Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference, 3rd May is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. This declaration has been widely influential as a crucial affirmation of the international community’s commitment to freedom of the press. Every year UNESCO floats a theme for this day
It’s Membership Month and for the first time in two years many clubs are finally getting back to “normal” with face-to-face meetings, physical AGM’s and many of the other elements which we all would have missed during the time of the pandemic. In many instances, we may be meeting new members for the first time
Dear Members Here we are already in the month of May, and although summer does not officially start until June, for many 1 May marks the beginning, with May Day celebrations that have been carried out in England for over two thousand years. In Roman times, May Day was celebrated with the festival of Flora,
As the war in the Ukraine continues to rage, countries across the globe are continuing to call for peace. Today, we mark the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace which is celebrated annually on 24 April and it seeks to reaffirm the UN Charter and its principles of resolving disputes among countries through
Home – where is that? A key question for us as we move forward is ‘where is home’? As soroptimists we have been conscious of and advocated against the migration and trafficking of women for many years. Stimulae for this mass movement have been poverty, conflict, climate change, Covid and, currently, the war in Ukraine.
In 1994 the world sat idly by while a well-planned genocide unfolded in Rwanda. The vicious and systematic massacre of over 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus by Hutu militants in Rwanda should serve as a constant reminder of the power of words to influence minds, to instill fear and distrust, to promote hate, and to
“Water is life and in order to save life on our planet, we need to first save water.” Warm wishes on the occasion of World Water Day to all World Water Day, held on March 22nd every year since 1993, celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people living without access to
International Women’s Day this year will be focusing on ‘Gender Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’ with the theme of #BreakTheBias. International days are occasions to educate the general public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. International Women’s Day
Dear Members, As we celebrate International Women’s Day, our thoughts must turn to the terrifying situation in Ukraine. Tens of thousands of women and children have fled, separated from their men folk and leaving behind their homes, to seek shelter in neighbouring countries. So far, most of the Refugees have arrived in Poland, with the
For many countries within our Federation, the season of Spring will soon be upon us. Spring usually represents a period of new growth, hope and fresh possibilities. As we look around us, we can see what may appear to be gradual but still small bits of hope. We see the worldwide loosening of restrictions as
