International Women's Day 2006
New Delhi, 7th March 2006: On 7th March, a series of events were launched in partnership with the CHARCA Secretariat (Coordinated HIV/AIDS Response through Capacity Building and Awareness) and UNAIDS, with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, (MWCD) and NACO (National Aids Control Organization) as key partners. The focus was on the youth, including women in colleges, youth leaders from NGOs, youth groups, CBOs, CSOs, NSS, and women’s groups.
The goal was to facilitate inter-district project networking, information sharing, learning and advocacy at all levels, and to highlight the trend of feminization of the HIV/AIDs epidemic.
The activities created a momentum for sensitization initiatives around the theme of International Women’s Day, linking its significance in reducing the vulnerability of young women to HIV infection in the six CHARCA states (Udaipur, Guntur, Kishenganj, Kanpur, Bellary and Aizawl) by end 2006, (Website http://www.youandaids.org/charca) Through pledge-signing in colleges, distribution of invitation passes, a slogan competition, radio jingles and press conferences to publicize the theme of the event, the music concert by Euphoria, a leading local band, at a premier auditorium on 7th March, kick-started a campaign that will continue throughout the year. Carrying messages for the youth, efforts will be ongoing to highlight the crucial linkages between gender and HIV/AIDS. It will also spread the message of hope and empowerment, leading women and men to challenge and transform socio-cultural barriers to move towards a just and equal society. Using this tool of advocacy the aim is to emphasize the importance of gender mainstreaming in all HIV/AIDS programmes, policies and strategies of the government and civil society.
This national level concert is going to be followed by a series of events at the state and district level in the CHARCA states. They will culminate in December with the campaign of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, which also includes Human Rights Day and World AIDS day.
New Delhi, 10th March 2006: The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), All India Women’s Education Fund Association (AIWEFA) and the Baha’i Office for the Advancement of Women (BOAW) joined hands on 10th March to observe International Women’s Day.
The Honourable Minister of
State for the Ministry
of Women and Child Development, Ms. Renuka Chowdhury
graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In an inspiring keynote address,
the Minister indicated that she was looking forward to receiving feedback,
in order to set in motion processes for appropriate legislations.
She informed that the Government of India has designated 2006 as the Year
of Education, Employment and Empowerment, and that decision-making in
Parliament could not be equitable, if 50% of the population was excluded.
The function included a
Panel Discussion on the theme of the
day,
‘women in decision-making:
meeting challenges, creating change’, chaired by Dr. Sarala
Gopalan, former Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development and Vice President, AIWEFA.
Eminent panelists included, Ms. Zena Sorabjee, Chairman, BOAW, Dr. Bidyut
Mohanty of the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS), Ms. Neena Khatri, CDPO
Farrukhnagar, and Ms. Lata Yadav Grassroots Representative from the tribal
area of Chhatisgarh.
The highlight of the function was the presentation of the AIWEFA STREE RATNA AWARDs by the Honourable Minister, Ms. Renuka Chowdhury. The awards have been instituted by AIWEFA in recognition of those, who have devoted their lives for the cause of freedom and justice. The award honours outstanding achievers for their advocacy in empowerment through education, health, nutrition and economic independence.
The
recipients of this award for 2005 were Smt Satya Rani
Chadha and
Shahjahan Begum, known affectionately as Appa, both
mothers of dowry victims, who came together in 1987 to set up
Shakti
Shalini. A UNIFEM partner, this is an organization, which
supports women in crisis situations. Having set up a shelter home, they
have mobilized public opinions against violence through morchas and
rallies and have been instrumental, in not only in bringing about changes
in the laws against dowry deaths, but also in setting up the "Crimes
against Women Cell".
Shahjahan Appa also raised the issue of
atrocities against
women at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women at
Beijing in1995. In
2001 Smt. Satya Rani Chaddha, received the "Kannagi Stree Shakti Puraskar"
for raising public consciousness against dowry torture and death.
The awards recognized the effort of these two strong women who have led a march against atrocities despite their own lack of education, a conservative society background and inadequate economic means.
Smt. Suvidha Yadav, Sarpanch
in Aklimpur
Panchayat,
Nimrana Panchayat Samiti District Alwar in the state of
Rajasthan received the award for 2006. In her role as Sarpanch, Smt.
Suvidha has been able to streamline the functions of the Panchayat and
introduce accountability and time management in its day to day activities.
She has crusaded against child marriage, the dowry system, the practice of
sati and alcoholism, among other social evils. She has encouraged schemes
for availability of drinking water, formation of self help groups and
general promotion of health and housing. Her dedication to the community
has won her the trust and confidence of the entire village and reaffirmed
the people’s faith in the Panchayati Raj.
International Women's Day (History)
International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice...
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PRESS RELEASE
United Nations, New York - International Women’s Day 2006 is a time of celebration and reflection. We celebrate the significant progress that has been made in building a positive environment for gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide. To date, 181 countries have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); over 120 have adopted national plans of action for gender...