagues and partners,
Please find attached this year's information kit for 2008 Human Rights Day to be observed on 10 December. Feel free to use its contents as you wish for your events and activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) You can adapt them to your audiences and translate them into your local language. The kit includes five information notes:
- A summary of events that took place around the world throughout 2008 to mark the 60th anniversary;
- Information on the "Stories on Human Rights" films;
- Background information on the Human Rights Prize; - Useful tools and contacts;
- Human Rights Education and the UDHR, in the context of the International Year of Human Rights Learning. The English version of the Information Kit is already posted on the UDHR 60 section of our website: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/60UDHRIntroduction.aspx Other languages versions (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) will be posted soon.
A number of public information documents, including the special logo, more than 360 translations of the UDHR, photographs and background information as well as a list of ideas for activities, are at your disposal on our webpage to help you commemorate this anniversary. All documents are downloadable and printable for your convenience. They may be helpful in any event you may be preparing. Visit this page frequently for updates.
16 Days of Activism
Joining the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign, members of the International Coalition on Women Human Rights Defenders honor 16 women human rights defenders who have endured all risks and dangers to pursue their activism.
Who are the 16 women human rights defenders? Full story via this link:
http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/kit08/exhibit/intro.html
To learn more about Every Human Has Rights campaign activity in 2008 so far and what's happening now at http://www.everyhumanhasright.org/
Posting from Patti
Patti Dolan- SI monitor for Doha
Dear Soroptimists- How lucky that we have Soroptimists who are interested in our new Programme Blog. We have asked Patti Dolan, a SI member and past Region Governor from Western Canada SI/A to be our Doha Monitor. Here is her article:
I received a notice for the Doha Global Civil Society Forum to be held in Doha, Qatar, on November 29th to December 2nd, 2008. The Doha Declaration (http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/dohaexplained_e.htm ) was developed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001 to eradicate poverty, achieve sustained economic growth and promote sustainable development in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
The agreement further states the goals are to achieve gender equality, promote micro credit, to remove gender biases in labor and financial markets; as well as ownership of assets and property rights.
The Doha Declaration had caught my interest for a number of reasons. It reminded me of a quote from Thornton Wilder “Money is like manure; it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around encouraging young things to grow”
A number of years ago I was involved in a letter writing campaign to influence my country’s federal government to uphold their commitments to the Doha Declaration.
The first campaign was to encourage pharmaceutical companies to provide HIV/AIDs drugs in a generic form to developing countries. The costs of antiviral drugs are thousands of dollars annually compared to the generic version which costs approximately $1 per day.
The second campaign was to remind the Canadian government of their commitment to provide 0.7 per cent of the country’s Gross National Income (GNI) to developing countries. The internationally agreed development goals are to provide 0.7 per cent of their national GNI with a specific target of .15 to .20 by 2010.
With the present global financial crisis it is imperative that we remain diligent on monitoring the outcome of the Doha Declaration. As a member you can follow the progress of this meeting by visiting http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/doha/ and subscribe to the newsletter.
How does this impact you as a member of Soroptimist International? A number of our 2007 – 2011 Programme Focus Objectives are identical to those of the Doha Declaration.
What can you do as a member of Soroptimist International? Contact YOUR government representative and ask how YOUR country is supporting the Doha Declaration. Advocate for the women we support globally. Be the “Global Voice for women."
We have received a request from the United Nations to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They are hoping to have a billion signatures including YOURS. Please cascade widely. Here is the link:
http://www.everyhumanhasrights.org/
INFORMATION KIT FOR OBSERVING 2008 Human Rights Day ( DECEMBER 10)
Dear Colleagues and partners,
Please find attached this year's information kit for 2008 Human Rights Day to be observed on 10 December. Feel free to use its contents as you wish for your events and activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) You can adapt them to your audiences and translate them into your local language. The kit includes five information notes:
- A summary of events that took place around the world throughout 2008 to mark the 60th anniversary;
- Information on the "Stories on Human Rights" films;
- Background information on the Human Rights Prize; - Useful tools and contacts;
- Human Rights Education and the UDHR, in the context of the International Year of Human Rights Learning. The English version of the Information Kit is already posted on the UDHR 60 section of our website: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/60UDHRIntroduction.aspx Other languages versions (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) will be posted soon.
