Hot "off the press"
I finished Andrea's SIerra Leone Study Tour slide show, I uploaded to YouTube SorptimistGlobal channel. You can type title SIerra Leone Study Tour May 2010
OR CLick here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYqSFcc7-Ec
4 minutes 30 seconds.
Yoko Komori Olson- Representatative to UN New York Trainee
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Soroptimist Participate in UNIFEM Conference
On June 11th and 12th, Lois Beilin and Andrea T. Mills attended the US National Committee for UNIFEM Conference on Violence Against Women and Its Interactions with Key Social Investments.
The conference was attended by over 175 women from all parts of the US, the UN and internationally.
Some issues brought up were to look at gender security. Joanne Sandler from UNIFEM stated that they are working to get 30% representation of women in peace negotiations. The issue of getting women to the table is a big one.
Joanne also brought up the fact that when peacekeeping troops were polled about violence against women they commented that they were working to do what they could to protect women but there were no published guidelines, so they did not know if they were doing the right thing. They stated that they needed guidance. Joanne stated that at the UN level they are now working on this for the troops.
One workshop focused on the role of media and it's power to help with violence against women. Mallika Dutt from an organization called Breakthrough - bring human rights home, started a media drive in India to stop violence against women called "Bell Bajao", which means "Ring the Bell". If you hear domestic violence happening with your neighbor, please ring the bell.
The ads just played at the Canne Film Festival and got rave reviews.
The campaigns are focusing the role of men to stop and end domestic violence. The ads are the basis from a true story of an Indian Bus Driver who decided to stop the beating of the wife of a neighbor by ringing the door bell. The ads focus on how men can play a strong role in showing other men that domestic violence is no longer culturally acceptable.
There are so many things to write about- but we wanted to share a flavor of what is important
Andrea Mills- SI Representative to the UN
The conference was attended by over 175 women from all parts of the US, the UN and internationally.
Some issues brought up were to look at gender security. Joanne Sandler from UNIFEM stated that they are working to get 30% representation of women in peace negotiations. The issue of getting women to the table is a big one.
Joanne also brought up the fact that when peacekeeping troops were polled about violence against women they commented that they were working to do what they could to protect women but there were no published guidelines, so they did not know if they were doing the right thing. They stated that they needed guidance. Joanne stated that at the UN level they are now working on this for the troops.
One workshop focused on the role of media and it's power to help with violence against women. Mallika Dutt from an organization called Breakthrough - bring human rights home, started a media drive in India to stop violence against women called "Bell Bajao", which means "Ring the Bell". If you hear domestic violence happening with your neighbor, please ring the bell.
The ads just played at the Canne Film Festival and got rave reviews.
The campaigns are focusing the role of men to stop and end domestic violence. The ads are the basis from a true story of an Indian Bus Driver who decided to stop the beating of the wife of a neighbor by ringing the door bell. The ads focus on how men can play a strong role in showing other men that domestic violence is no longer culturally acceptable.
There are so many things to write about- but we wanted to share a flavor of what is important
Andrea Mills- SI Representative to the UN
Thursday, June 10, 2010
SIGN GEAR TODAY
Today, 4th June 2010, the official website for the new UN Global Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) Campaign has launched! This campaign is extremely important to the work of Soroptimist International in improving the lives of women and girls. We also wish to stress the importance of having this new UN body, which hopefully will simplify the communication about gender issues at UN level. This initiative also that it shows that UN are proceeding in modernizing their structure and improve efficient and effective working methods.
HOW YOU CAN (AND SHOULD!) TAKE ACTION:
1. Sign the Amnesty International Petition in support of GEAR: http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/gear
2. Use GEAR’s one click form to lobby your own government to urgently move forward with the establishment of GEAR: http://www.un-gear.eu/takeaction.shtml
MORE INFORMATION:
GEAR Campaign Newsletter May/June 2010
The creation of the new UN entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women is near. Member States of the United Nations have begun negotiations on System Wide Coherence, of which GEAR is a part. GEAR Campaign as well as the most optimistic representatives hope that an agreement on the resolution is reached in the beginning of July.
