In April, 22 FAWCO/FAUSA members visited the Collateral Repair Project Community Center to witness firsthand the way CRP is using the funds from the FAWCO Target Project, Hope Beyond Displacement. One of my favorite aspects of HBD has always been the gender-based violence (GBV) awareness portion.
In June, the Target Program and the Human Rights Team's new FAWCO Refugee Task Force paired to promote the We Came By Choice initiative honoring those in our communities who have made the difficult choice to flee their homes. Many thanks to the clubs that participated.
Heidelberg IWC wrapped up their series...
The theme for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, November 25-December 10, was recently released: “End Gender-Based Violence in the World of Work.” With the recent #MeToo Movement, the conflict over allegations against US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and the increased focus on sexual harassment and sexual assault in...
By Madaline Keros, UN Rep (AWC Bern)
In 1946, the first Chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights was a woman, Eleanor Roosevelt. Appointed by Harry Truman, she played a pivotal role not only in drafting but also in brokering agreement by other UN member states on the UN Declaration on Human Rights. The Commission on Human Rights began...
By Madaline Keros, FAWCO UN Representative in Geneva
Human rights is one of FAWCO’s core, four pillars. In the issue of migration, human rights violations and protection of migrants’ and refugees’ rights is a spotlight issue as the international community struggles with appropriately handling it. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center asserts that about 60 million people were on the move...
One of the world’s most critical challenges despite significant progress over the last decade is maternal deaths. Although maternal deaths worldwide have decreased in recent decades approximately 800 women still die each day from largely preventable causes before, during, and after the time of birth. These deaths are not equally distributed. Ninety-nine percent of preventable maternal deaths occur in low...
Ending Violence Against Women is a Committee of the Human Rights Team, addressing issues of domestic violence and sex trafficking, as well as other forms of violence against women. The Ending Violence Team was created in April 2008 to address issues of domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual exploitation in order to increase awareness and empower those women and children affected. Over the years, the Team has put a spotlight on the issues to get people talking about them. We also promote tangible actions that we can all take to help eradicate these forms of violence. When you look at the facts you see that we still have a long way to go.
1 in 3 women has been sexually assaulted in her lifetime;
Rape continues to be used as a weapon during war and conflict;
Globalization and climate change are having the most profound impacts on women and children who are disproportionately displaced and left without options;
Gender-based violence is an affliction that millions of women and children suffer in silence and shame. Many become victimized by those who are supposed to love and protect them.
Please share these three one-page information sheets on issues of Domestic Violence, how you can help victims of Domestic Violence, and global issues of Violence Against Women with your club members.
For a worldwide listing of domestic violence agencies, see the Hot Peaches website.
You'll find a link to the Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center (AODVC) website on our homepage under Domestic Violence.
For more information or to get involved, contact the Committee Co-Chairs.
Co-Chair, Global Issues, Tonya Teichert at .
Tonya Teichert (AWC The Taunus)
Co-Chair, Global Issues
Co-Chair, Domestic Violence and AODVC Liaison, Karen Lewis at aodvc@fawco.org.
Karen Lewis (FAUSA)
Co-Chair, Domestic Violence and AODVC Liaison
Women Peace and Security is a committee within the Human Rights Team. Its goal is to raise awareness about violence against women in conflict zones and the role of women in the peace-keeping process.
The theme of women and conflict resonates with the very origins of FAWCO. According to The Red Book, FAWCO: A History 1931-2011:
Caroline Curtis Brown founded FAWCO on the belief that "enlightened women, working cooperatively throughout the world, could do much to help achieve permanent international peace; and that this was especially true of American women living abroad who had acquired special experience in living in foreign lands among foreign people and foreign customs. Their American clubs not only provided a home away from home, she felt, but also served to promote sympathetic awareness of the needs and problems in countries other than the United States." Our founder's words are perhaps even more relevant today than in her own time. In our globally connected world, wars have a real impact on the lives of all of us, even when they occur in a distant land. A peaceful world benefits everyone.