INVTITATION: The Gender Equality Project Launch

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From: MEP Email [mailto:MEP@wilsoncenter.org]
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 11:39 AM
To: MEP Email
Cc: Heather McAuliffe
Subject: INVTITATION: The Gender Equality Project Launch

Women in Business:

Benchmarking Success in Achieving Gender Equality

A Presentation and Panel Discussion with:

Beth Brooke, Global Vice Chair, Public Policy, Ernst & Young

Nicole Schwab, Co-Founder, The Gender Equality Project

The Honorable Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, U.S.

Department of State

Moderated By:

Laura Liswood, Secretary General, Council of Women World Leaders

September 30, 2011

12:00 – 2:00pm

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars- 6th Floor Auditorium

The Ronald Reagan International Trade Center

1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20004

Please bring photo ID to enter the building

RSVP to Heather McAuliffe by September 28, 2011

Heather.McAuliffe@WilsonCenter.org

1-202-691-4396

The Gender Equality Project is a Swiss Foundation committed to creating a world where women and men are

equally valued and respected in all aspects of economic, political and social life. To close the gap in opportunities

between men and women in the workplace, the Foundation engages corporations across the world in fostering

equal opportunities by making available a self-assessment and benchmarking tool and launching a global

certification system in gender equality, which recognizes companies that have implemented successful policies and

practices for gender equality. By 2015, the Foundation aims to engage 100 of the world’s foremost 1500 companies

in committing to achieving the global standard in gender equality. For more information, visit

http://www.genderequalityproject.com

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Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dies at 71

Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dies at 71

NAIROBI, Kenya — Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmentalist who started out by paying women a few shillings to plant trees and went on to become the first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize, died late on Sunday after battling cancer. She was 71.

Mrs. Maathai, one of the most famous and widely respected women on the continent, wore many hats — environmentalist, feminist, politician, anti-corruption campaigner, human rights advocate, protester and head of the Green Belt Movement she founded. She was as comfortable in the gritty streets of Nairobi’s slums or the muddy hillsides of central Kenya as she was hobnobbing with heads of state. In 2004, she won the Nobel Peace Prize, with the Nobel committee citing “her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.” It was a moment of immense pride in Kenya and across Africa.

Mrs. Maathai toured the world, speaking out against environmental degradation and poverty — which she believed were intimately connected — but never lost focus on her native Kenya. She served as a parliamentarian and assistant minister for several years, and in 2008, after being pushed out of government, she was tear-gassed by Kenyan police during a protest against the excesses of Kenya’s well-entrenched political class.

“Wangari Maathai was known to speak truth to power,” said John Githongo, an anti-corruption campaigner in Kenya who was forced into exile for several years for his own outspoken views. “She blazed a trail in whatever she did, whether it was in the environment, politics, whatever.”

Wangari Muta Maathai was born in 1940 in Nyeri, Kenya, a mid-sized town in the foothills of Mount Kenya. She was a star student and won a scholarship to study biology at Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas. She went on to obtain a doctorate in veterinary anatomy, becoming the first woman in East or Central Africa to hold such a degree, according to the Nobel Prize Web site. She formed the Green Belt Movement in 1977 which planted trees across Kenya to fight erosion and to create fuel (i.e., firewood) and jobs for women.

During the 1980s, the Kenyan government labeled the Green Belt Movement “subversive” and Mrs. Maathai seemed to provoke a special scorn from the president at the time, Daniel arap Moi, by leading the charge against a government plan to build a huge skyscraper in a park. The skyscraper proposal was eventually scrapped, though not long afterward, during another protest, Mrs. Maathai was beaten unconscious by police.

Home life wasn’t easy either. Her husband, Mwangi, divorced her, saying she was too strong-minded for a woman. When she lost her divorce case and criticized the judge, she was thrown in jail. Still, throughout the years she managed to rack up honorary degrees and innumerable awards, including France’s Légion d’Honneur and Japan’s Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.

The Nobel committee hailed her for taking “a holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces democracy, human rights and women’s rights in particular” and serving “as inspiration for many in the fight for democratic rights.”

Her battle with cancer was a surprise to many here in Nairobi. Her organization did not provide details but Kenyan media reported that she had been in the hospital for at least a week.

