Hardly a day goes by without a news story on some violation of women’s rights. In recent months, appalling incidents of violence against women and girls, from Delhi to Johannesburg to Cleveland, have sparked public outrage and demands to tackle these horrific abuses.
In Bangladesh and Cambodia, the shocking loss of life by garment factory workers, many of them women, sparked global debate on how to secure safe and decent jobs in our globalized economy. In Europe, the disproportionate impact on women of austerity cuts, and the use of quotas to get more women on corporate boards continue to make headlines.
As work continues to eliminate the scourge of violence against women, there is need to increase the messengers to ensure all the cultural custodians are speaking out.
Speaking in support of the of the International Women’s Day theme, “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”, Acting Director of UN Women, Joan French stressed that the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign gives a framework for collective action to end gender based violence.
“It doesn’t speak only to UN agencies. No, it calls on all of us to take responsibility, to stand up speak out and take action…
Bridgetown, Barbados: UN Women Caribbean Office observed the 2013 International Women's Day with a celebrationof culture and art in recognition of their significance in the efforts to end violence against women and girls.
The event which was hosted in collaboration with the umbrella women's organisation in Barbados - the National Organisation of Women featured the launch of UN Women's song "One Woman" (sponsored by Microsoft) and the works of visual artists Versia Harris, Nyssa Haynes-Holder and Sheena Rose and guest speaker, Methodist Minister, Reverend Marlene Britton-Walfall.
Message for International Women’s Day 2013
by Michelle Bachelet, UN Women Executive Director
Today on International Women’s Day I join every individual who believes that change is possible. We are guided by a founding principle of the United Nations: the equal rights of men and women.
All around the world, our voices are rising, and silence and indifference are declining. Change is possible. And change is happening.
A musical celebration of women worldwide / Artists from 20 countries participate
6 March, 2013: "One Woman: A song for UN Women" will launch on International Women’s Day. The track will be globally available for download as of 8 March (EST 7 March, 12 noon) on http://song.unwomen.org , together with the full song video and behind-the-scenes videos chronicling the song’s year-long production.
“One Woman” is a musical celebration of women worldwide, featuring 25 artists from 20 countries across the globe. The song calls for change and celebrates acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who daily make extraordinary contributions to their countries and communities. The lyrics are inspired by stories of women whom UN Women has supported.
Kingston, Jamaica: The government’s lead agency for gender matters, the Bureau of Women's Affairs (BWA), along with the Dispute Resolution Foundation through the "Way Out Project", with support from the Fund for Gender Equality (FGE), UN WOMEN and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will once again mark the celebration of International Women's Day under the theme, “The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum”.
The 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW57) opens at the UN Headquarters in New York from 4 to 15 March 2013, with the priority theme: “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.”
The Commission on the Status of Women is the principal global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and women's empowerment worldwide.
25 February, 2013 - Bridgetown, Barbados: The urgent need for a national and global commitment to end violence against women and girls was today broadcast across Bridgetown, the capital city of Barbados and the island’s main business and shopping district.
Local video production company Merville Lynch Productions Inc. supporting UN Women’s efforts to share the UNiTE message, broadcast 'A Promise is A Promise', the official video of the United Nations Secretary-General's Campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women on the mega screen in Bridgetown for Orange Day February 25, 2013.
“One Woman” to be released on International Women’s Day - the Countdown begins today!
On International Women’s Day, 8 March 2013 UN Women will launch "One Woman: A song for UN Women", a musical celebration of women worldwide, featuring more than 20 artists from across the globe.
As of today, behind-the-scenes videos chronicling the song’s year-long production will be available at http://song.unwomen.org to count down toward the launch. On March 8, the site will feature the full song video and make the track available for download.
HUNDREDS EXPECTED IN HEROES SQUARE ON VALENTINE’S DAY FOR RALLY TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS
(February 11, 2013, Bridgetown, Barbados):Hundreds of Barbadians are expected to show their love on Valentine’s Day by gathering in Heroes Square from 11:30 a.m. for One Billion Rising (OBR) Barbados, an event calling for an end to violence and sexual violation of women and girls.
Jamaica is among three new countries to join the COMMIT initiative, bringing the total number to 16. Jamaica has pledged to ratify CEDAW's Optional Protocol; Japan commits to a national plan to end gender violence with concrete policy measures; and Poland promises to ratify the Council of Europe Convention.
Bridgetown, Barbados: The Institute for Gender and Development Studies: Nita Barrow Unit, will be offering the following course in the upcoming semester: GEND3703: Feminist Critiques of Development Theories: Implications for Policy and Planning.
They are inviting persons working in the public and private sector as well as with international organisations to register for the course. Please email gender@cavehill.uwi.edufor more information and/or to register.
Marking the 2012 observance of International Human Rights Day, Caribbean domestic workers pressed for official recognition of domestic work as valid work alongside other categories of work. A milestone they hope to achieve by the time another international day wends around - International Women’s Day in March 2013 - if not sooner.
The milestone date of 12/12/12 saw the Caribbean Domestic Workers Network (CDWN) launch a regional initiative calling on governments to take urgent action to enhance the quality of life of the many thousands of domestic workers in the region.
Message of Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
Today, on this Human Rights Day, we celebrate the right of all people to make their voices heard and participate fully in public life. Yet the voices of too many women and girls continue to be stifled through discrimination, threats and violence. This is holding back progress for women and for all members of society.
Women’s participation is fundamental for sustainable development, peace and democracy.
