STOP THE TRAFFIK
Latest news!!
‘Start Freedom’ a new campaign to be launched on October 14th 2009. This focuses on young people and those involved in teaching and youth work. It is a global campaign designed to make young people aware. It will be launched with a live broadcast at UN HQ in New York on that date. You can sign up to this campaign on line- just go to www.stopthetraffk.org Resources are available too.
‘Stop The Traffk- People should not be bought and sold’ is a book that raises awareness and gives an informed picture of what is happening across the world. Obtainable via the website.
‘Act- Active Communities Against Trafficking’ is a pack designed to promote action and raise awareness within communities.
The Chocolate Campaign is continuing to draw attention to the plight of many children who have been trafficked to work in the cocoa industry. This campaign has met with some success and continues to change children’s lives. To get the latest news please go to www.stopthetraffik.org
This partnership keeps us up to date and gives us further opportunities to act to prevent trafficking in human beings.
Margaret Cook- SI Assistant Programme Director
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Stop The Traffik- New Freedom Campaign
STOP THE TRAFFIK
Latest news!!
‘Start Freedom’ a new campaign to be launched on October 14th 2009. This focuses on young people and those involved in teaching and youth work. It is a global campaign designed to make young people aware. It will be launched with a live broadcast at UN HQ in New York on that date. You can sign up to this campaign on line- just go to www.stopthetraffk.org Resources are available too.
Latest news!!
‘Start Freedom’ a new campaign to be launched on October 14th 2009. This focuses on young people and those involved in teaching and youth work. It is a global campaign designed to make young people aware. It will be launched with a live broadcast at UN HQ in New York on that date. You can sign up to this campaign on line- just go to www.stopthetraffk.org Resources are available too.
‘Stop The Traffk- People should not be bought and sold’ is a book that raises awareness and gives an informed picture of what is happening across the world. Obtainable via the website.
‘Act- Active Communities Against Trafficking’ is a pack designed to promote action and raise awareness within communities.
The Chocolate Campaign is continuing to draw attention to the plight of many children who have been trafficked to work in the cocoa industry. This campaign has met with some success and continues to change children’s lives. To get the latest news please go to www.stopthetraffik.org
This partnership keeps us up to date and gives us further opportunities to act to prevent trafficking in human beings.
Margaret Cook- SI Assistant Programme Director
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
GREAT NEWS FOR WOMEN AT THE UN!
(Editor's Note- Soroptimist International signed on to this campaign in March and the General Assembly passed this historic decision today! Please read the attached article.)
Dear Supporters of GEAR, UN Gender Equality Architecture Reform,
We are very pleased to let you know that the UN General Assembly adopted a
resolution today that takes the next step in the process of creating the new
Women's Rights entity at the UN. In the text below are the GEAR talking
points on the passage of the resolution, and we must now push on our many
remaining points to ensure that the entity that is created serves the rights
and needs of women throughout the world. We will be back in touch after a
few days with suggestions for the next steps in this process.
Congratulations to all for your hard work on this. Charlotte Bunch
___________________________________________________________
GEAR Talking Points on Adoption of System Wide
Coherence Resolution by the UN General Assembly
September 14, 2009
1. The GEAR campaign is pleased that the General Assembly expressed strong
and unanimous support in adopting a resolution today that will enable the
creation of the new gender equality entity to be headed by a new Under
Secretary-General (USG).
2. Women and their allies from around the world have been advocating for
three years for a stronger better resourced agency on gender equality and
women’s empowerment, and look forward to its creation early in 2010 - during
the fifteen anniversary year of the historic UN Fourth World Conference on
Women in Beijing.
3. We urge Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to immediately begin the
recruitment process for appointing a strong leader grounded in women’s
rights and gender equality as the USG who will lead this process of
consolidating the four existing entities. We expect a broad, open search
process to start promptly so that the USG is in place and the entity can be
operational by the time of the Beijing + 15 Review at the Commission on the
Status of Women in March of 2010.
4. Member states must also address in a timely fashion all the outstanding
issues required for the entity to begin operations, including the mechanisms
for governance and oversight.
5. Donor countries need to pledge the substantial funding ($1 billion) to
support the proposed strong field operation that the entity must have to be
successful in fulfilling the promises made by governments and the UN to the
world’s women.
6. As civil society has always played a vital role in the UN’s work on women’s
rights, we urge member states and the Secretary General to commit to
systematic and on-going participation of civil society, particularly women’s
organizations, in every stage of the process at global, regional, national,
and local levels including in the governing board
7. Women around the world have waited a long time for the United Nations
and member states to fulfill the promises made since the first International
Women’s Year in 1975, the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) thirty years ago, as well as the UN
World Conferences in Nairobi (1985) and Beijing (1995).
8. This is an important and crucial step forward – now it must be made
operational without further delay.
Dear Supporters of GEAR, UN Gender Equality Architecture Reform,
We are very pleased to let you know that the UN General Assembly adopted a
resolution today that takes the next step in the process of creating the new
Women's Rights entity at the UN. In the text below are the GEAR talking
points on the passage of the resolution, and we must now push on our many
remaining points to ensure that the entity that is created serves the rights
and needs of women throughout the world. We will be back in touch after a
few days with suggestions for the next steps in this process.
Congratulations to all for your hard work on this. Charlotte Bunch
______________________________
GEAR Talking Points on Adoption of System Wide
Coherence Resolution by the UN General Assembly
September 14, 2009
1. The GEAR campaign is pleased that the General Assembly expressed strong
and unanimous support in adopting a resolution today that will enable the
creation of the new gender equality entity to be headed by a new Under
Secretary-General (USG).
