My Blog

Author: watchthedot

  • Soroptimist SIGBI Federation granted UN Consultative Status

    —

    by

    watchthedot
    in

     Photo: UN Photo/John Isaac The Soroptimist SIGBI Federation, which represents 350 Soroptimist clubs in 29  countries, has been granted Special Consultative Status by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. Consultative Status allows an organisation to actively engage with the UN, submitting oral and written statements, and sending representatives to UN events,…

  • SI UN Representative appointed to New York NGO CSW Committee

    —

    by

    watchthedot
    in

    Bette Levy, one of Soroptimist International’s UN Representatives, has been appointed a member of the Executive Committee of the New York NGO Committee on the Status of Women for 2013-2015. NGO CSW is a volunteer-based, non-profit NGO that represents around 80 civil society organizations in consultative status with the UN. It plays an active role in the UN community, advocating for…

  • Running for Peace in Rwanda – 9th Soroptimist Peace Marathon

    —

    by

    watchthedot
    in

    The Soroptimist Peace Marathon in Kigali, Rwanda, aims to promote unity, understanding and tolerance, bringing together competitors from Rwanda and abroad.  In this week’s blog, Leena Viitaniemi, Soroptimist International of Europe Vice-President responsible for the Peace Marathon, writes about the 9th Marathon, which took place in May 2013. Leena is a member of SI Tampere in Finland. A physiotherapist by profession, she…

  • Global Executive Director Appointed

    —

    by

    watchthedot
    in

    Deborah Thomas has been appointed as Global Executive Director to lead the Soroptimist International headquarters team based in Cambridge, UK.  Deborah has over 25 years’ business experience, starting and growing her own ventures including holiday accommodation, a human resources agency and windfarm development.  She has worked extensively in the social enterprise and not-for-profit sectors, particularly…

  • ECOSOC and the Post-2015 Development Agenda

    —

    by

    watchthedot
    in

    During the first week of July, the High Level Segment of the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Substantive Session took place in Geneva. Soroptimist International holds General Consultative Status with ECOSOC, so UN Representative Sabine Kinzer attended several events during this important week of meetings. One of the key issues discussed was the role that the…

  • Campaign Against Harmful Widow Practices

    —

    by

    watchthedot
    in

    This week’s SoroptiVoice blog comes from Nneka Chris-Asoluka – Programme Action Chairwoman of Nigeria. Nneka describes the work Soroptimist clubs in Nigeria do in order to eradicate degrading and harmful practices imposed upon widows.   Soroptimist  International of Nigeria Association has consistently condemned the wicked, malicious and injurious customary and traditional practices meted out to…

  • Tsunamika – a living symbol of resilience

    —

    by

    watchthedot
    in

    In this week’s SoroptiVoice blog, Nisha Ghosh, Programme Action Co-ordinator for SI Pune Metro East (India) writes about the Tsunamika project, which helped women in India to rebuild their lives after the devastating 2004 tsunami. A living symbol by Manoj She is a symbol, a living symbol with her own life. As her name suggests, she…

  • Soroptimist Clubs in Action June 2013

    —

    by

    watchthedot
    in

    A vast array of Soroptimist activities worldwide were reported in June to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women. Many clubs participated in events to mark celebratory days, such as World Environment Day. Violence against women and human trafficking were also common themes, with events to raise awareness and support those affected in Romania, Australia and…

  • Human Trafficking Around the World: Hidden in Plain Sight

    —

    by

    watchthedot
    in

      Chris Knight is a member of SI Moreton North Inc (Australia) and  Friendship Link Co-ordinator for the SI South West Pacific Federation. In this week’s blog, she writes about her involvement in promoting a new book on human trafficking and includes an interview she conducted with author Stephanie Hepburn. On 28 June 2013, independent…

  • Indian Soroptimists highlight devastating human and ecological cost of Uttarakhand flooding

    —

    by

    watchthedot
    in

    Soroptimists have been highlighting the devastating consequences of severe flooding in northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, now believed to have left thousands dead and many more homeless, bereaved and destitute. “Incessant rains in mid June in the Himalayan region triggered massive flash floods and a reservoir burst resulted in a tragedy of immense magnitude. The…