Fashion bonanza
WOMANKIND is delighted at the success of the Daphne Guinness couture sale on 29 April.
More than 200 lots from the late-1980s to the present day – by designers including Saint Laurent, Chanel and Valentino - were snapped up.
Gasps were audible as a pair of Alexander McQueen boots sold for ?3,600, and a two-way bidding war for a black-silk wrap over? evening coat by Dolce and Gabbana pushed the final price? up to ?5,000.
Nearly everything went for far more than the highest estimates at an exciting event - featured throughout the style pages - where bids in the room were often beaten by E-bay customers or clients on the phone.
30 April 2008
Afghan women’s lives – worse than ever?Eight out of 10 women are affected by domestic violence; over 60% of marriages are forced; and half of all girls are married before the age of 16.? These are just some of the startling statistics contained in WOMANKIND’s groundbreaking new report Taking Stock: Afghanistan Women and Girls Seven Years On.
Seven years after the US and the UK ‘freed’ Afghan women from the oppressive Taliban regime, our report proves that life is just as bad for most, and worse in some cases. Maternal mortality rates ? one in six women dies in childbirth ? are the highest in the world alongside Sierra Leone. Afghanistan is the only country in the world with a higher suicide rate among women than men.
As WOMANKIND Worldwide’s Director, Sue Turrell, states, ‘Women in Afghanistan are working to tackle these issues by supporting individuals affected by violence and promoting legal reform — but they urgently need more support’.?
WOMANKIND is calling on the Government of Afghanistan to uphold its international commitments to women: it must consult them fully, implement the marriage contract, make the police and judiciary aware of violence against women, provide more family courts and police family-response units — and pass the new violence-against-women law.
At a packed report launch at the House of Commons, MPs heard from our Afghan partner, Partawmina Hashemee, who said ‘For me the issue that breaks my heart is the forced marriages because of poverty — even girls as young as eight. They don’t get to go to school or to go out. They are told "you are not allowed to visit your family, we paid, now you have to work."
WOMANKIND is calling for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which says women in conflict zones should be offered protection and recognition of their role in the peace process as well as their human rights. Across Afghanistan the women’s organisations we support are turning their attention from providing basic needs to teaching women their rights and urging them to vote.
25 February 2008
Making a noise for women everywhere
Our patron Sandi Toksvig’s passionate speech in support of WOMANKIND and our partners capped a wonderful gala evening of prose, poetry, music and laughter at London’s South Bank.
Literary stars Jackie Kay, Ali Smith and Jeanette Winterson appeared together for the first time ? and performed their moving collaborative story, which evolved from the words of a WOMANKIND beneficiary in South Africa: ‘You don’t stand with your mouth shut when you see women abused. We know now to grab pots and pans and spoons and make a noise.’
It was also a laughter-filled, sold-out celebration for International Women’s Day on 8 March ? marked by WOMANKIND’s partners and women across the world.
Many members of the audience told us how much they’d enjoyed ‘Speaking Out’ ? typical of the comments was this, e-mailed the day after:
‘I went with my daughter and it was a marvellous evening reminding all of the trials and tribulations of women globally and also the humour, resilience and strength of women’.
March 08
Challenging violence in the classroom
The Government, schools and LEAs must do more to challenge violence against women - before negative attitudes and behaviours become entrenched.
That's the main message from WOMANKIND Worldwide's important Challenging Violence, Changing Lives recommendations, based on three years of research and workshops in UK secondary-schools.
We are working with PSHE teachers, senior staff and young people to raise awareness and transform attitudes to stop violence against women.
'It's something that you need to learn and you need to get a grasp of, especially when you?re our age. I personally believe that people have got to know it anyway. Explicitly that it's wrong.'
Young man, Year 11
WOMANKIND is calling for a long-term, cultural shift in UK institutions to end this violence. Specifically: whole-school investment; prioritisation of gender equality; and a review of teacher training and support.
Read the Guardian article, which includes interviews with the WOMANKIND staff working on this programme - and with the teachers and school students who have benefited from our award-winning workshops and lesson materials.
4 December 2007
International recognition
Najia Haneefi is the 2007 winner of the coveted International Service award for women's human rights. Najia, until recently Director of WOMANKIND partner organisation Afghanistan Women's Educational Centre in Kabul, impressed the judges with her 'great commitment' to campaigning for her countrywomen's rights.
They commented that Najia showed 'immense personal courage' to remain committed to her cause despite threats to her life. The judges were also impressed with the 'sustainable and effective' work of the Afghan Women's Educational Centre; in particular its successful combination of practical projects and political campaigning.
Najia has been campaigning for Afghan women's rights for many years. She worked to empower women throughout civil war and the Taliban regime and continues to do so today, despite the fact that her activities have provoked threats and attacks from fundamentalists.
Najia has made a real difference to Afghan women's lives - one of her most memorable achievements is successfully leading a campaign against the reintroduction of a Ministry of Vice and Virtue which, in 2006, seemed certain.
Two years running
In 2006 WOMANKIND's partner in Eastern Cape, the late Nomakuze Solwande, was posthumously awarded the Award for the Defence of the Human Rights of People Living with HIV/AIDS. Nomakuze, Director of the community-based Masonwabisane Women's Support Centre, recognised the causal link between the spread of HIV and AIDS and violence against women. Her dedicated colleagues continue to provide essential support women in the community.
07 November 2007
Valentina Leskai has made history by becoming the first female Chair of an Albanian political party.
Ms Leskai, formerly president of WOMANKIND's partner organisation, the Albanian Centre for Population and Development, was elected Chair of the Socialist Party in September.
In an aggressive political climate, in which male politicians claim that women cannot cope with tough electoral campaigns, this is a tremendous achievement.
Since taking up her post, Valentina has already made waves by initiating a groundbreaking debate on political immunity.
09 October 2007
Heads of State are meeting at the UN between 22-23 September at what's billed as a crucial climate-change event.WOMANKIND and other women?s organisations are sending a strong message to them that women must be on the agenda.
Women are disproportionately affected by natural disasters ? highlighted for WOMANKIND by our ongoing work with survivors of the tsunami and the recent Peru earthquake.
They are more likely to die than men, are at increased risk of violence, and often have little say in reconstruction efforts ? yet this continues to be ignored by governments and many NGOs in relief and reconstruction efforts.
The Declaration on Climate Change and Gender Equality calls on governments to analyse and identify gender-specific impacts and protection measures related to floods, droughts, heatwaves, diseases, and other environmental changes and disasters.
19 September 2007
