Category: News

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…

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…

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…

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…

Silvana Arbia, International Criminal Court’s former Registrar, has been awarded the Peace Prize of Soroptimist International of Europe for her courageous role in building peace in Rwanda. The Italian Judge received her prize of €20,000 as well as the Peace Statute on the occasion of the Soroptimist European Congress on Sunday, 14 July 2013 in Berlin. The Peace Prize, conferred…

2000 women from more than 80 countries have gathered in Berlin (Germany) for the 20th Congress of Soroptimist International Europe, which opens today. The theme of the Congress is “Visions of Paradise“ – Soroptimists Go for Water and Food. "This conference will not only highlight drastic inequalities in the supply and distribution of water and food in relation…

Malala Yousafzai will mark her 16th birthday today by delivering a speech at UN headquarters in New York, calling on governments to ensure free compulsory education for every child. It will be Malala’s first public speech since she was attacked on her school bus in Pakistan’s north-western Swat valley, shot twice in the head and…

Soroptimist International welcomes the announcement  that Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka from South Africa will be the new Executive Director of UN Women, the organization leading UN’s work on advancing gender equality and women’s rights. Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka  became a Member of Parliament in South Africa in 1994 and from 2005-8 was the first woman to hold the position of Deputy President.  Before…

"When we devote attention and resources to the education, health and wellbeing of adolescent girls, they will become an even greater force for positive change in society that will have an impact for generations to come. On this World Population Day, let us pledge to support adolescent girls to realize their potential and contribute to…

The month of May saw a wonderful variety of projects as Soroptimist International clubs continued to empower and educate women and girls via the expertise of both age old traditions and modern technology. See some pictures and read about the projects below. SI Dunfermline (UK) worked with their local community to raise money to help…