Womankind Worldwide Campaign Launched To Put Women At The Heart Of The Election
News release
For immediate release: Friday 5 March 2010
Campaign launched to put women at the heart of the election
WOMANKIND’s ‘Speaking out for Women’ campaign asks MPs and prospective MPs to keep women at the heart of their politics.
The decisions our elected representatives take every day — on international development, on foreign affairs, on defence and trade — have a direct impact on women around the world.
For example, the Department for International Development has been supporting WOMANKIND’s work with the Afghan Women's Resource Centre for five years. Thousands of women and girls have attended essential literacy classes, received health care — and played a significant part in national peace-building efforts.
By sending special campaign postcards — and signing up on online at www.womankind.org.uk — British voters will send a strong message to politicians that the next government must honour the UK’s commitments to women’s rights — enshrined in national legislation and international agreements.
Jeannette Llaja, Director of our Peruvian partners, DEMUS, said: ‘I urge people in the UK to join WOMANKIND’s ‘Speaking out for women’ campaign. This expression of solidarity and activism will help women to become agents of change — and claim their rights.’
Media Information
1. Enquiries to Mary Breen on 020 7549 0383 or mobile: 0798 5505313. E-mail mary@womankind.org.uk
2. WOMANKIND Worldwide is an international women’s human rights organisation, which works with partners in 15 countries to make women’s voices heard and secure their rights.
Our vision is of a world where women are equal, secure, respected and proud.
3. WOMANKIND’s detailed policy demands ― in the key areas of aid, foreign affairs, defence & trade ― will be used by campaigners to lobby their MPs and parliamentary candidates. Go to: www.womankind.org.uk/speaking_out_info.html
4. Watch our short film on the huge difference WOMANKIND and its partners have made to women’s lives in Afghanistan ― with UK government funding ― at: www.womankind.org.uk/asia_features.html
5. WOMANKIND exists in the 21st Century because:
Violence against women continues
- One in three women is beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused
- Up to 70 per cent of female murder victims are killed by their male partners
Women’s political and civil participation is inadequate
- Women account for just 18.8 per cent of all parliamentarians worldwide (in the UK there are 126 women MPs out of a total of 646)
WOMANKIND Worldwide is a registered charity no. 328206
www.womankind.org.uk
(09/03/2010)
<<Back