Thank you to Ambassador Palm and the staff of the Embassy of the Netherlands for the kind invitation to Soroptimist International members to attend Let’s Talk Human Rights, with the motto Orange the World: UNiTE! TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN! Sarah Benson, CEO of Women’s Aid and Noeleen Blackwell, CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, shared some startling statistics and information with us, in relation to gender based violence, femicide ,coercive control, services currently available and issues around consent. An open discussion included proposed legislation for paid leave for domestic abuse sufferers and the need for workplace domestic violence policies to create greater awareness and provide safe working environments. We must work towards gender equality in order to eradicate gender based violence. We all have a part to play in calling out unacceptable behaviour. If you say nothing, you are saying something.

  PRESS RELEASE – SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL IRELAND   November 2022 Soroptimists ORANGE the world! 25th November – 10th December   The 25th November marks the UN International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women and the start of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, ending on 10th December (Human Rights Day). During this time, Soroptimists across Ireland will be taking action and calling for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Eadaoin Lawlor, President of Soroptimist International Ireland, comments, “In Ireland, violence against women is a significant issue that has worsened since the pandemic. We have seen 244 women murdered since 1996 (Women’s Aid, 2022), and 87% of these women were killed by a man known to them. At least 26% of women in Ireland have experienced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15, and 41% of people in Ireland know a

Well done to all the girl’s who took part in our Public Speaking Competition yesterday in the Carmelite Community Centre in Aungier Street. Our 2 finalists will go through to the Regional Finals. Emma Whelan, St Mary’s Holy Faith, Glasnevin and Síofra Corrigan, Holy Faith Clontarf. Our reserve is Sarah Nolan, Lucan Community College. Thank you to our Convenor Margaret Murray, Club President Caroline and club members who helped organise and run the event.

SI Dublin members preparing for the Orange the World Shoe Campaign, digging into the first layers of colour for the Orange The World Shoe Campaign starting 25th November.

Well done to our Club President Birgit, who raised €500 in aid of Ruhama yesterday.

Some members of SI Dublin enjoyed a great afternoon starting off with a tour of The Oratory in Dun Laoghaire which contains amazing Celtic Revival artwork by Sister Concepta Lynch. We then had a lovely lunch and then did the boat cruise from Dun Laoghaire to Killiney Bay.  

Well done Mary for a fantastic year as our club President. It was great to be back in person last night at our AGM in our new premises. We wish Birgit & Caroline the very best for the year ahead as our new President’s. After our meeting, members enjoyed a vegetarian night in aid of our International President’s Appeal which will be used to provide education to girls in Cambodia.

SI Dublin member’s Linda & Birgit visited Val Kiernan & Pat of Glencree to see our grove of 350 trees and to plant the 10 year old oak sapling donated by SIROI to celebrate the centenary of Soroptimist’s.

SI Dublin members had a fantastic afternoon hosted by our club secretary Breda in aid of Toilet Twinning. The club raised €700 on the day. Well done to everyone.

Well done to SI Dublin members who did another An Taisce  litter pick up along the Dodder from the Dropping Well to Farmer Brown’s (Rathmines) and back for World Earth Day.