Soroptimist Connections:
Working for global change
Soroptimist International's
relationship with the United Nations is based on the
belief that real and positive change can be achieved
incrementally, if we are really determined and willing
to work together with other organizations and
authorities. Soroptimist International regularly sends a
delegation to major UN and/or NGO meetings, such as:
CSW (Commission on the Status of Women)
A delegation, including the President of Soroptimist
International, attends the annual meeting of CSW in
March, the purpose of which is to prepare
recommendations and reports to ECOSOC on promoting
women's rights in political, economic, civil, social and
educational fields.
ECOSOC High Level Segment
This meeting takes place annually in July. The SI
President and SI's UN representatives attended the NGO
Forum to the 2004 session in New York which examined
poverty eradication in least developed countries. The
2006 session in Geneva, with the accompanying Civil
Society Forum attended by SI's UN representative in
Geneva, addressed the issue of creating an environment
at the national and international levels conducive to
generating full and productive employment and decent
work for all, and its impact on sustainable development.
DPI (Department of Public Information)/NGO Conference
This meeting takes place annually in September in
New York. Previous conference themes have included:
"Human Security and Dignity: Fulfilling the Promise of
the United Nations" - 2003; "Millennium Development
Goals: Civil Society Takes Action" - 2004. The 2005
conference was entitled "Our Challenge: Voices for
Peace, Partnerships and Renewal".
CONGO (Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in
Consultative Relationship with the United Nations)
For the last 50 years, CONGO has been actively
promoting the involvement of NGOs in the working of the
United Nations. Meetings take place in New York and
Geneva. SI served on the Board of CONGO for six years
and was represented by the SI President and SI
Representatives to the UN in New York and Geneva. SI's
term of office concluded in 2006
Working with NGOs and other agencies
Soroptimist International works together with other
non-government organizations (NGOs) and various United
Nations agencies to promote the changes necessary to
make the world a better place for this and future
generations. The organization has been represented on
the Board of the Conference of Non-Governmental
Organizations (CONGO) and has General Consultative
status with the UN Economic and Social Council,
ECOSOC. By right of General Consultative
Status with ECOSOC SI has applied for, and been granted,
official relations with United Nations Specialized
Agencies including:
UNESCO: United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization
ILO: International Labour
Organization
WHO: World Health Organization
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial
Development Organization
FAO: Food and Agricultural
Organization
The organization is also accredited
with a number of
ECOSOC's non-specialized agencies and
commissions including:
UNHCR: United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF: United Nations Children's
Fund
UNEP: United Nations Environment
Program
Soroptimist representatives to the UN
Soroptimist International has permanent, volunteer
Representatives to the major United Nations centers in
New York, Geneva and Vienna, UNESCO in Paris, the FAO in
Rome, and UNEP in Nairobi. It also currently has
Representatives at the UN Regional Commissions in
Western Asia (ESCWA); South America (ECLAC); and Asia
Pacific (ESCAP). These Representatives attend a broad
range of meetings and committees, reporting back to the
membership and making recommendations for the
Soroptimist Programs of Service.
Soroptimist delegations
Soroptimists are present as accredited delegates at
NGO Forums at most major International and UN Forums and
Summits where the issues directly affect women.
Statements are prepared outlining Soroptimist concerns
and recommendations for action are made in relation to
the issues under discussion. The SI Program Team
produces brochures to distribute to other delegates
(both government and other NGOs) outlining the
Soroptimist position and Program Action within the
issues that are the focus of the particular meeting.
These brochures are also made available to SI members.
Global Compact
The Global Compact is a network-based initiative. At
its core are the Global Compact Office, the Advisory
Council and six UN agencies. In February 2003,
Soroptimist International officially confirmed to the
United Nations its support for the ten principles of the
Global Compact. These ten principles are in the area of
human rights, labor, the environment and
anti-corruption. The Global Compact, supported by its
partners, encourages companies to embrace these core
values.
