A peaceful
environment is crucial for women and girls to be able to live free from fear
and violence.  At the United Nations in Nairobi and at Paris, SI UN Representatives
Marie-Christine Gries de la Barbelais (Paris) and Alice Odingo (Nairobi)
continue to advocate for security for women and girls.

“It has not
been long since the 200 girls were taken away by Boko Haram in Nigeria” Alice
explains, “Since then many other girls have been held hostage with the group.
The terrorists have moved from Nigeria to Cameroon and we are not sure who will
be the next victims.”

 

Photo: SI UN Representative Alice Odingo speaking at the UNEP for the Women’s Major Group

Unfortunately,
often the security risks and violence that women and girls experience do not
even make the news. Alice Odingo, who is a member of the Women’s Major Group at
the UNEP and a member of the Board of Directors for the Association for Women’s
Rights in Development knows all too well about the risks that women and girls
are exposed to.

“Women and
girls suffer deeply from poverty, and are vulnerable” says Alice, “2015 is a
critical year for gender equality, and when we are advocating for equality for
all, retrogressive behaviour cannot hold us back!”

At UNESCO,
Marie-Christine contributed SI’s voice to a collaboration of 66 organisations
who called for peace at the International Conference of NGOs.

 

Photo: SI UN Representative Marie-Christine Gries de la Barbelais (second from right) attending a meeting with the Past Present of the NGO UNESCO Liaison Committee (right)

“Peace must
be lasting and sustainable”, says Marie-Christine, “threats to peace cause innumerable
civilian casualties. To live free from fear and violence is a human right, and
one we must strive to achieve. Education is a key way that we can promote
peace.”

With a new
development agenda being agreed this year, and with the Beijing+20 global
review, 2015 provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity for SI’s UN
Representatives to advocate for specific measures to eliminate violence against
women and ensure peaceful communities.