2. Women and their allies from around the world have been advocating for
three years for a stronger better resourced agency on gender equality and
women’s empowerment, and look forward to its creation early in 2010 - during
the fifteen anniversary year of the historic UN Fourth World Conference on
Women in Beijing.
3. We urge Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to immediately begin the
recruitment process for appointing a strong leader grounded in women’s
rights and gender equality as the USG who will lead this process of
consolidating the four existing entities. We expect a broad, open search
process to start promptly so that the USG is in place and the entity can be
operational by the time of the Beijing + 15 Review at the Commission on the
Status of Women in March of 2010.
4. Member states must also address in a timely fashion all the outstanding
issues required for the entity to begin operations, including the mechanisms
for governance and oversight.
5. Donor countries need to pledge the substantial funding ($1 billion) to
support the proposed strong field operation that the entity must have to be
successful in fulfilling the promises made by governments and the UN to the
world’s women.
6. As civil society has always played a vital role in the UN’s work on women’s
rights, we urge member states and the Secretary General to commit to
systematic and on-going participation of civil society, particularly women’s
organizations, in every stage of the process at global, regional, national,
and local levels including in the governing board
7. Women around the world have waited a long time for the United Nations
and member states to fulfill the promises made since the first International
Women’s Year in 1975, the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) thirty years ago, as well as the UN
World Conferences in Nairobi (1985) and Beijing (1995).
8. This is an important and crucial step forward – now it must be made
operational without further delay.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
DPI/NGO- Day 3- Mexico City- Ends in inspiration!
September 11- 2009-Mexico City
September 11- a day that shocked the world so extremely 8 years ago- was commemorated in many ways at the last day of the DPI/NGO Conference. Many attendees and speakers had either been in New York or DC or Pennsylvania on that fateful day, had friends who died, or, watched the unbelievable things happen on their television. It is still shocking to know that people from 80 different countries died when airplanes became "Weapons of Mass Destruction"- beyond the imagination of anyone.
This conference day started with a vigorous debate about topics and sites for future DPI/NGO Conferences moderated by the DPI/NGO Executive Committee. Many delegates vied to get their voices heard about what we should discuss and where it should be. The likely site is Melbourne, Australia in early September of 2010 and the possible theme is World Health. The committee will make the final decision before October this year. Quite a few women made their voices heard that there needs to be greater inclusion of women's issues and perspectives in the sessions and in the planning. Women represented approximately 1/2 of the 1300 delegates that attended and were part of most of the Round Tables, Workshops and Breakout session- sadly not at the closing session.
The closing session was held in the beautiful Ex Convent of St Hipolito. Nature played great tricks on the session with crashing thunder, and pouring rain throughout the beginning, and sweet solitude at the end when a most moving and sweet presentation was given by Mayor of Hiroshima- Tadatoshi Akiba. Before we left that evening we were presented a NGO Declaration :Disarming for Peace and Development Consultation Process. We were invited to affirm this 50 point declaration. Charles Hitchcock- the Chairman of the conference said:
" We used to talk about a nuclear arsenal being the best weapon against attack. We depend on you NGOs to carry the torch of change to your communities and governments. .......if we had 10% reduction in global military spending we could provide basic fundamental needs to every human on the planet.......We might have had more significant achievements if we had more women at the table and in the discussions."
The highlight of the closing session was the CALL TO ACTION from Mayor Akiba who delighted us all with wonderful images and challenges of his dreams for a nuclear free world. He simply talked about the exquisite beauty of Hiroshima in 2009- only 60 years after being almost exterminated by a nuclear bomb in World War II. The marvelous spirit of humans to rebound and rebuild and the kindness of so many strangers has transformed this devastated shell of a city- into a warm and inviting place. His dream is to host the Summer Olympics in 2020- the year that is earmarked for a nuclear free world! Of the many things he said- I will share just two: 4 principles of change, and the Mayor's Campaign for Peace.
Mayor Akiba cited Professor West from Cornell as someone who has shared these 4 important principles of change:
1. Powerful Change Comes from within ourselves. (he used the example of Hiroshima as an example who found their inner resources to rebound)
2. The life of each person is very important. We must work toward common good.
3. Everything that we do must be for the children. ( After the war when 40% of the population of Hiroshima was killed the city committed to raise its orphans all through their young lives. They loved their cities children and made them a priority. We all must do so.)
4. We need leaders who don't recycle old frameworks that haven't worked. Draw out the best of everyone.
Mayor Akiba has a Call to Action called the Mayors of Peace Campaign. Mayor Akiba's plan is very simple and there are wonderful "kits available" for citizens to use to promote this campaign to their cities. The simple idea is for each person to approach their local mayor and ask him or her to sign on to this Campaign- the goal of the campaign is to support complete Banning of Nuclear Bombs. So far over 3005 cities have signed including the Mayor of Mexico City who signed the Campaign today representing 18 million people! To date- the city signators represent over 350 million citizens around the world. Mayor Akiba's goal is 1 billion citizens! He believes that local cities have the most direct contact with their citizens and share the burden of every tragedy that befalls them.
This Call to Action signifies the potential positive result of citizen advocacy. Can you imagine a world free of the threat of Nuclear War and even better- a world free of violence against its citizens. The action depends on the social will to reframe our view of security.
The time for citizen activism for the good of humanity has never been so near.....................
Dawn Marie Lemonds, Soroptimist International Programme Director
September 11- a day that shocked the world so extremely 8 years ago- was commemorated in many ways at the last day of the DPI/NGO Conference. Many attendees and speakers had either been in New York or DC or Pennsylvania on that fateful day, had friends who died, or, watched the unbelievable things happen on their television. It is still shocking to know that people from 80 different countries died when airplanes became "Weapons of Mass Destruction"- beyond the imagination of anyone.