Yet some major disagreements remain to be solved. The main issue dividing Member States is whether the entity should be governed by establishing an independent arm of the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board, or whether a completely new Executive Board should be established. The whole reform may depend on governments' willingness to reach a compromise on the make-up and functions of the Board.
The GEAR Campaign continues to advocate that the new UN women's rights entity is established without further delay and that Member States agree to create a strong, operational women's entity with universal country presence, that is ambitiously funded (with a minimum of $500 million to start), and coordinates the UN system's work on women.
News on the GEAR process at the UN
NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT THE DRAFT SWC RESOLUTION PROCEED
The draft of a resolution on System-wide Coherence that the UN General Assembly will have to adopt in order to create the new UN women's agency is being negotiated informally by UN Member States The negotiations started the week of April 16 and will go on until the end of June. The main issue dividing the Member States is the Executive Board. [More]
SEARCH FOR THE LEADER OF THE NEW WOMEN'S AGENCY BEGINS
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has asked Member States to put forward names of possible candidates for the post of the Under-Secretary-General who will be the leader of the new UN gender equality entity. The GEAR Campaign is not endorsing particular candidates, but will monitor the appointment process closely. [More]
UN ANSWERS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEW WOMEN'S AGENCY
The UN Secretariat has put together a useful background document on the new UN gender equality entity that answers many of the frequently asked questions. The document is good resource for anyone interested in the details and process of the new women's agency. [More]
CSW SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF THE NEW UN WOMEN'S ENTITY
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) concluded its fifty-fourth session on 12 March with adoption of a short text supporting the creation of the new UN gender equality entity. [More]
The creation of the new gender equality entity was one of the hot topics of the CSW. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon urged the Member States to create the new entity without delay. Also more than sixty governments spoke about the creation of the new UN gender equality entity in their official statements. GEAR Campaign has analyzed the statements. [More]
GEAR Campaign Activities
RECENT GEAR CAMPAIGN DOCUMENTS
The GEAR Campaign submitted a written statement for the Annual Ministerial Review (ARM) on gender equality and empowerment of women that will take place during the High-level Segment of the annual session of ECOSOC. [Read the statement]
GEAR Campaign sent a letter for UN Ambassadors with the message that it is important to "get the reform right." The Campaign reminds that this is a once in a life time opportunity to change the status quo on women's rights. The Campaign calls on the UN Member States to ensure that the reform of the UN gender equality architecture will have a truly transformative outcome. [Read the letter]
GEAR Campaign statement of March 2010 lines out the elements that the civil society sees as key for the success of the new entity. [Read the statement]
GEAR CAMPAIGN ACTION AT THE CSW
The government delegates and other participants of Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the two-week meeting on women's rights that concluded at the UN headquarters on 12 March 2010, could not avoid hearing the message "GEAR UP NOW!" [More]
HOW YOU CAN (AND SHOULD!) TAKE ACTION:
1. Sign the Amnesty International Petition in support of GEAR: http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/gear
2. Use GEAR’s one click form to lobby your own government to urgently move forward with the establishment of GEAR: http://www.un-gear.eu/takeaction.shtml
MORE INFORMATION:
GEAR Campaign Newsletter May/June 2010
The creation of the new UN entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women is near. Member States of the United Nations have begun negotiations on System Wide Coherence, of which GEAR is a part. GEAR Campaign as well as the most optimistic representatives hope that an agreement on the resolution is reached in the beginning of July.
Yet some major disagreements remain to be solved. The main issue dividing Member States is whether the entity should be governed by establishing an independent arm of the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board, or whether a completely new Executive Board should be established. The whole reform may depend on governments' willingness to reach a compromise on the make-up and functions of the Board.
The GEAR Campaign continues to advocate that the new UN women's rights entity is established without further delay and that Member States agree to create a strong, operational women's entity with universal country presence, that is ambitiously funded (with a minimum of $500 million to start), and coordinates the UN system's work on women.