A number of public information documents, including the special logo, more than 360 translations of the UDHR, photographs and background information as well as a list of ideas for activities, are at your disposal on our webpage to help you commemorate this anniversary. All documents are downloadable and printable for your convenience. They may be helpful in any event you may be preparing. Visit this page frequently for updates.
16 Days of Activism
Joining the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign, members of the International Coalition on Women Human Rights Defenders honor 16 women human rights defenders who have endured all risks and dangers to pursue their activism.
Who are the 16 women human rights defenders? Full story via this link:
http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/kit08/exhibit/intro.html
To learn more about Every Human Has Rights campaign activity in 2008 so far and what's happening now at http://www.everyhumanhasright.org/
Posting from Patti
Patti Dolan- SI monitor for Doha
Dear Soroptimists- How lucky that we have Soroptimists who are interested in our new Programme Blog. We have asked Patti Dolan, a SI member and past Region Governor from Western Canada SI/A to be our Doha Monitor. Here is her article:
I received a notice for the Doha Global Civil Society Forum to be held in Doha, Qatar, on November 29th to December 2nd, 2008. The Doha Declaration (http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/dohaexplained_e.htm ) was developed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001 to eradicate poverty, achieve sustained economic growth and promote sustainable development in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
The agreement further states the goals are to achieve gender equality, promote micro credit, to remove gender biases in labor and financial markets; as well as ownership of assets and property rights.
The Doha Declaration had caught my interest for a number of reasons. It reminded me of a quote from Thornton Wilder “Money is like manure; it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around encouraging young things to grow”
A number of years ago I was involved in a letter writing campaign to influence my country’s federal government to uphold their commitments to the Doha Declaration.
The first campaign was to encourage pharmaceutical companies to provide HIV/AIDs drugs in a generic form to developing countries. The costs of antiviral drugs are thousands of dollars annually compared to the generic version which costs approximately $1 per day.
The second campaign was to remind the Canadian government of their commitment to provide 0.7 per cent of the country’s Gross National Income (GNI) to developing countries. The internationally agreed development goals are to provide 0.7 per cent of their national GNI with a specific target of .15 to .20 by 2010.
With the present global financial crisis it is imperative that we remain diligent on monitoring the outcome of the Doha Declaration. As a member you can follow the progress of this meeting by visiting http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/doha/ and subscribe to the newsletter.
How does this impact you as a member of Soroptimist International? A number of our 2007 – 2011 Programme Focus Objectives are identical to those of the Doha Declaration.
What can you do as a member of Soroptimist International? Contact YOUR government representative and ask how YOUR country is supporting the Doha Declaration. Advocate for the women we support globally. Be the “Global Voice for women."
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
WORLD HUNGER DAY-Food for Thought and Action
News from SI Representative to UN- ROME- Else Larsen from Rome ( site of Food Agriculture Organization) Else recently attended a meeting in Rome on behalf of SI. Following is an excerpt from the article she wrote that will be posted in its entirety on the SI Website www.soroptimistinternational.org . On the subject of food....we hope this little bit of information whets your appetite to learn more........
Climate Change and Bioenergy - the Focus of WORLD FOOD DAY World Food Day is observed annually on 16th October, the anniversary date of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) foundation in 1945. The theme for World Food Day this year (2008) is: ''World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy.''
