Caroline Leach is Soroptimist International’s International
Assistant Programme Director, and lives in California, USA. In this
SoroptiVoice blog, she shares her experiences in meeting club members
and about the importance of Soroptimists’ networks in SI’s advocacy
work.

"Soroptimist International is a movement close
to 80,000 strong. We never know who another member may know.   It truly is a small world; our neighbors and
friends are connected.  We can use those
connections to spread the word about women’s rights! " 

Recently
I visited a Soroptimist club in the state of Washington in the USA, while I was
away from my club in California in the USA. 
After introducing myself as SI’s International Assistant Programme
Director, I was asked to talk about what Soroptimist International does
internationally.   Of course I was more
than happy to share (in the reader’s digest version of course) about the global
advocacy work that Soroptimist International does at the United Nations because
of our ECOSOC accreditation and General Consultative Status. In my mind, this
advocacy work is one of the key way that SI is able to improve the lives of
women and girls.

During
the meeting I was handed a note by a lovely club member.  As it turns out, although she lives in the
United States, she has a relatives in high ranking government positions in other
parts of the world such as Africa. She was interested in getting involved internationally
in the future and SI’s international work. 
I explained that every Soroptimist can all be involved internationally
by supporting our work at the United Nations through advocacy and awareness,
especially in the run up to CSW.

Photo: Caroline Leach (second from left) participating in a delegates’ meeting at CSW58.

We spoke
after the meeting about the resources on the SI website that Soroptimists can
share with government officials to support our views.  This made me think of all the members of
Soroptimist and the incredible networks we are all have.  Who would think that a woman in the United
States would be in a position to get our statement in the hands of government officials
in another country through her personal contacts?  Soroptimist International is a movement close
to 80,000 strong. We never know who another member may know.   It truly is a small world; our neighbors and
friends are connected.  We can use those
connections to spread the word about women’s rights!

Next
week women around the globe will descend upon the United Nations in New York
City to attend the Commission on the Status of Women 59.     The Soroptimist delegation this year is a
large group of knowledgeable, passionate women from each federation who will
continue to advocate and fight for the rights of women and girls around the
world.   We all have a voice to be
heard.  Whether you are attending CSW59
or not, you can get involved and use the advocacy resources for CSW59 from the
SI website and contact your government officials.