Text Size
Economic Empowerment
Environmental Sustainability
Food Security and Healthcare
Learning Opportunities
Violence and Conflict Resolution
3E Project: Healthcare
The objective for this Programme area is to “Eliminate violence against women and girls and ensure women’s participation in conflict resolution”. (See the full list of Programme Objectives)
For further information about the Assistant Programme Director for Violence and Conflict Resolution, see the Programme Team Page.
Across the world thousands of Soroptimists marked International Women’s Day with hundreds of activities and events on and around 8 March 2012 – see below for a list of just some of them! Our greatest admiration goes to the women in countries where just gathering like this can put their lives at risk.
Activities were organised to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women, and to raise awareness of work still to be done to build a better world for women and girls www.internationalwomensday.com
Many Soroptimists joined Women for Women International www.womenforwomen.org.uk with “Join me on Bridge” events
.
“Join me on the Bridge” is the coming together of women and men around the world, united in taking a stand for PEACE and women’s EQUALITY www.joinmeonthebridge.org. You can register on the website and share a message of peace – and check out all the Soroptimists in the photos www.joinmeonthebridge.org/photo and also the blog post on the Women for Women International website www.joinmeonthebridge.org/profiles/blogs/soroptimists-activated-international-women-s-day
Now you can see how much fun we all had – put the date in your diary for next year now!
SI Anglesey walk across the Menai Bridge – met Soroptimists from Bangor, South Caernafon and Dolgellau and local girl guides pictured here carrying white balloons and banners www.sigbi.org/anglesey 
SI Barrow in Furness, Walney Bridge 
www.sigbi.org/barrow-in-furness Pictured here:
SI Bristol stood on TWO bridges; pictured here on the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge and then to Perot’s Bridge on the Harbourside inviting women to join them in saying no to war and yes to peace! www.bristolsorop.org.uk 
SI Cape of Good Hope Cape Town www.soroptimist.co.za/club_cape.html
SI Cheshire, North Wales and Wirral – pictured here on the Clock Bridge, Chester www.sigbi.org/cheshire/ 
SI Cheltenham & District Pictured here “On the Bridge” in Beechwood Shopping Centre, Cheltenham. www.sigbi.org/cheltenham-and-district
SI Durban - bridge of the 2010 soccer World Cup stadium www.soroptimist.co.za/club_durban.html 
SI The Fylde – Ornamental Gardens Bridge South Promenade, St Annes – pictured here wearing red, white and blue www.sigbi.org/the-fylde
SI Glasgow City & SI Paisley,7 Bridges Walk: pictured here at the start of the 2 mile walk along and across the River Clyde starting in the heart of Glasgow at Albert Bridge and ending at Bells Bridge. Soroptimists joined by Girl Guides and MSPs. www.glasgowcitysoroptimist.club.officelive.com/default.aspx
SI of Hallamshire/Sheffield ‘Bridge the World’ pictured here on the bridge over the River D
erwent in Chatsworth Park www.sigbi.org/hallamshire-sheffield/
SI Keighley, Bridges of Friendship Evening: Soroptimists on-going project partnering a group of Asian mothers at a local Primary School. The two groups of women hosted a Friendship Evening, building more bridges between other women’s organisations and local communities and celebrating the achievements of women.
SI Karachi Central, 2 events – Thursday on the pier bridge at Port Grand and Sunday pictured here on Kolachi pier and bridge this was followed by a trip to the Manora Island for a picnic.
SI Llandudno & District, Conwy Suspension Bridge: will 
be joined on the march by other clubs from Cheshire and North Wales. www.sigbi.org/llandudno-and-district/
London – pictured here are some of the many Soroptimists from Clubs in the 4 Regions sur
rounding London and from all over who joined the march at the Millennium Bridge to march over the bridge and down the embankment was 1000 strong. The event ended at the Royal Festival Hall with rallying speeches from Bianca Jagger, Cherie Blair and many other inspirational women. www.sigbi.org/london-anglia www.sigbi.org/london-chilterns www.soroptimist-gbi-see.org.uk/ www.sigbi.org/southern-england/
SI Morpeth and District Pictured here on the Chantry footbridge www.morpeth-soroptimists.org.uk/ 
SI Newport & District Pictured here on the Newport City Footbridge / University Plaza followe
d by ”A Celebration of diversity and culture” at The Riverfront Theatre Newport www.sigbi.org/newport-and-district
New York – Pat Black, President-Elect Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland, pictured here on the march over the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.