As SI Representative to FAO I was one of the invited guests, along with 20 other NGO Representatives to FAO and more than 100 delegates from Member Nations of FAO, at this years World Food Day ceremony held at FAO Headquarters in Rome. Apart from attending the official ceremony on 16th October, where the keynote speech was delivered by the First Lady of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak. I also participated in a number of exciting seminars on topics such as: ''Climate Change and its Health Impacts on Food, Water Safety and Nutrition'' and Bioenergy, Agriculture and Rural Development'' organized by FAO in conjunction with the Conference of the Committee of World Food Security At the end of the week, on Sunday 19th October a ''Run for Food Race'' was arranged, along with a cultural show and food fair. at the Stadium next to the ruins of Terme di Caracalla in Rome.
This event, was a real public event and drew huge crowds of Romans and FAO staff with their families and friends, who all ran for a good course, while also enjoying a beautiful autumn Sunday at the historical setting at the Stadium of Terme di Caracalla in Rome. The ''Run for for Food Race'' was a fun way to spend an autumn Sunday in Rome, while also reflecting on the bigger issues of hunger and poverty in the world, climate change; bioenergy and many other topics that had been discussed in depth during the week at FAO Headquarters.
Food for Thought – What can we learn?
· The achievement of MDG 1 – reducing by half the number of hungry people in the world is becoming extremely difficult. To day the global number of undernourished and hungry people is estimated at 923 million against 842 million in 1990-92. (FAO)
· Food Prices in the foreseeable future are likely to remain above the levels of the previous 10 years. This is due mainly to:
(1) unpredictable weather patterns; land and water constraints; high fertilizer prices and transportations costs;
(2) continued high demand for first generation biofuels (sugar, maize, cassava, oilseeds and palm oil), partly driven by high oil prices and government policies and partly by slow development of second generation biofuels and technologies – and
(3) economic growth in large emerging economies (China and India) which will raise the purchasing power and change the dietary habits (more demand for meat and dairy products) of millions of people.
· Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the nutritional effects of high food prices and particularly female-headed households in rural and urban poor households in sub-Saharan Africa, where numbers of hungry people have increased the most since 1990-92.
Else ended her article with several great suggestions....here is one of them!
· Participate in the annual UN World Food Programme/FAO organized “End Hunger-Walk the World” event, which raises awareness of child hunger in the world and raises funds for school meals for children from poor households in developing countries. Next “End Hunger-Walk the World” date is Sunday 7th June 2009 (http://www.wfp.org/)
Climate Change and Bioenergy - the Focus of WORLD FOOD DAY World Food Day is observed annually on 16th October, the anniversary date of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) foundation in 1945. The theme for World Food Day this year (2008) is: ''World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy.''
As SI Representative to FAO I was one of the invited guests, along with 20 other NGO Representatives to FAO and more than 100 delegates from Member Nations of FAO, at this years World Food Day ceremony held at FAO Headquarters in Rome. Apart from attending the official ceremony on 16th October, where the keynote speech was delivered by the First Lady of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak. I also participated in a number of exciting seminars on topics such as: ''Climate Change and its Health Impacts on Food, Water Safety and Nutrition'' and Bioenergy, Agriculture and Rural Development'' organized by FAO in conjunction with the Conference of the Committee of World Food Security At the end of the week, on Sunday 19th October a ''Run for Food Race'' was arranged, along with a cultural show and food fair. at the Stadium next to the ruins of Terme di Caracalla in Rome.
This event, was a real public event and drew huge crowds of Romans and FAO staff with their families and friends, who all ran for a good course, while also enjoying a beautiful autumn Sunday at the historical setting at the Stadium of Terme di Caracalla in Rome. The ''Run for for Food Race'' was a fun way to spend an autumn Sunday in Rome, while also reflecting on the bigger issues of hunger and poverty in the world, climate change; bioenergy and many other topics that had been discussed in depth during the week at FAO Headquarters.
Food for Thought – What can we learn?
