A Celebration of Women™ is elated to Celebrate the Life of this woman leader, a peace activist that has used her perfume empire to enable people in war torn and developing countries to build sustainable business, bringing prosperity and joy to thousands of lives. WOMAN of ACTION™ Barb Stegmann " I am an incredibly grateful Canadian. Though I have humble roots, this country of opportunity has allowed me to grow into a … [Read more...]
Heeding lessons of Rwanda, 20 years later – Ban
Commemorating “one of the darkest chapters in human history,” United Nations officials paid tribute this morning to the 800,000 men, women and children – overwhelmingly Tutsi, moderate Hutu and Twa – that were systematically killed 20 years ago in Rwanda, and urged the international community to work together and remain vigilant to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again. “The blood spilled for 100 days. Twenty years later, the tears still flow,” said Ban Ki-Moon, in an address … [Read more...]
Women’s Participation, Rights, and Civil Society Essential
Women's Participation, Rights, and Civil Society Essential to Peaceful Future for Great Lakes Region and DRC The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security welcomed the UN Security Council's attention to "the full and effective participation of women in conflict resolution and peace building" in today's high-level meeting on the Great Lakes region, including the Democratic Republic of Congo. In her briefing to the Security Council, UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region Mary … [Read more...]
UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Recounts 5-year-Old Girl’s Ordeal
SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS TEXT URGING TARGETED SANCTIONS AGAINST PERPETRATORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE DURING ARMED CONFLICT Rape Largely ‘Cost-free’, Says Special Representative As UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Recounts 5-year-Old Girl’s Ordeal The Security Council today urged the United Nations sanctions committees to apply targeted sanctions against parties committing sexual violence during armed conflict. Ahead of a debate on the subject that attracted more than 60 speakers, the … [Read more...]
Women help lead the way in Rwanda’s transformation
Women help lead the way in Rwanda’s transformation Rwandans have been working tirelessly to rebuild their country since the 1994 genocide. Since then, the country has become one of the fastest growing economies on the African continent. Furthermore, women have now come to the forefront of national politics, making Rwanda the world's leader in the number of women parliamentarians. The advancement of women in Rwandan society is told in a documentary-style video launched by the UN … [Read more...]
RWANDA, Women Taking Action against legal barriers of birth rights
RWANDA, Women Taking Action against legal barriers of birth rights When Thabita Mukamusana’s partner died shortly after the birth of their child, she raised their son without hope of connecting him to his paternal family, or his inheritance, in her village in south-west Rwanda. Because the boy had been born outside of marriage, she believed that any claim would be impossible. Yet things recently turned around when she was able to access free legal aid for herself and her son, now 19. With … [Read more...]
UN Women Awards Nearly $1.5 million in Small Grants
UN Women Awards Nearly $1.5 million in Small Grants towards Realizing Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS United Nations, New York — UN Women, under the Fund for Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS, today announced approximately US$1.5 million in small grants to twenty grassroots and community-based organizations in sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen women’s property and inheritance rights as a critical strategy for … [Read more...]