Berkshire Women for Women Worldwide: A Commitment to the World’s Women

BWWW continues to be the only civil society group that supports the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. Though our 2010 contribution was unusually modest, UNIFEM wrote appreciatively of our efforts to improve the lives of women around the world.

Meryem Aslan, Chief of the UN Trust Fund, notes in her letter: “Devoted to supporting action to address violence against women and girls where it matters most, the UN Trust Fund has to date delivered over $60 million to 317 initiatives in 124 countries and territories. In 2009-2010 alone, the Fund awarded $20.5 million for 26 projects in 33 countries, with an expected reach of 2.43 million beneficiaries, including women and girls, men and boys, and duty bearers.

For its 15th Call for Proposals that closed on January 24, 2011, the UN Trust Fund received 2,572 proposals for a total of nearly $1.2 billion. Your support allows us to advance critical efforts that promote women and girls’ access to safety, health and legal services and mobilize communities – in particular young people, men and boys and traditional leaders – to bring about lasting change.”

You can learn in detail about UNIFEM’s most recent work and issues here, http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/violence_against_women/

Berkshire Women for Women Worldwide has awarded its 3rd Annual President’s Fund, in the amount of $875,  to the Project Bold program of Girls, Inc. in Pittsfield. The BWWW President’s Fund Award is given to a local program that like UNIFEM’s international efforts advocates for women to live free from violence, and in economic and social equality.  Girls, Inc. and its Project Bold was selected because the program teaches girls and young women “to have confidence in themselves and be safe in the world”.