International Day of the Girl

In 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing, countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of not only women but also girls. 

Furthermore in 2011 the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, highlighting the unique challenges they face around the world.

The International Day of the Girl focuses attention not only on the need to highlight and address these challenges, but also to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015, embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind. (I have previously posted about the SDGs here and how we are promoting this locally).

In New Zealand the International Day of the Girl is a reminder that not every Kiwi child gets the childhood they deserve. Shakti, a refuge for ethnic women in New Zealand, is promoting the day to highlight the veiled childhoods of some of our girls.  

Shockingly, up to 50 per cent of Shakti’s crisis work is with girls forced into underage marriages. ‘It’s surprisingly prevalent in migrant communities,’ says Shakti spokesperson Polly Peña, who recently helped set up a safe house in Wellington.

Chris Frazer, social justice advocate for the Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit (SPPU) says that ‘overwhelmingly, extreme poverty and deprivation continues to wear a female face.’ She is working with Shakti to promote the International Day of the Girl. ‘We are all made in God’s image. And girls – as well as boys – deserve the chance to grow and thrive in the knowledge they are loved, respected and valued,’ she says.

 

Sunday 11 October provides ‘each one of us the opportunity to read, reflect, pray and above all, to act to bring violence, harmful judgment and indifference to an end.’

Check out the following links:

• https://women.salvationarmy.org.nz/international-day-girl-child
• The Salvation Army Women’s Ministry Facebook page
• https://www.un.org/en/observances/girl-child-day
• https://shaktiinternational.org/shakati-new-zealand/

Read Full Post »

International Youth Day 2020

International Youth Day 2020 is on 12 August, and was designated International Youth Day by the UN General Assembly in 1999. The day serves as an annual celebration of the role of young women and men as essential partners in change, and as an opportunity to raise awareness of challenges and problems facing the world’s youth.

The theme of this years International Youth Day is “Youth Engagement for Global Action”, and seeks to highlight the ways in which young people at the local, national and global levels are enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes, as well as draw lessons on how their representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced.

More information is available on the dedicated UN International Youth Day web page and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs youth web page.

The latest copy of the War Cry (25 July) ran a feature about this asking young people from around the NZFTS territory to speak up about what matters to them, answering the following questions:

What issue is most pressing for you globally, nationally or locally and why?

As a young person what forums are open to you for responding to that issue?

In what ways does The Salvation Army help you to contribute to change?

How does your faith influence the issues you care about?

The article is also available on the Firezone website.

Read Full Post »

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons Day

30 July – is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons Day.

The theme for this year will focus on the first responders to human trafficking. These are the people who work in different sectors – identifying, supporting, counselling and seeking justice for victims of trafficking, and challenging the impunity of the traffickers.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the essential role of first responders has become even more important. Particularly as the restrictions imposed by the pandemic have made their work even more difficult. Still, their contribution is often overlooked and unrecognized.

Through stories from first responders describing their practical work in assisting victims UNODC intends to spotlight their contribution and that of their function, institution, organization, team or community and its impact on fighting trafficking.

Unfortunately we here in New Zealand became more aware of the plight of our Pacifica people in this regard, with the recent case and prosecution of a person involved in trafficking in the horticultural industry.

This was the first trial of a person to face both human trafficking and slavery charges in New Zealand – but highlighted the fact that trafficking is not just a problem for poorer countries overseas, it is going on often under our very noses with very little visible signs to give it away.

How you can get involved:

Highlight the work of first responders in your country, community or organization;

Share, like and comment on the social media messages for the World Day,

Donate to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking, which provides on-the-ground assistance and protection to victims of trafficking.

 

#EndHumanTrafficking #HumanTrafficking

Read Full Post »

Just when Nepal thought it could move on again

Just when Nepal thought it could move on again the ‘Indian Oil Corporation has said in communications with its Nepalese counterpart (Nepal Oil Corporation) that it has been instructed not to refuel Nepalese tankers. On the diplomatic front, Indian officials have suggested that all border crossings would open if Nepal’s government accommodated the protesters’ demands.’

This was stated in a New York Times article posted on October 15 entitled ‘Snaking Lines Grow as Nepal Confronts Fuel Shortage‘ written by Donatella Lorch.

Visitors to Nepal in the peak tourist season have been confronted with miles of double- and triple-parked cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles along the ancient city’s avenues. The lines snarl through narrow streets and block main intersections on the ring road.

The Indian government has denied any involvement in the ongoing blockade at Nepal’s busiest border point. But recent reports from the Kathmandu Post, The Himalayan Times and now other world renowned papers seem to be pointing the finger at their involvement, considering many of the Madhesis protesters appear to go home to the Indian side of the border when confronted by Nepalese border control.

Whoever is to blame it is starting to have an affect on supplies coming in and going out of the country. The United Nations in an article in the Kathmandu Post, insists that the country needs to get things moving again so that quake-hit communities get much needed supplies in time for winter.

They say ‘that a backlog of 1,200 MT of shelter and non-food item supplies is awaiting delivery to earthquake-affected population. Eighty per cent of the supplies are warehoused in the districts, but acute shortages in fuel supplies continue to impede planned deliveries to affected villages.‘ Read more…

Despite the hassles, many people are leaving Kathmandu and heading to their village homes, to celebrate the dashain festival. Towards the end of next week many businesses and schools will close for a few days so that the people can be part of the celebrations. Heather & I will be heading to Runchet in Gorkha to be part of the celebrations in one of the local communities that we have been assisting.

Other articles of interest:

• With Fuel Blocked at Border, Nepal Plans Talks with India – New York Times
• People leaving for Dashain increase, despite hassles – The Himalayan Times
• IOC cuts fuel supply again – The Kathmandu Post

Read Full Post »