Category: News

 It is only 60 days until the opening of the 2011 SI Convention! Following the resounding success of the 18th SI Convention held in Glasgow in 2007, we are really excited about welcoming Soroptimists from all over the world in Montreal. The programme is exceptional. It may be your first Convention, or you may have…

It was with great sadness that we heard about the death of Anne Yedowitz, aged 98. She was the backbone of SI at UN at New York for over 20 years, only giving up her duties there in 2009. She will be remembered for her strong commitment to Soroptimist International, her clear thinking and her…

On Saturday, 10th May 2011, SI Programme Director Reilly Dempsey took part in a one day International Development Course (ICD) held at Cambridge University.  The course is aimed at students interested in learning more about international development and/or working in the sector in the future.  IDCs allow development professionals to distil the crucial issues people…

Education for sustainable consumption is an important feature of the 19th Commission on Sustainable Development, being held at the United Nations in New York,  May 2 – 13th, 2011  The challenges for sustainable consumption are: To respect the earth and life in all its diversity, To care for the community of life with understanding and…

International Day of the Midwife 5 May 2011 Over 340,000 women die each year in childbirth, with millions more suffering infection and disability as a result of preventable maternal causes.  UN agencies, the WHO and a host of civil society organisations, including Soroptimist International, are committed to addressing maternal mortality and morbidity through greater access…

 SI President Hanne and SI UN Rep. Yoko attend Japan Higashi Region Conference Part 1 Hanne and Yoko arrived in Tokyo, Japan, on April 14th just one month after Japan was hit by the huge Earthquake and tsunami. The majority of tourists and other visitors have since returned home and so Hanne’s visit was an inspired action…

The Commission on Population and Development meeting at the UN in New York, April 11 – 15, 2011,  focused on the urgent need to provide family planning, reproductive health services and maternal care for millions of women in the developing world.   Secretary Ban Ki-moon supported the importance of family planning for more sustainable development and…

Earlier this month, SI’s UN Reps in New York, Lois Beilin and Carol Themm, attended the Civil Society Hearings on the Least Developed Countries, in advance of the Fourth UN Conference on the  Least Developed Countries  (LDCs) which will take place in Istanbul, Turkey from May 9 to 13, 2011.    In preparation for the main…

Last month, SI’s UN Rep in Vienna, Roswitha Benesch, attended the 54th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The implementation of the political declaration and plan of action on the international cooperation toward an integrated and balanced strategy to counter the global problem in the illegal drug  trade was the main point of discussion…

 SI is pleased to launch its 2011 ECOSOC High Level Statement. The theme for this year is ‘Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to education’ which fits perfectly with SI’s focus on education and leadership. SI’s statement focuses on the need to create safe spaces within the education system, both physical and virtual,…