Advocacy


Plant seeds, water them... and give them time to grow


Roswitha and Dora with the UN flags


This is what work at the United Nations is all about! I discovered this when I visited


the 19th Commission on Drugs and Crime in Vienna with our UN Representatives Roswitha Benesch and Dora Vrdlovec. They gave me a glimpse


Margaret Cook, International Assistant Programme Director visited Vienna to attend a UN Commission on Drugs and Crime


treatment of women in the criminal justice system. This was reflected in some of the Draft Resolutions debated in the Committee of the Whole. The NGOs can make a


of their work, opened doors for me to meet key personnel working at the UN in Vienna and introduced me to their fellow NGO representatives; I had met some of them at CSW 54 in New York. Roswitha made certain that I knew what was being discussed at this Commission and had arranged appointments for us. I asked her what she saw as her main role, on behalf of Soroptimists, at the UN. She said it is “to represent Soroptimist International, its stance on issues as published in “Where We Stand” and to advise the membership of the discussions and decisions at the UN on these issues”. The plenary sessions of the


Commission were on violence against women and the


difference to the outcomes by lobbying Government representatives. Within the plenary, NGOs can make statements by requests through the NGO Committee. Roswitha felt that SI should make a statement on Violence Against Women. She asked me to do it and we planned it for Thursday afternoon but the session was delayed so Roswitha read it the next day at the plenary; so SI was brought into the arena of discussion. “Networking with other


head this article! She also said how important it is to get things into place so we must go slowly and get it right as the UN makes policy that trickles down and affects life everywhere. Roswitha has recruited her to Soroptimism. Sandra, in the UNGIFT


(Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking) office, was passionate about her work and the difference that civil society (us) can make to this campaign. The Blue Heart Campaign has been introduced to us by Roswitha; look it up, there is useful information and indicators. www.ungift.org The issues of trafficking and


NGOs and UN personnel is a very important part of our work” said Roswitha and she made certain that I met as many as possible! Cindy Smith, who represents a UN Institute, the International Scientific and Professional Advisory Council (ISPAC), said the words that


International Federation of University Women, is Vice President of CoNGO in Vienna. CoNGO is the committee of NGOs and membership eases access to the UN bodies. I was told, by another NGO


representative, that continuity of representation is very important as the “language” of the UN has to be learned as well as “code words” and the impact of meaning. This is very important if we are to be represented well! Remarks made by several


those of women in prison were highlighted in excellent side events. The ELFI project was launched under the initiative of Thailand. Enhancing Lives of Female Inmates aims to improve the lives of women in prison. It is hoped that the draft Bangkok Rules – central to this project – will eventually be adopted by the UN thus making this secure. Ilona Graenitz, the


Cluster munitions banned


Judi Chaddock SIGBI Federation Assistant Programme Director – International Goodwill & Understanding (Acting) reports


Partnerships have been important in getting Cluster Munitions banned worldwide. For many years, Soroptimist International has worked in partnership with the Cluster Munition Coalition and organisations such as Handicap International (UK) to achieve this goal and has now been successful. International law has been developed to promote and enforce common standards of practice throughout the world. The protection of civilians from the effects of armed conflict is a longstanding and important branch of international law, known as international humanitarian law (IHL), best known through the Geneva Conventions. This body of law is constantly changing to


TIS June 2010 Page 8


respond to the differing nature of conflicts and the increasing worth societies place on humanitarian values. The countdown has begun for the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) to enter into force and become binding International Law. Only 15 months after the Convention opened for signature in Oslo, Moldova became the 30th country to ratify on 16 February 2010, triggering its entry into force on 1 August 2010.


Parties in November 2010 in Laos People’s Democratic Republic – the most cluster bombed country in the world. The CCM urges as many states as possible to sign, ratify and begin implementation of the Convention before the first Meeting of States’ Parties. 32 countries have signed Ratifications so far.


Once the Convention takes effect, states will be bound by its terms and the clock begins ticking on deadlines for clearance of contaminated land and destruction of remaining stockpiles.


The next milestone will be the first Meeting of States’


The Convention on Cluster Munitions was signed in Oslo, Norway in December 2008 and has since been opened for signature and ratification at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. By signing the Convention, a state proclaims its consent to be bound by its provisions once it ratifies the treaty. Every country signing the Convention on Cluster Munitions must still ratify it


non Soroptimists included: “Soroptimists do things rather than throw money at them”, they “broaden horizons” and “know what to do when the need arises”. Clearly Roswitha, and Dora are


working well! I returned home from Vienna


more certain than ever that Soroptimists can change the lives of women and girls – not only through our representation at the United Nations but also by “knowing what to do when the need arises”.


Advocacy


to become a State Party bound by the Convention.


Soroptimists have been at the forefront of the battle against cluster munitions for many years. They have done an amazing job attending many meetings and lobbying governments working in partnership with other Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs).


It demonstrates that Soroptimists CAN and DO make a difference and make the world a safer place for everyone. We have accepted the challenge and secured the future for the world with the abolition of cluster munitions.


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