SI Northampton & District - pictured here on Black Lion Hill Bridge outside Northampton Railway 
Station www.sigbi.org/northampton/
SI Penrith & District, Aira Force Waterfall www.sigbi.org/penrith-and-district
SI Pretoria pictured here on the Masekane Bridge in Mamelodi, Tshwane, then to Tateni for interactive discussions with carers about Healthy Relationships www.soroptimist.co.za
SI St Austell & District pictured here on the bridge over the St Austell Railway Station at Trevarthian r
oad www.sigbi.org/st-austell-and-district
SI St Helens, Saints Bridge St Helens wore white for peace on www.sigbi.org/st-helens
SI South East England – on the famous Sussex Bridge ‘Pooh Sticks Bridge’ and walk to the ‘Miracle’ Cliffe Bridge in Lewes www.soroptimist-gbi-see.org.uk
SI Southend & District, Pier Hill Southend, Soroptimists with other women’s groups and students fr
om the school 6th forms and colleges www.sigbi.org/southend-on-sea-and-district/
SI South Lancashire – members of SI Southport, Bootle, Crosby, Liverpool and Leigh on the Marine Way Bridge 
Southport pictured here raising awareness for Ovarian Cancer www.sigbi.org/south-lancashire/
SI Swindon & District, Pedestrian bridge across Fleming Way, Swindon www.sigbi.org/swindon-and-district
SI Slough Windsor & Maidenhead - Windsor and Eton Bridge www.sigbi.org/slough-windsor-and-maidenhead/ 
SI Stourbridge, SI Solihull and SI Kidderminster all from SI Midland Arden Region pictured here on the bridge at Himley Hall 
www.sigbi.org/stourbridge/ www.si-solihull.org.uk/ www.sigbi.org/kidderminster-and-district/ www.sigbi.org/midland-arden/
SI Birkenhead, 6th Form Breakfast 6 girls from each of the 6th form schools on the Wirral. www.birkenheadsoroptimists.co.uk
SI Bradford annual IWD Lunch for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal – Member Marion Le Pla received the first ever Bradford Woman of Year Award: Pictured here:
SI Colombo, Sri Lanka – pictured here 
holding a “tea party”! for the elderly ladies at St. Nicholas’ home in Colombo.
SI Croydon & District, held the final of the annual LOUD & PROUD public speaking compe
tition for year 6 girls (see picture). They also held a “Celebrating Women’s Achievements”. Friendship Supper, at The Chateau, Coombe Lane, Croydon. Speaker:Helen Fawkes, a BBC correspondent., Charity: CCAT – Croydon Community Against Trafficking www.sigbi.org/croydon-and-district
SI Dewsbury – Celebration with speaker Mrs Ann Cryer Former MP for Keighley www.sigbi.org/dewsbury
SI Easter Ross, Ladies Highland Lunch at Kincraig Castle Hotel. International Best Selling Author, An
ne Perry, addressed the audience of Soroptimists, Girl Guides and dignitaries including Mary Scanlon MSP www.sigbi.org/easter-ross See picture:
SI Ellesmere Port - joined Students at the West Cheshire College(Ellesmere Port Campus) celebration with 
motivational speakers and music and students reading poems (pictured here) www.sigbi.org/ellesmere-port-and-district/
SI The Fylde, “Speak Up For Women” Conference The Hilton Hotel, Blackpool www.sigbi.org/the-fylde 
Picture shows Linda Beddows addressing the conference.
SI Garstang , marking International Women’s Day and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week pictured here at Sainsburys in Garstang. www.mywyre.co.uk/si-garstang 
SI Gravesend, Health Awareness morning with speaker on Ovarian Cancer www.sigbi.org/gravesend
SI Great Yarmouth – pictured here with guests at their International Evening www.sigbi.org/great-yarmouth/ 
SI Harrogate and District, Human Rights - Wesley Chapel, Harrogate – Baroness Caroline Cox
, pictured here, world renowned campaigner against oppression and persecution, spoke about challenges to human rights in today’s world. The event raised over £500 for Baroness Cox’s charity HART (Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust). www.siharrogateanddistrict.org.uk
Kathmandu – rally in association with the National Women Commission, Nepal
SI Llandudno & District, Conference on Violence Against Women in partnership with nfwi-wales (National Federation of Women’s Institutes) Town Hall, Llandudno, www.sigbi.org/llandudno-and-district/
SI Newcastle, Musical Evening: presenting Castle Centenary Choir & Knutton St. Mary’s Primary School Choir – Song Birds (Pictured here), at St. Giles Church, Newcastle, proceeds to Julia House Women’s 
Refuge www.sigbi.org/newcastle-and-district/
SI Newport & District “Lady In Red” play, by the CC Theatre Company at the Dolman Theatre www.sigbi.org/newport-and-district/
New York – Pat Black, President-Elect Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland, pictured here on the march 
organised by UN Women for the Commission on Status of Women delegates.