· The achievement of MDG 1 – reducing by half the number of hungry people in the world is becoming extremely difficult. To day the global number of undernourished and hungry people is estimated at 923 million against 842 million in 1990-92. (FAO)
· Food Prices in the foreseeable future are likely to remain above the levels of the previous 10 years. This is due mainly to:
(1) unpredictable weather patterns; land and water constraints; high fertilizer prices and transportations costs;
(2) continued high demand for first generation biofuels (sugar, maize, cassava, oilseeds and palm oil), partly driven by high oil prices and government policies and partly by slow development of second generation biofuels and technologies – and
(3) economic growth in large emerging economies (China and India) which will raise the purchasing power and change the dietary habits (more demand for meat and dairy products) of millions of people.
· Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the nutritional effects of high food prices and particularly female-headed households in rural and urban poor households in sub-Saharan Africa, where numbers of hungry people have increased the most since 1990-92.
Else ended her article with several great suggestions....here is one of them!
· Participate in the annual UN World Food Programme/FAO organized “End Hunger-Walk the World” event, which raises awareness of child hunger in the world and raises funds for school meals for children from poor households in developing countries. Next “End Hunger-Walk the World” date is Sunday 7th June 2009 (http://www.wfp.org/)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
UNIFEM- SAY NO CAMPAIGN- 1 million signatures
UPDATE- 12/12/08- go to www.saynotoviolence to find the FABULOUS RESULTS!)
30 days and counting to reach Say NO campaign one million signatures goal ...
Dear Friends,
Thanks to you,
more than 375,000 individuals have given their names to UNIFEM to be counted in the Say NO to Violence against Women campaign, helping to break the silence and give voice to women and girls who have experienced violence.
The 25 November challenge? To deliver one million names to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 25 November.
Why is it so important? To demonstrate the broad-based international support for making ending violence against women a top priority.
How to beat the challenge? Spread and post UNIFEM’s Say NO Widget — specially designed for websites:If you have a website, blog or social networking site (for example, Facebook, MySpace), you can put the Say NO to Violence against Women widget on your page and collect names for the campaign right on your website.
Go to http://rocketxl.com/unifem
Click on “Embed” Press the Facebook, MySpace or LiveJournal button (depending on the type of networking site you have), Or “click here to grab code” — the code will be copied to your clipboard and you can paste it on your homepage or organization’s website.
That’s it! Now you can collect names and keep track of how many people have said NO on your website. Please Use and Spread the Say NO Widget
Organizations and webmasters prominently post the UNIFEM Say NO widget on your organization’s home page.
Use the widget to start a friendly competition among organization members — offer a prize or recognition and watch the numbers climb.
Send to members a “Say NO campaign bulletin” that features the widget tool.
Involve young people in the effort — experts in social media, Facebook, MySpace, etc.
Because of the technical requirements, the Widget works in the Flash computer language and not HTML. The current UNIFEM HTML-based site,
http://www.saynotoviolence.org/, continues to run, so please, make full use of it.
Thank you so much for being a key outreach advocate. Please send feedback or questions to Rita Gibbons (rita.gibbons@unifem.org) of the UNIFEM Say NO Outreach Team.
As we race to 25 November, we’ll continue to report back on progress.
—Nanette Braun, UNIFEM Communications—Joan Libby-Hawk, UNIFEM Public Affairs
30 days and counting to reach Say NO campaign one million signatures goal ...
Dear Friends,
Thanks to you,
more than 375,000 individuals have given their names to UNIFEM to be counted in the Say NO to Violence against Women campaign, helping to break the silence and give voice to women and girls who have experienced violence.
The 25 November challenge? To deliver one million names to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 25 November.
Why is it so important? To demonstrate the broad-based international support for making ending violence against women a top priority.
How to beat the challenge? Spread and post UNIFEM’s Say NO Widget — specially designed for websites:If you have a website, blog or social networking site (for example, Facebook, MySpace), you can put the Say NO to Violence against Women widget on your page and collect names for the campaign right on your website.
Go to http://rocketxl.com/unifem
Click on “Embed” Press the Facebook, MySpace or LiveJournal button (depending on the type of networking site you have), Or “click here to grab code” — the code will be copied to your clipboard and you can paste it on your homepage or organization’s website.
