🚀 go-pugleaf

List members may be interested in a new discussion list which has been
formed to address issues related to ending violence against women.

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[Si vous desirez recevoir ce message en francais, merci de contacter
<end-violence-mod@edc-cit.org>]

[Si desea recibir este mensaje en espanol, por favor contactar:
<end-violence-mod@edc-cit.org>]


       HELP SEND A MESSAGE TO UNITED NATIONS LEADERS!

            JOIN UNIFEM'S INTERNET WORKING GROUP
               TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

On 24 November 1998, the United Nations Development Fund for Women
(UNIFEM), in collaboration with other UN agencies, will host a landmark
event on the most effective strategies being used at local and national
levels to end violence against women. The event - a global
Videoconference - will link advocates in the field with co-sponsoring
UN Funds and Programmes and delegates from UN member states.  Human rights
advocates, government representatives, parliamentarians, academics,
media representatives and others will meet with UN decision-makers via
live, two-way video to discuss critical policy directions, steps that
must be taken, and successful experiences in eradicating violence
against women.

UNIFEM is committed to ensuring that the Videoconference furthers the
agenda of advocates working to end gender-based violence around the
globe.  The event will:

* showcase success stories and future challenges to achieving
  women's human rights and eradicating violence against women
* share effective strategies to end gender-based violence
* honor human rights defenders who have made significant
  contributions to eradicating violence against women
* help to build a global partnership to end violence against women
* challenge the international community to commit increased
  resources to end violence against women

In preparation for the Videoconference, the World Bank, the Global
Knowledge Partnership, and UNIFEM are sponsoring a "Virtual Working
Group," <end-violence>.  The Working Group, which will begin 7 October
1998, will discuss:

* Policies, legislation, strategies, and partnerships that will
  help end violence against women around the world
* Case studies, best practices, and other examples representing
  successful government and civil society efforts to overcome
  challenges and help to eliminate violence against women
* Ways in which new information/communications technologies can be
  used to support efforts to end violence against women

The results will feed into the Videoconference, become part of
the 1999 review of the International Conference on Population and
Development, and be a permanent, publicly available reference.

JOIN THIS 6-WEEK WORKING GROUP! DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HELP
FORMULATE SUGGESTIONS AND DEMANDS WHICH WILL BE HEARD AT THE UN
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, as they commemorate the 50 anniversary of the
Univeral Declaration on Human Rights!

UNIFEM extends a special invitation to those in the South, and especially
to grant
recipients from UNIFEM's Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate
Violence
against Women -- we hope you will share your experience and express your
needs!

A TRAVEL GRANT WILL BE AWARDED FOR THE WORKING GROUP MEMBER
who contributes the most striking example of an action or strategy that has
helped
to prevent and/or eradicate violence against women. The member who is
selected will be
invited to attend UNIFEM's Videoconference in one of the participating
sites (New York,
Brussels, Washington, DC, and a site in Africa, Asia and Latin America).
All
travel expenses for the selected member will be covered by UNIFEM.


HOW TO JOIN THE <end-violence> WORKING GROUP

Anyone who has electronic mail with Internet access can subscribe
to the <end-violence> Working Group. To join, please send an e-mail
to the LISTSERV host:

     majordomo@edc-cit.org

Do *not* enter a subject.  In the body of the message, type the
text:

     SUBSCRIBE end-violence

Do *not* put anything after <end-violence>.  You will receive a
Welcome Letter to the Working Group.


WORLD WIDE WEB SITES FOR THE WORKING GROUP

The Global Knowledge for Development Web site
<http://www.globalknowledge.org> provides information about the
<end-violence> Working Group, as well as archives of <end-violence>
messages. The WomenWatch Web site <http://www.un.org/womenwatch>
 provides the <end-violence> archives and information about the
videoconference. Also UNIFEM Web site <http://www.unifem.undp.org> links to
the
<end-violence> Working Group and gives a wide range of information on
efforts to end
violence against women and related activities. In addition, the Development
Forum, a
global discussion space opening early October 1998, on the World Bank's Web
site
<http://www.worldbank.org>, will provide access to the <end-violence>
archives as well as related material and presentations.

WORKING GROUP ADMINISTRATOR

This Working Group is administered and moderated by Education
Development Center, a nonprofit organization.  EDC is working
collaboratively with UNIFEM and is directly supported by the
World Bank, the Global Knowledge Partnership, and UNIFEM
for the activities in this project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information about <end-violence>, please contact:

Janice Brodman
EDC
janiceb@edc.org

ABOUT UNIFEM

UNIFEM is the women's fund at the United Nations that provides
financial support and technical assistance to innovative
programmes promoting women's human rights, their economic and
political empowerment and gender equality. UNIFEM advocates
within the UN system to link women's interests and concerns to
all critical issues on the national, regional and global agenda.