IWD: Women Writing History Essay Contest Deadline is Feb. 15

Jan 312008
 

Words of Women Essay deadline: February 15.

Women Writing History
An International Herstory Project and Essay CompetitionA Project of Historic Proportions
Capturing Forever the Words of Women

To tell the stories of our Mothers, Sisters, and Grandmothers; to chronicle events important to women; to enrich lives; to inspire women to think and contribute; to empower women and girls; to inspire self confidence and pride; to bridge worlds, share experiences, build community; to create an interest in the continuing story of women; to ensure our story in our own words; to provide a vehicle for all women to write and have a voice in history; to raise awareness about women; to raise awareness about Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day, Women’s Equality Day, and other events celebrating women; to teach that words count; to teach that each woman makes a difference

Annual Essay Cycle begins August 26. Deadline for Entries December 31
Deadline Extended Until February 15, 2008

Choose one of the Following Topics:

  • The Most Influential Woman in My Life, or
  • The Most Significant Thing That Happened to Women This Year

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 January 31, 2008  Posted by on January 31, 2008 Comments Off

Domestic Violence Services–Demand High, Supply Low

Jan 312008
 
New Report Shows Large Demand For Domestic Violence Services And Short Supply Of Resources To Meet Victims’ NeedsCuts to core VAWA programs and VOCA threaten advocates’ abilities to meet demand for services

From The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV):

(January 30, 2008) Washington, DC – In a single day, domestic violence programs served more than 53,000 adults and children in the United States. However, a significant number of requests – more than 7,700 — went unmet because domestic violence agencies lacked the funding and staff to meet the demand. This data comes from the release of the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s second National Census of Domestic Violence Services (NCDVS).

Approximately 61% of unmet requests were for emergency shelter and transitional housing. With recent cuts to critical programs funded by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), domestic violence advocates worry about their ability to respond to all requests for help.

“Domestic violence programs are already struggling to meet the huge demand for shelter and advocacy services,� said Sue Else, President of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. “Because of cuts in the 2008 federal budget, domestic violence programs will have even fewer resources to offer victims. When programs don’t have adequate funding to operate, victims are left with no choice but to return to their abusers.�
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 January 31, 2008  Posted by on January 31, 2008 Comments Off

Okinawa Organization Releases Report on Sexual Violence Committed By American Soldiers

Jan 302008
 

With the U.S. Marines expected to increase the number of troops in Guam to 8000 in the near future,

“An activist group from Okinawa has released a report compiling over 400 documented cases of gang rape, abduction, beating, murder and other forms of abuses committed by American soldiers against the Japanese people from the post-war period until recent years.

The reports compiled by the Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence showed that only 29 cases had corresponding records of convictions.”

According to the group’s director, Suzuyo Takazato,

“The cases of abuses committed by the American troops during the postwar period were never solved and those who committed them were never punished. After the war, Okinawa was placed under the control of the U.S. military beginning in 1945. During which time, Okinawa couldn’t prosecute crimes committed by military personnel. “It was only after Okinawa was reverted to Japan in 1972 that military crimes were brought to civilian courts,” Takazato said.

While the people of Guam are still awaiting war reparations and apology from the Japanese government for the sexual enslavement of Chamoro women and other atrocities committed by the Imperial Army, the people of Okinawa have their own nightmares to confront related to the abuses of the American troops.

The documented cases included incidents such as women being gang raped in front of their husbands and fathers.”

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 January 30, 2008  Posted by on January 30, 2008 1 Response »

Women Excluded From Mediation Talks in Kenya

Jan 302008
 

This is why UNSC 1325 is SO important:

“Women have decried their exclusion from the ongoing mediation to end post-election violence.

The chairperson of the National Council of Women of Kenya (NCWK), Ms Isabella Karanja, said Kenya had ignored the United Nations Security Council resolution that supports women’s participation in mediation.

In 2000, the UN adopted resolution 1325, which stressed the importance of women’s involvement as active agents of peace and security.

“We are over 50 per cent of the population, but we have been marginalised and now we are requesting for an audience,” Karanja said.”

Meanwhile…Kofi Annan rides to the rescue, Condi is “deeply concerned” and the violence against women is invisibilized.

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 January 30, 2008  Posted by on January 30, 2008 Comments Off
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