That’s it! Now you can collect names and keep track of how many people have said NO on your website. Please Use and Spread the Say NO Widget
Organizations and webmasters prominently post the UNIFEM Say NO widget on your organization’s home page.
Use the widget to start a friendly competition among organization members — offer a prize or recognition and watch the numbers climb.
Send to members a “Say NO campaign bulletin” that features the widget tool.
Involve young people in the effort — experts in social media, Facebook, MySpace, etc.
Because of the technical requirements, the Widget works in the Flash computer language and not HTML. The current UNIFEM HTML-based site,
http://www.saynotoviolence.org/, continues to run, so please, make full use of it.
Thank you so much for being a key outreach advocate. Please send feedback or questions to Rita Gibbons (rita.gibbons@unifem.org) of the UNIFEM Say NO Outreach Team.
As we race to 25 November, we’ll continue to report back on progress.
—Nanette Braun, UNIFEM Communications—Joan Libby-Hawk, UNIFEM Public Affairs
Thursday, October 23, 2008
MORE NEW SI NEWS FOR MEMBERS!
INFORMATION SENT TO THE SI FEDERATIONS
1. Commission on the Status of Women March 2009 United Nations New York- A letter was sent to each Federation inviting them to participate in CSW 2009. The The theme this year is focused on The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS. Soroptimist members will want to contact their Federations to learn more about participation in CSW .
1. Commission on the Status of Women March 2009 United Nations New York- A letter was sent to each Federation inviting them to participate in CSW 2009. The The theme this year is focused on The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS. Soroptimist members will want to contact their Federations to learn more about participation in CSW .
2. BEST PRACTICES Award Themes Announced for the Next three years! Following is an excerpt from the recent letter being distributed through each federation:
SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICE AWARDS- Strategy for 2008-2011
The SI Best Practice Awards are given annually to acknowledge projects of excellence planned and carried out by Soroptimists all over the world. Each year the theme for the awards changes to reflect the wide variety of work done.
For the next three years we want to ‘focus on the Focus’! There are ten Programme Focus Objectives for the present Quadrennium and focusing on these over the next three years will celebrate the wide variety of projects we do.
2008-2009 will focus on objectives 1-4
2009-2010 will focus on objectives 5-7
2010-2011 will focus on objectives 8-10
The SI Programme Focus Objectives are listed in full on the website http://www.soroptimistinternational.org/
This year the projects awarded will reflect work done on the following objectives:-
1.‘Eliminate poverty and gender discrimination through ensuring women’s full social and economic rights’
2.‘End human trafficking and all forms of violence against women and girls’
3.‘Ensure access to health care for women and girls’
4.‘Support programmes and policies that eliminate HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other major diseases
Please be looking out for projects to put forward for the awards through your federations. Full details will follow shortly.
We know that there will be many to choose from, and that choices are often difficult but we want to celebrate best practice in our organisation.Please address any queries to Margaret Cook, Assistant Programme Director. programme.assistant@soroptimistinternational.org
What's New!
1. New Programme Focus Form launched! Try out the on-line report form via this link: http://www.soroptimistinternational.org/html/online_reporting.html
http://www.soroptimistinternational.org/
2. Report from DPI/ NGO ( Department of Public Information and Non Governmnental Organizations Conference) held in Paris at UNESCO in September 2008. SI had 8 participants including 3 under 30 year old women who competed through an application process to be chosen to be part of the delegation. The final report has been finished with thoughts from each of the attendees.
New Information From the UN on Obstetric Fistula
*13 October 2008*
*UNITED NATIONS, New York*—As the first-ever report <http://www.unfpa.org/fistula/docs/sg_obstetric_fistula.pdf> by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon presented to Member States the Campaign to End Fistula announced a fourfold increase in the number of countries it serves. According to its annual report, the campaign now works to prevent and treat fistula in over 45 countries in Africa, Asia and the Arab States. When the Campaign to End Fistula was launched in 2003, it covered 12 countries.
