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Rachel at AIDS 2010: Thousands march for human rights at AIDS 2010

Written by Rachel Bowley, YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand.

On Tuesday July 20, 2010, the World YWCA delegation at the International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010) joined between 9,000 and 20,000 activists in a Human Rights March through the streets of central Vienna.

The March, a component of the Human Rights and HIV and AIDS: Now More Than Ever campaign, called for the recognition of human rights of people living with HIV and of those affected by HIV, especially women and young people, transgender people, sex workers and injecting drugs users.

Excitement started brewing late afternoon at the World YWCA’s conference booth in the Global Village of the International AIDS Conference, where the YWCA’s young women delegates began practicing their marching skills, incorporating vuvuzela’s, dancing, female condom demonstrations and lots of laughs.

Armed with the World YWCA banner, pink scarves and orange Human Rights March t-shirts, the World YWCA delegation joined the March. They advocated for the human rights of women and girls, gave a voice to the Conference theme of ‘Rights Here, Right Now’ and demonstrated the YWCA’s commitment to young women’s participation and empowerment.

The YWCA delegation danced, walked and stumbled their way to the loud beat of drums, horns and whistles, past many historical Austrian sites including the Vienna City Hall and Parliament, which were both adorned with large Red Ribbons.

The March ended with a public rally at Heldenplatz, outside the Hofburg Emperial Palace at Heroes’ Square.  Several speakers, representing the diversity of the crowd, spoke and called for the safeguarding of human rights and for solidarity and support from everyone, including international politicians. 

The energetic commitment of the crowd and collective call for human rights, concluded with a performance from UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Annie Lennox.  In her performance, Lennox showed the significant impact that HIV and AIDS has on women and children by running short films from her SING Campaign.

The rally was led by a global coalition of organisations including Lennox’s SING Campaign, the International AIDS Society, and the Open Society Institute, as well as local groups Aids Hilfe Wien and Homosexuelle Initiative Wien (HOSI).

 

   

 

        Girls from World YWCA          Marie-Claude and Kirsty Kelly from World YWCA               The march                                                                                                 

Updated 22 July 2010

                                      

 

Rachel at AIDS 2010: Reflection on the Youth Pre Conference in Vienna 

On July 13, 2010 we both arrived separately at the Bringittenau Youth Hostel in Vienna, Austria in the middle of a European heat wave. It was hot and sticky, there was no air-conditioning and the bedroom windows would not open. However, the energy was high and the venue overflowing with youth activists ready to ´Make it Happen´ and to discuss young people’s involvement and commitment to HIV and AIDS education, prevention and awareness at the International AIDS Conference 2010.

After locating the YWCA girls and navigating the Wien underground train system, we arrived at the Youth Force Pre-Conference at the Medical University of Vienna on 14 July 2010.  It was overwhelming to be surrounded by the diverse youth delegates who displayed such energy and commitment to the cause, and who hailed from over 90 different countries.

While our home countries of Uruguay and New Zealand are far apart and separated by several oceans, we were surprised to find out that our YWCAs shared similar challenges in relation to HIV and AIDS education and awareness.

Individually, we both identified the need to explore education and prevention opportunities for the YWCAs of our countries while we attended the pre-conference.  We found the workshops on Peer Education most interesting, as this was a strategy and HIV and AIDS education and programming opportunity that neither of us had heard of before.

On Tuesday July 15, 2010, Y-Peer held a workshop, ´Peer Education Strategies´, which defined Peer Education and explained the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. A second workshop held on Wednesday 16 July explored Peer Education in more depth, by sharing Y-Peer´s Peer Education Standards Checklist. This is a standardised checklist which can assist organisations such as the World YWCA in establishing, assessing and sustaining peer education programmes in our local communities.

A presentation on ´Evaluation and Improvement of HIV and AIDS Peer Education Projects´ by the International Federation of Medical Students (IFMSA) supported the Y-Peer presentations. IFMSA provided us with an overview of how to conduct statistical, results-based research on Peer Education programmes, to assist with funding proposals and to provide evidence of knowledge, attitudinal and behavioural change in our communities.

We are both inspired and motivated to find out more about Peer Education while at the main conference, and hope to bring back examples of successful Peer Education projects to the YWCA´s of Uruguay and New Zealand.

As the YouthForce Pre-Conference slogan states, we are ready to ´MAKE IT HAPPEN´ and educate the young women in our communities on HIV and AIDS.

