A 106-page report report addressing; Gender inequality in Nigeria, elder abuse in French care facilities, gender based violence of Indigenous women in Canada and Australia, failure of India’s justice system for Dalit women, Detention, ownership and honor crimes in Jordan; Human Rights forum report 2022.
Category: Advocacy work
September 15, 2022; A high level panel discussion and round tables by the organizing team: WFWP EUME; IAFLP (UPF); Renee Moawad Foundation and co-host HE Mme Nayla Moawad; supporting organizations: UN Women; NGO Committee on the Status of Women, Geneva; and Soroptimists.
Soroptimists International rigorously opposes violations of human rights and calls on the Iranian Government and all other Governments to cease state-controlled violence against unarmed women and girls immediately, and to comply with international laws protecting the right to freedom of expression and elimination of gender discrimination.
Please read the statement below by WFWPI at the 51st session of the Human Rights Council, calling for the immediate action to protect Indigenous people’s rights in Canada, specifically women and girls
Please read the written statement* below submitted by Women’s Federation for World Peace International, a non-governmental organization in general consultative status, on Meaningful Participation of Cypriot Women in the Cyprus
Peace Process
Ukraine: Legacy of Trauma, Generations of War, Future of Hope
Statement of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations Regarding the Current Situation in Ukraine
With each hour, Vladimir Putin’s threat of Russian aggression against Ukraine intensifies. Whether he chooses a military invasion of Ukraine, a crippling cyber attack, an economic chokehold, or any combination of destructive actions, his intent to break Ukraine, the nation, and her people, is unequivocally clear. Along with the rest of the civilized world, the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations cannot presume to understand Russia’s unilateral obsession with destroying Ukraine. Along with the rest of the civilized world, we fully condemn Putin’s actions.
All of Putin’s “reasons” for wanting to break Ukraine are factually baseless, historically inaccurate, and immoral. Ukraine does not pose a threat to Russia unless Putin chooses to fabricate a threat, Ukraine is not Russian land just because Putin wants it to be, and ultimately, Putin rejects the century-long international effort to stop the strong from subjugating those less strong simply because they can and want to do so.
Ukrainians have no illusions. Russia started a war with Ukraine eight years ago and will escalate in some manner. War is not coming. War is already here. Ukrainians are preparing for more, but not panicking since panic leads to weakness and Putin would like nothing more.
For the past 100 years, war is a leading reason why “historically, Ukraine has one of the largest diasporas in the world” (United Nations International Organization for Migration Report, 2010). Ukraine’s diaspora maintains ties to its homeland for generations. At present, approximately 10 million self-identified Ukrainians live beyond the borders of Ukraine, almost 25% of Ukraine’s in-country population of 45 million. Vast stretches of World War I, the “Russian” Civil War, World War II, were fought by foreign armies on Ukrainian land. Moscow sent Ukraine’s soldiers to die in the various international wars instigated by the USSR. Even after the inevitable and fortunate end of that dictatorial empire, Moscow could not leave Ukraine alone. Since Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine, 14,000 have died and 1.5 million civilians have fled their homes.
More than language, more than religion, or place of birth, the one characteristic common to every Ukrainian woman, whether in the diaspora or in Ukraine, is that each is either a direct or intergenerational victim of war. Every woman has her personal war-story legacy – as a survivor, as the mother of a soldier, as the daughter or granddaughter of a war refugee, as a woman whose great grandmother lived through two world wars. The very real and very immediate consequences of war – physical destruction, loss of life, a humanitarian crisis, then the long-term burden of alleviating the intergenerational trauma of war – raising healthy children, keeping families together, healing emotional and physical damage – primarily has been the responsibility of women, a burden needlessly imposed by foreign aggression. Once again, this fate awaits tens of millions.
We commend and are grateful to the nations who support Ukraine, understand that Ukraine is the current fault line between the past and the future – a victory for the old world order of aggressive and authoritative powers, or a victory for the future of a rules-based international order with a goal of peace.
Regardless of Russia’s immediate actions, the unwinding of this war will take decades. In the end, Putin’s vision will fail. For every Ukrainian he kills today, there is a mother raising a child in a foreign land to understand that might does not make right and that the dignity of each individual and each nation lies in the ability to freely choose a destiny.
