We raised the funds to let GG2095620 get started!
"Woman Overcoming Fear" Global Grant to help 100 women escape abuse for good and make a new life.
You will remember that on Friday 31st January we asked if your Club could help to find the last $1,000 that unexpectedly was withdrawn from the funding of this Global Grant.
We asked for amounts as small as $250 per club, and we needed the money to be in Brazil by Monday 3rd February to allow the disbursement of funds by Rotary International Foundation in time to meet the planned start date that day.
You responded magnificently.
Considering there was a weekend in-between and many may have 'switched off' for the week, we could not be more proud to have filled this gap and assisted our Rotary friends in Brazil.
This is exactly how your Board has always hoped we could function, linking Clubs around the world with the common purpose of Breaking the Family Violence Cycle.
Our thanks are due to a Rotarian from Greater Kuala Lumpur, District 3300, who was the first to offer a contribution - the whole amount! - which duly arrived on time and funded the gap.
We also thank three other Clubs, and our members in those clubs, who, as with Greater Kuala Lumpur, brought this urgent request to their leadership who made an offer to help:
Ashmore, Queensland, Australia, District 9640
Bagmati Kathmandu, Nepal, District 3292
Mordialloc, Victoria, Australia, District 9810
You can gauge the delight of the organisers from these heartfelt thanks that they sent to those who helped the transaction happen:
"Hello to all
It's always time to rethink what Rotary is
When we see people like you embracing a project far from your addresses, we can confirm that Rotary actually connects the world, and made up of special people like you.
Yesterday, February 3, 2020 the project was implemented!
My brother's fraternal embrace is in Rotary!
God bless you!
Honestly
Antonio F S Lacourt
Gov 2012/2013 D 4751
Executive Secretary of the RC of Vitória Mata da Praia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Olá á todos Sempre é momento de repensar o que Rotary
Quando vemos pessoas como vocês abraçando um projeto muito distante de suas moradas, podemos confirmar que realmente o Rotary Conecta o Mundo, e composto por pessoas especiais como você.
Ontem, dia 3 de fevereiro de 2020 o projeto foi implantado!
Fica o meu abraço fraterno de seu Irmão em Rotary!
Deus os abençoe!
Sinceramente
Antonio F S Lacourt
Gov 2012/2013 D 4751
Secretario executivo do RC de Vitória Mata da Praia"
Let's find occasions to do many more like this! (editor)
Everywoman Treaty Updates
Every week, The Everywoman Treaty team posts a wide-ranging update of news around the world involving women and violence. Much of the news is depressing, as we should expect, but there are bright moments too. And whenever children are mentioned, we should not forget the boys. Recent statistics indicate that 1 in 6 boys will experience abuse of some kind, compared to 1 in 4 for girls.
We post a brief review of the last decade here and another typical weekly below.
To receive your own copy, please follow their link to Sign the Treaty
If you would like us to post the weekly email in our News section, please give us that feedback via the Contact form here.
In Memoriam
Today, we join the Elman family in mourning the loss of Almaas Elman. Almaas, the daughter of Founding Board Member and Working Group member Fartuun Abdisalaan Adan and sister of Steering Committee member Ilwad Elman, was assassinated in Mogadishu on Wednesday. She was an aid worker and activist, and was pregnant with her first child. Somali police are investigating the shooting, but at present, it is not clear who is responsible for the murder.
Almaas is being laid to rest today at Masaajiidka Isbahaysiga mosque in Mogadishu. We send our prayers, love, and hearts to Fartuun, Ilwad, and the entire Elman family.
In Must Reads this week, the world prepares for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Monday, November 25; Armenia grapples with ratification of the Istanbul Convention; new reports and an app work toward ending violence against women; and a teacher in Mexico helps kids see that they don't have to accept violence as a norm.