More about the Vienna Youth Force AIDS 2010 Youth Pre-Conference

YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand endorses Papua New Guinea Call for Action for more Women in Decision-Making

Women in Decision-Making: A Key to Sustainable Development 

Women continue to be dramatically underrepresented in decision-making positions in Papua New Guinea (PNG). It is necessary to ensure full and equal representation and participation of women in the decision-making processes to address social and economic issues in an integrated way. It is also imperative to have a State consistent program with a budgetary allocation for effective implementation and monitoring mechanisms on women’s political empowerment.

Women's participation in political processes is crucial for reaching Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); States and donors must remember their commitments to gender equality. They must also remember the findings of the “Global Monitoring Report of the World Bank” and the “Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum”, which demonstrates that countries score high on competitiveness, also enjoy high levels of gender equality.

The PNG government committed itself in Beijing Platform of Action (BPFA),  under Article 190 “To establishing the goal of gender balance in governmental bodies and committees, as well as in public administrative entities, and in the judiciary, including, inter alia, setting specific targets and implementing measures to substantially increase the number of women with a view to achieving equal representation of women and men, if necessary through positive action, in all governmental and public administration positions”.

In May 2010, as a result of the tireless efforts of PNG women, the PNG government tabled the Bill as a Notice, once again proposing 22 seats reserved for women in the Parliament. This Bill will be put up for debate and voting in July 2010. The constitutional amendment will ensure close to 20% seats reserved for women.

Recognising positive steps of the PNG state towards the implementation of MDGs, BPFA and Convention on the Elimination of all kinds of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); We the women from Asia Pacific region call upon the PNG State to implement international and national commitments made for women’s political empowerment through the following:

Implement special measures to increase the level of women’s representation to at least 33% in parliaments, national and local governments, parliamentary standing committees and political parties.

Implement gender budgeting initiatives and allocate adequate State finances for gender equality.

For more information visit the APWLD-Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law & Development www.apwld.org

Young Hamilton woman keeps HIV on local and international women’s agenda

Hamilton may seem worlds away from Vienna but 23-year-old Rachel Bowley is thinking global and acting local when it comes to the issue of HIV and AIDS. Miss Bowley is representing New Zealand as part of the World YWCA delegation at the International AIDS Conference held in Vienna from July 18 to 23,2010.  She will also attend the Youth Force Pre-Conference for all international AIDS delegates aged under 30.

“I want to figure out how we can promote the education of HIV and AIDS to make it relevant for young women in New Zealand,” says Rachel.“There are so many other issues out there for young women, and unfortunately HIV and AIDS are low on the radar.”

The estimated number of people living with HIV worldwide in 2007 was 33.2 million and there were 2.1 million AIDS deaths. Along with international trends, there has been a steady increase in the number of HIV diagnoses in New Zealand. There are now more people being diagnosed each year than in the 1980s.

Rachel says it’s difficult to encourage New Zealanders to be involved in HIV and AIDS education and programmes unless they are already affected by it. “Attending a workshop on HIV and AIDS is not something people are interested in unless they have HIV or know someone living with it.  We want to reach people who aren’t affected.”

Miss Bowley joined the YWCA of Hamilton after being awarded a Young Women’s Tertiary Education Scholarship and is now Co-Vice President of the Hamilton association. She received her Master of Management Studies in Management Communication from the University of Waikato in April 2010 and currently works as a licensed immigration adviser for Pathways to New Zealand.

Media contact: Sarah Davies, YWCA of A/NZ Strategic Development Manager p. 04 384 8117, e sarah.davies@ywca.org.nz

YWCA pushes for less drink in Wellington

YWCA Greater Wellington president, Vanisa Dhiru agrees alcohol consumption is engrained in our society.  “Many young women drink to get drunk - it’s now seriously out of hand.  Walk down Courtenay Place after midnight on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday night – it’s embarrassing.  Young women taking alcohol pops like cough drops, young people loitering the streets with booze hidden in cars, young women with puke on their dresses - alcohol can put our young women at risk of causing harm to themselves and to others.”

“We accept the Wellington City Council’s bylaw change – but it’s not nearly going to be enough for Wellington, or for Aotearoa.  We need to take on the Law Commission's proposed ‘5+ solution’ – raising alcohol prices, raising the purchasing age, reducing alcohol accessibility, decreasing marketing and advertising and increasing drink driving counter-measures.  That’s five – the ‘plus’ is increasing treatment opportunities for heavy drinkers – those with serious problems.  One local change possible now is reducing alcohol accessibility by reviewing and declining on and off liquor licences the Council can give out.”

