Articles this issue are the end of the Opening Doors to a Bright Future Campaign, which has helped 3,000 women and girls, the launch of the SI Foundation, 16 Days of Activism, launch of an annual Public Speaking competition and an opportunity to watch the SI Youth Forum webinar:

https://mailchi.mp/soroptimistinternational/global-voice-september-6207846?e=25af0b1655

Global Voice is produced by Soroptimist International, of which Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland is one Federation.

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As I write, in October 2023, we have very little to celebrate.  With war ongoing in several countries and with the media entirely focussed on immediate happenings, listing lives lost, lives damaged, people displaced, infrastructure ruined and ongoing efforts on the diplomatic front, is it a proper moment to consider the impact on the environment of conflict?

It is – for two reasons;  because the environment, that is to say the land and resources, such as water, oil, scarce minerals, have value for one side and therefore might be seen to justify overtaking by the other side, but secondly, because the impact of environmental damage will reach much further than the field of war, and last much longer than the time of war. The UN Environment Programme suggests that in the last 60 years, 40% of all internal conflicts have been linked to the exploitation of natural high value or scarce resources. A major flaw in telling the story of the world – history – is that the perspective taken is that of the winner. We therefore hear of ‘victors’, of the ‘vanquished’, but little attention is paid to the innocent ‘victims’ – human, animal or environmental.

Just a look at a newspaper, or glance at television news shows the damage caused by conflict to ordinary people.  Cities devastated, without water or power, deprived of access to medical care and with residue from bombardment taking years to repair.   Yet, the UN has protocols, since 2001, which have clearly been ignored – that ‘there can be no durable peace if the natural resources that sustain livelihoods and ecosystems are destroyed’.

Unfortunately, the environment has long been a silent casualty of war and armed conflict. For 6th November 2014, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, spoke of his hope that we ‘develop solutions that meaningfully involve local communities and build on our collective knowledge to advance good stewardship of the environment as an integral part of peacebuilding and sustainable development.’  In the nine years to this point, we have no evidence of any significant progress towards these goals.

So, as Soroptimists, what can we do?  Erik Solheim (UN Executive Director) could have been writing the Programme Action book when, in 2018 he asked for informed citizens to speak up boldly about environmental impacts of conflict and demand transparency in the information we receive.   Soroptimists can certainly do that.  He further asks that we seek that our governments set up mechanisms for monitoring, collecting, sharing, and assessing information on potential environmental impacts.  Across SIGBI we have individual Club projects and projects in cooperation with other Community activities, which strongly support these ends.

On a broader canvas, as we support projects for women and girls in communities recovering from conflict, we must ensure that every effort is made to protect and insure natural resources.  As we use our voice in the UN, we must keep the long-term environment to the forefront in negotiations.  We have to keep a clear eye on the UN objectives and support steps, however small, towards protecting the environment during conflict.   We must be politically aware of, and vocal about the tendency to use conflict in order to access short term political aims or scarce resources.

Then, one November 6th, we will have a reason to celebrate the United Nations Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.

Mary Hession, SI Drogheda

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We are delighted to welcome two new Clubs which have been chartered in October.

SI Whitstable and District was chartered on 1 October 2023, and SI Northampton on 7 October 2023. President Cathy was delighted to charter both Clubs.

Congratulations to the Clubs and their members.

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SDG1. ‘End poverty in all its forms everywhere’.

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed each year and aims to raise awareness about people living in poverty.

According to the World Bank the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 pushed between 88 and 115 million people into poverty “with the majority of the new extreme poor being found in South Asian and Sub-Saharan countries where poverty rates are already high”. This year, 2023, the number could have increased to 143 and 163 million with deepening inequalities between the Global North and Global South.

The world summit called on governments to address the root causes of poverty, that the poor have access to productive resources, including credit, education, ethical, social, political and economic imperatives of mankind.

Humanity is at a crossroads, human choices, shaped by values and institutions have given rise to the interconnected planetary and social imbalances we face. Beyond income people experience poverty in multiple and simultaneous ways in their daily lives. 1 in 3 children globally missed out on remote learning when covid hit schools. The Multidimensional Poverty Index shows that approximately two thirds of people who are multidimensionally poor live in households where no woman or girl has completed at least six years of schooling.

Instability and conflict threaten to push millions into poverty. Afghanistan could face universal poverty with 97% of the population living below the poverty line.

