UNIC Yaounde organised the UN System’s participation at the official ceremony for International Women's Day held at
the 20th May Boulevard, Yaounde on 8 March 2008. Representatives and staff of the UN System marched, led by the Resident Coordinator, Sophie de Caen,
alongside an estimated 40,000 women and men of Cameroon. The march was held in order to mobilise support for the International Women's
Day theme.
UNIC Yaounde
On 8 March 2008, UNIC Port of Spain was pleased to support the annual sport festival for women and girls staged by the Trinidad and
Tobago Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, through which the Ministry aimed to “raise awareness of the contribution
women make to the sporting lifestyle and activity in Trinidad and Tobago, while encouraging women and girls to participate
in physical activity to improve their lives”.
Female teams and individual athletes were invited to participate
in 11 sporting events, in competition for over $10,000 USD in prizes. Women who had contributed to sport and sporting
administration in Trinidad and Tobago were also honoured in a special ceremony held towards the close of the day. UNIC Director, Mrs. Angélica Hunt, delivered greetings to the festival, which was opened by
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Gary Hunt.
UNIC Port of Spain
The United Nations System in Zambia participated in a two day exhibit on 5 and 6 March 2008
as part of International Women's Day celebrations under the theme "Financing for Gender Equality".
The UN along with 25 macro and micro financial institutions showcased products and services targeted
to women. These products and services included helping women access finances and other forms of
assistance for their businesses, interest free loans, guidance in managing their finances,
and other products and services aimed at strengthening the economic status of women.
UNIC Lusaka
On 13 March 2008 UNIC Lagos, United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the Women’s Optimum Development Foundation (WODEF) held an interactive forum on Investing in Women and Girls in Lagos to commemorate International Women’s Day.
The event, which was a part of activities to mark the 31st anniversary of International Women’s Day, brought together representatives of government, key private sector players, leaders of NGOs and the media in Lagos, including Mrs. Shade Jaji, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Women’s Affairs.
At the end of the dialogue it was agreed that the stakeholders should intensify their efforts to expand the public space for advocacy, networking and fundraising to create more awareness and encourage investment in the empowerment of women and girls in Nigeria.
UNIC Lagos
On Sunday, 9 March 2008, the Lebanese daily Al-Balad devoted a full page
to the International Women’s Day. The page focused on the need
to provide sufficient resources for women’s empowerment programmes
and projects to improve their social and economic status.
Al-Balad columnist Ghiwa Ibrahim highlighted the situation
of Arab women in her article headlined "Our Half Almost Illiterate."
UNIC Beirut
5 March, 2008 was selected as the day to mark IWD by UNIC Kathmandu.
The Chief Guest of the programme was
the Finance Minister of the Government of Nepal Dr. Ram Saran Mahat.
Also speaking on the occasion was UN RC a.i Ms. Junko Sazaki and two
grassroots level beneficiaries. The Master of ceremony was the NIO of
UNIC Kathmandu.
A video, prepared jointly by UNFPA and UN Mission
in Nepal (UNMIN), depicting the challenges that Nepali women have to face
was screened on the occasion. Besides, WFP Representative in Nepal Mr. Richard
Ragan presented a cheque of USD 5000 to the first all-Nepali inclusive women
mountaineering expedition team to Mount Everest. The two grassroots level beneficiaries
were also honoured on the occasion for their contribution to their communities through
microcredit programmes.
On 8 March 2008 UNIC released the joint UN statement to the media.
To mark the International Women's Day 2008, various events were
organized in Bangladesh. The UN in Bangladesh participated in the eight-day
long Women's Day Fair at Bangladesh Shishu Academy premises, which started on 8 March 2008.
A huge number of people from all walks of life visited the UN stall by the end of
the fair on 15 March 2008. Advocacy and information materials published by UN agencies are
distributed among the visitors.
Among the attendees was the Secretary for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs,
Government of Bangladesh.
UNIC Dhaka
2007
For the International Women's Day 2007, UNIC Yaounde has organized the following activities:
Media Briefing / Exhibition (01 March 2007);
UN Press Club rencontres:
in Bafoussam, West Province (02 March 2007);
in Bamenda, North West Province (03 March 2007);
NGO Outreach Event (03 March 2007).
UNIC Yaounde also co-organized the following events:
UN Trust Fund Launch with UNIFEM in Bamenda (02 March).
Official march-past event chaired by the First Lady, including dissemination of UNSG message on IWD(08 March 2007).