YWCA Greater Wellington Executive Director, Makere Derbyshire says, “85% of the NZ population say they drink.  In the 12-17 age range, more girls than boys drink - but in all other age groups, men outnumber women.  Here are the facts, we need to change our culture – and culture change may need to start with youth if ‘wiser’ role models, like parents, don’t want to change.  We want young women to make positive life choices and drink responsibly.”

“We need to empower our young women help to create a safe and secure community for everyone” says Dhiru, the first woman aged 29 years as president for the YWCA in the Wellington region.

“We’ll await our government’s next steps and hear the changes they’ll make in the next few weeks.  Hopefully our leaders will be able to lead us out of a national drinking culture sooner rather than later.”

Media contact: Vanisa Dhiru, President, YWCA of Greater Wellington, p. 021 55049, e. vanisa.dhiru@gmail.com

                                               

YWCA young leaders with Sarah-Jane Blake

Daughter of leadership legend Sir Peter Blake, spoke to a large group of young women at Wellington East Girls College (WEGC) last week for New Zealand Leadership Week.

Sarah-Jane was assisting to recruit WEGC students for the YWCA’s Discover™ mentoring and leadership programme designed for young women to realise their potential.

The Discover™ programme aims to develop participant’s leadership style, and to provide opportunities to put it into practice challenges involving social and community responsibility.  The programme works with young women in Years 12-13 over 18 months, during which students become involved with one-on-one mentoring by volunteer women.  Mentors support and encourage students to embrace new projects, work within the community and achieve their goals.

“Sir Peter Blake was a legend in our country. For Sarah-Jane to share the story of her father and talk about motivation and goal setting, we showcased some key elements of leadership – which the Discover™ programme focuses on.” says Makere Derbyshire, Executive Director for YWCA of Greater Wellington region.

Wellington East Girl’s College students on the Discover™ programme will be working soon to create an advocacy or fundraising project to benefit our community and make a difference to people’s lives.

YWCA Discover™ Programme Leader Lili Schimdt-Uili will be working with the students on their community projects. “Participants of the programme heard from volunteers about causes and their passion for their community.  The YWCA is here to empower our young women help to create a safe and secure community – this project is a great chance to practise the public speaking, networking and team building skills they have gained in the programme.”

Sarah-Jane Blake spoke of her father, Sir Peter who has inspired many, none more so than herself, who is now supporting his leadership legacy through the Sir Peter Blake Trust and NZ Leadership Week. 

Derbyshire says, “Inspirational role models like Sarah-Jane are the types of role models young women really desire today.  Real people with real stories sing true.  Inspirational to take on a challenge, even just enough to put your hand up to apply for a programme like Discover™, can be hard to find.  We hope some of Sarah-Jane’s words gave passion and energy for more students to take on the new challenges.”

Sarah-Jane Blake (back row, middle) with Wellington East Girls College students and YWCA’s Executive Director Makere Derbyshire and Discover Leader™ Lili Schimdt-Uili (front row, far left and far right)

Media contact: Vanisa Dhiru, President, YWCA of Greater Wellington, p. 021 55049, e. vanisa.dhiru@gmail.com

“UN Women” is born

The YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand joins women’s organisations around the world in celebrating the creation of “UN Women” - the new gender equality entity at the United Nations.

The United Nations General Assembly resolution, agreed to on 30 June and to be formally adopted by the General Assembly on Friday, 2 July, to establish “UN Women” is a move sought by women’s organisations and other civil society organisations around the world since the UN established a System-Wide Coherence Panel for UN Reform in 2006.

As part of the Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) campaign, which World YWCA is part of,  the YWCA movement will continue to advocate for four major elements critical to its implementation:

Background

The GEAR Campaign is a network of over 300 women’s, human rights and social justice groups around the world that have been working for four years to gain UN Member State and UN Secretariat approval for creation of a larger more coherent coordinated UN agency that can advance further the UN’s   mandate of working for gender equality as a crucial component of development, human rights, humanitarian concerns, peace and security.

