May 2026

1995 was the last year in the United Nations Decade for Women

The decade began when 1975 was designated International Women’s Year.

Since then, 8 March has been International Women’s Day

1993 saw as many women as men enrol in higher education

In 1994, a new law made rape in marriage a crime

The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing China was a landmark event

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Since 1976 SI Woking has supported a wide range of projects and charities, at home and abroad. They include:

Anna Goulden Trust (Peru) – Birthing in the Gambia and the Pacific – Water Aid 

Life Straws – Barbara Watts VIP Project (South Africa)

Hope for Girls and Women FGM Safe House (Tanzania)

Women and climate change

Water for All People: Equal Rights and Opportunities – the UN World Water Development Report came out in March 2026.

Women are often in charge of collecting and managing water for the family.  But they are less often in charge of  managing the overall supply of water.

The inequalities between men and women are made worse by climate change, water scarcity and natural disasters.  This means that more must be done to ensure equal rights and opportunities in such an important area as management of the wter supply.

The Goldman Environmental Prize –  the winners were announced in April 2026 – and for the first time, all six are women! From Nigeria, South Korea, Papua New Guinea, the United States, Colombia and the United Kingdom, these women have contributed greatly to environmental protection.

Sarah Finch (UK) led a campaign in Surrey that ended with a Supreme Court ruling about fossil fuel extraction.

Support for women and girls

Woking Soroptimists have given £200 to a woman Scout and two Girl Guides in Woking.  The funds will help to pay for participation in the World Scout Jamboree and learning experiences in Europe.  We look forward to hearing all about it when they return!

To date, Woking Soroptimists have made loans through Lend With Care to  5 women in Ecuador, Thailand, Pakistan,, the Philippines and Gambia.  Most of these small loans have already been repaid.

In the last two month, Woking Soroptimists have givven £285 to YourSanctuary to buy foodstuffs for the store cupboard.