News on the GEAR process at the UN
NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT THE DRAFT SWC RESOLUTION PROCEED
The draft of a resolution on System-wide Coherence that the UN General Assembly will have to adopt in order to create the new UN women's agency is being negotiated informally by UN Member States The negotiations started the week of April 16 and will go on until the end of June. The main issue dividing the Member States is the Executive Board. [More]
SEARCH FOR THE LEADER OF THE NEW WOMEN'S AGENCY BEGINS
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has asked Member States to put forward names of possible candidates for the post of the Under-Secretary-General who will be the leader of the new UN gender equality entity. The GEAR Campaign is not endorsing particular candidates, but will monitor the appointment process closely. [More]
UN ANSWERS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEW WOMEN'S AGENCY
The UN Secretariat has put together a useful background document on the new UN gender equality entity that answers many of the frequently asked questions. The document is good resource for anyone interested in the details and process of the new women's agency. [More]
CSW SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF THE NEW UN WOMEN'S ENTITY
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) concluded its fifty-fourth session on 12 March with adoption of a short text supporting the creation of the new UN gender equality entity. [More]
The creation of the new gender equality entity was one of the hot topics of the CSW. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon urged the Member States to create the new entity without delay. Also more than sixty governments spoke about the creation of the new UN gender equality entity in their official statements. GEAR Campaign has analyzed the statements. [More]
GEAR Campaign Activities
RECENT GEAR CAMPAIGN DOCUMENTS
The GEAR Campaign submitted a written statement for the Annual Ministerial Review (ARM) on gender equality and empowerment of women that will take place during the High-level Segment of the annual session of ECOSOC. [Read the statement]
GEAR Campaign sent a letter for UN Ambassadors with the message that it is important to "get the reform right." The Campaign reminds that this is a once in a life time opportunity to change the status quo on women's rights. The Campaign calls on the UN Member States to ensure that the reform of the UN gender equality architecture will have a truly transformative outcome. [Read the letter]
GEAR Campaign statement of March 2010 lines out the elements that the civil society sees as key for the success of the new entity. [Read the statement]
GEAR CAMPAIGN ACTION AT THE CSW
The government delegates and other participants of Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the two-week meeting on women's rights that concluded at the UN headquarters on 12 March 2010, could not avoid hearing the message "GEAR UP NOW!" [More]
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
SI President Hanne- notes from Africa
(Editor's Note-President Hanne Jensbo recently went to several countries in Africa and sent back these stories that needed to be shared......Dawn Marie Lemonds)
Dear Soroptimist and Friends in Rwanda, Kenya and Elsewhere
My recent 12 days trip to Rwanda and Kenya confirmed to me, that our organisation has very strong and hard-working members and efficient clubs in the two SI/Europe countries. At the start of this report I want to send them all a big thank you for their hard work and for sincere devotion to Soroptimist goals in their projects for the societies and for the women in their countries.
Visit in Rwanda, the Soroptimist clubs in Kigali, Kibungo and Gisenyi.
The main purpose for my visit in Rwanda was to take part in the 6th Soroptimist Peace Marathon on the 23th of May. This big event is for the 6th time arranged by local and European Soroptimists in cooperation with the Rwandan Ministry of Sport.
Approximately 300 runners participated in the marathon runners and 600 runners participated in the semi-marathon participated -all from 25 nations. Together with another app. 800 joggers I participated in the 5km “Jog for Fun”. There was also a Wheelchair event and Marathon relay. The final kilometer were run in a huge stadium with many cheering supporters on the galleries.
2500 children aged from 10-12 years participated the day before in a run and they all got a T-shirt and a sweet.
The marathon is a GREAT manifestation of Soroptimists “Working for Peace”, and a big thank you to SI/E, European and local Soroptimists for funding and supporting this big event, which now is highly appreciated in Rwanda.
An interesting “copy” of this event, is that 70 soldiers in Afghanistan run a marathon for peace on the same day and had taken the idea from the Peace Marathon in Rwanda, so the message spreads!
