Ensuring access to education for girls in the West Bank Wafa'a Shihda is a 13-year-old student at UNRWA's Al-Aqrabania school. The school exemplifies UNRWA's efforts to ensure access to education for Palestine refugees living in the West Bank. Though the school in Al-Aqrabania is co-ed, it has been particularly important for girls living in the village and surrounding area. Social norms mean that girls face more constraints on their freedom of movement. This has been … [Read more...]
'EveTeasing' [euphemism-sexual harassment] lead Women to Commit Suicide
April 4, 2011 by
Sexual harassment in Bangladesh ... that led the government to declare June 13th "Eve Teasing Protection Day." Sexual harassment in Bangladesh is driving women to commit suicide as a means of escape. According to local human rights groups 28 women committed suicide this year to escape frequent sexual harassment. Before killing themselves most of them wrote a note demanding an end to the sexual harassment known locally as ‘eve teasing’ where boys intercept girls on the street, … [Read more...]
ADELE BUTLER – Women of Spirit: New Delhi in Rape Crisis
March 28, 2011 by
The Women of New Dehli are in crisis; and the Women of our World are Taking Action! Imagine being raped because you are a working woman. Hard to believe but this is the nightmarish reality women in New Delhi face. I first read about this on the Care2 Make a Difference site. The New York Times reported that a couple was accosted by five drunken young men from a nearby farming village accosted a couple last month. They beat the young man and gang-raped the … [Read more...]
ADELE BUTLER – Women of Spirit: Children Are Not For Sex, Atlanta!
March 25, 2011 by
A Celebration of Women "Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17 If you think that sex trafficking takes place only in developing countries, think again. I watched a video featuring Ashley Judd who introduced the panel “‘No Such Thing’: Trafficking of Girls in the United States” for the 2nd annual “Women In The World” summit) the weekend of March 10-12 in New York City. In it she shared a heartwrenching … [Read more...]
Prime Minister of Canada on International Women’s Day
March 8, 2011 by
Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on International Women’s Day March 8, 2011 Ottawa, Ontario Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the occasion of International Women’s Day: “Our Government is proud to join Canadians in observing the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a worldwide celebration of women and their outstanding achievements. “This year’s theme, Girls’ Rights Matter, embodies cherished Canadian values, such as … [Read more...]
Female Genital Cutting (FGM) – Ending in Northern Ethiopia, celebrate!
February 26, 2011 by
Two Districts in Northern Ethiopia Declare an End to Female Genital Cutting AFAR, Ethiopia — An official declaration marking the abandonment of female genital cutting was issued recently in the Amibara and the Awash-Fentale districts of Ethiopia’s Afar Region. The effort to abandon cutting started nearly 10 years ago in both districts. In 2008, UNICEF and UNFPA began a joint programme to support that effort in Semera town. The initiative culminated this past November in two separate … [Read more...]
Women's Rights to Contraceptive Information and Services
February 23, 2011 by
The Rights to Contraceptive Information and Services for Women and Adolescents Briefing Paper Author: UNFPA and the Center for Reproductive Rights No. of pages: 37 Publication date: 2011 Publisher: UNFPA and the Center for Reproductive Rights Download PDF English This briefing paper examines the right to access contraceptive information and services for women and adolescents. It provides practical guidance for activists, scholars, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, … [Read more...]
ADELE BUTLER – Women of Spirit: Child Brides
February 22, 2011 by
Child Brides ... When I heard the news report about 12 year old girls from B.C. were being given as brides to polygamists, I was shocked and disgusted. "They are still children!" They aren't even developed fully yet. and what disturbed me the most was that their parents sanctioned this. Marriage, according to documents filed in B.C. Supreme Court Friday. The girls were “sealed for time and eternity” in religious ceremonies to Warren Jeffs, the prophet of the Fundamentalist Church … [Read more...]
UN Top Officials – Celebrate Call to 'Abolish FGM' globally!
February 10, 2011 by
Top UN officials call for abolishing female genital mutilation A type of blade used to carry out the FGM operation February 2011 – Stressing that all girls deserve to grow up free from harmful practices that endanger their well-being, United Nations officials on Sunday called for abolishing the practice of female genital mutilation to help millions lead healthier lives. Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is the partial or total removal of the external genitalia – … [Read more...]
Awareness and education are key to beating human trafficking
February 9, 2011 by
February 2011 - In November 2010, the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking was launched to assist those most in need as a result of having been trafficked. Administered by UNODC, the Trust Fund is guided by a five-member, geographically representative board of trustees. One of the Trustees, Dr. Saisuree Chutikul of Thailand, has many years of experience in working to fight human trafficking and its related social evils, such as gender-based violence. As the … [Read more...]
WOMEN – Progress for Women IS progress for All: Volunteerism, Take Action!
February 8, 2011 by
Women Progress for Women Is Progress for All They are our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. They are our colleagues and compatriots. They account for more than half the human race. They are us. Yet women continue to face a daily struggle against violence, illiteracy and inequality for no reason other than the fact of their gender. Tragically, one in three women can expect to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime, more often than not, by someone well known … [Read more...]
