GWI UPDATE - 22 July 2020

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— In this Issue—

• GWI releases positive 2019 Annual Report
• Upcoming launch of the GWI Member Marketplace
• Nigerian Association of University Women (NAUW) COVID-19 prevention and relief actions
• UWE complaints to the European Committee of Social Rights – Gender Pay Gap
• GWI marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
• GWI World Youth Skills Day 2020 infographic and advocacy
• Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education
• Full-day discussion on the human rights of women
• UN Women celebrates 10 years with book project – contributions welcome

— Graduate Women International News —

GWI releases positive 2019 Annual Report
Graduate Women International (GWI) continued its critical international advocacy, membership recruitment and engagement, communication and programme work in 2019. At the same time, GWI was proud to see more than a year of intense preparation and planning came to fruition in July with the Triennial General Assembly, Peace through Education Conference and Centenary Celebration held in Geneve, Switzerland with more than 400 members participating from some 50 countries.  To review the full GWI 2019 activity summary, achievements and financials, we invite you to click HERE. Alongside, the GWI 2019 Annual Report, the GWI Board of Officers has released its 2020-2022 Strategic Plan.

Upcoming launch of the GWI Member Marketplace
The fostering of friendship and sharing of knowledge and ideas between graduate women around the world has been one of the GWI cornerstones since its creation more than a 100 years ago. As part of its work to bring GWI into its second century and modernize actions, in September 2020 it will launch the GWI Member Marketplace, a GWI Twinning programme application for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and connecting.  Through this new initiative, GWI aims to provide an innovative avenue for members across to world to foster friendship, share skills set and expertise. The idea is simple: members will offer free online sessions relating to their area knowledge and expertise to other members, and thus contribute to building experience and fostering friendship.  From language lessons, to thematic classes or crafts lessons, opportunities for learning and sharing are abound! Additional details and registration forms will be found on the GWI website in the coming weeks.

—  Member News —

Nigerian Association of University Women (NAUW) COVID-19 prevention and relief actions  
Around the world GWI members are contributing directly to prevention and relief efforts in their communities. In Nigeria, the Nigerian Association of University Women (NAUW) Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta Nigeria Branch (NAUW FUNAAB) distributed relief aid to less privileged individual within and outside the University community. As a result of the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and the detrimental toll that it has taken on the local economy, NAUW FUNAAB, under the leadership of Prof. Comfort A. Onifade, NAUW Coordinator of International Relations (CIRs) and NAUW FUNAAB President, organised a 2-day prevention and relief programme to sensitize members of the community on the necessary sanitary and social distancing measures to be adopted by all. The programme further including an economic relief component through the distribution of food aid to underprivileged university staff members as well as elderly women and widows in two villages close to the University. In total, more than 450 persons received essential food items such as rice, beans and gari, thanks to the contributions and generous donations of NAUW FUNAAB members. “We pray that God bless everyone that contributed in one way or the other to the success of the programme”, says Prof. Comfort Ofinade. “The Baales (Chiefs) of the two villages expressed their gratitude to the Association for the love shown to the less privileged among them”, she adds. GWI congratulates NAUW FUNAAB on their essential contribution to the protection and support of underprivileged women and girls in their community from the health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their efforts and exemplary show of humanity in times of crisis is an inspiration to all.  Click HERE to read the full report and view the pictures provided by Prof. Comfort Ofinade.  
 
UWE complaints to the European Committee of Social Rights – Gender Pay Gap
In August 2016, University Women of Europe (UWE) lodged collective complaints against 15 European countries regarding the inequalities of pay between women and men and the lack of women in decision-making positions to the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) of the Council of Europe. On 29 June 2020, the ECSR has acknowledged violation of the right to equal pay and the right to equal opportunities in the workplace in 14 out of 15 countries which apply to the European Social Charter: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Slovenia. Measures taken by some States in recent years have led to some progress in reducing the gender pay gap, but the progress is slow. The ECSR’s decisions clearly demonstrate that problems and practices, such as segregation in the labour market, lack of pay transparency, secrecy regarding pay levels, obstacles to access effective remedies and retaliatory dismissals continue to exist and prevent full realisation of the equal pay principle. GWI commends UWE for their remarkable action of policy influence towards the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. To learn more, visit the UWE website.

—   Advocacy —

GWI marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons with press release and infographic

On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (TIP), GWI voices global outrage against TIP – an insidious crime against women and girls right to education.  The observance day adopted by the United Nations (UN) member states in 2013 aims to raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking, a crime that exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced labour and sex (UN definition). GWI encourages National Federations and Associations (NFAs) widely distribute the press release and infographic and to participate in sharing its social media campaign on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

 
GWI World Youth Skills Day 2020 infographic and advocacy

With the aim to raise awareness of the importance of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to reduce youth employment, the UN General Assembly adopted in 2014 a resolution declaring 15 July as World Youth Skills Day (WYSD). The observance insists on the role of Member States and civil society in meeting the needs and aspirations of youth, particularly in developing countries, where many young women and girls are left behind and drop out of school. This year again, GWI joins the global community in celebrating WYSD with the release of an impactful infographic, in line with its longstanding commitment to the promotion of women’s and girls’ access to education and vocational training up to highest levels. This infographic can be viewed and downloaded HERE. In times of pandemic, investing in youth skills, and particularly women’s and girls’ skills, will have to be a high-priority concern to build resilient countries. Discover and share the full social media campaign on the GWI LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

—  GWI at the United Nations  —

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education
On 3 July 2020, an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to education took place as part of the 44th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC44). Koumbou Boly Barry, Special Rapporteur on the right to education, noted that it was crucial to act within the framework of human rights to ensure that the measures adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic did not compromise the right to education nor increase the suffering of the most marginalized.  It was crucial to take stock of what had happened and analyse the short, medium, and long-term impact of this crisis on education, to generate positive change, not reverse the progress made in recent decades, particularly in terms of access to education. In the ensuing debate, speakers said school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted girls more severely, and undermined the progress made on the right of education for all across the world. The video recording of the Interactive Dialogue is available HERE.
 
Full-day discussion on the human rights of women
During the HRC44 two panels with a focus on “COVID-19 and women’s rights were held as part of the annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women. Speakers, including Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women noted that the COVID-19 pandemic was continuing to spread globally, with women and girls at higher risks due to far-reaching and deeply-rooted discrimination and inequality. A call for the international community to act by placing human rights and the voice of grassroot women at the center of its plans and policies was raised. For further information on the highlights of the session, read a comprehensive account of the session HERE.
 
UN Women celebrates 10 years with book project – contributions welcome
UN Women is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a collection of civil society stories. One of the projects is this online UNWOMEN@10 book. The deadline is August 30th giving time to complete the book for presentation to the high level members during UN General Assembly. If you are interested in adding your story, photos and wishes to UN Women click HERE.

—  Call for Applications —

Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Research Grant 2020
The SVRI Research Grant 2020 call for application is now open. The grand is dedicated to funding innovative research that contributes to the prevention and response of violence against women (VAW), violence against children (VAC) and other forms of violence driven by gender inequality in low and middle-income countries. Applicants can apply for grants between $40,000 to $200,000 for projects that are not longer than 24 months. The common characteristic of these awards is the provision of limited funding for a short period of time to research projects with clear, measurable outcomes. All applications must be submitted by midnight (South African time) on 15 September 2020. For further information on the application process, please click HERE.
 
Science4Refugees
The Science4Refugees initiative and EURAXESS portal provide research refugee friendly internships, part-time and full-time jobs, access to an European Research Community, as well as a complete range of information and support services on working and living in Europe. Information can be found HERE.