I stayed at the project “San Marco”, which is an education centre in the outskirt of Kigali. During the last 7 years the Kigali Soroptimist club has built 3 class rooms for nursery school, offices, gathering hall for local weddings, atelier for sewing, handicrafts and construction, guest rooms – beautifully spread in a green campus with many trees and flowers. The enormous funding for this big centre has come from many European clubs, especially from the clubs in Luxembourg, Italy and San Marino.
For the moment the atelier was “occupied” by 6 professors and 18 students from the architect universities partly in Venice and partly in Kigali, who make common research and produce new ways of using natural building materials, such as bamboo, banana leaves and for the first time ever using coffee wood. Their methods and research will be introduced at the 12th Biennale in Venice, the International Architecture Exhibition from 29/8-21/11 2010. Also, 7 necklaces from the “Rwandan Atelier” for handicrafts will be exhibited, as the only representations from “black Africa”. A fantastic cadeau of high international recognition to “San Marco” centre, to the Kigali Soroptimists and to Bettina Scholl-Sabbatini, the real “Mama Africa” for more than 25 years.
When I first visited the “Hirondelles” school in Kibungo in 2002 – a two hour’s drive from Kigali - I saw 5 class rooms, but this time I saw a total complex of a private school with class rooms from nursery classes to the 9th form, with a stadium and new sanitation facilities, all built and supported by the Kibungo Soroptimist club, with financial help from SI/E clubs. In one class room 20 mini computers with simple software connected to internet, loaded by solar energy and at a price of 100$ were installed for the pupils in the first classes. In the higher classes 20 ordinary computers were installed! Another fantastic proof of Soroptimists “making a difference”.
In Gisenyi the Soroptimist showed me their rain harvesting installations, they had set up in 65 houses – all belonging to poor single women – many widows from the genocide in 1994. We handed over certificates to 8 young women, who have followed a two years course in design and formation and who now will start their own business. In a micro-credit project they “get” a sewing machine – free for the first 12 months, but then they have to pay the price back during the next years.
The whole visit was accompanied by warm hospitality from local soroptimists, inspiring get together with Soroptimist friends and fellows from 7 countries, fruitful meeting with representatives from all 7 clubs in Rwanda, inspiring being together with the professors and students for the architecture schools, goat meat grilled on bamboo sticks, planting roses from San Marino, visiting coffee plantation and the emotional “Rwanda Memorial Site” for the genocide, and not least: the beautiful view of the country with the “1000 Hills”.
Visiting Kenya – meetings with Soroptimists from all 10 Kenyan clubs.
The main purpose for my visit in Kenya was to participate in the official launching of the “Women and Climate Change” project – a joint project between Kenyan and Danish Soroptimists, supported by the Danish ministry of Foreign Affairs with 360.000$.
The opening took place in a beautiful campus at the Maseno University in the Kisumu area, close to the Victoria lake.
In 9 tents exhibitions on climate issues were displayed, from recycling of plastic materials to solar stoves for cooking.
More than 400 people, Soroptimists, people from the Maseno University and local institutions and schools, women for rural area, who had a bus ride of more than 2 hours each way, officials, professors, climate experts and friends participated in the symposium with speeches and presentations. More than 1500 small trees were give to the participants for planting at home in their own surroundings.
Hon. Esther Murugi, Kenyan Minister for Gender and Social Services, who was Soroptimist until she got minister, made the official opening and praised the Soroptimist for the good initiative and support to the Kenyan people. Kenya has recently experienced a very harsh period, first the post-election turbulence and after that 2 years of severe draught.
(Later I will report on the details in the “Women and Climate Change” project.)
Also the Kenya Soroptimists have good friends in European and American clubs, who support their projects financially.
The Kisumu club and the Kismu Winam club showed us their projects in the rural area. We saw the “Morningstar Nursery School” where new latrines are being built for the 160 kids, aging from 2-7. We visited Murumba Primary School with 500 pupils, where a water and sanitation project will be constructed, funded by “Women for Water”. The Winam club has just finished new toilettes in yellow and blue colors for the girls. We saw a field with tree planting projects and we also planted a tree for Soroptimist International together with minister Esther, to whom I made friendship more than 16 years ago. We stayed in the Nyanza Club from where we could see the sunset at the Victoria Lake. A Nairobi Soroptimist Lena Omondi kindly invited us to a tasty lunch in her new and elegant house outside Kisumu.