She is survived by three children, Waweru, Wanjira and Muta, and a granddaughter Ruth Wangari, according to a statement from the Green Belt Movement. The organization said, “Her departure is untimely and a very great loss to all of us who knew her, as a mother, relative, co-worker, colleague, role model, and heroine or those who admired her determination to make the world a peaceful, healthy and better place for all of us.”

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New Initiative to Combat Early Marriage: Girls Not Brides

Global, Foundation Leaders Launch Partnership to End Child Marriage

The Elders, a group of global leaders originally convened by Nelson Mandela, has announced the launch of Girls Not Brides, a new global effort to end child marriage, a practice that contributes to core development challenges such as poverty, education, maternal and child health, HIV, and gender equality.

Announced during the first day of the annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson of the Elders, Ford Foundation president Luis Ubiñas, and NoVo Foundation co-chair Jennifer Buffett, the coalition committed to building an organization with at least a hundred and fifty members running programs in twenty countries by December 2012. Coalition members also committed to raising at least $3 million to ensure the sustainability of the effort and seed activities to end child marriage in target countries, while establishing a network of donors to support programs designed to end the practice worldwide.

In addition to the Elders and the Ford and Nike foundations, the effort has attracted additional support from the Hewlett, MacArthur, and Open Society foundations.

Although other groups have projects working toward similar goals, the Elders' project is designed to improve awareness of child marriage, which affects millions of children, primarily girls, every year. Indeed, in the developing world one in three girls is married before the age of 18 and one in seven before the age of 15. Such marriages usually mark the end of a girl's schooling, limiting her opportunity to develop skills that can help her earn an income and lift herself and her children out of poverty. It also puts girls at greater risk of disease, injury, and death due to early sexual activity and childbearing.

Women's rights start with protecting girls," said Ubiñas. "It's a very human issue, one at the center of a wide range of challenges girls and women still face. We don't think we can work on reproductive health, women's rights, girls' education, or women's economic empowerment without addressing a widespread and fundamental issue like this one."

“Girls Not Brides: A New Global Partnership to End Child Marriage.” The Elders Press Release 9/20/11.

World Bank's 2012 World Development Report

The World Bank’s annual World Development Report is out.  This year’s focus is on gender inequality:

http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTWDRS/EXTWDR2012/0,,contentMDK:22999750~pagePK:64167689~piPK:64167673~theSitePK:7778063,00.html

Allison Strype

Civil Society

IREX

2121 K Street NW, 7th Fl.

Washington, DC 20037

Email: astrype@irex.org

Phone: 202-628-8188  x. 127

Skype: allison.strype

Make a Better World: www.irex.org/donate

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Youth Theater for Peace Impact Update

Dear all,

I’d like to share a brief impact update from IREX’s Youth Theater for Peace programs, which are active in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Youth Theater for Peace (YTP) participants are proving that discussion can lead to positive action – and have a great impact on individual lives. The YTP theater group from Chorku, a conservative village in the remote, mountainous Isfara district of Tajikistan, has staged several interactive plays in their community about girls’ education and early marriage. Their work has opened up a space to talk about female empowerment: as girls involved say, the plays “make people think about these issues out loud.”

It’s not all talk. On September 1, another school year began in Chorku. Last year there weren’t any girls studying in the 11th grade at the school where Dilrabo Rajabova, a YTP theater group leader, teaches – most stayed home after 10th grade to care for family members or get married. This year, 20 girls have enrolled in the 11th grade, reports Ms. Rajabova. She believes the change is a result of YTP participants’ efforts to raise awareness.

There is more good news in Isfara for youth – Ms. Rajabova has permission from the Department of Education to open new school Drama Clubs in two more villages and the local government has invited her to work with additional cultural centers in the district.

If you have any questions about the programs please feel free to contact me or my colleagues Nasima Nazrieva at IREX/TJ and Ulugbek Nurumbetov at IREX/KG.

