We, as an organisation, celebrate some of the UN International Days throughout the year that focus on women and girls, especially as Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland is an Organisation in Category 2 Status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council since 2013. For example, the following are the Days which we members of SI Ipswich and District have celebrated since September:
From 25 November to 10 December we participate in 16 Days of Activism to fight violence against women. This year we are focusing on Online Violence.
Day 1
LinkedIn/Facebook: Join us for 16 Days of Activism to End Online Violence Against All Women and Girls. From November 25 to December 10, we’re raising awareness, sharing resources, and building a movement for safety online. Everyone has a role to play in ending digital violence. #EndOnlineViolence #16DaysOfActivism.
By understanding online violence, we can take steps to protect ourselves and others. Online violence, such as cyberstalking, threats, and doxxing can escalate harm and create fear or distress. Building digital literacy and resilience helps create safer communities. #EndOnlineViolence #16DaysOfActivism
Day 2
LinkedIn/Facebook: Online violence doesn’t stay online. What starts as digital harassment often escalates into real-world consquences.
Cyberstalking can lead to physical stalking, online threats create genuine fear and anxiety, and doxxing puts people’s safety at risk.
Understanding how interactions online and offline are connected can help you protect yourself and your devices. #EndOnlineViolence #16DaysOfActivism. Stay safe.
Day 3
Challenge harmful behaviour online! When you witness abuse or harassment online, speaking up shows victims they’re not alone and demonstrates that harmful behaviour won’t be tolerated. Whether it’s calling out inappropriate comments, supporting someone being targeted, or simply saying “This isn’t okay,” your intervention can change the dynamic and create safety online for everyone. #EndOnlineViolence #16DaysOfActivism
Day 4
Use reporting tools to flag harmful content and behaviour online. Major social media platforms have reporting mechanisms designed to identify and address abuse, harassment, and harmful content. When you report inappropriate behaviour, you’re contributing to a safer online environment for everyone. Reporting is one of the most effective tools we have to combat online violence. #EndOnlineViolence #16DaysOfActivism
Day 5
: Build awareness by sharing resources and campaigns that challenge online violence. Education is one of our most powerful tools in the fight against digital abuse. By sharing articles, research, campaigns, and personal stories, we help others recognise the signs of online violence and understand its impact. The more people know about digital harassment and abuse, the better equipped we are to help prevent it and support survivors. #EndOnlineViolence #16DaysOfActivism
Days 6, 7 & 8
Learn how to stay safe online and help others develop crucial digital safety skills. From understanding privacy settings to recognising red flags, knowing how to stay safe online is essential in today’s interconnected world. But it’s not enough to just protect ourselves—we must share this knowledge, especially with those who may be at higher risk of online violence. By teaching others and learning together, we build a more resilient digital community.
Learn how to stay safe online with blocking and filtering tools. Every major platform offers features to help you control what content you see and who can contact you. Blocking harassers, filtering harmful keywords, and limiting who can message you are all valid forms of self-protection.
Use reporting tools to flag abuse or harassment whenever you encounter it. Whether you’re the target or a witness, reporting harmful behaviour is crucial for online safety. Reporting isn’t just about individual cases; it helps platforms understand patterns of abuse and improve safety.
Days 9 & 10
Update your privacy settings to protect your personal information. Regularly review who can see your posts, contact you, and access your data. Remember your privacy is a right, not a privilege
Digital platforms have a role to play in creating safer, more respectful online communities. This includes thoughtful content moderation, clear safety policies, and support systems for users. A safer internet is possible when platforms prioritise user wellbeing and uphold human rights.
24th January is the UN Day of Education and we support gender equal education across the world. What a difference it would make to the lives of so many who live in poverty; what a difference women could make to their country’s economy; fulfilling their own lives.
Education is the foundation of opportunity for everyone. It delivers the tools to create your own future. It supports independence, freedom and confidence.
That’s why every woman and girl, both nationally and globally, deserves the right to be able to access education.