The new Gender Equality Entity to be headed by an Under-Secretary General, will consolidate the four existing UN bodies on women, increase operational capacity at the country level and have gain increased funding for work on women’s empowerment and advancement. The UN currently has four separate entities dedicated to women’s issues which will be combined in the new entity: the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), and the Office of the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI).  Bringing these together and coordinating their work more with gender mainstreaming throughout the UN system should the UN and governments to deliver more effectively on their obligations and many commitments to advance gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s human rights.

For more information: www.gearcampaign.org

Like your body, says YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand

The YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand supports women's health experts calling on the government to toughen up and follow the lead set in Australia to encourage healthy sized models.

“Young women in New Zealand continuously face unfair pressure from the fashion industry, media and society to be skinnier,” says Sarah Davies, Strategic Development Manager of the YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand. “Young women are constantly presented with unrealistic images to aim for and as a result, negative body image and low self esteem has become a very serious issue in New Zealand.”

To help young women address this issue, the YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand has developed a ‘Like Your Body’ resource that promotes positive body image and empowerment of young women. “Like Your Body is one of our most popular resources and reinforces the reality that body image issues and eating disorders affect a large number of young women and women in New Zealand.”

The YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand is encouraged to hear the Minister of Youth Paula Bennett is concerned with young people and how they handle issues like body image. “There needs to be a review of attitudes and values to ensure that young women don’t accept messages that say you are a better person if you are thinner and the Minister of Youth is in a strategic position to drive this change in attitudes.”

 

Media contact: Sarah Davies, YWCA of A/NZ Strategic Development Manager p. 04 384 8117, e sarah.davies@ywca.org.nz

 

YWCA AUCKLAND TURNS 125 – THIS WEEK!

The oldest women’s organisation in Auckland, the YWCA, turns 125 this week.  Celebrating in style with a High Tea at Government House this Thursday, June 3rd.  The High Tea will be hosted by YWCA Aotearoa/New Zealand Patron; Her Excellency Lady Susan Satyanand.

With a veritable ‘who’s-who’ of Auckland women attending, including 3 Lady’s and 2 Dames, the work of the YWCA in Auckland has a long history and a long list of supporters.  Some very famous and leading women of Auckland have fond memories of the organisation which empowers women.

A High Tea with hats and frocks is an appropriate celebration for this organisation which has worked diligently and solidly for 125 years in the greater Auckland area.  Guests will hear about their current activities along with the chance to reminisce about the rich colourful history.

YWCA Auckland CEO, Hilary Sumpter says the key to staying relevant for women is through empowerment.  Sumpter adds that “most Aucklanders have an aunt, mother, sister or grand-mother who has attended a free YWCA programme or stayed at a YWCA hostel at some time in their lives.  Beach camps in the early part of the 20th Century, thrift clubs, human reproduction lectures (aka sex education for young women in the late ‘60’s), self-defence classes and mobile crèches in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s.  Along with a few contentious times and a few ups and downs the organisation is still very relevant today.”

Current activities include a Hostel in Vincent St, in the CBD, which contributes to funding operations, Encore – an astoundingly successful free exercise programme for women recovering from breast cancer surgery and Future Leaders –a four year mentoring leadership programme run in schools in Auckland, this life-changing programme has been running for 9 years.  In addition the YWCA Auckland is a Voice for women, active in advocating on issues and supporting other organisations which relate to women and young people in Auckland today.

The YWCA of Aotearoa/New Zealand is affiliated to the World YWCA which is active in 122 countries and has over 25 million members. 

A gala dinner for the YWCA Auckland will also be held on August 11th.

  

For  information or image requests contact:Tilda Bostwick tilda@akywca.org.nz or 375 9247

Invest in young women, says YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand in Youth Week 2010

As the country celebrates Youth Week 2010, the YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand (A/NZ) continues to invest in young women every day.

The YWCA of Whangarei will lead YWCA participation in Youth Week 2010. The Y-Dub club of Whangarei Girls' High School, an informal group for young women in secondary school who meet each week and learn different skills and activities run through the Whangarei YWCA, will raise awareness of bullying in schools by wearing pink T shirts.

YWCA Youth Coordinator Margie Crawford says the Girls High club came up with the idea to hold a Pink Shirt Day with an anti-bullying message. The young women will also host a week of anti-bullying events including concerts and competitions at Whangarei Girls' High School.

