Blog - Soroptimist International

FGM TaskForce

A blog by Dr. Nina Smart - SI Downey - Camino Real Region "Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a real issue affecting a growing number of women and girls in the Los Angeles area. Inspired by New York City's FGM task force, several grassroots organizations, community members, and an interfaith

Girl’s Rights and Human Rights Frameworks

A blog by Vanesa Treers, SI UN Representative, New York. "The Human Rights Declaration set the tone where “we are all equal in dignity and rights”, additionally, it called upon the need to pay special attention to children - “children are entitled to special care”. Furthermore, The Convention on the

Human Trafficking Forum and Fair for SI Downey

A blog written by Cecilia Goñez - SI Downey, Chair of Human Trafficking "Soroptimist International of Downey, California, held its first Annual Human Trafficking Forum & Fair on Saturday, January 12th, 2019 at the Downey Adult School. SI of Montebello showed support and solidarity with SI of Downey by donating coffee

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

A blog by Kay Richmond, (SIGBI Programme Director) and Rita Beaumont (SIGBI Assistant Programme Director to health and food security). "Following on from Dr. Nina Smart’s blog in December 2018, in which she explains what Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is and ‘why it takes place’… we might ask, what can

‘Tis the season – FGM

A blog by Dr. Nina Smart "December is a month of miracles, when many families around the world celebrate together, share gifts and renew their faith through meaningful rituals that affirm beliefs. In many homes this includes the preparations for a girl's 'fixing' or 'initiation' or 'getting her ready for

Why is Social Protection so Important for Women?

At the Committee for Social Development Fifth Session held in Bangkok from 28-30 November 2018, the Committee deliberated on strategies for strengthening social protection in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Asia Pacific. Here Dr. Theresa W. Devasahayam, SI UN Representative for Bangkok, Thailand writes

Soroptimist Midwestern Region – true #WWLSoroptimists

by SI Advocacy Director Bev Bucur During my first year as a Soroptimist, in 1993, I had the opportunity to meet three remarkable women, Marie-Jeanne Bosia-Bererat (Switzerland) then the incoming President of Soroptimist International, Anne Farrington (New Zealand) Soroptimist International Treasurer, and Dr. Jeannine Jacquemin, United Nations Education Scientific and

Fighting Stigma Through Film – Acknowledging and addressing sexual violence in conflict

A blog by Catherine Dunmore, Advocacy Manager "From 23 to 24 November 2018, the United Kingdom government took its Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative to the big screen at the British Film Institute, London. The Fighting Stigma Through Film festival saw screenings documenting individual and group experiences with sexual

SI President’s Appeal – empowering young women to lead in the water industry

The SI President's 'Women, Water & Leadership' Appeal, has provided a $1,000.00 grant to Victoria Hinojosa to facilitate her participation in H2O Global Leaders and Water Innovation Lab training. The funding, originally donated to the Appeal by Soroptimist International Director of Advocacy, Beverly Bucur, embraces a key objective of 'Women,

So What? Part Two – Women in Urban Planning

A blog by Angela Sauvage "The achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will require all hands on deck. It will require different sectors and actors working together in an integrated manner. To help leverage expertise and knowledge into policy, practice, and action,