A big thank you to all European and American clubs for their support to projects in Kenya. A special thank you to SI/A for their support to water and sanitation in the slum of Nairobi, to displaced persons after the post-election conflict and to health and education projects. A really great projects, that needs to be more known!
Back in Nairobi, I spent some hours with Alice Owuor, our representatives to UNEP in Nairobi. Because of her great job as the first female Tax Revenue Commissioner in Kenya, she has to resign from the job at UN. She confirms that the work done at UNEP (UN Enviroment Programmes) is VERY essential and important to our Soroptimist projects on environment. I already met new candidates to take over Alice’s job at UN.
I thank the Kenya Union and its 10 clubs for the warm hospitality, they showed us and for the interest they have shown in participating in the training seminars for the Climate Change Project. We hope that together we can make a better environment in Kenya and by our work “Making a Difference” to the Kenyan society.
In friendship and many greetings from Rwanda and Kenya.
Hanne
President International
Dear Soroptimist and Friends in Rwanda, Kenya and Elsewhere
My recent 12 days trip to Rwanda and Kenya confirmed to me, that our organisation has very strong and hard-working members and efficient clubs in the two SI/Europe countries. At the start of this report I want to send them all a big thank you for their hard work and for sincere devotion to Soroptimist goals in their projects for the societies and for the women in their countries.
Visit in Rwanda, the Soroptimist clubs in Kigali, Kibungo and Gisenyi.
The main purpose for my visit in Rwanda was to take part in the 6th Soroptimist Peace Marathon on the 23th of May. This big event is for the 6th time arranged by local and European Soroptimists in cooperation with the Rwandan Ministry of Sport.
Approximately 300 runners participated in the marathon runners and 600 runners participated in the semi-marathon participated -all from 25 nations. Together with another app. 800 joggers I participated in the 5km “Jog for Fun”. There was also a Wheelchair event and Marathon relay. The final kilometer were run in a huge stadium with many cheering supporters on the galleries.
2500 children aged from 10-12 years participated the day before in a run and they all got a T-shirt and a sweet.
The marathon is a GREAT manifestation of Soroptimists “Working for Peace”, and a big thank you to SI/E, European and local Soroptimists for funding and supporting this big event, which now is highly appreciated in Rwanda.
An interesting “copy” of this event, is that 70 soldiers in Afghanistan run a marathon for peace on the same day and had taken the idea from the Peace Marathon in Rwanda, so the message spreads!
I stayed at the project “San Marco”, which is an education centre in the outskirt of Kigali. During the last 7 years the Kigali Soroptimist club has built 3 class rooms for nursery school, offices, gathering hall for local weddings, atelier for sewing, handicrafts and construction, guest rooms – beautifully spread in a green campus with many trees and flowers. The enormous funding for this big centre has come from many European clubs, especially from the clubs in Luxembourg, Italy and San Marino.
For the moment the atelier was “occupied” by 6 professors and 18 students from the architect universities partly in Venice and partly in Kigali, who make common research and produce new ways of using natural building materials, such as bamboo, banana leaves and for the first time ever using coffee wood. Their methods and research will be introduced at the 12th Biennale in Venice, the International Architecture Exhibition from 29/8-21/11 2010. Also, 7 necklaces from the “Rwandan Atelier” for handicrafts will be exhibited, as the only representations from “black Africa”. A fantastic cadeau of high international recognition to “San Marco” centre, to the Kigali Soroptimists and to Bettina Scholl-Sabbatini, the real “Mama Africa” for more than 25 years.