This year, Youth Week has an additional focus on reducing the harm of alcohol for young people, their families and communities. YWCA Wellington and Hutt Valley last week presented an oral submission to the Wellington City Council who are looking to introduce a city-wide ban to curb drinking in public places, which can lead to aggressive and intimidatory behaviour. The YWCA of Wellington and Hut Valley believes restricting the consumption of alcohol in public places will contribute to a reduction in alcohol-related intimidation and violence and to the safety and security of young Wellington women.

YWCAs throughout the country run dynamic programmes and services for young women.  From the YWCA of Hamilton who provide self defense classes for young women and girls to the YWCA Auckland who run YWCA Future Leaders; a free, four year, mentoring programme that works with young women aged 14-18 years, the YWCA of A/NZ is continuously addressing the real issues faced by young women in New Zealand.

The YWCA of Whanganui provides young parents antenatal classes for parents 20 and under in a supportive and non judgmental environment and in Christchurch, the YWCA continues to address domestic violence in New Zealand by providing emergency accommodation and shelter for women and women with children.

“Youth Week 2010 gives everybody a chance to truly reflect on the importance of meaningful youth participation,” says YWCA of A/NZ Strategic Development Manager Sarah Davies.  “For the YWCA of A/NZ, it means taking the time to mentor a young woman. It means moving beyond tokenism and really listening, engaging and investing in young women. We must ensure young women are fully integrated into decision making processes that have a direct impact on our lives, especially within our local communities, national governments and international policy-making.”

YWCA OF Aotearoa New Zealand overcome obstacles at AGM 2010

Overcoming Obstacles was the theme of the YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand (A/NZ) Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Napier, Hawke’s Bay on May 1-2, 2010 and all women and young women participants rose to the occasion.

Over 30 YWCA of A/NZ members gathered for the two day meeting to discuss the importance of facing challenges both personally and as a YWCA.  Guest speakers including 24 year old World Champion triathlete Annika Edmondson and Hastings Deputy Mayor Cynthia Bowers opened the AGM and encouraged participants to overcome challenges they may face.  “In my view the main obstacles for women are internal. We create barriers in our mind and unless we exercise courage we limit our personal growth. There are no obstacles, apart perhaps from serious illness or physical disability that cannot be overcome. It’s all about state of mind and how one approaches life,” said Cynthia.

Participants had the opportunity to challenge themselves with rock climbing, kayaking and  mini putt activities before an afternoon session led by YWCA of A/NZ President Di Paton on the importance of translating personal change into organisational change.

There were many reasons to celebrate at the YWCA of A/NZ AGM. A new branch of the YWCA was established in Hawke’s Bay to continue providing YWCA Encore, a major programme run by the YWCA for women with breast cancer and the delegation to World YWCA Council 2011, Switzerland was named. The YWCA of A/NZ delegation includes Di Paton (YWCA of A/NZ President), Sarah Davies (YWCA of A/NZ Strategic Development Manager), Tania Thomas (YWCA of A/NZ Board member), Janelle Nee (YWCA of A/NZ young woman Board member), Shannon Kelly (YWCA of A/NZ young woman Board member) and Andrijana Trajanovska (YWCA Auckland young woman Board member).

YWCA of A/NZ Board nominations also took place with four new members elected including  Cheryl Moffat (YWCA of Christchurch), Carol Scholes (YWCA Auckland), Vanisa Dhiru (YWCA of Greater Wellington) and Shannon Kelly (YWCA of Hamilton). Life membership was awarded to Gaye Barton, former YWCA of A/NZ President who has over 24 years service to the national movement.

 “This was a significant meeting for the YWCA as the meeting took place in Napier where a new branch was announced during the weekend” said Di Paton, President of the YWCA of A/NZ. “This is a major step forward for the organisation as it is the first new branch of the YWCA for many years. We are looking forward to the growth of our organisation as we move forward with our programme delivery over the next few years.”

YWCA of A/NZ young women share their vision for the future of the YWCA

Outward Bound subsidy Scholarships now available for 2010

The YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand provide a subsidy of up to $1,500 (including GST) towards course fees for young women who wish to attend an Outward Bound course.

Applications must be made through, and supported by a Member Association.  If you do not live near a local YWCA, you may forward your application directly through to the YWCA of Aotearoa new Zealand.

There are certain commitment requirements that need to be met in order to be eligible for the subsidy scholarship; so be sure to discuss these with your supporting YWCA.  To download an application form click here, and for further information contact your local YWCA.

The next closing date for our subsidy scholarship is: 31 August 2010

 

 

One of our successful applicants, 2009