This conference day started with a vigorous debate about topics and sites for future DPI/NGO Conferences moderated by the DPI/NGO Executive Committee. Many delegates vied to get their voices heard about what we should discuss and where it should be. The likely site is Melbourne, Australia in early September of 2010 and the possible theme is World Health. The committee will make the final decision before October this year. Quite a few women made their voices heard that there needs to be greater inclusion of women's issues and perspectives in the sessions and in the planning. Women represented approximately 1/2 of the 1300 delegates that attended and were part of most of the Round Tables, Workshops and Breakout session- sadly not at the closing session.
The closing session was held in the beautiful Ex Convent of St Hipolito. Nature played great tricks on the session with crashing thunder, and pouring rain throughout the beginning, and sweet solitude at the end when a most moving and sweet presentation was given by Mayor of Hiroshima- Tadatoshi Akiba. Before we left that evening we were presented a NGO Declaration :Disarming for Peace and Development Consultation Process. We were invited to affirm this 50 point declaration. Charles Hitchcock- the Chairman of the conference said:
" We used to talk about a nuclear arsenal being the best weapon against attack. We depend on you NGOs to carry the torch of change to your communities and governments. .......if we had 10% reduction in global military spending we could provide basic fundamental needs to every human on the planet.......We might have had more significant achievements if we had more women at the table and in the discussions."
The highlight of the closing session was the CALL TO ACTION from Mayor Akiba who delighted us all with wonderful images and challenges of his dreams for a nuclear free world. He simply talked about the exquisite beauty of Hiroshima in 2009- only 60 years after being almost exterminated by a nuclear bomb in World War II. The marvelous spirit of humans to rebound and rebuild and the kindness of so many strangers has transformed this devastated shell of a city- into a warm and inviting place. His dream is to host the Summer Olympics in 2020- the year that is earmarked for a nuclear free world! Of the many things he said- I will share just two: 4 principles of change, and the Mayor's Campaign for Peace.
Mayor Akiba cited Professor West from Cornell as someone who has shared these 4 important principles of change:
1. Powerful Change Comes from within ourselves. (he used the example of Hiroshima as an example who found their inner resources to rebound)
2. The life of each person is very important. We must work toward common good.
3. Everything that we do must be for the children. ( After the war when 40% of the population of Hiroshima was killed the city committed to raise its orphans all through their young lives. They loved their cities children and made them a priority. We all must do so.)
4. We need leaders who don't recycle old frameworks that haven't worked. Draw out the best of everyone.
Mayor Akiba has a Call to Action called the Mayors of Peace Campaign. Mayor Akiba's plan is very simple and there are wonderful "kits available" for citizens to use to promote this campaign to their cities. The simple idea is for each person to approach their local mayor and ask him or her to sign on to this Campaign- the goal of the campaign is to support complete Banning of Nuclear Bombs. So far over 3005 cities have signed including the Mayor of Mexico City who signed the Campaign today representing 18 million people! To date- the city signators represent over 350 million citizens around the world. Mayor Akiba's goal is 1 billion citizens! He believes that local cities have the most direct contact with their citizens and share the burden of every tragedy that befalls them.
This Call to Action signifies the potential positive result of citizen advocacy. Can you imagine a world free of the threat of Nuclear War and even better- a world free of violence against its citizens. The action depends on the social will to reframe our view of security.
The time for citizen activism for the good of humanity has never been so near.....................
Dawn Marie Lemonds, Soroptimist International Programme Director
World Wide opportunities to participate in Preparation Meetings for Beijing + 15
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Thursday, September 10, 2009
September 10, Day 2 at DPI/NGO Conference
Mexico City- " We need to profoundly and fundamentally redefine the issue of security from a definition of national security to a definition of Human Security."- Jacqueline Cabasso- Legal Foundation
Today- I started out remembering two other stories that I didn't share from yesterday- stories that hit me as soon as I woke.
- one- the selection of Mexico City as the site of this conference was very strategic and symbolic because it was the site of a very important treaty to keep the region free of nuclear weapons which was drafted and ultimately signed by 33 countries in 1967 in the Latin American region- the Treaty of Tiatelolco.
The other thought has proved to be the large lesson of the conference today- that is a call to the world community to look at their antiquated and cold war definition of security and move to a modern humanity centered definition of security.
We have now listened to three great Round Tables- each providing experts from the field from around the world who have challenged us in the many many issues related to disarmament.
One of the most important discussions addressed the different definitions of arms based on north /south and east/west interests. In the continent of Africa- the issue of arms is not felt to be an issue of nuclear weapons as it is daily an a issue of small arm conflict in every aspect of society.
Alfredo Lubang of the Philippines expanded the "definition of armed violence" to refer to the Arms of Violence that women face in domestic and gender violence. Violence in every form is an issue of power and is a societal/ culture of violence issue. The solutions have to stem from civil society and lead to making demands of their governments. He described a wonderful story where children were given a week of peace education and education about the harmful consequences of violence. At the end of the week the children made voluntary contributions to start "cycles of peace". Children eagerly brought in their toy guns, toy sword and even video games that had war in them!
Startingly statistics show that of the 740,000 victims of armed violence around the world each year- 490,000 occur outside of war zones! Urban areas have high rates of gun and domestic violence. The economic costs of death, and survival of 250,000 disabled each year is staggering and devastating to society.
Christiane Agbotan Johnson - from Senegal has been conducting a great deal of research on armed violence and presented some really important questions that have been asked in communities discussing disarmament.
