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

The second annual Berkshire Festival of Women Writers will take place during the entire month of March throughout the Berkshires. The Festival is a continuation of the decade-long International Women’s Day conferences held at Bard College at Simon’s Rock and co-sponsored by our group, Berkshire Women for Women Worldwide. This year the Festival will celebrate International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 18 with a mini film festival entitled “Human Rights, Activism, and the Arts.” For a listing of the month’s events and venues please link to berkshirewomenwriters.org.

Our President Anne Harrison sums up recent worldwide news affecting women and highlights our upcoming BWWW events. We also enjoin you to bolster our commitment to UN Women’s work as well as supporting our local women’s groups by sending your gift today. More in our  Fall Newsletter.

While we support the work of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women worldwide, you can read more about what happens on a national level. The study, National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, reveals that nearly 1 in 5 women experience some degree of sexual assault. Read more about it here.

UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet outlines a new 16-step Policy Agenda to educate and eradicate violence against women. The UN Trust Fund to End VAW commemorates its 15th year of existence. Read more … 16 days of activism in your communities organized by the US National Committee,  http://www.unwomen-usnc.org/

If you missed the article about Michelle Bachelet in the September 19 issue of Newsweek, you can read it here.

Women, War and Peace will premiere on our PBS (WBGY), Tuesday, October 11 at 10PM. It is a five-part series  on Tuesday nights through Nov. 8, 2011. Please see the link for the program content. You won’t want to miss it!

United Nations, New York — Women make up less than 10 percent of world leaders. Globally less than one in five members of parliament is a woman. The 30 percent critical mass mark for women’s representation in parliament has been reached or exceeded in only 28 countries. At a high-level event today, during the 66th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, women political leaders will strongly call for increasing women’s political participation and decision-making across the world. Stressing that women’s participation is fundamental to democracy and essential to the achievement of sustainable development and peace in all contexts — during peace, through conflict and post-conflict, and during political transitions — the leaders will sign on to a joint statement with concrete recommendations on ways to advance women’s political participation. For details and response about this event that took place go to http://j.mp/WomLeaders

You can also read their statement on advancing women’s political participation in this Joint Statement.

In the interest of gaining perspective on BWWWs relationship to UN Women, Anne Harrison and Jane Canova contacted Maggie Forster-Schmitz from the Board of Directors of the U.S. National Committee for UN Women. She is Chair of New Chapter Development. She informed us of changes in the Board’s mission to provide more services to its Chapters by offering workshops at its annual national conference, increasing the opportunities for networking between Chapters, and expanding its own fundraising capacity. To that end, they orchestrated the Walk to End Violence against Women, which has been very successful in terms of participation and fundraising for UN Women. Like BWWW, the U.S. National Committee has experienced a decrease in membership due largely to shifts in staff, the economic downturn, and a structural transition. Current nationwide membership stands at 500 members spread across 11 Chapters. The National Committee looks forward to increasing their advocacy, public relations and fundraising through new Chapter growth.

Recently Jane Canova, Anne Harrison and Vera Kalm met with Carla Oleska, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts.  The meeting centered on a discussion of ideas for expanding BWWW’s reach.  Ms. Oleska suggested with enthusiasm that we re-examine an affiliation with the U.S. National Committee, now called the U.S. National Committee for UN Women.  The name recognition and positive media that the restructured UN Women has attracted would be very beneficial in our efforts to attract and retain members.  This idea is currently being researched, and members will be kept fully informed of any progress in this direction.  Members’ ideas are welcome and can be sent to either Jane or Anne at bwww@berkshirewomen.org

Anne Harrison and Judy Nardacci attended an open hearing on June 2 sponsored by the Berkshire County Commission on the Status of Women. The purpose of the Commission is to advise executive and legislative bodies on the effect of proposed legislation on women.  Attendees were invited to give public testimony on issues affecting women and girls in their communities. Issues raised were domestic violence, teen pregnancy, immigration problems as they relate especially to domestic violence and housing, and the lack of mentors for teen girls in the area.  Judy described BWWW’s mission to serve the UN Women’s Fund to End Violence against Women.  Certainly, BWWW’s efforts to continue the President’s Fund have had an impact on dealing with these issues in the Berkshires.