In the title of her iconic 1890 poem Contra Spem Spero! the poet Lesya Ukrainka offers the essence of a message that every Ukrainian understands – with no reason to hope, I still hope. In three words, she summarized Ukraine’s reality. With no objective reasons to hope, we still hope.
WFUWO Executive Board
February 12, 2022
Світова Федерація Українських Жіночих Організацій є міжнародною координаційною надбудовою українських жіночих організацій у світі, яка була заснована в 1948 р. СФУЖО має акредитацію в Департаменті глобальних комунікацій і консультативний статус в Економічній і со¬ціальній раді ООН та членство при ЮНІСЕФ. Мережа СФУЖО діє у 31 країнах світу.
The World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations is an international umbrella founded in 1948 in Philadelphia, USA. WFUWO is an NGO affiliated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (1990), accredited in consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (1993), and a member of the NGO Committee on UNICEF (1997). The WFUWO network currently represents and coordinates the work of women’s organizations in 31 countries of the Ukrainian diaspora.
Executive Office: 145 Evans Avenue, Suite 203, Toronto, Ontario M8Z 5X8 Canada
Facebook: WFUWO at the UN & Світова Федерація Українських Жіночих Організацій
E-mail: wfuwo.office@gmail.com
Biovision is pleased to announce an important new book which can be downloaded free of charge at https://www.globalagriculture.org/transformation/. The authors were supported in the publication of the book by the Biovision Foundation for Ecological Development (CH) and the Future Foundation for Agriculture (D). Please feel free to forward to your networks.
Transformation of Our Food Systems
The COVID-19 pandemic exposes sharp injustices and system wide failures of today’s prevailing food and agriculture systems, injustices that have been accelerating over the past decade; the most destructive period of food production and consumption in modern history. In their new book “Transformation of our food systems – the making of a paradigm shift”, 40 international experts describe the highlights and trends in food production since 2009, when the ground breaking International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development Report (IAASTD) was published.
The critical new book calls for an urgent, accelerated transformation of our food systems. Dr. Hans Herren, Biovision Foundation’s president, former World Food Prize winner and co-president of the IAASTD, researcher and expert in agroecology, is the initiator and co-editor. “This book clearly proves from various perspectives that the agroecological approach is by far the most important and fundamental pathway to ‘build back better’ (after COVID-19) and to make the shift towards sustainable food systems,” says Herren. Co-editor Benny Haerlin, says of the book “it not only talks about transformation, it also shows how it can be done and where it is already happening.”
The book is published in the run-up to this year’s only virtual High Level Special Event of the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS), where for the first time agroecology will be at the centre of discussions and where decision-makers will also reflect about global efforts needed to “build back better”. The book is also a critical contribution to the “Food Systems Summit 2021”, being organized under the auspices of the United Nations.
More information is available here:
https://www.globalagriculture.org/fileadmin/files/weltagrarbericht/IAASTD-Buch/2020-09-24_Media-Release_IAASTD_10.pdf
International Organizations and the Family: An Overview
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, represented by
Latter- day Saint Charities in New York and Geneva, and the European Union & International Affairs Office in Brussels, is pleased to invite you to join us for the “Fortifying Families” webinar series. As the name suggests, this series will focus on what individuals and governments can do to fortify families, as well as the societal benefits of fortified families.
The initial episode, “International Organizations and the Family: An Overview” will air live on Tuesday, September 29 at 9:30 AM ET (New York) / 3:30 PM CEST (Brussels). The episode will provide an introduction to the series, and thus focus broadly on family advocacy within international organizations, including positive steps that these bodies have taken to strengthen family policy, how fortified families can help those organizations achieve their long-term goals, and some of the issues and tensions that arise when advocating for the family.
This episode is organized in partnership with the Federation of
Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE), and will run
approximately 30 minutes. We encourage active participation from the listeners. If you wish to do so, please use the “Questions & Comments” text box provided on the registration page, or during the webinar, to suggest questions for our guest speakers.
Speakers:
Vincenzo Bassi, President, Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE)
Renata Kaczmarska, Focal Point on the Family, Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD), Department of Economic and Social Affairs
(DESA)
Hosts:
Francesco Di Lillo, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – European Union & International Affairs
Ryan Koch, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – United Nations & International Affairs
Registration is required and free of charge. Feel free to forward this email to your colleagues or others who might be interested.