SI Pretoria and SI Tshwane joint activity - put posters on cars, drove to a local township and then held a discussion with a group of young women on healthy relationships www.soroptimist.co.za See picture of Join me on the Bridge event before the drive.
SI Skipton in Craven will be served teas for “Contact the Eldery” www.sigbi.org/yorkshire
SI South Africa presentation at the Pretoria Diplomatic Spouses Association meeting on the status of women in South Africa www.soroptimist.co.za
SI Stafford, International Women’s Day event ’Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures’ at Staffordshire University www.sigbi.org/stafford & www.staffs.ac.uk/events/index.jsp
SI Wales South, Swansea – National costume parade, music and dance, refreshments. This event arranged in partnership with SI Wales South and South West Wales Indian Society. www.sigbi.org/wales-south
SI Wrexham, Coffee Morning: to raise awareness of the Purple teardrop Campaign to stop human trafficking www.purpleteardrop.org.uk/
December 10th2011 marks the 63rd anniversary of the acceptance by the UN General Assembly of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is a time for people to reflect about the meaning, importance, and need for human rights. The Day is marked with a message from the UN Secretary General (see this year’s message below).
As well as being the day each year that members collect for and contribute to our International President’s Appeal, December 10th will in the future be adopted as a Soroptimist day of action for education and leadership for women and girls, linked to an annual global advocacy and awareness raising campaign. SI President Alice Well’s 2011 December 10th Appeal will focus on “Birthing in the Pacific” and further information is available here.
“Today’s human rights violations are the causes of tomorrow’s conflicts.”
Mary Robinson, former Irish President and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Human rights belong to every one of us without exception. But unless we know them, unless we demand they be respected, and unless we defend our right — and the right of others — to exercise them, they will be just words in a decades-old document.
That is why, on Human Rights Day, we do more than celebrate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 – we acknowledge its enduring relevance for our own times.
The importance of human rights has been underlined over and over again this year. Across the globe, people mobilized to demand justice, dignity, equality, participation — the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration.
Many of these peaceful demonstrators persevered despite being met with violence and further repression. In some countries, the struggle continues; in others, important concessions were gained or dictators were toppled as the will of the people prevailed.
Many of the people seeking their legitimate aspirations were linked through social media. Gone are the days when repressive governments could totally control the flow of information. Today, within their existing obligation to respect the rights of freedom of assembly and expression, governments must not block access to the internet and various forms of social media as a way to prevent criticism and public debate.
Yet at the end of an extraordinary year for human rights, let us take strength from the achievements of 2011: new democratic transitions set in motion, new steps to ensure accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity, new and ever-spreading awareness of rights themselves.
As we look to the challenges ahead, let us take inspiration from the example of human rights activists and the timeless power of the Universal Declaration, and do our utmost to uphold the ideals and aspirations that speak for every culture and every person.
Ban Ki-moon
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.
Participants chose the dates November 25th, International Day Against Violence Against Women, and December 10th, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights.
The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:
UN statistics suggest that 1 in every 3 women in the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. The UN defines violence against women as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.
The UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is an occasion for governments, international organisations and non-governmental organisations to raise public awareness of violence against women. This date of November 25th was chosen as it originally marked the day that three sisters from the Dominican Republic were violently assassinated in 1960 for being activists against the country’s dictatorship. Choosing this day paid tribute to these brave women, as well as fostering a global recognition of gender violence.
Each year observances around the day concentrate on a particular theme and this year’s is yet to be announced. Some organisations hold 16 days of campaigns from November 25th to Human Rights Day on December 10th.
The UN Secretary General makes a speech highlighting the work that has been carried out and what more needs to be done. In his speech last December, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that the Day was a call to action and the focus would be on promoting leadership by the Corporate sector in ending gender-based violence. He also highlighted his UNiTE to End Violence Campaign, which was started in 2008. This Campaign includes a target of raising $100million annually for the UN “Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women by 2015.” The Fund will provide grants to support local, national and worldwide initiatives. The aims of UNiTE are to achieve the following five goals in all countries by 2015:-