-Why do you want to remove the small arms?
-Who has the arms?
-Where do you have them?
-How do we remove the tools of armed violence?
-What are the root causes of armed violence?
After conducting this research Christiane concluded that it is crucial to have women and youth as a part of the action to remove the tools of armed violence. Additionally she said that all human resources need to be partners in working toward achieving this mission.
-Local leaders must do the on the ground work and include women and youth as significant players
-National leaders need create and implement policies and provide security
-International partners are needed for funding and international advocacy.
There has to be synergy and cooperation between all stakeholders for these solutions to work. She presented an 18 month program in Senegal which resulted in voluntary release of arms by many people.
This afternoon Soroptimist International and the International Association of Applied Psychology presentented a workshop titled " Abolishing tools of War and Creating Projects for peace. The workshop included 4 speakers from different organizations who each shared some of the work they have done to promote peace including advocating against tools of war.
Kate Moore of SI and Landmine Action Group presented a variety of international and local projects from demining landmine fields, providing landmine victims assistance, supporting women survivors of war and our current project, Project SIerra which assists girls and young women in Sierra Leone recover from war and gain self sufficiency. David Kovatch addressed a wonderful project for college students which encouraged them to develop peace campaigns. Marina and Sarah Walker from WAGGGS talked about a large variety of peace teaching projects conducted by girl guides and girl scouts around the world and their current focus on the Millenium Development Goals in relationship to developing strong and capable girls and young women. Maty Filena shared riveting stories and projects in Mexico with Journeys for Peace that used creative arts to promote peace and expose the scourge of war. Many important lessons were learned and the packed audience also provided practical ideas for promotion of peace. The session ended with sharing a wonderful light hearted and pointed poem, a solemn peace ceremony with flags, and the singing of an original song in both Spanish and English titled :Lets Stand Up for Peace. The session left no doubt in anyone's mind that CITIZENS CAN be part of the SOLUTION- AND THEY MUST!
The last message of the day followed a very thought provoking Round Table called HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTS GLOBAL SECURITY. We were presented with the challenge of the massive types of endeavors that would really transform our world if the world could change its definition of security.
At the very end of the session a simple and profound request was made to the audience- one that will haunt me for a very long time- " Be lovers of lost causes."
It seems to me that every important cause that NGOs undertake are largely felt to be lost causes. It is easy to think of great saints like Mother Theresa, and Nelson Mandela and two of my personal earthly angels Zainab Salbi and Bingh Ribecki- and how each of their contributions to seemingly "lost causes" has transformed the world.....of many. The famous are not the only heros and I tend to agree with SG Ban Ki-moon that the power of the people for good is a force that is unimaginable!
Dawn Marie Lemonds
Today- I started out remembering two other stories that I didn't share from yesterday- stories that hit me as soon as I woke.
- one- the selection of Mexico City as the site of this conference was very strategic and symbolic because it was the site of a very important treaty to keep the region free of nuclear weapons which was drafted and ultimately signed by 33 countries in 1967 in the Latin American region- the Treaty of Tiatelolco.
The other thought has proved to be the large lesson of the conference today- that is a call to the world community to look at their antiquated and cold war definition of security and move to a modern humanity centered definition of security.
We have now listened to three great Round Tables- each providing experts from the field from around the world who have challenged us in the many many issues related to disarmament.
One of the most important discussions addressed the different definitions of arms based on north /south and east/west interests. In the continent of Africa- the issue of arms is not felt to be an issue of nuclear weapons as it is daily an a issue of small arm conflict in every aspect of society.
Alfredo Lubang of the Philippines expanded the "definition of armed violence" to refer to the Arms of Violence that women face in domestic and gender violence. Violence in every form is an issue of power and is a societal/ culture of violence issue. The solutions have to stem from civil society and lead to making demands of their governments. He described a wonderful story where children were given a week of peace education and education about the harmful consequences of violence. At the end of the week the children made voluntary contributions to start "cycles of peace". Children eagerly brought in their toy guns, toy sword and even video games that had war in them!
Startingly statistics show that of the 740,000 victims of armed violence around the world each year- 490,000 occur outside of war zones! Urban areas have high rates of gun and domestic violence. The economic costs of death, and survival of 250,000 disabled each year is staggering and devastating to society.
Christiane Agbotan Johnson - from Senegal has been conducting a great deal of research on armed violence and presented some really important questions that have been asked in communities discussing disarmament.
-Why do you want to remove the small arms?
-Who has the arms?
-Where do you have them?
-How do we remove the tools of armed violence?
-What are the root causes of armed violence?
After conducting this research Christiane concluded that it is crucial to have women and youth as a part of the action to remove the tools of armed violence. Additionally she said that all human resources need to be partners in working toward achieving this mission.
-Local leaders must do the on the ground work and include women and youth as significant players
-National leaders need create and implement policies and provide security
-International partners are needed for funding and international advocacy.
There has to be synergy and cooperation between all stakeholders for these solutions to work. She presented an 18 month program in Senegal which resulted in voluntary release of arms by many people.
This afternoon Soroptimist International and the International Association of Applied Psychology presentented a workshop titled " Abolishing tools of War and Creating Projects for peace. The workshop included 4 speakers from different organizations who each shared some of the work they have done to promote peace including advocating against tools of war.