It is estimated that by 2030 up to two thirds of the global extreme poor will be living in fragile and conflict affected situations. The resulting poverty from the humanitarian crisis in Israel and Palestine will be unprecedented.

Eradicating poverty is not a task of charity, it’s an act of justice and the key to unlocking enormous human potential. Still, nearly half of the world’s population lives in poverty, and lack of food and clean water is killing thousands every single day of the year. Together, we can feed the hungry, wipe out disease and give everyone in the world a chance to prosper and live a productive and rich life.

The UN Global Goals 2030 Agenda targets us to eliminate poverty by actioning 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The first goal, SDG1, is to end poverty in all its forms.

To achieve the target of eradicating poverty by 2030 (2030 Agenda) only 7 years remain. The whole world is seriously below target with the impact of war, climate change, the covid pandemic, the global economy and cost of living crisis. As progress is stilted, the needs of the poor accelerate.

Everyone can help to make sure that we progress this global goal by becoming aware of the seven targets listed under SDG1 to create action to end poverty in all its forms.

The targets are:

1.1 Eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day.

1.2 Reduce poverty by at least 50% in all dimensions according to national definitions.

1.3 Implement social protection systems by 2030.

1.4 Equal rights to ownership, basic services, technology and economic resources.

1.5 Build resilience to environmental, economic and social disasters.

1.6 Mobilise resources to implement policies to end poverty.

1.7 Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions.

These targets may not be in the reach of many of us but each action you take at whatever level builds up collectively to support the 2030 Agenda. Advocacy is important, be the voice for those that cannot speak. Campaigning and lobbying your MP, local government, the Select Committee is essential to initiate change.

Practically and locally. Can you support a food bank, share a meal or invite a family as a special treat.

Think global and act local.

According to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2023 Report, by 2030 if current trends continue, 575 million people will still be living in extreme poverty, and only one third of countries will have halved their national poverty levels.

At the moment, many of the worlds vulnerable population remain uncovered by social protection. There is positive change in some areas, in response to the cost of living crisis 105 countries announced almost 350 social protection measures in the last 12 months and world wide countries have increased government spending on essential services, education, health and social protection from 47% in 2015 to 53% in 2021.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Strategic Plan (2022-2025), boldly pledges to lift 100 million people out of multidimensional poverty. This is anticipated by expanding access to renewable energy, creating green jobs and livelihoods while driving down carbon emissions. Thereby making an ambitious commitment to work with partners to provide 500 million additional people with access to clean, affordable energy by 2025.

These contributions represent a fraction of the UN’s efforts across the globe to help communities to build forward better from the devastating pandemic, helping to end poverty and shaping a future that will balance the needs of both people and planet.

Margaret Clark
SI Middlesbrough

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Invest in girls’ rights: our leadership and well-being.

Today, girls are still being left behind.

• 1 in 5 girls are still not completing lower secondary education and 4 in 10 girls are not completing upper secondary school today. In certain regions, the numbers are even more dismal. Around 90 per cent of adolescent girls and young women do not use the internet in low-income countries, while their male peers are twice as likely to be online.
• Globally, girls ages 5-14 spend 160 million more hours every day on unpaid care and domestic work than boys of the same age. This unequal distribution in unpaid work intensifies in adolescence with serious implications for girls’ well-being.
• Adolescent girls continue to account for 3 in 4 new HIV infections among adolescents.
• More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is practiced.
• FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15. FGM is a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
• 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 each year. That is 23 girls every minute.

The United Nations first adopted October 11 as the International Day of the Girl, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world, but it should be noted that The Beijing Declaration in 1995 was the first to specifically call out for girls’ rights.

Investing in girls

Targeted and evidence-based investments in key areas that promote girls’ leadership and well-being are needed to secure their rights and development – in every setting and context. It is imperative to increase funding in key areas including girls’ health, education, violence prevention, and economic empowerment initiatives. Such investments represent a critical step to realize girls’ rights under the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Currently, it seems likely that the international community will not meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their targets related to investing in adolescent girls. We know, when supported, these can deliver returns and powerful change for girls themselves, their families, communities, and their societies.

Get involved and make a difference.

Look for organisations working in these areas; partner with them to raise funds, raise awareness, campaign, and lobby policy makers.

