Soroptimist International Programme Director Hilary Ratcliffe Soroptimist International

Soroptimist International Programme Director Hilary Ratcliffe

Soroptimist International: a Global Voice for Women?

So what do we mean by Global? • 127 countries & territories • Links with other global networks Commonwealth, AWID, YWCA, WAGGGS, Women for Women International • Part of UN Women • Over 87, 000 women worldwide

International Women’s Day Soroptimists worldwide speak out

How do we have a Global Voice? Delivering oral statement on femicide and delegation to CSW 57 New York UN Reps meet new Head of UN Women

International President speaks on your behalf • Malala in Pakistan • Multiple rapes in India • Thanks Michelle Bachelet • Congratulates Commonwealth on new Charter

Accredited to the Commonwealth • Education conference in Mauritius • Attending reception where the Queen signed the new Commonwealth Charter giving due importance to issues on gender • CHOGM (Commonwealth heads of government meeting) to be held in Sri Lanka

Accredited NGO at the United Nations • SI granted general consultative status in 1996 and SIGBI special consultative status in 2013 • Status is subject to review every 4 years (last in 2012) • Accreditation with UNHCR: UNICEF: UNEP • Official relationswith UNESCO: ILO: UNIDO: FAO

SI UN Representatives

We work for Women and Girls

So if we are a Global Voice for Women, where do you come in? • Without you we have no voice • We are a grassroots organisation • Your work gives us the right to speak and be listened too • With you we are a credible voice at the international table

How do we know what those voices say? Soroptimist International Global Impact Report 2013 • Based on evidence collected from you • Programme Focus Report Forms • Collated in the Soroptimist International database

Global Overview: Action • 109, 632 women and girls directly benefited from Soroptimist projects • Soroptimists carried out 3, 727 Educate to Lead projects • 630 projects reached a wider audience of indirect beneficiaries – ranging from communitywide to nation-wide work • $5, 743, 307 was raised to support this work

Global Overview: Action • 31% of projects working to educate, empower and enable at risk adult women • 26% helping girls and women into work • 18% increasing women’s participation in society • 14% working to increase enrolment, retention, and survival rates

SI/UN Feedback Loop – Our Channels • Websites • Blogs/News stories • Social Media • Monthly focus • Global Voice • Reporting & Databases • Federation publications

SI/UN Feedback Loop – In Action • UN DPI/NGO 2011 – Bonn, Germany • CSW 57 in 2013 • UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 in Rio de Janeiro

So are we a Global Voice for Women? • You Educate; Empower; Enable • You are the grassroots approach to change • You are committed to a world where women and girls together achieve their full potential realise aspirations and have an equal voice • You truly are a Global Voice for Women