SoroptimistInternational, Author at Soroptimist International

“Holding up Half of the Sky” – International Women's Day 2012 in China

This week's SoroptiVoice blog comes from Theresa Lyford, SI South West Pacific's Assistant Federation Programme Director in charge of coordinating SISWP zones A and B. She got to celebrate International Women's Day 2012 in China - and what an amazing experience it was! Many thanks to Theresa for sharing this

Women's Organisations say No to Safeguarding "Traditional Values" at the Expense of Human Rights

Last month the UN Commission on the Status of Women failed to adopt agreed conclusions at its 56th session on the basis of safeguarding "traditional values" at the expense of human rights and fundamental freedoms of women. Together with our partner women's rights organisations through the UN NGO system, Soroptimist

Educate, Empower, Enable: CSW and The Gambia

This week's SoroptiVoice blog comes from Sue Biggs, SIGBI Federation Programme Director. Here she shares SIGBI's 3E project, and a chance encounter with a young lady from The Gambia at CSW 56. The schedule is printed well in advance, you see your name in black and white, then you don’t

A Milestone towards A Future SI African Federation

SIE President Kathy Kaaf reports back from the Conference on the Proposed SI African Federation which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, 22nd – 24th March 2012. "Kenya Strikes Oil“ was the headline of the “Daily Nation” on Tuesday 27th March when SIE President-Elect Ulla Madsen, SIE Vice President Christine Peer

SI of Los Angeles Celebrates 90 Years!

This week's SoroptiVoice blog comes from Julie Mairs of SI Los Angeles (SIA). This year, her club celebrates 90 years! As the third Soroptimist club ever, chartered in 1922, they certainly have a lot to celebrate! I am sure you will all join with SIHQ in sending the club many

Looking Back – Women and Law in Italy

The Collegio Romano is a prestigious institution in the heart of Rome. It was founded in the middle of the 16th century by Ignatius of Loyola, who came from Spain with the ideal to bring education to the world. It was a “men only” institution. In the 21st century, on

Report from the 55th Commission on Narcotic Drugs

SI UN Vienna Representatives, Roswitha Benesch and Martina Gredler, report back from the 55th Commission on Narcatic Drugs 12-16th March, 2012. In his opening speech at the 55th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), called for a real balance

Women's Empowerment and the Sustainable Development Goals

International Assistant Programme Director, Anusha Santhirasthipam, reports back from the third Rio+20 intersessional meeting which took place in New York last week. From 19-27 March 2012, the SI UN Reps in New York and International Assistant Programme Director, Anusha Santhirasthipam, attended the first round of 'informal-informal' negotiations on the zero

Rio+20: An Urgent Call for Action

International Assistant Programme Director Anusha Santhirasthipam reports back from a week of meetings at the UN centre in New York, focussing on Rio+20 preparations and the policy asks of the Women's Major Stakeholder Group. “83 days to The Future We Want” says the countdown banner at the top of the official

Soroptimists to Carry Olympic Torch!

Soroptimist International is delighted to learn that past International Assistant Programme Director, Margaret Cook, has been selected to carry the Olympic torch as it passes through Yorkshire. Margaret was nominated by her Soroptimist Club members to take part in the torch relay in Ilkley on June 24. She will be

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