Best,

Susie
--------------------------------
Susan Armitage
Senior Program Officer
Education Programs Division
IREX (www.irex.org
)
2121 K St. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037
Tel: 202-628-8188 x 185 | Fax: 202-628-8189
E-mail: sarmitage@irex.org | Skype: susie.armitage
Make a Better World: www.irex.org/donate

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Interagency Gender Working Group

IGWG

September 12, 2011

IGWG web

GENDER NEWS CLIPS

Ghana: DCI Rolls Out a New Girl Power Project
The Chronicle, Monday, September 12, 2011

Since 1996, the Defense for Children International-Ghana (DCI- Ghana), a member of Child Rights Alliance (CRI), has concerned itself with child trafficking, juvenile justice and worse forms of child labor. DCI-Ghana is rolling out a new project christened "Girl Power", to champion the elimination of violence against girls and young women.

Kenya-Somalia: Refugees at Risk of Sexual Violence

IRIN, Thursday, September 8, 2011 

 

CARE International in July reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp had increased from 75 occurrences between January and June 2010 to 358 during the same period in 2011. Originally established in 1991 to house 90,000 refugees, the camp's population exceeds 460,000, and aid workers warn that women and girls are increasingly vulnerable to violence either on their way to the camps or inside them.

Kenya: Women Worst-Hit By HIV Infections-National Aids Control Council
Nairobi Star, Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Women account for 65 percent of all new HIV/AIDS infections in Kenya annually. This is according to a report released yesterday by National Aids Control Council. Speaking at the launch of national action plan for mainstreaming gender in HIV responses in Kenya, Gender minister Naomi Shaban urged men and women to integrate and work as a team to eradicate the deadly disease.

South America: Human Trafficking Scourge Needs More Than Policing
IPS,
Wednesday, September 7, 2011

South American experts and officials met in Washington this week to discuss current policy initiatives to combat human trafficking in their respective countries, part of a broader U.S.-wide tour to share information and strategies to deal with the issue.

The content posted in this message reflects the views of the original author/s and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Population Reference Bureau nor its sponsors.

Please visit the Interagency Gender Working Group (IGWG) web site at

 

www.igwg.org 

 

This email was sent to ksheketoff@irex.org by igwg@prb.org |  

Population Reference Bureau | 1875 Connecticut Ave, NW | Washington | DC | 20009

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Check out "Call For Submissions: Stories Of Resistance And Stories Of Change-- Deadline: Sept 25 2011" on Peace and Collaborative Development Network

________________________________________
From: Craig Zelizer [share@internationalpeaceandconflict.org]
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 4:41 AM
To: Susan Armitage
Subject: Check out "Call For Submissions: Stories Of Resistance And Stories Of Change-- Deadline: Sept 25 2011" on Peace and Collaborative Development Network

Peace and Collaborative Development Network
Building Bridges, Networks and Expertise Across Sectors

[http://api.ning.com/files/CdRxZf1wZQ2wQriSWX1-aw1wQ50-Bi-C-AHFY**OzzYrA-RkaWxupyTApPN*29H6QuYDrCA5tsKtldiKfPVwtw__/craigpicture.jpg?width=96&height=96&crop=1%3A1&xn_auth=no&xg_source=msg_share_topic]
Craig Zelizer

Check out the discussion 'Call For Submissions: Stories Of Resistance And Stories Of Change-- Deadline: Sept 25 2011'

Discussion posted by Anne Bernier:

For more information or to submit, please follow this link: http://www.awid.org/Get-Involved/Calls-for-Participation2/Call-for-Submission....

Discussion link:
Call For Submissions: Stories Of Resistance And Stories Of Change-- Deadline: Sept 25 2011

About Peace and Collaborative Development Network
A professional networking site for individuals & organizations worldwide involved in development, conflict resolution and related fields.
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7 Billion: Conversations that Matter "Good Governance and the Women Dividend"

Wednesday, September 7, 2011 - 6:30pm to 8:00pm

Washington, DC

Aspen Global Health and Development

Join The Aspen Institute in welcoming Madame Michelle Bachelet, the first Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, and Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the first female president of a post-Communist Eastern European country, as they discuss their experiences as the former presidents of Chile and Latvia and the role of investing in reproductive health, education, and economic empowerment. The evening will spotlight Dr. Vike-Freiberga’s belief in emphasizing the contribution of women in building stable societies, and Madame Bachelet’s vision in achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment around the world. Renowned democracy and governance expert and Vice President of the National Democratic Institute Shari Bryan will also join the panel to discuss the process – and impact – of empowering women to engage politically and economically. This event will be moderated by Elliot Gerson, Rhodes Scholar and Executive Vice President of Policy and Public Programs and International Partnerships at The Aspen Institute.