Ahead of International Day, World Mobilizes to End Violence Against Women
UN Women Executive Director Calls for the Total End of Rape. In a powerful video, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka discusses the devastating, life-changing consequences of rape on women and girls, and society as a whole, and calls for making rape universally illegal. (UN Women)
Zambia Men to Hold First-Ever Conference on Violence Against Women. During 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the advocacy organization Zambia National Men's Network for Gender and Development is holding a one-day conference to discuss high levels of sexual and gender-based violence in their community and what can be done to address it. At the conference, the group is also launching a Gender-Based Violence Support Fund, a community led initiative to support survivors of violence. (Xinhuanet)
Violence Against Women Emerges as Key Concern of Young People in South Africa. In the run-up to the 16 Days of Activism campaign, Doctors Without Borders conducted a survey of South Africans between the ages of 18 and 35 to learn about their main health concerns. Violence against women was not only identified as one of the main healthcare concerns, but as “one of the top humanitarian crises facing society.” (Daily Vox)
Armenian Public Divided on Ratification of Istanbul Convention
Some opposing ratification appear not, as the author notes, to be familiar with the regional treaty’s content. They argue that addressing violence against women contradicts traditions and values. (Jam News)
Entrepreneur Develops App to Fight Violence Against Women
At 15, Diariata N'Diaye was nearly forced into marriage. Now, at 34, the entrepreneur has launched an app, App-Elles, to help victims of violence. App-Elles allows women to call for help quickly and discreetly by pushing the start button four times or unplugging a headset. The app, which has been downloaded more than 10,000 times in four years and has 2,500 monthly active users globally, recently launched in Senegal. The Senegalese Minister for Women, Family and Childhood said that 68 percent of Senegalese women did not dare to speak about the violence they were experiencing. “I hope App-Elles will help them,” N'Diaye says. (World Crunch)
Virtual Violence Causes Real Harm
That’s the message of a new report by Mobilising for Rights Associates, an NGO in Morocco working on women’s rights in the region. The study highlights women’s experiences across Morocco and is an important addition to our growing understanding of technology-facilitated violence. (MRA Women)
New Report: Solutions to Preventing Sexual Violence Against Children
Some form of sexual abuse — including inappropriate touching, incest, child pornography and rape — happens each year to 120 million girls age 18 and younger around the world, or 1 in 10. The report, released by Together for Girls, outlines age-appropriate interventions including educating young children about safe and unsafe touching and teaching teenagers about healthy relationships and consent. (NPR)
Teacher in Mexico Pushes Back Against Acceptance of Violence
In one of Mexico’s most dangerous places for women, a teacher helps students craft performance art to counter the acceptance many people feel about the high rates of violence against women. “The moment that they are performing in a public space or in the school, they are combating the normalization of violence here,” says Manuel Amador – and learning how to discuss it in their homes, or with their friends at school. (CSM)
Rabbi Calls for Passage of US Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
In an op-ed, a member of the Jewish Women International’s Clergy Task Force to End Domestic Abuse, said scripture must not be interpreted as condoning violence. “Traditional commentators, while noting behavior that exposes women to potential abuse, find a presumably more important concern in which the risk to women is acceptably subordinated. We must think differently and understand women’s protection from abuse as a human right. More so, we need to ensure our laws reflect that understanding.” – Rabbi Richard Hirsh. (Jewish Week)
The Power of a Single Voice
Fatou Jallow, known as Toufah, was the first woman to accuse former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh of rape. With her willingness to speak out, Fatou has sparked Gambia’s “Me Too” movement with the hashtag #IamToufah. On going public she says: “I don't fit the preconceived notion of what a victim looks like. It would be a missed opportunity and very unfair to generations to come that we were not bold enough to make sure this part of our history is documented. (Aljazeera)
Other Headlines
Women escaping violence struggle to claim asylum. (Info Migrants)
New report finds dozen of murdered women missing from Puerto Rico police records. (The Intercept)
Violence Against Women: New report highlights insufficiencies in French justice system. (Euronews)
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District 5130 Facebook Page
Please take the time to browse this excellent resource, and perhaps Follow them for future inspiration.
District 5130 has been a leader in our RAG for Family Safety, with many projects addressing Crisis Management, and now moving into Prevention strategies.
Teleconference Instructions for AGM
28th November 2019 at 8 am AEST
If you have indicated your intention to attend, or if you now wish to after all,
Please find your best access number for other countries from this list .
In the USA and Canada 605-472-5599
In Australia 02-6194-9930
The access code for the call is printed at the top of the list, and is 932570
The meeting is expected to start promptly at 8 am Australian Eastern Standard Time*
* We suggest you Google AEST or use a smartphone to determine the time in your own time zone.
Please note this may be the day before if your time zone is a long way west of Australia.
Here are links to the previously circulated Agenda and Accounts .
District Exchange ambassador helps to change laws in Louisiana
We are proud to share that Mary Claire Landry (see link below) visited District 9800 in Victoria, Australia in 2016 as part of a District Exchange on Family Violence between that District and D6840 in Louisiana and assisted by your Rotarian Action Group for Family Violence. Yes, things can change!
