— Graduate Women
International news —
GWI oral statement
delivered at Human Rights Council Graduate Women International (GWI) reaffirmed commitment to
the rights of indigenous girls and women with its latest oral statement
submitted to the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council. The
statement, co-signed by Zonta International, OIDEL and the International Alliance of Women (IAW), was delivered by new
GWI Executive Director Stacy Dry Lara on 20 September 2016 during the Annual
half day discussion on the rights of indigenous girls and women. The
statement reinforced GWI¡¯s position on education as a precondition to the
prevention of violence against indigenous women and girls; strengthening their
knowledge of, and access to, justice systems. GWI advocates for quality
education for girls and women up to the highest levels in order to achieve their
empowerment in economic and social spheres. Read the United Nations Office at
Geneva (UNOG) summary of the session including GWI¡¯s contribution here. To listen to the statement as delivered, please follow this link.
— GWI member news
—
GWI members
from SAAWG interviewed by ETV South AfricaDuring the recent
32nd Triennial GWI Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, members
Sihaam Vanderschyff, Linda de Vries and Lisle Svensa from the
South African Association of Women Graduates (SAAWG) delivered
a seminar around the conference theme of education, gender and human rights. The
session, entitled The Ubiquitous Glass Ceiling, discussed how South
African women are prevented from progressing to the same executive
decision-making levels as their male colleagues; for example only 2.4 % of women
compared to men are in the top levels of the banking sector in South Africa. A
report on the session was broadcast later that day on ETV South African
television. The link to the broadcast can be found here.
— Advocacy
—
Jordan
achieves greater parliamentary representation of women in
parliamentWomen¡¯s rights
campaigners in Jordan believe the country is slowly moving towards more
progressive political representation after female MPs won 20 of 130 seats in
recent parliamentary elections, compared with 18 out of 150 in the previous
parliament. The strong performance of high-profile female MPs in the previous
parliament has contributed to the emerging belief in ¡°women¡¯s ability to do
good¡± and effect change. While some female MPs have simply been ¡°mouthpieces¡±
for the tribes they represent, a few have devoted themselves to pressing causes,
including the campaign to overturn the notorious Article 308 of the Penal Code,
which grants rapists clemency if they marry their victims. GWI congratulates
Jordan on this positive progress on women¡¯s empowerment. Read the full article
here.
—
Opportunities
—
Consultation
call - UN Women seeking views on sex work, the sex trade and
prostitutionCurrently UN Women
does not have an explicit policy position with regard to sex work, the sex trade
or prostitution and is in the process of developing such a position. Policy
development will be grounded in international standards that guide UN Women¡¯s
work and an international human rights framework. UN Women are holding a formal
consultation period with a focus on three questions. These questions relate to
the current framing of the UN¡¯s work, around Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. GWI encourages contributions
to these questions as an opportunity to shape policy development. The questions
can be found here. Please send your responses to consultation@unwomen.org
—
Give the gift of
education —
Join our GlobalGiving campaign and help us raise $50,000 to
support 50 women student teachers in 2016. GWI provides scholarships and
mentoring support to young women from rural areas of Uganda to become qualified
teachers and ambassadors for girls¡¯ education. Donate now and help us train
women teachers to train 1000s of students. You can read more about GWI¡¯s
project Teachers for Rural Futures here.
— Other information
and events —
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