REGISTRATION
https://churchofjesuschrist.zoom.us/webinar/register/2115998650787/WN_lSk9OtvFRfuau-LhstBtAg
THE WEBINAR SERIES -_
RECORDINGS OF THE PREVIOUS EPISODES
Recordings will be archived on our Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/fortifyingfamilies [14]
WEBINAR SERIES LANDING PAGE & NEXT EPISODES
www.facebook.com/fortifyingfamilies [15]
_Follow or like this page. We will update it regularly with
information about upcoming webinars._
BACKGROUND ON THE WEBINAR SERIES
The family is the fundamental unit of society and strong, stable and healthy families sustain strong, stable and healthy societies. This series will explore contemporary issues affecting today’s families, significant ways families provide solutions to social ills, and suggested policies to fortify families as the fundamental unit of society. It is anticipated that this series will run biweekly during
the academic year, with episodes starting on September 29, 2020 and culminating in a celebration of the International Day of Families on May 15, 2021.
Click HERE to view and download the full document
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN
CONSEIL INTERNATIONAL DES FEMMES
(Founded 1888)
Statement to Mark the International Day of Peace – 21 September 2020
“Shaping Peace Together” – as profoundly simple as it is profoundly important. Chosen by
the United Nations this year to mark International Day of Peace, this theme strengthens the
notion of cooperative commitment in the pursuit of peace. The call is for solid global
engagement in building the peaceful and prosperous future that people deserve, especially
today, when millions of people around the world struggle to overcome the turmoil, hardship,
and disequilibrium caused by COVID 19.
To respond to the UN Secretary-General’s appeal, in a spirit of solidarity and compassion, unity
and mutual assistance, the International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) partners proudly in the
global work we undertake and emphatically in the pursuit of peace. Our approach is one of
inclusiveness and empowerment. Clearly, peace can only grow, and stand the test of time, if it
has deep roots in our societies. For that, women are needed more than ever, because each
woman herself can be a fundamental agent of change regardless of her societal status. This
element of inclusion is essential for shaping values of peace and tolerance and is a key
component in preventing violence and conflict. It is also extremely important in the struggle
against the unprecedented global health crisis we are facing now, a crisis which has made
vulnerable people even more vulnerable and weaker… and which has unfortunately contributed
to increased violence, racism and hate.
This year also marks the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The
resolution addresses not only the inordinate impact of war on women, but mainly the pivotal
role women should, and do, play in conflict management and achievement of sustainable peace.
Through our national council affiliates worldwide, ICW-CIF plays a vital role by mobilizing
public opinion and by initiating programs for training, providing information and suggesting
courses of action. This effort also incorporates a focus on the whole concept of Peace – what it
is, and how we all have to work together in shaping it.
Meeting basic needs and development objectives, together with promoting gender equality and
social justice, is an essential step toward peace, but human needs are not limited to food and
shelter. They include freedom, self-determination and proper balance between individual and
collective rights. What is required therefore is a climate of mutual understanding, respect for
others’ rights and a high degree of equality in which individuals and communities can develop
and cooperate rather than function in a confrontational mode. Bearing in mind the fact that, as
stated in the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 “…civilians, particularly women and
children, account for the vast majority of those adversely affected by armed conflict….” our
commitment to peace must be an on-going element in all our activities, and an underlying basis
for providing assistance to women in need whenever possible. We thus continue to demand
gender-responsive approaches based on equality which help transform the gender roles, norms
and structures which act as barriers to achieving well-being for everyone.
Let us remind our ICW-CIF members around the world, and others who share our resolve, of
the wisdom of Mother Teresa of Calcutta when she said: “Women are bound to be the tools of
peace, the workers and I should even say the tireless fairies striving for Peace and Development.
It is up to us women, to answer this challenge…” This is our responsibility and we, women of
the world, will continue to dream and to act in ways that will make those dreams come true. Let
us pledge to do our utmost to contribute to the achievement of all Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), and specifically to SDG 16, which puts the emphasis on peace and justice.
Let us shape Peace together!