For more information on the Exchange, including Videos and Transcripts, see this link
here is the link to the article below. That website has much other interesting information and we thank the D5130 facebook page (see separate news) for the original story that led us here.
Conference opportunities - deadlines approaching
Here are two events that fit in our Peace space and may interest you. In January 2020 there is a Peace Conference in California, at which we will be represented in a breakout session and sharing a stand with the Everywoman Treaty (second item).
The first item has a deadline for registration on the 21st September. We are building a relationship with MBBI and believe we can cooperate on projects that build leadership and awareness of Family Safety in many countries. They are a Rotary International Service Partner.
Congress dates: 6-8 November. Registration by 21st September.
Dear Rotary Peacebuilders,
Because of your commitment to peace and conflict-transformation, we would like to extend a special invitation to attend the 2019 International Peace Congress, in Bali, Indonesia November 6 -8, 2019. Past Rotary International President (Ravi) Ravindran will be a featured speaker, discussing the importance of “leading change” through innovation and peace. This is also a wonderful opportunity for Rotary attendees to meet their Past Rotary International President in an intimate, Rotary-exclusive afternoon tea, to discuss topics including the future of Rotary, Peace, and PolioPlus.
Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) is proud to be one of eight Rotary Service Partners, and is working in collaboration with Districts 3410 and 3420 to organize this year's groundbreaking Peace and Leadership event. This transformative conference is uniquely designed to cast a global vision, and craft local strategies, to advance peace projects and UN Development Goals as we move into this next decade.
We would like to extend a personal invitation for you to take part in this transformative event. The theme of this conference is: “DISRUPTORS: Being Peacebuilders in a World of Conflict,” and we will gather leaders, influencers, and changemakers to share the methods and mindsets to build a better world. Rotary needs your voice to share the Rotary experience and viewpoint, and to gain valuable insights from leaders in the field of conflict prevention, transformation, and healing. Rotarians are People of Action, and People of Action are DISRUPTORS by nature. Because they create change. Through this Congress, you will gain transformative skills and resources that will help you expand or launch your Peacebuilding work.
We have also created a special discount code for RAG for Family Safety, in order to honor our partnership with Rotary International. We invite you to share this opportunity within your club and throughout your Districts.
Register for the International Peace Congress
Discount Code: ROTARY
This discount has been extended through September 21st,
in honor of the International Day of Peace.
Rotary has been instrumental in its contribution to peace-building and conflict-transformation. Through your registration and attendance, your clubs and districts will be represented at the Congress. Furthermore, your presence would serve to represent your country in this global event. This program is designed to add immense value to the many parts of Rotary family, and to build lasting relationships among leaders, influencers, and practitioners around the world.
Learn More About the 2019 International Peace Congress
MBBI shares Rotary’s commitment to creating a world without violent conflict, and would like to use this opportunity to build and deepen its relationships with like-minded individuals and organizations. MBBI is very proud to serve as an official Rotary Service Partner, hold a Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and operate as a member of the UN's Nongovernmental Organization Major Group. We hope to use this experience to bolster our relationship with you, and work towards our mutual mission to create a better world through peace.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to your response, and we do hope to see you and your club in Bali!
Warm Regards,
The 2019 Peace Congress Planning Committee
Mediators Beyond Borders International
A Proud Partner of Rotary International
www.internationalpeacecongress.com
Widows - a group with unusual problems in some countries
On 23rd June each year the UN observes an International Widows’ day to draw global attention to the voices and experiences of an estimated 258 million widows worldwide, of whom one in 10 lives in extreme poverty…
you can read more at this link. Definitely a group to keep in mind as we design projects to counter family violence.
Another way to help all women suffering violence is to sign the Call for an Everywoman Treaty. You can do this here.
HEALING THE HURT Initiative
Please see our new page explaining the broad lines of our Healing the Hurt initiative. In the Member Survey (previous News post) you will find an opportunity to tell us what you think of it.
STRATEGIC PLAN AND MEMBER SURVEY
MEMBERS ARE BEING SENT A LINK TO A SURVEYMONKEY SURVEY TO DETERMINE OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS.
Please do engage with this - it is only 3 minutes of multiple choice questions - and it will help your Board enormously to understand where your priorities lie so we can allocate our resources to best advantage.
If for any reason you do not receive the email with the link, please use the Contact Us form on the Join Mailing List page under TAKE ACTION, or email us at ragfamsafe@gmail.com to request the link to be sent to you.