The Secretary-General’s report on supporting efforts to end obstetric fistula, issued in response to a request by the General Assembly, outlines efforts to end obstetric fistula and help achieve Millennium Development Goal 5 (Improve Maternal Health), including strengthening health systems and increasing funding.
At least 2 million women in Africa, Asia and the Arab region are living with obstetric fistula, a hole in the birth canal caused by prolonged labour without prompt medical intervention. Every year some 50,000 to 100,000 new cases develop, with severe social and medical consequences for the women affected.
“The consequences of fistula are life shattering,” said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. “The baby often dies and the woman is left with chronic incontinence, greatly diminishing her prospects for work and family life.”
While obstetric fistula is uncommon in countries where births are attended by skilled medical workers and emergency obstetric care is available, and where women can exercise their right to determine the number and spacing of their children, it occurs disproportionately among poor girls and women, especially those living far from medical services and with lack of access to family planning.
Launched by UNFPA and partners, the global Campaign to End Fistula <http://www.endfistula.org/> aims at eliminating fistula by 2015 by preventing it and restoring the health and dignity of women living with its consequences. The campaign’s annual report, released today, shows that it is active in 45 countries and has supported treatment for over 7,800 women. In 2007 alone, the Campaign provided training for more than 500 professionals in fistula treatment and care and strengthened the capacity to provide fistula treatment in 89 health centres. Since 2003, the campaign has raised more than $25 million in contributions and educated tens of thousands of individuals, community leaders and policymakers about fistula.
“Because of poverty, women suffering from fistula lack the means to cover the full cost of their surgery," said Dr. Dolores Nembunzu, a fistula surgeon in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Through advocacy we can reach the women who are hidden, and give them support and access to information about treatment."
While affecting the most vulnerable members of society, fistula touches on reproductive health and rights, gender equality, poverty and adolescent reproductive health. Like maternal death, fistula is almost entirely preventable, but its persistence signals that health systems are currently failing to meet women's needs.
*UNITED NATIONS, New York*—As the first-ever report <http://www.unfpa.org/fistula/docs/sg_obstetric_fistula.pdf> by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon presented to Member States the Campaign to End Fistula announced a fourfold increase in the number of countries it serves. According to its annual report, the campaign now works to prevent and treat fistula in over 45 countries in Africa, Asia and the Arab States. When the Campaign to End Fistula was launched in 2003, it covered 12 countries.
The Secretary-General’s report on supporting efforts to end obstetric fistula, issued in response to a request by the General Assembly, outlines efforts to end obstetric fistula and help achieve Millennium Development Goal 5 (Improve Maternal Health), including strengthening health systems and increasing funding.
At least 2 million women in Africa, Asia and the Arab region are living with obstetric fistula, a hole in the birth canal caused by prolonged labour without prompt medical intervention. Every year some 50,000 to 100,000 new cases develop, with severe social and medical consequences for the women affected.
“The consequences of fistula are life shattering,” said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. “The baby often dies and the woman is left with chronic incontinence, greatly diminishing her prospects for work and family life.”
While obstetric fistula is uncommon in countries where births are attended by skilled medical workers and emergency obstetric care is available, and where women can exercise their right to determine the number and spacing of their children, it occurs disproportionately among poor girls and women, especially those living far from medical services and with lack of access to family planning.
Launched by UNFPA and partners, the global Campaign to End Fistula <http://www.endfistula.org/> aims at eliminating fistula by 2015 by preventing it and restoring the health and dignity of women living with its consequences. The campaign’s annual report, released today, shows that it is active in 45 countries and has supported treatment for over 7,800 women. In 2007 alone, the Campaign provided training for more than 500 professionals in fistula treatment and care and strengthened the capacity to provide fistula treatment in 89 health centres. Since 2003, the campaign has raised more than $25 million in contributions and educated tens of thousands of individuals, community leaders and policymakers about fistula.
