12 September 2012 – Hundreds of advocates and experts on disability, as well as Government delegates, have gathered at UN Headquarters for the start of the Fifth Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which will have a special focus on women and children. “It is our responsibility as members of the international community and citizens of our own countries to bring about changes to more than one billion persons with … [Read more...]
PM congratulates Summer Mortimer on Paralympic bronze medal
September 6, 2012 by
PM congratulates Summer Mortimer on Paralympic bronze medal September 6, 2012 Ottawa, Ontario Prime Minister Stephen Harper today congratulated swimmer Summer Mortimer on her bronze medal in the Women’s 100-metre Freestyle (S10) at the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games in London. “On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to congratulate Summer Mortimer on her stellar performance in London to date”, said the Prime Minister. “Ms. Mortimer has exemplified grit, determination and … [Read more...]
Papua New Guinea’s newest parliamentarians, a time for women
August 30, 2012 by
... a time for Women in Papua New Guinea Since Papua New Guinea’s independence in 1975, none of its parliaments have comprised more than 2 per cent of women. Efforts to address traditional attitudes in the country and support women candidates and voters have shown signs of impact, yet the political landscape for women remains a tough one. In an interview with UN Women, two of the three women members of parliament (MPs) elected in the July 2012 polls detail the challenges they … [Read more...]
The Brookings Institute asks “End the War in Syria? How? When?”
August 20, 2012 by
“The beginning of wisdom,” a Chinese saying goes, “is to call things by their right names.” And the right name for what is happening in Syria — and has been for more than a year — is an all-out civil war. Syria is Lebanon of the 1970s and ’80s. It is Afghanistan, Congo or the Balkans of the 1990s. It is Iraq of 2005-2007. It is not an insurgency. It is not a rebellion. It is not Yemen. It is certainly not Egypt or Tunisia. It is important to accept this simple fact, because … [Read more...]
Kid’s State Dinner – The Whitehouse on August 20, 2012
August 19, 2012 by
Hello -- Tomorrow is going to be a special day at the White House, and I wanted to make sure you got a chance to be a part of it. At lunchtime, 54 kids from all over the United States will join me in the East Room for the first-ever Kids'State Dinner. Each of these young people worked with their parents to create an original lunch recipe. We asked them to design a dish that was healthy, affordable, and tasty -- and which met the nutritional guidelines set up by the U.S. Department of … [Read more...]
One million sign to end violence against women in Pakistan
August 15, 2012 by
A high profile campaign to end violence against women (VAW) in Pakistan has culminated ceremonially with the signature of its one millionth supporter – the country’s President. UN Women launched the One Million Signatures Campaign during the annual 16 Days of Activism in Pakistan in 2011, in partnership with a country-wide network of women’s organizations, the EVAWG Alliance. Working to raise awareness on violence against women and the stereotypes at its root, the campaign has seen more … [Read more...]
Dieppe Raid in France, PMO – Governor General to mark 70th Anniversary
August 8, 2012 by
Governor General to mark 70th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid in France August 8, 2012 Ottawa, Ontario Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, will attend ceremonies in Dieppe, France, from August 19 to 20, to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid. The Governor General will join the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, who will lead an official … [Read more...]
The Whitehouse Women’s Update: A New Day for Women!
August 7, 2012 by
Women’s Update: A New Day for Women! Greetings All - We hope this message finds you well. There’s a lot going on in the world of Council of Women and Girls this week, but first we wanted to make sure you had a chance to see the President’s statement on the shooting in Wisconsin. You can find it below. Last week, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, women took another step forward in taking control of our health. As Senior Advisor to the President and Chair of the White House … [Read more...]
THE FUTURE WOMEN WANT – Rio+20
June 18, 2012 by
THE FUTURE WOMEN WANT The paradigm shift towards sustainable development must be based on the premise of human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment. This shift requires a renewed focus on people-centred development that prioritizes the expansion of capabilities, the eradication of poverty and the reduction of all types of inequalities, and that promotes the rights and agency of women. It is a shift to a world where women and men, girls and boys—not profit—are placed at the … [Read more...]
What is going to happen in Rio?
June 1, 2012 by
What has in the past and what is going to happen in Rio 2012? Rio+20: from environment to sustainable development To grasp the background and stakes of Rio+20, it is useful to have a look at the Stockholm-to-Rio continuum of the Conferences, and to go through some key milestones in the long march that gave birth to international agreements on sustainable development. How did we move from Environment to Sustainable Development, what are the consequences of this move, and where … [Read more...]
White House Women’s Update: Happy Mother’s Day!
May 12, 2012 by
Saturday, May 12, 2012 White House Women's Update: Happy Mother's Day! Friends -- Happy Mother's Day to you and yours! Yesterday, the President released a presidential proclamation to celebrate the special role mothers play as cornerstones of our families and our communities, and on Thursday, First Lady, Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a Mother's Day Tea for military families in the East Room of the White House and we hosted a Twitter Chat with the … [Read more...]
Women as ‘Cornerstone’ in Quest for Equitable Development, Human Dignity
April 24, 2012 by
UNCTAD XIII Must Be New Pillar of Change, Qatar Museums Authority Chairperson Says, Hailing Women as ‘Cornerstone’ in Quest for Equitable Development, Human Dignity (Received from a UN Information Officer.) DOHA, QATAR, 23 April — Change in favour of equitable and sustainable development in the Arab world and around the globe must be achieved by women working side by side with men at all levels, Qatar Museums Authority Chairperson Sheikha Al Mayyasa bint Hamad bin Khalifa … [Read more...]
Prime Minister of Canada on Easter
April 8, 2012 by
Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on Easter April 8, 2012 Ottawa, Ontario Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement marking Easter: “I would like to send my best wishes to Christians across the country and around the world as they gather with family and friends to celebrate Easter. “Easter is a time of renewal and reflection, of faith and forgiveness; it is a time to mark new beginnings and to cherish our loved ones. “This is a day that … [Read more...]