Kate Moore of SI and Landmine Action Group presented a variety of international and local projects from demining landmine fields, providing landmine victims assistance, supporting women survivors of war and our current project, Project SIerra which assists girls and young women in Sierra Leone recover from war and gain self sufficiency. David Kovatch addressed a wonderful project for college students which encouraged them to develop peace campaigns. Marina and Sarah Walker from WAGGGS talked about a large variety of peace teaching projects conducted by girl guides and girl scouts around the world and their current focus on the Millenium Development Goals in relationship to developing strong and capable girls and young women. Maty Filena shared riveting stories and projects in Mexico with Journeys for Peace that used creative arts to promote peace and expose the scourge of war. Many important lessons were learned and the packed audience also provided practical ideas for promotion of peace. The session ended with sharing a wonderful light hearted and pointed poem, a solemn peace ceremony with flags, and the singing of an original song in both Spanish and English titled :Lets Stand Up for Peace. The session left no doubt in anyone's mind that CITIZENS CAN be part of the SOLUTION- AND THEY MUST!
The last message of the day followed a very thought provoking Round Table called HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTS GLOBAL SECURITY. We were presented with the challenge of the massive types of endeavors that would really transform our world if the world could change its definition of security.
At the very end of the session a simple and profound request was made to the audience- one that will haunt me for a very long time- " Be lovers of lost causes."
It seems to me that every important cause that NGOs undertake are largely felt to be lost causes. It is easy to think of great saints like Mother Theresa, and Nelson Mandela and two of my personal earthly angels Zainab Salbi and Bingh Ribecki- and how each of their contributions to seemingly "lost causes" has transformed the world.....of many. The famous are not the only heros and I tend to agree with SG Ban Ki-moon that the power of the people for good is a force that is unimaginable!
Dawn Marie Lemonds
Annual UN Conference for NGOs- Soroptimist International
Mexico City- Today over 800 delegates from around the world attended the annual Department of Public Information / Non Governmental Conference (DPI/NGO )in Mexico City . This is the 62nd conference of its kind-and is the one conference held annually for the UN and Civil Society. This is and the second time that this conference has been held in a site other than the UN headquarters in New York City. Soroptimist International has a delegation of 4 people with President Hanne Jensbo from Denmark, SI Programme Director Dawn Marie Lemonds from USA, Kate Moore from UK and Dr. Summer Lockerbie from USA. The title of this conference this year is Disarm Now! for peace and development.
The 4 SI delegates converged excitedly to the gorgeous historic opening site callled Ex Convent of St. Hipolito. We were thrilled to sit in the 5 th row and have a perfect view of the opening ceremonies- which included presentations from a combination of UN luminaries such as Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Under Secretary Kiyo Akasaka, Host Country officials including Patricia Espinoza Cantellano-Mexico Minister of Foreign Affairs and two Nobel Peace prize laureates- Miguel Marin Bosch and Jody Williams!
This conference is the first totally bilingual DPI/NGO Conference ever held and all workshops, round tables, key notes and Break out sessions included speeches and interpretation in both Spanish and English! People who are interested in following the main speeches and events of this conference are encouraged to go to the conference website-www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/conference.
Highlights from the first day included encouraging and challenging words from SG Ban Ki-moon:
-I turn to the charter of the United Nations which starts out with the words- "We the people....." You - the NGOs are the real heros and the driving force in our world community......you are the reason that many important issues have been brought to the UN including the current issue of disarmament......
-The world is overarmed and underfunded...Military funding is over a trillion dollars a year and is rising everyday....arms are the number one cause of civilian death and most of these deaths happen in non-military zones.
-We must act....we must continue to speak out against nuclear weapons. The are immoral and should not be afforded any military value.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon articulated a 5 point plan to work toward a world free of nuclear weapons. He has launched a new acronym WMD - which stands for We Must Disarm ( not weapons of mass destruction.) He talked about the 4 F's that are now challenging our world and stretching the capacity of every nation to protect its population: Food, Fuel, Finance and Flu. He made a compelling point that many of these issues could be satisfactorily dealt with if the money allocated to miltary endeavors could be spent on humanity and human issues.
He urged civil society and NGOs to be at the forefront-"the mightiest force of change is in the power of the people..."
At risk of missing so many other important messages, the speech of Nobel Laurete Jody Williams electrified the audience. Jody Williams described herself as a child of the 50's who was taught to "duck and cover" under the desk and that would protect her from a nuclear war. She was so terrified as a child with these scare tactics that she said her greatest desire was to have a personal bomb shelter.....she then realized that this didn't make sense because if she was protected and everyone else died- what was there worth living for? Jody said that she didn't want any other child to have to face the fear of nuclear war...yet....it is a very real fear.
She offered up some very practical suggestions for the audience of people from many countries-
1. Write President Obama and press him to match his words in his campaign speech with actions toward eliminating nuclear weapons.....equally we should write Gordon Brown in UK and ask him to not continue supporting Trident
2. Press for your government to have a summit to discuss nuclear disarmament and support a UN Convention
3. Work together- don't spend so much time defining turf- and trying to get credit for your organization- Make a concentrated and coordinated effort to insist on changes in your governments and for the world.
This conference allows people to come together from around the world representing many diverse NGO entities . Each of the NGOs have a passion to promotion of peace, humanity and disarmament. The opportuntity to stand in line next to a woman from Somalia and hear her story and then listen to a passionate presentation from a one armed woman from El Salvador whose father and husband were both killed before her eyes is unexplicable. Daily we attend Round Tables, Break Out Sessions and workshops. Sessions are complex and simple-like the topic. They challenge our brains and our hearts.
The day ended with a wonderful hosted reception held in another historic building with great Mexican treats and gorgeous chamber music. We enjoyed this wonderful evening with our two new friends Marina Walker of Canada and Sarah Walker of UK- young women volunteers with World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts who are working at the Cabana in Cuernavaca- about two hours away. They are going to be in our workshop that we will be presenting tomorrow at the Conference.