“Because of poverty, women suffering from fistula lack the means to cover the full cost of their surgery," said Dr. Dolores Nembunzu, a fistula surgeon in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Through advocacy we can reach the women who are hidden, and give them support and access to information about treatment."
While affecting the most vulnerable members of society, fistula touches on reproductive health and rights, gender equality, poverty and adolescent reproductive health. Like maternal death, fistula is almost entirely preventable, but its persistence signals that health systems are currently failing to meet women's needs.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
SI Programme Update- October 2008
Welcome to our first Soroptimist International Programme Blogspot
This will be a quick way to get quick programme information on current activities that SI is involved in around the world.
Information posted on this blogspot needs to be sent to programme.director@soroptimistinternational.org. It will be reviewed by selected members of the executive Programme Team and posted to the blogspot.
New Resources Available
Human Rights concertina Leaflet launched at DPI/NGO ( United Nations Department of Puplic Information and Non Governmental Organization) Conference Paris September 2008- these little booklets describe a bit about Soroptimist International specifically focusing on Human Rights since this year is the 60th anniversary of the International Declaration of Human Rights. You can get them from your Federation!
2008 Best Practices Booklet- 16 projects from around the world have been featured in a small booklet produced by SI and available through your Federation.
Current Activity by Your SI Programme Team
Long Term Project- Your SI Programme Team will be working within their federations to get ideas and suggestions for future Long Term Projects to be launched by SI in Montreal, 2011! Stay tuned and connected to your Federation’s Programme Director or Liaison so you can be a part of this interesting project development process.
Participation in DPI/NGO in Paris and preparation for CSW 2009!- The composite DPI/NGO report will soon be sent to SI leaders around the world and posted on the website. You can be proud that SI had a delegation of 8 people from world- three of them young and fairly new Soroptimist members who applied to attend and funded their own attendance! You will enjoy their reports and stories immensely!
Preparing for CSW 2009
Invitation to Attend CSW as part of the Delegation- A letter will soon go out, inviting Federations to participate at their own expense in CSW 2009. Attendees and members “monitoring CSW” will want to join those of us and start being prepared. From our UN Representatives in New York:
Lois Beilin writes to all of us preparing for the Commission on the Status of Women to be held in New York at the UN March 1-13 2009.
The theme focuses on “the sharing responsibility for caregiving by men and women- particularly as it relates to HIV/AIDS
I want to notify all those interested in the CSW for 2009 of the papers they can download and read in preparation for the CSW.
First, go to www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/52sess.
Second, click on the Division for the Advancement of Women.. You see a row of icons - click on EXPERT GROUP MEETINGS. These are the expert papers being presented in Geneva Oct. 6 - 8, 2008.
Third, I would recommend especially the paper AIDE-MEMOIRE, but others are also important for Soroptimists attending.
Featured Report –
following is a little “snippet” from a recent report about GEAR -GENDER EQUALITY ARCHITECTURE REFORM (GEAR) GAINS RESPECT- written by Linda Stillman- on of our NY Reps to the UN. - This report applies to Focus Objective 10: Assure women’s advancement in management, politics and decision-making at the United Nations and the other nine programme focus objectives that are directly connected UN and SI endeavors.
World women’s leader Charlotte Bunch, Director of the Center for Women’s Global Leadership, presented an executive summary and shared the recent success of the GEAR campaign at the opening session of the NGO CSW at UN Headquarters, Thursday, September 18, 2008.
This necessary and provocative topic, revolving around Gender Equality and Women’s Rights, challenges how the UN can deliver a more comprehensive “women’s entity” for human rights and social development, worldwide. UN reform officially began in 2006, and the Coherence Panel recognized the need to strengthen UN work for women, that provides the policies and guidelines for governments and NGOs such as SI to consider and adhere through awareness, advocacy and action.
To strengthen work on UN Women’s Rights the Resolution called for:
· Increase resources
· Provide higher level of representation at the UN
· Create field presence at the country level for women/girls issues
· Introduce a new women entity for women’s right and gender mainstreaming
The Resolution also called for “delivering as one” at the country level to harmonize governance, economic resources, budget, funding, gender equality and empowerment in a coherent process, rather than work with multiple factions, often in competition and contention. The focus is to stress human rights, peace and sustainable social development for women/girls.