Allison Strype

Civil Society

IREX

2121 K Street NW, 7th Fl.

Washington, DC 20037

Email: astrype@irex.org

Phone: 202-628-8188  x. 127

Skype: allison.strype

Make a Better World: www.irex.org/donate

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Come join me at A Dialogue with USAID's Leaders on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment on SID-Washington Gender in Development Workgroup

FYI

Allison Strype

Civil Society

IREX

2121 K Street NW, 7th Fl.

Washington, DC 20037

Email: astrype@irex.org

Phone: 202-628-8188  x. 127

Skype: allison.strype

Make a Better World: www.irex.org/donate

From: Janel Hoppes Poche [mailto:events@sidwgid.ning.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 1:33 PM
To: Allison Strype
Subject: Come join me at A Dialogue with USAID's Leaders on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment on SID-Washington Gender in Development Workgroup

Janel Hoppes…

Janel Hoppes Poche

Janel Hoppes Poche has invited you to the event 'A Dialogue with USAID's Leaders on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment' on SID-Washington Gender in Development Workgroup!

Please join us at the next SID/GID Workgroup Event scheduled for Friday, September 16th: A Dialogue with USAID's Leaders on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment.

A Dialogue with USAID's Leaders on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

Time: September 16, 2011 from 1pm to 2:30pm
Location: The QED Group, LLC
Organized By: Janel Hoppes Poche, Fiona McDowell & Sharon Williams

Event Description:
USAID is committed to providing development assistance that improves the lives of women, men and children around the world. USAID has a special interest in the advancement of women worldwide and is working to improve women's equality and empowerment. Not only because it is just, but because it is necessary for successful development. It is important to engage the untapped energies and abilities of people, especially poor women, if lasting progress is to be made. Development assistance providers must recognize the pervasive additional obstacles that poor women face and give serious attention to those impediments as road blocks not only to women but also to effective national development. On April 26th, USAID Administrator Raj Shah announced the creation of a new Office on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment for the Agency. Please join us to hear about plans for the Office and progress on development of USAID's new gender policy.
Speakers:

Carla Koppell, Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Office of the Deputy Administrator, USAID
Caren Grown, Senior Gender Advisor, Bureau of Policy, Planning and Learning, USAID

RSVP for this Gender in Development Workgroup Event.
*This event is co-sponsored by Development & Training Services (dTS) and Juárez & Associates (J&A).

See more details and RSVP on SID-Washington Gender in Development Workgroup:

http://sidwgid.ning.com/events/event/show?id=6320761%3AEvent%3A5107&xgi=5w7gr7hVEADhrE&xg_source=msg_invite_event

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9/10/11: Thought Leadership Training for Women

Early registration ends today!

Core Seminar - Washington, DC, September 10, 2011

Program: Write to Change the World: This full-day seminar focuses on expertise, thought leadership and impact.

Time: 10 am to 5 pm (two short breaks and one longer lunch break)

Location: 1000 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005

Details: This highly interactive day-long seminar will challenge you to think more carefully and more expansively about your knowledge and experience, and why it matters. We will explore the source of credibility; the patterns and elements of powerful evidence-based argument; the difference between being “right” and being effective; how to preach beyond the choir; and how think bigger—so that we can have greater influence and value in the world.  You will emerge with a powerful argument for an idea or cause you believe in, and a network of high-level mentors. This seminar is about empowering you to find your voice and make a case for the ideas and causes you believe in—whether in print, online, on TV, before your board of directors, to potential funders or investors, or on the steps of congress. And it is about the collective difference we can all make by doing so.

The OpEd Project is an initiative to expand the range of voices we hear from in the world, with an immediate focus on increasing the volume of women thought leaders in the public sphere to a tipping point.  Since women currently do not submit to key opinion forums with anywhere near the frequency that men do—and because these gateway forums feed all other media and drive thought leadership and policy—we target and train women experts at top universities, think tanks, nonprofits, corporations and community organizations to write op-eds and more broadly to take thought leadership positions in their fields; we connect them with a national network of high-level mentor-editors, and we channel them to the media gatekeepers who need them, across all platforms.  The OpEd Project is the recipient of seed funding and a 2008-2010 fellowship from Echoing Green.