2004

December

25 years fighting discrimination

In December, WAGGGS was present at a London Conference reviewing The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

The Convention is often described as an international bill of rights for women. It defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. At the London session, delegates from women’s organizations from all over the world discussed CEDAW’s successes, and what was needed to implement it further. 

November

Commemorating the struggle against HIV/AIDS

On 20 November 2004, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held an event to commemorate the African continent’s struggle against HIV/AIDS. The day was an opportunity to meet and learn from others, to celebrate success stories and take stock of current and prospective challenges.

UNESCO director general Koichïro Matsuura outlined UNESCO’s priorities in the fight against HIV/AIDS, which focus on preventative education, highlighting the importance of educating girls and women.

International NGO day

The UNESCO NGO Committee, of which WAGGGS is a member, held an International NGO Day. A roundtable focused on NGOs’ work on HIV/AIDS prevention through culture, art, drama and creativity in all its aspects. World Board member, Marjorie Samudzimu, was a keynote speaker at the event and discussed how WAGGGS’ global policies work to combat discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS.

Youth as effective agents for change

In November, the Committee of Youth Organizations in Geneva organized a roundtable with the theme ’Youth as effective agents for change’. 

UN representatives from Geneva and New York met with other youth organizations to discuss how to bring the UN world programme of action for youth and the UN Millennium Development Goals together, both of which will be reviewed in 2005. 

September

Side event, Committee on Food Security, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome

The UN team, Rome secured funding for a young leader from to attend this event and Elspeth Henderson, World Board Member, was a keynote speaker. She spoke on the importance of the work of the International Alliance against Hunger in raising awareness of hunger and malnutrition and how organizations like WAGGGS could help in the fight against hunger.

’Youth, Peace and Development’

The World Bank sponsored three young women from WAGGGS to attend its policy-making meeting on youth strategy in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

August

World Youth Festival, Barcelona 

World Board member, Danielle Bélanger and Shana McElroy from WOSM made a joint presentation on the two organizations’ work towards peace in the past century.

Fabiola Canavesi delivered a speech on ‘Youth Organizations in the International Area’. Fabiola explained the structure and function of an international organization using WAGGGS as an example of an organization that works on three different levels: international, national and local.

Two trainees from the WAGGGS UN team, Rome also ran three workshops on ‘Our Rights, Our Responsibilities,’ ‘Gender Equality’ and ‘Building Peace.’ Around 15 to 25 people attended each workshop. 

WAGGGS also had a display, which was staffed by five volunteers from Belarus and Italy. Posters on WAGGGS, information about trafficking and the material from the workshops were displayed.

July

International AIDS Conference in Thailand 

WAGGGS was represented by two young leaders from the Thailand Girl Guides Association, two adult members and Ching Ching Wee-On, field executive for Asia Pacific.

The Conference attracted almost 20,000 delegates from all over the world and WAGGGS was fortunate to be allocated a display space where we could promote our work on HIV and AIDS awareness.

Ching Ching says: ’We were amongst the few youth organizations present, in uniform and with delegates who were under 17 years old. We introduced our work and distributed the WAGGGS brochures, Girl Guides of Thailand brochures and HIV/AIDS magazines to almost all visitors who stopped by the booth and passers-by who took an interest in our displays. The Thai Press and UNAIDS Press interviewed the young leaders.

’The presence of high profile leaders like Kofi Annan, Nelson Madela, Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Thaksin and famous movie stars like Richard Gere sent a strong note to the world about HIV/AIDS. I was inspired by their speeches,’ said one of WAGGGS’ delegates.

The next International AIDS conference takes place in Toronto, Canada in 2006.