Human Rights and the Status of Women

At the Soroptimist International Convention in Glasgow in July 2007, Soroptimist representatives from all over the world had the opportunity to discuss our Programme Focus Goals for the next 4 years and a specific objective in the Programme area of Human Rights and the Status of women was identified as follows:-

Objective 2. End human trafficking and all forms of violence against women and girls

Soroptimists throughout the Federation have already been active in raising awareness, taking action and acting as advocates in relation to this objective. However many challenges still remain, where intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence against women and where globally over 2.5 million people are trafficked every year, fifty per cent of whom are children.

We can achieve our Goals by working effectively in partnership with other organizations and using the opportunity of United Nations international days to publicise our work. The following are some examples of opportunities for publicity and partnership. As always these suggestions are a menu not a prescription. If individual clubs, regions and national associations can take up some of these challenges then collectively we can support the theme of our Federation President, Marguerite Woodstock-Riley:

Be Bold. Think Big. Make a Difference

Human Rights at 60

On 10 December 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The year 2008 it will be the 60th Anniversary of this Declaration. Under the Secretary General’s leadership there will be a UN system-wide advocacy campaign throughout the year. A website www.KnowYourRights2008.org to complement the UDHR60 campaign, launched on 10th December 2007, will be a market place of ideas about how to mark the anniversary and a source of information about the Universal Declaration. Visitors to the site will be invited to provide details of their special events, publications, illustrations, educational activities, performances, music and any other plans.

This anniversary presents an opportunity for Soroptimists to publicise work in the field of human rights. The end of the year coincides with the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women on 25th November and the 16 Days Campaign of Activism against Gender Violence (between 25th November and 10th December, Human Rights Day). Further information about the 16 Days Campaign is available at

http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/kit07/kit.html

End All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls

Kofi Annan, the outgoing UN Secretary General’s Report on Violence against Women was published in November 2006. It is a comprehensive, authoritative, evidence-based survey with recommendations for member countries to adopt in order to reduce violence against women in all its forms. An executive summary and the full report are available to download at: -

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/vaw/SGstudyvaw.htm

Other organizations working in this field include:-

End Human Trafficking

The following organisations are all working to end this evil trade, which is modern day slavery

Global coalition of over 800 member organizations from over 50 countries, working together to fight against people trafficking

Patricia McChesney
Assistant Programme Director
Human Rights and the Status of Women

Judith Chaddock

Judith Chaddock

I have been a Soroptimist since 1980 and am currently a member of SI Chichester & District, Southern England. I have been a Club President, Programme Action Officer, Regional Representative and Representative from Northern Ireland (NI) Region to the NI Women's European Platform. Representatives from women's organizations throughout Northern Ireland elected me to represent Northerrn Ireland and along with representatives from England, Scotland and Wales, I made up the UK Delegation to the European Women's Lobby, Brussels. In 1994, I was a member of the Soroptimist Delegation to the UN Preparatory Meeting for the Beijing World Conference for Women which was held in Vienna. In 2004, I was selected as the Representative from the SI UK Programme Action Committee to the Council of Europe, a post which I held for four years. The Council of Europe aims to promote human rights, the rule of law and democracy throughout its 47 member states. The post has given me detailed knowledge and a unique insihgt into human rights from a European and intergovernmental persepective. Following the Federation Conference in Barbados in October/November 2008, I took up the post of Federation Assistant Programme Director - Human Rights & the Status of Women.

trained as a social worker and moved up the management ladder becoming Assistant Divisional Director and Divisional Director. I then became a Senior Civil Servant in a government department. For many years, I inspected social services and held a policy remit for gender issues. I have successfully completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law and hold the LLB. I also hold the Diploma in French, together with advanced social work and management qualifications.

Outside Soroptimist activities, my interests include classical ballet, Egyptian Dance, music, art, theatre, cinema, gym and antiques.

My sister and her husband live near me in the South of England and my nephew lives and works in London.

Judith Chaddock