Helping to achieve the MDGs
30 August 2010- 1 September 2010
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More than 1,600 participants, representing 350 NGOs from more than 70 countries attended the United Nations Department of Public Information Conference (UN DPI/NGO)in Melbourne, Australia.
The WAGGGS delegation was made of 15 members of Girl Guides Australia who travelled from all over the country; Linden Edgell, Deputy Chair of the WAGGGS World Board, and Lynne Price Chief Commissioner of Australia. They were joined by four women from Soroptimist International, a WAGGGS partner, and worked together to influence the UN agenda through advocating on issues that matter to girls and young women. (Picture right, Amy Campbell addressing a round table session)
The biggest success of the conference was the inclusion in the final draft of the declaration of a call on parties to "ensure gender equality, empower women and expand programmes to end violence against women".
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You can find out more about the conference on the facebook page: Make Health Global. You can also view the web cast of the conference at the UN DPI webstie. |
Interactive workshop
On 30 August, the WAGGGS delegation presented an interactive workshop in partnership with Soroptimist International. The theme was: ‘Women and girl power - uniting to build healthy societies, particularly through ending and preventing violence against women and girls’.
Linden Edgell and Susie Matters spoke on behalf of WAGGGS and were joined by Alice Wells from Soroptimist International and Lyndal Trevena representing the Australian Federation of Medical Women. They illustrated some of the projects their groups have conducted all over the world towards building healthy societies, aimed at developing and empowering women of all ages to stand up against violence and support post violence healing for individuals and communities.
Networking opportunities
During the conference, WAGGGS delegates had the opportunity to network and speak to representatives from NGOs around the world and attend youth breakfasts, roundtables and workshops. They were able to present key WAGGGS position statements on gender equality and the violence against girls and women in relation to the MDGs to a new audience. (Picture left, Jane being interviewed from Voice box on ABC radio)
Delegates participated in a roundtable where they discussed the role that equity and rights play in the attainment of the MDGS and included discussion about data collection and the importance of meaningful statistics to measure problems and progress. The WAGGGS delegation posed the first question, asking panellists the role youth can play to bring about change.
They were thrilled that WAGGGS was recognised both for its awareness and advocacy work on the Millennium Development Goals, but also for the grass roots change being seen around the world by empowering girls and young women.
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I'm so thankful for the opportunities that the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and Girl Guides Australia gave me this week in being able to attend the UN DPI/NGO conference! We made sure that gender equality and violence against women was put on agenda! Sarah Jane Collum, Girl Guides Australia |
The draft declaration
The final draft of the declaration includes a call on parties to "ensure gender equality, empower women and expand programmes to end violence against women".
The delegation was ecstatic about this success and really felt that they had played an integral part in bringing this important issue to the forefront. During the three-day conference, the delegates worked tirelessly to ensure that the declaration addressed the empowerment of women and gender equity. Many organizations, including UNIFEM Australia, World Vision, Soroptimists International, thrown their support behind the delegates declaration proposal and had signed their name to the request.
| This Declaration is a call to action for all Governments, agencies, corporations and individuals highlighting areas of specific need which require urgent attention in order for the MDGs to be progressed. The Declaration will be presented to the UN Secretary General to be taken to the MDG +10 summit, to be held in New York in September. |
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What an amazing experience and one which I am most thankful for! Congratulations to everyone- we spoke up, educated and took action to affect real change- and it is all reflected in the conference declaration going straight to the MDG+10 conference! BRAVO!! Erin Wicking, Girl Guides Australia |
At the end of the conference the delegates debriefed their experience and offered suggestions on how they envisaged using the information and networks gained to further the missions of Girl Guides Australia and WAGGGS and what they as individuals could take away.
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This was also an opportunity to meet with and offer our heartfelt thanks to the delegation from Soroptomist International, who had been so generous with their support, words of wisdom and solidarity throughout the conference. This has been an excellent platform for us to demonstrate our advocacy skills on a world stage and affect real change for issues at the heart of WAGGGS' ten million members. We hope there are many more opportunities for Australia Girl Guides to speak out, educate and take action in the future! Petina Blackwell, Girl Guides Australia |
About the conference
The 63rd Annual United Nations Department of Public Information Conference Conference (UN DPI/NGO), titled ‘Advance Global Health – Achieve the MDGs2’, was held from 30 August to 1 September at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Conference was organized in partnership between the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI), the NGO/DPI Executive Committee and the Government of Australia.
WAGGGS has consultative status with the UNDPI.
Your comments
Dawn Marie Lemonds-International PD for Soroptimist International - 7 September 2010 - 2.17AM (GMT)
It was Soroptimist International's privilege to partner with WAGGGS at the recent DPI/NGO Conference. Our united delegation shared strategies, issues and worked as two united and separate groups working for women and girls around the world. You can be proud of the great WAGGGS women who participated!
Yvonne Akoth - 2 September 2010 - 12.41PM (GMT)
Great job WAGGGS Delegates! It is good that our voice is being heard in this global forum and we are able to work in partnership with other organizations. Keep up the good job.
Penny - 2 September 2010 - 4.00AM (GMT)
Well Done girls - I've heard you made a real impact at the conference and had other organisations following your lead!
Thanks to our WAGGGS delation the 4th point in the conference declaration highlights the empowerment of women and need to address violence against women!
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