UN treaties, conventions and
resolutions
Soroptimist International supports the principles
outlined in such international treaties, conventions and
resolutions as:
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination Against Women,
including the
Optional Protocol
The Convention of the Rights of the Child
The Platform for Action
Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development & Peace
for the 21st Century (Beijing + 5)
Agenda 21
United Nations Millennium Declaration
Soroptimists are encouraged to become
aware of the content of these documents and advocate for
implementation of policies and legislation which support
the principles contained in them |
Soroptimist International makes
a difference helping women and girls by giving them the
resources to create positive change for themselves, their
families, their communities and the world.
There are two programs that are
very important. The first is,
The December 10th President's
Appeal. Each year the President selects a project
that provides direct assistance to women and girls in
extreme need. In 2006, President Lynn Dunning selected a
project in partnership with Oxfam, GB to increase girls’
attendance at school and improve the quality of education in
poor areas of Punjab Province of Pakistan. Oxfam is an
international relief organization that began in 1942 as the
Oxford Committee for Famine Relief. It now works create a
change in attitudes in countries that condone violence
against women.
Please read the information in the
Project Punjab brochure included in your packet. The
statistics are staggering. One in four children between the
ages of 5 – 9 do not go to school and more likely the girls
are kept at home. As a result the literacy rate for women is
as low as 9% in some areas. The main purpose of the appeal
is to raise funds through projects and donations to educate
the girls. Every year the clubs are asked to participate by
December 10, Human Rights Day, in making volunteer
contributions. The monies will be used to train teachers,
rehabilitate classrooms and raise awareness on the
importance of equal access of education to girls. Please
help these girls "Dare to Dream" of what they can become and
contribute to this very worthwhile project.
The second project Quadrennial
Project: For those who are new members every four
years SI launches a major international project. We are in
the last year of this project. 2003 – 2007 President Lynn
Dunning selected a project that partners SI with Women for
Women International, Project Independence: Women Survivors
of War. The money raised helps women rebuild their lives
following war & civil conflict, through Sponsorship,
Renewing Life Skills and Income Generation Support.
It costs $330 in direct aid to
sponsor a woman in this program. In July Soroptimist
International went over the goal of 1200 women sponsored
with Twelve hundred and six (1206) women involved in the
skills and vocational training offered. Training is given in
horticulture, teaching, bee keeping, goat herding, raising
cattle, child care, beauty culture, house keeping,
carpentry, health, vegetable gardening and leadership
development.
Emotional support is lent by
assigning correspondents to each of the women in the program
and twenty Southern Region members have become
correspondents for one year. Our group started corresponding
in June with a sister in Rwanda. I have received letters
from my sister Christine. It includes a picture.
SI asks for donations as
club/region support of this project also. As of July 2006
over $900,000 had been raised but there is a goal of 1.2
million and the deadline is next July. The Project Liaison
is Dawn Marie Lemons and she will be our guest at the next
Southern Region Conference. It would be so good to let her
know that we have helped them reach their goals. If you are
looking for ideas for fundraising there are examples of
projects on the website, WomenforWomenInternational.org.
All donations for both of these
projects should be sent to Federation then the monies will
be forwarded to Soroptimist International
SIA, 1709 Spruce Street,
Philadelphia, Pa 19103 (add name of project)
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Contribute through GoodSearch |
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GoodSearch is a
Yahoo-powered search engine that donates 50
percent of its advertising revenue (about a
penny per search) to the user's favorite charity. Ours,
of course, is SIA. The pennies add up quickly. Consider
that if only 1,000 members, friends and staff search the
Internet just twice a day, Soroptimist could earn $7,300
a year - just for doing something we do every day! If
we think bigger, for example, 10,000 users searching
twice a day will earn Soroptimist $73,000 a year!
All you have to do
is visit www.goodsearch.com and download the GoodSearch
toolbar. Enter 'Soroptimist' in the 'My Charity' field
and then every time you search the net on your computer,
don't forget to use GoodSearch!
Thank you for
using GoodSearch to help Soroptimist fund our programs
that improve the lives for women and girls. Let's see
how much we can get those pennies to add up!
Note from Pat: This is not
Yahoo's standard bar.
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S.O.L.T.