Sadly too many girls still face numerous barriers to gaining a full education. Too many obstacles exist for girls in many communities and parts of the world to gain the meaningful education they deserve and should expect.
We work to break down these barriers with the aim of creating gender parity for girls as this is what will empower women to overcome hurdles and stereotypes, pursue their dreams, and shape their own futures.
We do this by:
Sharing information on our Programme Action in Schools and Adult Education facilities – our recent webinar was useful in developing ideas and seeking new ways of engaging with education organsiations.
Through our club projects, we support the lifelong learning of women and girls through a variety of training, assistance, fundraising and partnership activities.
Club members with specific skill sets offer training to local groups in financial acumen, IT, sewing and crafting among many other activities. Club members attend local schools, prisons and other institutions to help with reading for women and girls at all ages. We facilitate book swaps and story competitions. We organise school STEM competitions to encourage girls to find their vocations in this field.
Running and facilitating public speaking competitions are a very successful part of our programme work. At our 2024 conference, SI Kings Lynn won a Best Practice Award for their public speaking competition which has been running since 2006 for Year 6 students. More on our awards here: https://www.flipbookpdf.net/web/site/a586f2604280fe91925ef4fa261f18cdeedb2932202411.pdf.html#page/8
Diamond Education Grant
A separate charity originally started in 1972 by SIGBI, this fund provides scholarships to assist women in advancing their education. In 2023-2024 the charity has given grants of £28,000 and has enabled 26 women aged from 27 years to 61 years to undertake further education, pursue new career paths or gain relevant qualifications in their chosen professions. Read our blog here: https://thehub.sigbi.org/blog/deg_trustees_CqCjR
In September each year our Club celebrates the UN International Literacy Day by holding a book reading. In 2024 the book selected was The Anatomy of Peace, Resolving the Heart of Conflict published by The Arbinger Institute. It helps you think differently, consider the other’s point of view. In 2023 members read ‘Conundrum’ by Jan Harris which furthered our understanding of the issues and trauma of being in the body of one gender but convinced they belong in the other gender. This foillowed the excellent talk given by Kate Lankester, Media Officer, Suffolk Pride.
In 2023 we read ‘A Spare Pair of Hands’ by famous author Kate Mosse who has looked after both her parents and one of her husband’s family member – we always aim to dovetail it with projects we are undertaking or our understanding of important . This helped our understanding of the issues and was a good link for our Care Award. As the books were borrowed from the Suffolk Library Service members gave £5 each which was given to the Purple Community Fund to help pay for education of children who ‘s parents can not afford to pay to send their children to school.
In recognition of the International Day of the Girl Child we have lobbied our MPs to voice concerns about the continuing – and regrettably increasing – practice here in the UK of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This is an issue that we as Soroptimists lobby and protest about at every opportunity. In fact, the speaker at our Regional meeting in June 2022 was Aneeta Prem, founder of The Freedom Charity that helps girls who believe they are being sent abroad to be ‘cut’. Aneeta was awarded the MBE in the 2023 New Year’s Honours List for her Charity Service..
We also lobby our MPs on Forced Marriages (not Arranged Marriages) another issue that Aneeta Prem, MBE is involved in.
We are passionate about the UN Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls on 25th November. We start 16 Days of Activism online.
We celebrate the UN Human Rights Day at our Regional Meeting which is closest to the date – 10th December. In November 2024 most of the Clubs in our Region gave their interpetation of our mantra ‘Taking Care of Ourselves Benefits Others@.
And currently we are lobbying on the issue of sending so-called ‘illegal’ immigrants back to where they come from when they have a good case to stay in the UK. There are few legal and safe ways to enter the UK unless you are among those being helped from Hong Kong, Afghanistan and the Ukraine. Many genuine refugees will be turned away, putting their lives at risk – Modern Slavery, Trafficking, likelihood of being arrested, tortured or killed.
We are therefore ‘Women inspiring action, transforming lives’.