I listened to all of the issues of war, civil unrest, the effects of war and tools of war on civil society. We learned once again that women bear an additional cost -the cost of violence, lack of financial resources, the added responsibility of taking care of the family and so many more costs bourne simply for being female. It was made clear that disarmament and all of the other related issues is a gender issue. Women must be involved in the identification of the problems and be active partners in being part of the solutions.
We ended the day- exhausted and gratified to be part of this amazing "think tank" and look forward to the two days to come.
Dawn Marie Lemonds
The 4 SI delegates converged excitedly to the gorgeous historic opening site callled Ex Convent of St. Hipolito. We were thrilled to sit in the 5 th row and have a perfect view of the opening ceremonies- which included presentations from a combination of UN luminaries such as Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Under Secretary Kiyo Akasaka, Host Country officials including Patricia Espinoza Cantellano-Mexico Minister of Foreign Affairs and two Nobel Peace prize laureates- Miguel Marin Bosch and Jody Williams!
This conference is the first totally bilingual DPI/NGO Conference ever held and all workshops, round tables, key notes and Break out sessions included speeches and interpretation in both Spanish and English! People who are interested in following the main speeches and events of this conference are encouraged to go to the conference website-www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/conference.
Highlights from the first day included encouraging and challenging words from SG Ban Ki-moon:
-I turn to the charter of the United Nations which starts out with the words- "We the people....." You - the NGOs are the real heros and the driving force in our world community......you are the reason that many important issues have been brought to the UN including the current issue of disarmament......
-The world is overarmed and underfunded...Military funding is over a trillion dollars a year and is rising everyday....arms are the number one cause of civilian death and most of these deaths happen in non-military zones.
-We must act....we must continue to speak out against nuclear weapons. The are immoral and should not be afforded any military value.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon articulated a 5 point plan to work toward a world free of nuclear weapons. He has launched a new acronym WMD - which stands for We Must Disarm ( not weapons of mass destruction.) He talked about the 4 F's that are now challenging our world and stretching the capacity of every nation to protect its population: Food, Fuel, Finance and Flu. He made a compelling point that many of these issues could be satisfactorily dealt with if the money allocated to miltary endeavors could be spent on humanity and human issues.
He urged civil society and NGOs to be at the forefront-"the mightiest force of change is in the power of the people..."
At risk of missing so many other important messages, the speech of Nobel Laurete Jody Williams electrified the audience. Jody Williams described herself as a child of the 50's who was taught to "duck and cover" under the desk and that would protect her from a nuclear war. She was so terrified as a child with these scare tactics that she said her greatest desire was to have a personal bomb shelter.....she then realized that this didn't make sense because if she was protected and everyone else died- what was there worth living for? Jody said that she didn't want any other child to have to face the fear of nuclear war...yet....it is a very real fear.
She offered up some very practical suggestions for the audience of people from many countries-
1. Write President Obama and press him to match his words in his campaign speech with actions toward eliminating nuclear weapons.....equally we should write Gordon Brown in UK and ask him to not continue supporting Trident
2. Press for your government to have a summit to discuss nuclear disarmament and support a UN Convention
3. Work together- don't spend so much time defining turf- and trying to get credit for your organization- Make a concentrated and coordinated effort to insist on changes in your governments and for the world.
This conference allows people to come together from around the world representing many diverse NGO entities . Each of the NGOs have a passion to promotion of peace, humanity and disarmament. The opportuntity to stand in line next to a woman from Somalia and hear her story and then listen to a passionate presentation from a one armed woman from El Salvador whose father and husband were both killed before her eyes is unexplicable. Daily we attend Round Tables, Break Out Sessions and workshops. Sessions are complex and simple-like the topic. They challenge our brains and our hearts.
The day ended with a wonderful hosted reception held in another historic building with great Mexican treats and gorgeous chamber music. We enjoyed this wonderful evening with our two new friends Marina Walker of Canada and Sarah Walker of UK- young women volunteers with World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts who are working at the Cabana in Cuernavaca- about two hours away. They are going to be in our workshop that we will be presenting tomorrow at the Conference.
I listened to all of the issues of war, civil unrest, the effects of war and tools of war on civil society. We learned once again that women bear an additional cost -the cost of violence, lack of financial resources, the added responsibility of taking care of the family and so many more costs bourne simply for being female. It was made clear that disarmament and all of the other related issues is a gender issue. Women must be involved in the identification of the problems and be active partners in being part of the solutions.
We ended the day- exhausted and gratified to be part of this amazing "think tank" and look forward to the two days to come.
Dawn Marie Lemonds
Soroptimist International Delegation at DPI/NGO Mexico City
September 9-Mexico City- 4 Soroptimists arrive in Mexico City for the Annual DPI/NGO Conference- an event that Ban Ki-moon, Secretariat refers to as " the secretariat of the people". The theme this year of the conference is :Disarm Now! for Peace and Development. Up to date information will be posted daily on the website www.org/ngosection/conference. Each year the conference features a different topic and is the one event of the year designed to bring leaders of Civil Society from the NGO community and leaders from the UN together to address the topic. It is exciting to know that this event acknowledges that many of the changes in the world are made because civil society puts persistent demand on their governments to take notice and change their practices. Two important UN events will follow on the heals of this conference in New York- one on September 24 with the security council and the other in May 2010 discussing Non proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
It was especially gratifying to have SG Ban Ki-moon present one of the opening addresses .....A few quotes from his speech include:
-NGOs are the real heros and the driving force of this world community
this is an opportunity to learn from each other
- the world is overarmed
Monday, September 7, 2009
Soroptimists Attend World UN Conference In Mexico City
The 62nd Annual DPI/NGO Conference is being held in Mexico City under the banner “For Peace and Development: Disarm Now!”
