( Editor's note- it is now 2009 and I am happy to start sharing information to inspire your view on SI programme. This is a small excerpt from a full report on the website from one of the very important conferences that SI recently attended. In March 2009- 38 Soroptimists are registered to attend Commission on the Status of Women at the UN in New York- most at their own expense! Soroptimists are involved and international!)
‘INDIFFERENCE IS NOT AN OPTION!’
This strong message was received by participants during the 61st DPI/NGO Conference which was held at UNESCO in Paris during September, celebrating the signing of the ‘The Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ in Paris 60 years ago. The 2008 theme: ‘Reaffirming Human Rights for All.
537 NGOs from 74 countries were in attendance and SI was well represented. We were delighted to have three young Soroptimists with us, taking up the UN offer of three extra places for delegates under 30 years of age. Three very full days of talks, discussions and presentations covered different aspects of human rights. Many workshops reflected how groups are defending human rights and are working to establish human rights especially in the lives of girls and women around the world. A full report can be found on the SI website- this is just an excerpt!
Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary General, opened the conference via video link- emphasising OUR place in the front line of defence and establishment of human rights. This theme dominated-WE are the ones to make sure that human rights are in place and maintained.
Simone Veil made the point that ‘In order to achieve peace and universal human rights we must achieve reconciliation.’
Ingrid Betancourt- on live video link from the UN in New York - spoke of touching human beings everywhere with words as we are ‘word filled human beings’. She also spoke about fear which is insidious in this world- fear of fear, fear of others, fear of other cultures and fear of being wrongly judged. This courageous woman radiated peace as she spoke of her experiences as a hostage and the effects on her thinking.
Words that kept recurring through all the sessions- Challenge, citizen, indifference, dignity, fear, words, talk and respect.
There were highlights from this conference like all others that we attend:- moments of discovery, excellent speakers, conversations with people who are making a difference – like SI, inspirational lives - and the opportunity to talk about what SI is and does. The latter was helped by our new exciting ‘handbag’ size leaflet we gave to everyone we could! It demonstrates our actions as upholders of human rights and is a great PR tool. It is available for everyone to use now!!One thing is certain- Soroptimists cannot and must not rest. Soroptimist awareness raising, advocacy and action is much needed in the field of human rights.
Margaret Cook , SI Assistant Programme Director
Monday, January 12, 2009
Friday, December 12, 2008
President's Appeal Notice and Message from PE Hanne
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!)
“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!)
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."
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