Production of a Special TV 90 minute UN Panorama on IWD theme with the participation of an estimate of 400 grassroot women (broadcast on National TV, on 09 March 2007).
Publication of Oped by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Newspapers and dissemination to other media.
UNIC Yaounde
In the late afternoon on March 8, 2007 the UN Country Team in Kenya held a commemoration of International Women's Day. The programme, entitled "UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict" attracted over 130 people. This was an initiative involving 10 UN agencies: DPKO, OCHA, OHCHR, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, WFP, and WHO. UNIC Nairobi was responsible for the press and preparing and organizing the event's programme.
The event was opened by Ms. Elisabeth Lwanga, the UN Resident Coordinator. The Regional Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF, Zola, (who is an actor and musician from South Africa) , Ms. Njoki Ndungu, who is the 2006 Kenya Person of the Year, and Member of Parliament and Ms. Karri Betty Murungi, Director of Urgent Action Fund made brief but riveting remarks from the podium on the issue of sexual violence in conflict.
Musical performance on violence and assault in refugee camps was made by a group of refugees called "Refugee Voices of Hope." The assembled guests then witnessed the launch of IRIN's photo essay book "The Shame of War."
UNIC Nairobi
On 6 March 2007 UNIC Moscow, in partnership with the UN
Resident-Coordinator’s Office, held a special event to
celebrate two important observances – the International
Women’s Day and the International Polar Year.
The Centre Director welcomed a selected audience
representing government agencies, NGOs and academia,
and read out the Secretary-General’s message on IWD.
Then Ms. Sietske Steneker, Head of UNFPA Moscow,
elaborated on this Year’s theme “Ending Impunity
for Violence against Women.” She emphasized UNFPA’s
continued commitment to working with governments and
civil society to put national action plans in place
that prevent and address violence against women.
"The UN agencies," she said, "will continue to promote
human rights in this context."
Turning to the theme of IPY, the UNIC Director
introduced prominent Polar explorer Vladimir Chukov,
who spoke about his expectations in the context of the Year.
Then Mr. Bryan Alexander, a well known British polar explorer
and photographer, made a wonderful photo presentation. Finally,
an exhibition of paintings by David Kezevadze was launched.
UNIC Moscow
On the occasion of International Women ’s Day this year the United Nations Department of Public Information along with Coalition 1325 - a national women’s group - hosted a roundtable discussion on March 5, 2007. The main focus of the roundtable concentrated on ‘Ending impunity for violence against women and girls’, which was announced as the theme of International Women’s Day 2007.
The Deputy Chair of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Issues of the Republic of Azerbaijan, members of Parliament, the Commissioner for Human Rights, numerous representatives of NGOs, academic institutions, and university students all attended the event and shared their views on this very important issue.
Ms. Sajida Abdulvahabova, Chair of Coalition 1325, opened the roundtable and very briefly touched upon the results of several projects on violence against women (VAW) and implemented in accordance with the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against Women (CEDAW) which requires States Parties to take all legal and other necessary measures to provide for the effective protection of women and girls against violence. Ms. Abdulvahabova also noted that Azerbaijan ratified the Convention in 1995, and is thus bound to its terms to work together with partners from civil society organizations to make positive changes in this area.
UNO Baku
Portraits of women of all ages, natural, beautiful and vivid are gathered in the photo exhibition “Feminine”/ “La feminin” to remind that violence against women and domestic violence are extreme violations of human rights. Women have the right to life, liberty and security. They have the right not to feel threatened in their own home and to live a life in dignity. Women’s rights are human rights.
The Exhibition “Feminine”/ “La feminin” is organised by UNFPA in collaboration with the National Agency for Family Protection and UNIC Bucharest. Partners are the Police General Directorate of Bucharest and the Cultural Centre of the Ministry of Administration and Internal Affairs. Media Partners are EurActiv.ro and LiterNet.ro.
UNIC Bucharest
UNIC Canberra's display table was quite a winner, with a lot of material on women and gender issues being snapped up, at the International Women's Day event organized by the UNIFEM Committee in Australia and its team of volunteers and sponsors in Canberra, on Friday
9 March 2007.
The Secretary-General's
message was read by a local high school student, followed by
a message from the Prime Minister of Australia.
The lunch was attended by 800 people (full capacity
for the venue), and the guest speaker was Ms. Malalai Joya,
a Member of the Parliament of Afghanistan. Her presentation
was very moving.
