International Women’s Day 2024
To celebrate International Women’s Day, WiJ is bringing you a special news feature dedicated to Women fighting for climate change, their children’s future and other women.
We’d also like to thank everyone who attended our event What war does to women on the 7th!
Grab a cuppa, a biscuit and enjoy!
-
Mothers Rise Up represents a small but mighty team of diverse, concerned mothers, harnessing the unifying power of parenthood and love for children to campaign for bold action against climate breakdown. The mothers use beautiful, colourful, creative strategies to bring joy, inspire climate action, and highlight the urgent need to make a rapid and fair transition away from polluting fossil fuels to clean, safe, renewable energy.
Over the last four years, Mothers Rise Up has carried out a series of cutting-edge actions as part of a global effort, which have inspired thousands of parents in the UK and around the world and secured high profile media coverage. This has included everything from a Mary Poppins-themed flash mob, a Motown concert performed by Mother Earth, an appearance (and a Star Baker win with a renewable energy cake!) on Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice, to their most recent climate dance: a street enactment of more than 30 dancers performed symbolically to Dvořák’s New World Symphony.
Maya Mailer, 42, is the co-founder of Mothers Rise Up, a group of mums fighting for their childrens’ right to breathe clean air and to grow up in a safe climate. She is also the co-director of Our Kids’ Climate, which helps parents around the world to organise. She spoke to Women’s Health (Read the full article here.) on drawing on her fierce, maternal love to campaign for a healthier future.
You can explore their website here.
-
On International Women’s Day, UNESCO paid tribute to the critical work that female media workers are doing in informing the world and the local population around the world, specially those working in conflict situations.
The ongoing hostilities in the Gaza strip have had a devastating effect on the entire local journalistic community and media sector. Since 7 October 2023, UNESCO has condemned and deplored the killings of journalists in the framework of their duties. It is further monitoring the deaths of media workers in circumstances that may or may not be directly related to their journalistic profession.
Dozens of women journalists are deeply traumatized and in need of psychological assistance, while many have been repeatedly displaced inside the Gaza strip, have lost family members and are severely restricted in their ability to carry out their critical work.
In response to their needs, UNESCO, through local partner Filastiniyat has provided humanitarian assistance and emergency supplies to 170 freelancers, with a significant focus on women journalists. Find out more below around the latest events, publications and projects on UNESCO's work to promote the safety of women journalists.
Women journalists in Afghanistan continue to work despite challenging context
In Afghanistan, radio is the main source of information. Through the EU-funded project “Support to Afghan Media Resilience to Foster Peace and Security,” UNESCO is supporting 28 regional and local Radio stations that play a central role in providing humanitarian and educational content to local communities across the country, including and prioritizing the involvement of women media workers. Over the past 14 months, the project has supported around a thousand radio programmes and public interest reports, that have reached an estimated 17 million citizens, including women and girls. Read more.
Radio Begum is launching Begum TV, an educational channel for Afghan girls
On the occasion of international women’s day UNESCO’s Partner Radio Begum is launching Begum TV, an educational TV channel, targeting Afghan schoolgirls and students, deprived of education.
Begum TV is a learning television broadcasting 24/7 in Afghanistan, via satellite, video courses covering the entire Afghan school curriculum, from 7th to 12th Grade, in both Dari and Pashto languages.
Sudanese women journalists in exile receive UNESCO's support
In response to the escalating hostilities, UNESCO and the NGO Media in Cooperation and Transition (MiCT) have jointly launched an emergency support programme Fellowship for Critical Voices. This initiative aims to enhance the safety of journalists by providing financial, psychological, legal and professional assistance to those most at risk. An assessment In the Shadow of Violence – The pressing needs of Sudanese Journalists carried out by MiCT, supported by UNESCO, highlighted the significant psychological impact of the war on media workers.
"Journalism is my identity; when I left Sudan for Uganda looking for safety, I felt I lost part of it.", said one women journalist, supported by the project and currently in exile.
Ukranian women journalists continue their work despite hardships
In Ukraine, it is often women journalists who are covering the war from the ground and UNESCO’s support addresses their specific needs. Out of over 1600 journalists that have participated in UNESCO-supported safety trainings conducted by National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) over the past 12 months, 75% are women. 78% of the total number of those who sought psychological help were women and around 60% of requests for legal support are from female journalists. Read more about UNESCO's contribution to support Ukrainian journalists.
Upcoming events
Discussing the situation of women journalists and human rights defenders at #CSW2024
The sixty-eight session of the Commission on the Status of Women takes place from 11 to 22 March 2024, with several events on accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.
- Tuesday, 12 March
UNESCO is co-organizing a side-event, in partnership with International Media Support, SIDA, UN Women, Amnesty International and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
Afghan Women Journalists Under the Taliban
12 March 2024, 1.15-2.30 PM | Conference Room D, United Nations Headquarters, New York - participation is on a first-come basis.This event is supported by the Foreign Ministry of Denmark and will see the participation by Marie Bjerre, Danish Minister for Digital Government and Gender Equality.
Wednesday, 13 March
UNESCO is organizing a second side-event on 13 March:
Eliminating Poverty: Structural interventions through education, culture and science
13 March 2024, 3.00 - 4.15 PM | Conference Room 12, UN Headquarters. Please register by 8 March 2024 under this link.
Find out more about UNESCO’s participation at the CSW HERE and on other side events organized during the CSW HERE. e
-
Dear friends,
The Girls’ Network was founded on International Women’s Day in 2013. This year, girls and young women need our support more than at any other time in our history.
With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to impact schools, charities, and families across the country, girls in areas of least advantage are the most affected. Having suffered through the COVID-19 pandemic, the attainment gap for these girls is growing even wider, while only 11% of girls aged 11- 21 report feeling very happy*.
Over the last year almost 1000 girls have had their life chances transformed through our mentoring programmes. They have built the self-belief, confidence, and networks they need to reach their full potential.
Please help us reach more girls who need our support by donating to our International Women’s Day appeal today.
Thank you for your support,
The Girls' Network Team
*Girl Guiding Attitudes Survey 2023, Joseph Rowntree Foundation 2022