• Education: For every additional year of secondary education a girl receives, her potential income increases by about 10-20%. This translates into greater economic productivity, reduced poverty rates, and improved overall well-being. Education also confers protective effects, so that girls can make informed choices against harmful practices which impact their health and well-being.
• Health: Every dollar invested in sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescent girls can lead to economic returns of up to $120, leading to improved health outcomes and increased economic opportunities.
• Harmful practices: Despite the imperative to prevent child marriage, a 2022 review of official development assistance (ODA) found that only 0.07% of official development assistance in 2020 went to fighting child marriage. The Sustainable Development Goals has set a target to abandon the practice of FGM by 2030. There is still a long way to go.
• This year, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is using IDG celebrations to help girls develop the resilience needed to face the pressures and challenges of growing up in a changing world. #PreparedToChangeTheWorld
• The climate crisis is a child rights crisis. Sign the UNICEF campaign https://www.unicef.org.uk/climaterisk/

Soroptimists in action.

Soroptimists supported the Girls in Education Movement (GEM), setting up clubs in Zimbabwe focusing on enabling girls to stay in school.

Clubs have taken up the initiative to raise awareness of FMG by distribution of posters and booklets and using social media to raise awareness of this criminal offence.

Lobbying MPs and signing petitions is a keyway in which Soroptimists can take action and advocate for the rights of girls.

Carol Infanti
SI Medway and Maidstone.

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Achieving peace worldwide is a complex and challenging endeavour that requires the concerted efforts of individuals, communities, governments, and international organizations. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, there are several key principles and strategies that can contribute to the pursuit of global peace:

Promote Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution – Encourage countries to engage in peaceful negotiations and diplomacy to resolve disputes rather than resorting to violence

Address Root Causes of Conflict– Identify and address the underlying causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality, injustice, and lack of access to resources.

Promote Human Rights and Rule of Law– Advocate for the protection of human rights and the rule of law both domestically and internationally.

Education and Awareness– Encourage dialogue and understanding among different cultural, religious, and ethnic groups.

Promote Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment– Ensure that women are actively involved in decision-making processes related to peace and security.

Environmental Sustainability– Recognise the link between environmental degradation, resource scarcity, and conflict.

Achieving global peace is a long-term and ongoing effort that requires the commitment of all. While it may seem like a daunting task, every action, no matter how small, can contribute to building a more peaceful world.

Soroptimist International is a global volunteer organization that focuses on improving the lives of women and girls in local communities and around the world. Their primary focus is on gender equality and the well-being of women and girls. Their work indirectly contributes to the broader goal of achieving peace. By addressing issues related to discrimination, violence, and economic inequality, they create more inclusive and just societies where peace can thrive. Their dedication to empowering women and girls is a crucial step in building a more peaceful and equitable world.

Blog by Debra Joseph Si Barbados

A personal reflection

Ah! The International Day of Peace is the day that my club SI South Kolkata was born or ‘chartered’ as they say. But why was World Peace Day chosen for this auspicious ceremony by the then SIGBI President Ann Dawson and others?

“The answer my friend is blowing in the wind,” as Bob Dylan would have said. We realise more and more strongly every day how important peace is to the lives of all living beings and to mother earth as well. As APD Prosperity I realise the importance of peace. History has taught us that it was only during times of peace that countries and civilisations flourished and prospered. No other day could have been better suited to charter a Soroptimist chapter than the day of peace, the day celebrated for making peace an active choice the world over.

On one of the initial charter day celebrations, a group of SI South Kolkata project children had sung “Make me a channel of your peace….,” the peace prayer, having been trained and mentored by an SISK member. It was an especially moving moment to hear the children sing about what we as Soroptimists are trying to do all the time.

Peace has so many aspects; it is not just the absence of war. It is love and harmony in the home; equal opportunities at school, college, and career; no discrimination based on gender, race, faith, language, colour or culture; and above all else, balance and inclusion with all the biodiversity of humans, animals, birds and plants—not necessarily in that order, though.

John Lennon’s iconic “Imagine” comes to mind…

“Nothing to kill or die for
……

Imagine all the people
Livin’ life in peace…”

How wonderful it would be if we Soroptimists can make the dream of this “dreamer” a reality! A very tall ask, indeed!

 Blog by Shukla Chattopadhyay, SI South Kolkata

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Lindsay Green, SIGBI Programme Director, has signed the petition and is asking for your support. Please take action too. We cannot stand by, we must act. We need an Essentials Guarantee now.

https://action.trusselltrust.org/guarantee-our-essentials-petition?refsid=81434&utm_source=email_share&utm_campaign=%5B259%5D&utm_medium=share

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