Photo: UN Photo/John Isaac
The Soroptimist SIGBI Federation, which represents 350 Soroptimist clubs in 29 countries, has been granted Special Consultative Status by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. Consultative Status allows an organisation to actively engage with the UN, submitting oral and written statements, and sending representatives to UN events, conferences and meetings.
“We are delighted", says SIGBI President Pat Black. "This will enable us to enhance Soroptimists’ work with UN agencies and contribute further to the push for recognition of the human rights for all women.”
SIGBI is the second Soroptimist International Federation to be granted Special Consultative Status – the Federation of Soroptimist International Europe (SIE) has held Special UN Consultative status since 2011.Soroptimist International, the umbrella organisation representing all four Soroptimist federations, has held General UN Consultative status since 1984 and maintains a network of volunteer representatives at the six major UN Centres (Geneva, Paris, Nairobi, New York, Rome, Vienna), as well as sending delegations to major UN events such as the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
Soroptimist clubs worldwide work to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women and girls in their own communities, nationally and internationally. The experience and understanding gathered from this grassroots activity is used to inform Soroptimist advocacy at the UN, helping to influence shape global policy and action. The network of Soroptimist representatives at the UN Centres also helps to keep clubs informed about international policy and issues facing women and girls worldwide.
The SIGBI Federation represents around 9000 club members worldwide in Anguilla, Barbados, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Gambia, Grenada, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Seychelles, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra-Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, UK and Zimbabwe.
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