RECENT NEWS AND INFORMATION

60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), December 10th, 2008

The UDHR was the first international recognition that all human beings have fundamental rights and freedoms and it continues to be a living and relevant document today.

The theme of the campaign, "Dignity and justice for all of us," reinforces the vision of the Declaration as a commitment to universal dignity and justice and not something that should be viewed as a luxury or a wish-list.

• Visit the UN anniversary site.
• Visit AAUW Dialog to see blog postings about this important commemorative event.
• Read the full text of the Declaration.

AAUW-CARE "I Am Powerful" Partnership Update

AAUW supports CARE’s work to improve gender equality in basic education and reduce cultural and economic barriers to girls' education in countries around the world.  To demonstrate this support, AAUW members from across the US and beyond participated in the CARE-AAUW “Education is Powerful” essay contest, to share stories about how they were empowered by education or inspired by a role model to pursue education.  The winning essay was contributed by Arlene Mandell, and a member of the Santa Rosa, California branch of AAUW.  Arlene is a retired English professor with 10 years' experience at an international public relations agency in New York and was formerly a newspaper reporter and a writer at Good Houskeeping magazine. Congratulations to Arlene, who has won the opportunity to travel abroad to see CARE’s work firsthand!  Read her winning essay here.

Here are several more ways for members to join the global women’s empowerment movement against poverty and unequal access to education!

• Watch “The Girl Effect” - CARE’s experience shows that educating girls provides perhaps the single highest return on investment in the fight against global poverty.  Visit www.care.org and watch “The Girl Effect”, a video that spells out how girls can be empowered to change their lives and their communities — starting with education.
• Take Action to Support Access to Basic Education for Girls -Around the world, 72 million children of primary school age — more than half of whom are girls — are out of school. Providing basic education to girls has far-reaching positive effects in areas like public health and economic growth. Over the years, the benefits reach families, communities and countries as a whole. The United States can take an important step toward getting children in the world's poorest countries into school by passing the Education for All Act, bi-partisan legislation that would make achieving universal primary education a U.S. foreign assistance priority. Send a message to your legislators asking them to co-sponsor the Education for All Act today.
• Partner with CARE for International Women’s Day 2009 - In recognition of International Women's Day, in March 2009 CARE will be releasing A Powerful Noise.  This documentary follows three extraordinary women – in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mali and Vietnam – as they overcome gender barriers to spark change in their societies and achieve significant victories over poverty, oppression and ethnic strife. AAUW members and branches across the country can partner with CARE in the release of the documentary to promote education and advocacy efforts in your communities. Visit www.apowerfulnoise.org to view the film trailer and stay tuned for more details.

We encourage you to learn more about CARE’s work with women and girls by visiting www.care.org.  Branches may also request informational materials or ask for CARE representatives to speak at your local meetings by emailing groups@care.org.

 AAUW Gains Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council

We are pleased to announce that AAUW has gained special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, which initiates reports, makes recommendations, and promotes respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The full text of the press release provides details on the significance of this important status and its added value to AAUW's work for women and girls globally.

• FInd out more about the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Division for the Advancement of Women

RESOURCES FOR AAUW'S GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

• UPDATED Women in the World, International Affairs Committee Reading List – A list of suggested books to introduce you to the stories and experiences of women around the globe. Bring an international focus to your book group, or combine with a  One Shared World event.
  
• UPDATED "International Matters" Project Papers – highlights of key international issues and suggestions for branch programming from the AAUW International Affairs Committee.
  
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Information and Resource Kit
  The AAUW International Affairs Committee has compiled this comprehensive set of resources to assist AAUW states and branches in their education and advocacy efforts on behalf of the ratification of CEDAW, the women's rights treaty.
  
• How AAUW works on global equity issues

AAUW International Programs and Partnerships

• AAUW Educational Foundation International Fellowships
  • Application Information
  • Directory of International Fellowship and Grant Recipients
• CARE - AAUW partner, CARE, is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty.
  
• One Shared World – Connecting American women to the many public and private efforts that help people in developing countries overcome poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease.

 AAUW Affiliations with International Organizations and Coalitions

• United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA)
  
• United Nations
  
  • AAUW's UN Representative
  • News and events from the United Nations
  • How you can become involved with UN issues
  • Women Thrive Worldwide (formerly Women's Edge Coalition)
    
• National Council of Women's Organizations
  
• U.S. Global Leadership Campaign

 International Links of Interest - links to other organizations working internationally on behalf of women and girls