This will be a quick way to get quick programme information on current activities that SI is involved in around the world.
Information posted on this blogspot needs to be sent to programme.director@soroptimistinternational.org. It will be reviewed by selected members of the executive Programme Team and posted to the blogspot.
New Resources Available
Human Rights concertina Leaflet launched at DPI/NGO ( United Nations Department of Puplic Information and Non Governmental Organization) Conference Paris September 2008- these little booklets describe a bit about Soroptimist International specifically focusing on Human Rights since this year is the 60th anniversary of the International Declaration of Human Rights. You can get them from your Federation!
2008 Best Practices Booklet- 16 projects from around the world have been featured in a small booklet produced by SI and available through your Federation.
Current Activity by Your SI Programme Team
Long Term Project- Your SI Programme Team will be working within their federations to get ideas and suggestions for future Long Term Projects to be launched by SI in Montreal, 2011! Stay tuned and connected to your Federation’s Programme Director or Liaison so you can be a part of this interesting project development process.
Participation in DPI/NGO in Paris and preparation for CSW 2009!- The composite DPI/NGO report will soon be sent to SI leaders around the world and posted on the website. You can be proud that SI had a delegation of 8 people from world- three of them young and fairly new Soroptimist members who applied to attend and funded their own attendance! You will enjoy their reports and stories immensely!
Preparing for CSW 2009
Invitation to Attend CSW as part of the Delegation- A letter will soon go out, inviting Federations to participate at their own expense in CSW 2009. Attendees and members “monitoring CSW” will want to join those of us and start being prepared. From our UN Representatives in New York:
Lois Beilin writes to all of us preparing for the Commission on the Status of Women to be held in New York at the UN March 1-13 2009.
The theme focuses on “the sharing responsibility for caregiving by men and women- particularly as it relates to HIV/AIDS
I want to notify all those interested in the CSW for 2009 of the papers they can download and read in preparation for the CSW.
First, go to www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/52sess.
Second, click on the Division for the Advancement of Women.. You see a row of icons - click on EXPERT GROUP MEETINGS. These are the expert papers being presented in Geneva Oct. 6 - 8, 2008.
Third, I would recommend especially the paper AIDE-MEMOIRE, but others are also important for Soroptimists attending.
Featured Report –
following is a little “snippet” from a recent report about GEAR -GENDER EQUALITY ARCHITECTURE REFORM (GEAR) GAINS RESPECT- written by Linda Stillman- on of our NY Reps to the UN. - This report applies to Focus Objective 10: Assure women’s advancement in management, politics and decision-making at the United Nations and the other nine programme focus objectives that are directly connected UN and SI endeavors.
World women’s leader Charlotte Bunch, Director of the Center for Women’s Global Leadership, presented an executive summary and shared the recent success of the GEAR campaign at the opening session of the NGO CSW at UN Headquarters, Thursday, September 18, 2008.
This necessary and provocative topic, revolving around Gender Equality and Women’s Rights, challenges how the UN can deliver a more comprehensive “women’s entity” for human rights and social development, worldwide. UN reform officially began in 2006, and the Coherence Panel recognized the need to strengthen UN work for women, that provides the policies and guidelines for governments and NGOs such as SI to consider and adhere through awareness, advocacy and action.
To strengthen work on UN Women’s Rights the Resolution called for:
· Increase resources
· Provide higher level of representation at the UN
· Create field presence at the country level for women/girls issues
· Introduce a new women entity for women’s right and gender mainstreaming
The Resolution also called for “delivering as one” at the country level to harmonize governance, economic resources, budget, funding, gender equality and empowerment in a coherent process, rather than work with multiple factions, often in competition and contention. The focus is to stress human rights, peace and sustainable social development for women/girls.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
