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VG Flash November 2006 |
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UN Releases Study on Violence Against Women |
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On October 9, 2006 the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, issued a Study on Violence Against Women. This study, though not remarkable for its content, brought together the documentation of numerous resolutions and agreements on the subject passed by Member States, documented the causes and problems associated with this violence, and called for action by Member States and the UN to stop violence against women. It is critical that NGOs follow up with strong advocacy and information programs to keep the issues covered in the study on the forefront of government agendas. In New York, affiliates of Project 5-O (Business and Professional Women International, International Federation of University Women, Soroptimist International and Zonta International) joined with local community service providers as well as the US Committee for UNIFEM Metro Chapter to offer a significant conference following up on the impact of the study on New York services. The conference was attended by more than 150 people and featured noted feminist attorney, law professor and author Catharine MacKinnon, who reviewed the study for gaps and action. She called on attendees to hold governments accountable for the agreements they made, and for laws to stop male violence against women. Community leaders responded from the perspectives of four areas of concern: sexual assault, trafficking, domestic violence and the role of men. VGIF encourages you and the organizations you represent to keep the study alive with conferences, meetings and advocacy. Please read the study on-line and begin to work in your community to initiate your own response. We would appreciate knowing what you are doing to improve the situation of women and girls through this small effort. |
| Leslie Wright VGIF UN Representatives Committee Convener |
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Important Dates for Your 2007 Calendar |
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January 5: VG Update articles due February 25 - March 9: UN Commission on the Status of Women Conference - New York April 27 - 28: VGIF Annual Meeting, VGIF Office, New York May 15: VG Update articles due June 29 - July 2: AAUW Convention, Phoenix, Arizona August 10 - 16: IFUW 29th Triennial Conference, Manchester, England October 26 - 27: VGIF Mid-Year Meeting, VGIF Office, New York |
| Betty Bayless VGIF Public Relations Committee Convener |
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Luncheon Honors Women Ambassadors |
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On November 1, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women in New York held its annual luncheon to honor the women ambassadors who are the heads of Mission at the United Nations. The room was filled with former awardees, dignitaries, and representatives from VGIF including Fay Kittelson, Virginia Maynard and Leslie Wright. Once again VGIF was a sponsor of the event and our name appeared prominently in the program. Though our designated ambassador from Denmark, Ambassador Loj, could not attend, we were introduced to a number of other ambassadors. We met briefly with Mrs. Kofi Annan and Under Secretary General Radhika Coomaraswarmy, the recently appointed Special Advisor to the Secretary General on Children and Armed Conflict. Ms. Coomaraswarmy will play an important role in the upcoming Commission on the Status of Women conference as we look at the situation of girls in armed conflict situations, as she was the first Rapporteur on Violence Against Women. |
| Leslie Wright VGIF UN Representatives Committee Convener |
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The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund