gender, disaster risk reduction and climate change | news | campaigns | archives
We Want 50 Percent Affirmative Action, Women Leader Tells Turai
The national women leader of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in Nigeria, Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma, led a delegation of zonal and state women leaders, opinion leaders and BOT NEC members on a courtesy visit to the First Lady, Hajiya Turai Yar'Adua in Abuja, yesterday. The visit was to seek the support of the First Lady for the entrenchment of 30 percent affirmative action in the constitution as it is being reviewed. In her remarks, Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma pointed out that women should be recognised for the important role they play in nation building and that their high level of support is proof of their commitment.
DOWNLOAD
L.A. Democrat Sworn in as First Black Woman to Lead Assembly
Los Angeles Democrat Karen Bass was sworn in Tuesday as speaker of the California Assembly, the first black woman to lead either house of the state Legislature. Bass told her fellow lawmakers and the California political and cultural figures who attended the ceremony that she feels the weight of history on her shoulders. The 54-year-old becomes the 67th speaker, succeeding fellow Los Angeles Democrat Fabian Nunez.
Women Celebrate Major Break-Through in Cabinet Representation
The Rwanda
Association of University Women (RAUW) Thursday celebrated its
grand break-through of having 36 percent representation in the
Cabinet. The ceremony which attracted women in different
capacities both in public and private institutions was hosted
by the wife to the United States Ambassador to Rwanda, Lesley
Arietti, at their home in Kacyiru. RAUW president Ambassador
Joy Mukanyange
expressed gratitude on the side of the
government and in particular to President Paul Kagame for
putting women's values in the limelight. The 36 percent record
of women representation in cabinet in Rwanda is one of the
rare and unprecedented breakthroughs in women leadership in
the world.
DOWNLOAD
Reinstate Malalai Joya in Parliament
One year after
her illegal suspension, the Afghan parliament should reinstate
Malalai Joya to office, Human Rights Watch said today. On May
21, 2007, the lower house of the Afghan parliament, the Wolesi
Jirga, voted to suspend Malalai Joya, a female MP elected from
Farah province. Malalai was accused of insulting the
parliament and suspended until the end of her term in 2009.
Malalai has since received numerous death threats by phone and
"night letters" (posted threats) and now lives in hiding. She
receives no security protection from parliament or the
government.
DOWNLOAD
President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday appointed 11 judges of the High Court of Tanzania, seven of them women. According to the directorate of communications in the President's office in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Chief Secretary, Mr Philemon Luhanjo, said the appointments became effective from May 24, this year. The seven women are: Sophia Wambura, Crecencia William Makuru, Zainabu Goronya Muruke and Upendo Hillary Msuya. Others are Atuganile Florida Ngwala, Rose Aggrey Teemba and Rehema Kiwanga Mkuye.
Two Women Included in New Cabinet in Kuwait
Two women are among the members of Kuwait's new
cabinet sworn in by the country's Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, after recent elections in which Islamists
made strong gains. The 16-member cabinet includes seven new
members and four of them belong to the ruling al-Sabah family.
One of the women to join the cabinet is Mudhi al-Humud, a
university professor at the Arab Open University now appointed
as Minister for Housing and Development. The second woman is
Nuriya Subeeh Barrak Al-Subeeh, who was reappointed as
Minister of Education. She held the post in the former cabinet
that resigned after the 17 May parliamentary election.
DOWNLOAD
Hillary Urges Voting Rights in American Samoa
Senator Hillary Clinton has called on the
United States government to allow American Samoans to vote in
that country’s Presidential Elections. Chairwoman of the
United States Election Assistance Commission, Rosemary
Rodriguez told the Samoa Observer that Senator Clinton has
raised the same issue for voters in Puerto Rico and Guam.
"They’ve already had the primaries in American Samoa," said
Mrs Rodriguez, who spoke to the journalists on the US State
Department’s "The Nuts & Bolts of an American Election: An
Insider Look at How to Run an Election" tour. "And there has
been discussion since the (last) weekend about giving them
full voting rights in the presidential election. Senator
Clinton raised the possibility and she’s very keen on it,
judging from her comments." Although residents in US
territories can vote in the nominating contests, they can not
cast ballots in the US general election, in November.
DOWNLOAD
Gender, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change
Women Hold Key to Breaking Out of Global Food Crisis, Stresses Migiro
Not only do women suffer the most from global problems, such
as the current crisis arising from the surge in food prices,
but they can also contribute the most to its solutions, United
Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said today.
In a keynote address to the Women’s Foreign Policy Group in
New York, Ms. Migiro pointed out that the world is faced with
an “unprecedented” rise of food prices, plunging many
developing countries into a crisis that threatens to thwart
efforts to achieve the global anti-poverty targets known as
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
DOWNLOAD
USAID Director Urges Disaster Preparedness
Explaining that it cost more to recover from a disaster than
to implement risk reduction measures, Karen Hilliard, the
chief of mission of the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID), is urging Jamaicans to support
disaster-preparedness programmes. "Supporting
disaster-preparedness programmes is a critical socio-economic
investment," Hilliard said during a recent address at a St
James Parish Council Disaster Education Awareness Programme
awards ceremony held at in the parish. "It cost governments,
the private sector, the donor country and the individual more
money to repair and recover from a disaster that it would cost
to implement risk-reduction measures," she said.
DOWNLOAD
Region is 'Ground Zero' for Climate Change – Egeland
The Sahel region of West Africa is "ground zero" for
vulnerable communities struggling to adapt to climate change,
the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on conflict, Jan
Egeland, said on 2 June in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina
Faso, as he began a mission to draw the world's attention to
mounting social pressures in the region. "Many of the people
here live on the edge even in normal times, so if there will
be dramatic climate change as many predict, they will go over
the cliff if there is no investment in adaptation," he said.
The Sahel is expected to experience higher temperatures and
extreme peaks and troughs in rainfall, resulting in reduced
agricultural outputs and disruptive migration as people move
around the region searching for water, fertile land and jobs.
DOWNLOAD
Warming to Swell Refugee Tide
Top
government officials, environmental experts and
representatives of immigrant protection groups yesterday
agreed that Greece had to do its bit in preparing for the
impact of climate change on environmental refugees. The
repercussions of global warming on the environment, such as
floods, combined with the current global food crisis, will
force millions of Third World citizens to flee their homes
over the coming years but there is no plan to tackle this
problem, experts told an international conference on climate
change and human security in Athens. Foreign Minister Dora
Bakoyannis said individual countries, or groups of countries,
cannot tackle the problem, stressing that a global initiative
was needed. Greece makes a relatively small contribution to
global warming but is very active in providing aid for poor
nations struggling with the impact of climate change, she
added.
DOWNLOAD
Asia-Pacific Experts Call For Massive Clean Energy Financing
Asia-Pacific energy experts, policymakers and project
developers on Tuesday called for massive new investments in
clean energy amid spiraling costs for oil and coal and the
growing threat of climate change. At the opening of an annual
Asia Clean Energy Forum at the Manila-based Asian Development
Bank (ADB), organizers and participants stressed the need to
scale up investments in clean energy solutions. The challenges
we face today, soaring fuel and commodity prices, threats from
climate change, and growing problems of poor people having
limited access to energy, all point to the need to take
action," ADB Vice President Ursula Schaefer Preuss told the
forum.
DOWNLOAD
The Democratic head of the Senate's environment committee
tried Saturday to drum up support for legislation to deal with
"one of the most important issues of our time," global
warming. "There are some in the Senate who insist that global
warming is nothing more than science fiction," Sen. Barbara
Boxer, D-Calif., said in the Democrats' weekly radio address.
"The fact is that the overwhelming majority of scientists say
that the earth is in peril if we don't act now." Boxer
disputed industry claims that proposed limits on carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions pose risks to the
economy. The legislation "will create millions of new jobs and
put us on the path to energy independence," she said.
DOWNLOAD
China Working to Prevent Disease Among 5 Million Left Homeless by Earthquake
Chinese authorities are racing to prevent diseases breaking
out among 5 million people left homeless in the wake of the
massive earthquake that killed almost 70,000. Workers in
protective suits circled collapsed communities in trucks on
Monday, spraying disinfectant on the rubble. Providing safe
food, drinking water and temporary shelters was a priority
following the May 12 earthquake, the Health Ministry said.
Bodies discovered in the rubble were being disinfected,
ministry spokesman Mao Qun'an said in an interview posted on
the central government's Web site.
DOWNLOAD
Challenge
Grant to End Violence Against Women
UN Foundation to Donate $1 for Every Signature to UNIFEM
Online Campaign
The United Nations Foundation announced its support for the “Say NO to Violence against Women” campaign. The Foundation will donate $1 for each the first 100,000 signatures to the online campaign that is
run by the UN Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM. The
contributions will go to the UNIFEM-managed UN Trust Fund to End
Violence against Women.
“Recent UN research has demonstrated the shameful scope of
violence
against women around the world, where one in three women are subject
to some form of coercion or abuse in their lifetimes,” said Timothy E.
Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation. “To turn the tide on
violence, the international community must work together to stand up for
the human rights of women and that’s what UNIFEM’s “Say NO”
campaign does. It allows people everywhere to go on record and stand
up for a world free of violence against women.”
“Thanks to this fantastic challenge grant, every signature
will bolster our
cause to make ending violence against women worldwide a top priority”,
said UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman who champions the
campaign. What’s more, it will help provide critical resources for local
initiatives that are supported through the UN Trust Fund to End Violence
against Women – whether it is working to prevent human trafficking,
assisting survivors of domestic violence or helping implement laws
against rape.”
People can sign on to the campaign at
www.sayNOtoviolence.org
“The more people join, the stronger the
message that there is an ever-
growing movement of people who are demanding decisive action to put
a stop to what is probably the most pervasive human rights violation”,
added acting UNIFEM Executive Director Joanne Sandler. “This
generous donation will provide an additional strong incentive for people
to sign up to the campaign.”
The “Say No to Violence against
Women” campaign was launched
November 26, 2007. To date more than 18,000 people worldwide have
signed the call that urges an end to violence against women and
encourages support to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against
Women. This Trust Fund, managed by UNIFEM for the UN system,
supports innovative initiatives by governments and non-governmental
organizations to end violence against women. Since its establishment in
1996, it has helped fund some 250 initiatives in 120 countries.
"Each day, each hour, each minute, a woman in the
world is a victim of
violence," said Wirth. "Taking this simple step, signing on to the
campaign, sends the message that enough is enough and the cycle of
violence must stop now."
For more information about the campaign visit www.sayNOtoviolence.org or www.unfoundation.org
Because I am a Girl
Girls are getting a raw deal. They face the double discrimination of their
gender and their age, in many societies remain at the bottom of the
social and economic ladder.
Plan launched the report - 'Because I am a Girl: The State of the World's
Girls 2007' - revealing huge global complacency about the rights of girls.
Plan believes it doesn't have to be like this.Join Plan's campaign and
help us break this cycle of discrimination and maltreatment.
Plan UK
5-6 Underhill Street
London NW1 7HS
Tel: 020 7482 9777
Fax: 020 7482 9778
GET ALL GIRLS INTO SCHOOL AND GIVE THEM A FIGHTING CHANCE AGAINST HIV
Across the world today, 1 in every 5 girls of primary school age are not in
school. When girls miss out, not only are they denied the chance to learn
to read and write, earn a living and participate in democracy, it also puts
their lives in jeopardy. Education gives women and girls the skills,
knowledge and confidence they need to protect themselves against HIV
and AIDS. The Global Campaign for Education is calling on world leaders to
JOIN UP and take urgent action now. They must ensure everyone,
especially girls, can go to school and get the education needed to fight
for their rights. Poorer countries need to enact policies that will make
school free, accessible and safe for girls and boys, whilst rich countries
must live up to promises repeatedly made, and still not fulfilled, to
increase aid in support of these policies.
"World leaders barely raised an eyebrow when we missed the Millennium
Development Goal to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary
education. Shockingly 94 countries missed this target. Two years on it
is a travesty that the international community continues to stand by as
millions of girls are denied their rights to a life-saving education."
(Maria Khan, GCE Board Member & ASPBAE)
Around the world 80 million children, mostly girls, are out of
school. 800
million adults, mostly women, cannot read and write. Yet free education
has been enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights since
1948.
Giving girls' the chance to learn to read and write not only fulfils
their
right to an education – but it also helps them in challenging the many
power imbalances between men and women, and crucially in protecting
themselves against HIV.
In a survey carried out last year 30% of girls in South Africa said
that
their first sexual experience was under force or threat of force. When it
comes t o HIV and AIDS women and girls fare the worst – accounting for
74% of young people living with HIV in Africa.
At present many women simply do not have the power they need to
decide who to have sex with, when to have sex and how to have safe
sex. Education can give women a chance to challenge this situation.
The more education women and girls receive, the better they are able to
negotiate safer sex and HIV rates. This is clearly demonstrated in
Swaziland, where 2 in 3 girls who are in school are HIV negative, while 2
in 3 of girls out of school are HIV positive.
Girls who complete primary school are 50% less likely to be
infected
with HIV. Seven million cases of HIV could be prevented in a decade
if all children attended primary school.
Not only are educated girls better able to
protect their own health but
they are also able to make informed choices that can protect the health
of their family and earn a greater income, giving them more bargaining
power within the home:
-
The children of women who can read and write are 50% more likely to live past the age of 5.
-
In poor countries, each year of schooling increases girls' future earning power by 10-20%.
The Global Campaign for Education asks that leaders no longer turn a
blind eye whilst the rights of women and girls are denied. Give them a
fighting chance. Ensure education is of high quality, free and accessible
to everyone, especially girls.
The Global Campaign for Education is asking people to JOIN UP and be
part of the world's longest chain for education. By joining the chain you
will send a message to the world leaders to spend more on education -
www.campaignforeducation.org/joinup
GCE International Secretariat
Tel. No: +27 (0)11 447 4111
Fax No: +27 (0)11 447 4138
Postal Address: GCE, PO Box 521733, Saxonwold, 2132, South Africa
Physical Address: GCE, 6th Floor, Nedbank Gardens, 33 Bath Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa
Divisions Over Women's Development Policy
Two months after it was proposed, the National Women's Development Policy (NWDP) 2008 is facing fierce opposition while the Bangladeshi government is maintaining a veil of silence on the subject. The NWDP suggests legalising equal rights for women - including property rights – as well as a 40 percent quota for women on the government's high executive, judiciary and legislative branches, parliament and local government bodies. Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, the country's top official, announced the policy on 8 March. It was highly acclaimed by the people although a vocal section of Islamic clerics opposed it.
Inter-Korean Women Call for National Reconciliation, Reunification
Representatives of women from the two Koreas met on
Thursday and Friday at Mt. Kumgang Resort of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), vowing to
implement two declarations on reunification. The
delegates called for promoting the national
reconciliation and unity and boosting the desire for
reunification, said the official news agency KCNA. They
vowed to uphold and implement the June 15 joint
declaration and the Oct. 4 declaration, which were
reached by the two Korea's leaders in 2000 and 2007
respectively, the KCNA added.
DOWNLOAD
Malaysia Urges Women to Carry Condoms to Protect Against HIV/AIDS
Malaysia's
Health Ministry is urging women to carry condoms to
protect themselves against being exploited by their
partners, in view of the rising number of women
contracting HIV, news report said Sunday. "This is not
to debase them but to protect them," Malaysian Deputy
Health Minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad told the press
conference after launching the International AIDS
Memorial Day Saturday in the central state of Selangor.
He also urged the Malaysian leaders and non-governmental
organization to increase cooperation and efforts in
championing the cause. It was the first time that
Malaysia, a relatively conservative Muslim nation,
openly celebrated International AIDS Memorial Day.
DOWNLOAD
TOP | |HOME
NDA Willing to Open Doors to Women
The National Defence Academy (NDA), that
trains male cadets to eventually serve as officers in
the Indian defence forces, has welcomed the idea of
opening its doors to women. 'If asked, the NDA is ready
for training women cadets. After a decision is taken by
the authorities we will need some time to build the
necessary infrastructure,' NDA commandant Air Marshal
T.S.Randhawa told reporters on the sidelines of the
passing out parade of the 114th course that also marked
the 60th anniversary of the institution.
DOWNLOAD
50 Women-Leaders Finish Empowerment Training
Fifty Filipino women-leaders from Bacolod City and four
other local government units (LGUs) of Negros Occidental
graduated Thursday after completing the modules of the
three-year project on 'Asserting and Institutionalizing
Women's Concerns in Local Governance: Women's
Empowerment in the Barangay (Web).' Project Web of
Pilipina Inc. is locally implemented by the Development
through Active Women Networking Foundation with the
support of Misereor, the Filipino-American Community of
South Puget Sound (FACSPS) and Abanse! Pinay.
DOWNLOAD
Women's Network to Help Restore Peace
The contribution of women is crucial if the state wants
to succeed in its efforts to restore peace to the
restive far South in Thailand, Pranai Suwannarat,
director of the Southern Border Provinces Administration
Centre (SBPAC), said yesterday. The aim of establishing
a southern women's network was to help put an end to the
violence and return lasting peace and unity to the
multi-racial region, Mr Pranai said. The project is
among the 321 development projects introduced in the
troubled region in the hope of uplifting local spirits
dampened by years of unrest. The key objective of this
particular project is to persuade insurgent sympathisers
to switch their allegiance.
DOWNLOAD
TOP | |HOME
Iranian Women's Rights Activist Sentenced
A young Iranian activist and his lawyer said Monday that he had become the first man sentenced for participating in a campaign to change laws that discriminate against women. Amir Yaghoub Ali, 21, said he was convicted of acting against national security and sentenced to a year in prison for his role in the "Change for Equality" campaign, launched by Iranian women activists in September 2006. The campaign sought to collect a million signatures in support of changing laws that deny women in Iran equal rights in matters such as divorce and court testimonies. Ali said he was detained last July while collecting signatures for the campaign in a park in northern Tehran and spent 29 days in the notorious Evin prison before being freed on $20,000 bail.
click archives to go to old articles