Inside Salisbury: Local charity taking the fight for women's rights to the world stage

Addressing inequality, violence and discrimination against women

By Annette J Beveridge

A LOCAL charity is to travel to New York to contribute to the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women.

Soroptimists International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) will advocate for urgent action and policy change in the fight for women’s rights and will join non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to do so.

The annual UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the biggest women’s congress which meets in March annually to address the widespread inequalities, violence and discrimination women continue to face all around the world.

President of SIGBI, Ruth Healey, said: “Our members – Soroptimists – are proud to have consultative status at CSW, and are looking forward to joining over 9,000 attendees in New York, as one of the biggest delegations of NGOs.

“As part of this, we will reflect on the progress made – and the work still to be done. As we approach International Women’s Day too, we call on the Government to acknowledge the shortfall in action and results on women’s rights, equality, and empowerment, especially as we reach an important milestone this CSW, thirty years after the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA).”

Since 1984, Soroptimist International (SI) has been proud to be one of the official organisations awarded consultative status by the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The SIGBI was awarded consultative status in 2013 and play a crucial role in ensuring member states remain accountable, driving action and improvements for women’s equality.

Thirty years ago, world leaders made a promise – equal rights, opportunities, power, and safety for women and girls everywhere. The 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action enshrines that promise. It is still the world’s most comprehensive, visionary plan ever created, spanning 12 areas of focus, to achieve equal rights of all women and girls.

Read more: Formal public consultation to be held

SIGBI works hard to hold work governments and decision-makers to account, ensuring they make progress and deliver on their promises.

Ruth added: “Thirty years on, we are not on track. Not only because of the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, reactions to climate change and more, but also because governments around the world are working to reverse the critical changes which have already been made.

“We’re privileged, as a charity, to be able to participate in both events. At a grassroots level, our club activity spans 248 clubs, mostly throughout the UK, but also in Ireland, Malta, Asia and the Caribbean, and we currently have a total of 5,150 members taking action, via a diverse variety of projects, to stand up for women and girls.”

This year, CSW falls at a similar time to International Women’s Day and both events drive meaningful action for women and girls across the globe.

SIGBI is a membership organisation focussing on empowering women and girls to achieve their full potential. Learn more here.