When I first visited the “Hirondelles” school in Kibungo in 2002 – a two hour’s drive from Kigali - I saw 5 class rooms, but this time I saw a total complex of a private school with class rooms from nursery classes to the 9th form, with a stadium and new sanitation facilities, all built and supported by the Kibungo Soroptimist club, with financial help from SI/E clubs. In one class room 20 mini computers with simple software connected to internet, loaded by solar energy and at a price of 100$ were installed for the pupils in the first classes. In the higher classes 20 ordinary computers were installed! Another fantastic proof of Soroptimists “making a difference”.
In Gisenyi the Soroptimist showed me their rain harvesting installations, they had set up in 65 houses – all belonging to poor single women – many widows from the genocide in 1994. We handed over certificates to 8 young women, who have followed a two years course in design and formation and who now will start their own business. In a micro-credit project they “get” a sewing machine – free for the first 12 months, but then they have to pay the price back during the next years.
The whole visit was accompanied by warm hospitality from local soroptimists, inspiring get together with Soroptimist friends and fellows from 7 countries, fruitful meeting with representatives from all 7 clubs in Rwanda, inspiring being together with the professors and students for the architecture schools, goat meat grilled on bamboo sticks, planting roses from San Marino, visiting coffee plantation and the emotional “Rwanda Memorial Site” for the genocide, and not least: the beautiful view of the country with the “1000 Hills”.
Visiting Kenya – meetings with Soroptimists from all 10 Kenyan clubs.
The main purpose for my visit in Kenya was to participate in the official launching of the “Women and Climate Change” project – a joint project between Kenyan and Danish Soroptimists, supported by the Danish ministry of Foreign Affairs with 360.000$.
The opening took place in a beautiful campus at the Maseno University in the Kisumu area, close to the Victoria lake.
In 9 tents exhibitions on climate issues were displayed, from recycling of plastic materials to solar stoves for cooking.
More than 400 people, Soroptimists, people from the Maseno University and local institutions and schools, women for rural area, who had a bus ride of more than 2 hours each way, officials, professors, climate experts and friends participated in the symposium with speeches and presentations. More than 1500 small trees were give to the participants for planting at home in their own surroundings.
Hon. Esther Murugi, Kenyan Minister for Gender and Social Services, who was Soroptimist until she got minister, made the official opening and praised the Soroptimist for the good initiative and support to the Kenyan people. Kenya has recently experienced a very harsh period, first the post-election turbulence and after that 2 years of severe draught.
(Later I will report on the details in the “Women and Climate Change” project.)
Also the Kenya Soroptimists have good friends in European and American clubs, who support their projects financially.
The Kisumu club and the Kismu Winam club showed us their projects in the rural area. We saw the “Morningstar Nursery School” where new latrines are being built for the 160 kids, aging from 2-7. We visited Murumba Primary School with 500 pupils, where a water and sanitation project will be constructed, funded by “Women for Water”. The Winam club has just finished new toilettes in yellow and blue colors for the girls. We saw a field with tree planting projects and we also planted a tree for Soroptimist International together with minister Esther, to whom I made friendship more than 16 years ago. We stayed in the Nyanza Club from where we could see the sunset at the Victoria Lake. A Nairobi Soroptimist Lena Omondi kindly invited us to a tasty lunch in her new and elegant house outside Kisumu.
A big thank you to all European and American clubs for their support to projects in Kenya. A special thank you to SI/A for their support to water and sanitation in the slum of Nairobi, to displaced persons after the post-election conflict and to health and education projects. A really great projects, that needs to be more known!
Back in Nairobi, I spent some hours with Alice Owuor, our representatives to UNEP in Nairobi. Because of her great job as the first female Tax Revenue Commissioner in Kenya, she has to resign from the job at UN. She confirms that the work done at UNEP (UN Enviroment Programmes) is VERY essential and important to our Soroptimist projects on environment. I already met new candidates to take over Alice’s job at UN.
I thank the Kenya Union and its 10 clubs for the warm hospitality, they showed us and for the interest they have shown in participating in the training seminars for the Climate Change Project. We hope that together we can make a better environment in Kenya and by our work “Making a Difference” to the Kenyan society.
In friendship and many greetings from Rwanda and Kenya.
Hanne
President International
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