News & Announcements
IFUW Pre-Conference Consultation: Phase III
The objective of Phase III of the Consultation is to collect some examples of effective actions that NFAs will see as being connected to their concerns, actions in which they will be ready to organize and participate in so as to achieve change and make a difference in the lives of women and girls. Therfore Members, Branches and NFAs are invited to consult with others and present their project/programme in an email to by 30 April 2010.
IFUW Pre-Conference Consultation: Summary of Phase II discussion
In Phase II of the consultation on the next Programme for Action, members shared information and suggested action that could be taken in the areas of education, financial independence and women's empowerment. Dorothy Meyer, Convener of the Status of Women Committee, has prepared a summary of the three-week discussion.
26 November message from IFUW President
I am in India for the celebration of the 40th birthday of the Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund (VGIF), planned together with the Indian Federation of University Women’s Associations (IFUWA). Over the 40 years, VGIF has provided funding for many IFUW national projects helping women and children. VGIF has also generously assisted IFUW with funding for training projects at our triennial conferences. We are appreciative of VGIF’s support. It is a time to celebrate their accomplishments and look ahead to continuing our close partnership in the future. In this time of financial crisis, I would also like to encourage all NFAs to think of ways to link with new women graduates.They face difficult challenges of unemployment, reduced job openings and fewer work place training options. IFUW can reach out to these young women with initiatives like one in Turkey offering opportunities to share issues, receive mentoring and encouragement, and find a place to express their concerns as the new generation of graduate women.
Read the full message here.
11 November message from IFUW President
Remember at the IFUW Conference in Manchester, we adopted an emergency resolution to support the GEAR (GENDER ARCHITECTURE) proposal? The GEAR campaign was calling for the creation of a single women's agency within the United Nations. Our resolution stressed the need both for the creation of the agency and for regular sustainable funding and the resources and mandate to initiate and operate programmes at the country level. It has taken the UN and governments three years to move forward this reform process. Finally on the 14th of September 2009 the General Assembly passed a resolution enabling the creation of one new gender equality entity and giving the UN Secretary General the power to appoint an Under Secretary General to lead the new body. IFUW NFAs should urge their governments to support the next steps in the GEAR process, including pledging the necessary funds.
To view the full message click here.
Women and Wealth
The Millennium Development Goals Report (2005) noted that women “more often work in the informal economy, which provides little financial security”. It is also a fact that women as a group have a smaller portion of the national wealth than men as a group. What is the situation for women and wealth in the different countries? Can work bring wealth to women? What can be done to improve the financial situation of women? Find out the outcomes of the IFUW e-mail discussion here.
