Blog - Soroptimist International

Launch of UN Human Rights Report 2019

A blog by Pat Black Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, invited Non-Governmental Organisations to join her for the virtual launch from Geneva of the UN Human Rights Report 2019 at the beginning of June. Ms. Bachelet outlined the work of the Human Rights Commission staff which

COVID-19 AND FOOD SECURITY: THE CASE OF AFRICA

SI Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Liliana Mosca, reports on the impact of COVID-19 on food security across Africa. "On June 9, in a message at the lunch of a policy brief on food security[1], UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, warned about

“FEEDING THE FORGOTTEN”: ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 2 IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

A blog by Dr Theresa Devasahayam, SI UN Representative for Bangkok Food is intrinsic for survival and is a fundamental human right. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 posits that by 2030, it is aimed that hunger and malnutrition will be eradicated. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, this goal may never materialise. While

Beijing+25: Women and the Environment

As the first in our series of blogs relating to the twelve critical areas of concern outlined in the Beijing Platform for Action, Janet Hall Schempf, Environmental Impact Analyst, Habitat Biologist, and SIA Member, examines the impact of environmental changes on progress towards gender equality in today's world. Janet Hall

Water, Sanitation, and Climate Action

Blog by SI Advocacy Advisor, Pat Black, following her virtual attendance at the UN High-Level Panel, 'Accelerating Implementation of the 2030 Agenda through Water, Sanitation and Climate Action', co-organised by the Permanent Missions of Canada, Finland, Hungary, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Tajikistan and the Department of Economic and Social

The SDGs: Where do Southeast Asian Women and Girls Stand?

As the world prepares to review the Sustainable Development Goals at the High-Level Political Forum in New York next month, SI's UN Representative in Bangkok, Theresa Devasahayam, reflects on the findings of the 3rd South-East Asia Forum on Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals held last October at the United

Let’s Reinvent School, following COVID-19 crisis

A blog by Evelyne PARA, SI UN Representative at UNESCO. "School closings around the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic pose an unprecedented threat to the education, protection, and well-being of children. What does this mean exactly? Can we speak of a sacrificed 2020 generation? Should we accelerate the

Resolution 1325 and the Recognition of Women as PeaceMakers

"It is almost twenty years since the UN Security Council unanimously adopted the Resolution 1325. This resolution acknowledged the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and girls. It also called for increased participation of women at all levels of decision-making during the peace process, stating: 'The resolution reaffirms the

World Environment Day

5 June is World Environment Day, SI Advocacy Coordinator, Hannah Agius, discusses the importance of adopting a gender perspective for this year's theme, biodiversity. The term 'biodiversity' refers to the 8 million species of plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria living on earth, and the ecosystems to which they belong. The

Effective policy solutions for COVID-19

SI UN Representative, Maria Fornella, reflects on the findings of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Briefing held on May 11, 2020: 'Joining Forces: Effective Policy solutions for COVID-19'. “There have been as many plagues as wars in history, yet plagues and wars take people equally by surprise.”