Participants from around the world will gather from 9 to 11 September, 2009, to discuss how they can contribute to reducing arms while advancing peace. The current global economic and food crises have necessitated a realignment of the world’s financial resources. This can only be enhanced by effect comprehensive disarmament.
The DPI/NGO Conference is the main NGO event of the year at the United Nations. It typically attracts 2,000 representatives from some 90 countries. This year’s conference is organized by a partnership of the U.N. Department of Public Information in cooperation with the DPI/NGO Executive Committee, the Government of Mexico, and the U.N. Office for Disarmament Affairs. For the second time in its six-decade history, the Conference is held outside the United Nations New York Headquarters. Based on last year’s experience, we expect the new location will enhance participation of NGOs particularly from the Caribbean and Latin America.
Soroptimist International will once again have a delegation lead by President Hanne Jensbo and Programme Director- Dawn Marie Lemonds. Others in the delegation include Kate Moore from SI Great Britain and Ireland and Summer Lockerbie from SI of the Americas. SI will present their first workshop at a DPI/NGO Conference partnered with the International Association of Applied Psychology. SI is happy to also partner once again with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in the workshop that addresses citizen advocacy and action in disarmament and peace building activities. "Stay tuned" for words from the conference this coming week!
Dawn Marie Lemonds, SI Programme Director
16 Days of Activism-End Violence Against Women
‘Commit • Act • Demand: We CAN End Violence Against Women!’
‘Each year since 1991, tens of thousands of activists from every region of the world have taken part in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign. The campaign’s central messages – women’s rights are human rights and violence against women constitutes a violation of human rights – have been a rallying call of the women’s movement. Recognizing that violence against women affects people from every country, race, class, culture, and religion, the 16 Days Campaign provides an opportunity for activists to work together in solidarity and draw upon this period of heightened international attention to gain support for their local efforts’.
Violence against women has been a focus of Soroptimist projects for many years. Members have acted in many ways to stop trafficking of women and girls, support those working with abused women and lobbying to change laws which impact on women’s rights.
Between 25th November and 10th December women all over the world will be acting to change many women’s lives. Let us join them and make our voices heard again! 2009 is the 10th anniversary of the United Nations’ formal recognition of November 25th as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. We can make sure that our countries are carrying out their promises to women having signed relevant UN protocols. Look at the website www.cwgl.rutgers.edu?16days.home.html
Our Programme Focus Objectives if carried out will prevent Violence Against Women.
‘End human trafficking and all forms of violence against women and girls’
We are committed to action!!
‘Each year since 1991, tens of thousands of activists from every region of the world have taken part in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign. The campaign’s central messages – women’s rights are human rights and violence against women constitutes a violation of human rights – have been a rallying call of the women’s movement. Recognizing that violence against women affects people from every country, race, class, culture, and religion, the 16 Days Campaign provides an opportunity for activists to work together in solidarity and draw upon this period of heightened international attention to gain support for their local efforts’.
Violence against women has been a focus of Soroptimist projects for many years. Members have acted in many ways to stop trafficking of women and girls, support those working with abused women and lobbying to change laws which impact on women’s rights.
Between 25th November and 10th December women all over the world will be acting to change many women’s lives. Let us join them and make our voices heard again! 2009 is the 10th anniversary of the United Nations’ formal recognition of November 25th as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. We can make sure that our countries are carrying out their promises to women having signed relevant UN protocols. Look at the website www.cwgl.rutgers.edu?16days.home.html
Our Programme Focus Objectives if carried out will prevent Violence Against Women.
‘End human trafficking and all forms of violence against women and girls’
We are committed to action!!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Women Hit Hardest by the Financial Crisis
“Women Hardest Hit by the Financial Crisis”
An excerpt from the UNIFEM report dated June 24th, 2009. Now more than ever it is important for members to be the voices for women and girls. During these harsh economic times women and girls tend to suffer the most and become more vulnerable.
70% of the worlds poor are women.
The credit tightening has trickled down to the smallest of loans. Micro Finance has become a victim of the global financial crisis. We have seen the positive effects and sustainability of micro credit projects through our programs. It is vital that we continue to support projects that promote the advancement of women and girls.
Infrastructure spending has been promoted as a global stimulus and a quick fix to the financial problems. Unfortunately most infrastructure programs are directed towards male orientated jobs and have limited impact on women. What about investing in “Human Infrastructure?”
During economic recessions governments cut spending on public services and jeopardize health and personal security. Falling exports causes reversals in domestic and foreign migration. Millions of migrant workers are being forced to return home to a bleak existence once again.
There have been a series of meetings with global leaders to review the chain of events that lead to a global financial melt down and what they can do to avoid a future recurrence. For further insight read the report from Joseph Stiglitz, UN Panel of Experts on Reforms on the IMF System http://www.un-ngls.org/spip.php?article596
and the UNIFEM Comments and recommendations
http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=895
Respectfully submitted,
Patti B. Dolan
An excerpt from the UNIFEM report dated June 24th, 2009. Now more than ever it is important for members to be the voices for women and girls. During these harsh economic times women and girls tend to suffer the most and become more vulnerable.
70% of the worlds poor are women.
The credit tightening has trickled down to the smallest of loans. Micro Finance has become a victim of the global financial crisis. We have seen the positive effects and sustainability of micro credit projects through our programs. It is vital that we continue to support projects that promote the advancement of women and girls.
Infrastructure spending has been promoted as a global stimulus and a quick fix to the financial problems. Unfortunately most infrastructure programs are directed towards male orientated jobs and have limited impact on women. What about investing in “Human Infrastructure?”
During economic recessions governments cut spending on public services and jeopardize health and personal security. Falling exports causes reversals in domestic and foreign migration. Millions of migrant workers are being forced to return home to a bleak existence once again.
There have been a series of meetings with global leaders to review the chain of events that lead to a global financial melt down and what they can do to avoid a future recurrence. For further insight read the report from Joseph Stiglitz, UN Panel of Experts on Reforms on the IMF System http://www.un-ngls.org/spip.php?article596
and the UNIFEM Comments and recommendations
http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=895
Respectfully submitted,
Patti B. Dolan
Soroptimists Recognize Excellence in Programme
AWARDS FOR PROJECTS OF EXCELLENCE!!
SI Grahamstown , South Africa, were the overall winners at the recent presentation of the annual SI Best Practice Awards Their project arose from concern about the survivors of rape in their area- rape is very common there. They have worked for improvement of services available as well as being involved in support groups and lobbying to establish a Thutuzela Centre- a one-stop assistance centre for victims of rape.
At the recent SI Board Meeting in Denmark SI President 2007-2009 Margaret Lobo presented their certificate. Certificates were also presented to celebrate Best Practice of clubs throughout the Federations. This year the projects chosen focused on the first four Programme Focus Objectives.
SI Curitiba , SI Milano Alla Scala combining with SI Milano Fondatore and SI Lome Agape, SI Bournemouth and SI Penang were all winners for the Objective ‘Eliminate poverty and gender discrimination through ensuring women’s full social and economic rights’. SI Penang was the overall winner in this group with ‘BLOSSOM’- a project aimed at supporting low income female earners, single mothers and schoolgirls 15-18 from disadvantaged families. Working with partners they have established training in communication skills, preparation for job interviews and training in other skills are offered weekly. Networks are built and opportunities for marketing created.
SI Norway was the overall winner for Objective 2- ‘End human trafficking and all forms of violence against women and girls’. Their project-‘ Hope is a Waking Dream- A Decent Life for Young Women in Moldova’ has given hope to girls- between 13 and 18- in rural areas of Moldova where the risk of trafficking is high. They supported the girls with social workers, training in life skills, enabled them to continue studies and provided accommodation for them. SI Manila Tourist Belt, SI Yeovil and District and SI Bangsar were the other winners in this group.
‘Ensure access to health care for women and girls’ proved a successful Objective for SI Pasco-Kennewick, SI Agen, SI Brisbane Inc with SI Grahmastown the overall winner of this group.
SI Matsue, with their project ‘HIV/AIDS is a Preventable Disease’ won in the group focussing on Objective 4- ‘Support programmes and policies that eliminate HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis and other major diseases’. They supported Matsue Municipal Girls’ High School with their programmes on HIV/AIDS and their work for orphanages in Romania. The pupils were also supported in giving their talks to other schools .Other winners in this group were SI Chianciano-Montepulciano, SI Carlisle and SI Brisbane South.
The projects all demonstrated the ability of Soroptimists to change the lives of women and girls around the world- surely a cause for celebration!
Margaret Cook
SI Assistant Programme Director
SI Grahamstown , South Africa, were the overall winners at the recent presentation of the annual SI Best Practice Awards Their project arose from concern about the survivors of rape in their area- rape is very common there. They have worked for improvement of services available as well as being involved in support groups and lobbying to establish a Thutuzela Centre- a one-stop assistance centre for victims of rape.
At the recent SI Board Meeting in Denmark SI President 2007-2009 Margaret Lobo presented their certificate. Certificates were also presented to celebrate Best Practice of clubs throughout the Federations. This year the projects chosen focused on the first four Programme Focus Objectives.
SI Curitiba , SI Milano Alla Scala combining with SI Milano Fondatore and SI Lome Agape, SI Bournemouth and SI Penang were all winners for the Objective ‘Eliminate poverty and gender discrimination through ensuring women’s full social and economic rights’. SI Penang was the overall winner in this group with ‘BLOSSOM’- a project aimed at supporting low income female earners, single mothers and schoolgirls 15-18 from disadvantaged families. Working with partners they have established training in communication skills, preparation for job interviews and training in other skills are offered weekly. Networks are built and opportunities for marketing created.
SI Norway was the overall winner for Objective 2- ‘End human trafficking and all forms of violence against women and girls’. Their project-‘ Hope is a Waking Dream- A Decent Life for Young Women in Moldova’ has given hope to girls- between 13 and 18- in rural areas of Moldova where the risk of trafficking is high. They supported the girls with social workers, training in life skills, enabled them to continue studies and provided accommodation for them. SI Manila Tourist Belt, SI Yeovil and District and SI Bangsar were the other winners in this group.
‘Ensure access to health care for women and girls’ proved a successful Objective for SI Pasco-Kennewick, SI Agen, SI Brisbane Inc with SI Grahmastown the overall winner of this group.
SI Matsue, with their project ‘HIV/AIDS is a Preventable Disease’ won in the group focussing on Objective 4- ‘Support programmes and policies that eliminate HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis and other major diseases’. They supported Matsue Municipal Girls’ High School with their programmes on HIV/AIDS and their work for orphanages in Romania. The pupils were also supported in giving their talks to other schools .Other winners in this group were SI Chianciano-Montepulciano, SI Carlisle and SI Brisbane South.
The projects all demonstrated the ability of Soroptimists to change the lives of women and girls around the world- surely a cause for celebration!
Margaret Cook
SI Assistant Programme Director
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