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30th IFUW Conference

With excitement and pleasure I invite you to join in our 30th Triennial Conference in Mexico City from the 5th to 9th of August 2010. What an opportunity to experience the depth of history, culture and colour of Mexico. It is a time to celebrate the achievements of our national affiliates, independent members and international work. Our theme “Education, Empowerment, Development” challenges us to explore the intertwined issues that will lead to fulfilment of the Beijing Platform for Action global and local objectives for women and girls. The Mexican Federation of University Women is planning an exciting week.  Join us for IFUW 90th birthday celebrations and experience the commemoration of Mexico's 200th year of independence.
Louise Croot, IFUW President
   

Online registration is open.  For full details, please see
www.ifuw.org/ifuw2010/index.shtml. 

A printable copy of the registration information is available at http://www.ifuw.org/ifuw2010/docs/2010_registration_info.pdf .

Call for Rapporteurs for Mexico City

The IFUW members planning to attend the 30^th IFUW Conference in Mexico City from 5 to 9 August 2010 are invited to volunteer to serve as a rapporteur for one of the Interdisciplinary Seminars, workshops or parallel sessions.  This time, as part of the conference consultation on the next Programme for Action, the rapporteurs for the seminars, workshops and parallel sessions will be asked to note the dominant issues arising in their session's presentations and subsequent discussions.  These notes will contribute to the later plenary session on conference input to the Programme for Action.  Being a rapporteur is an excellent way to play an active part in the Conference.  Those interested in volunteering should see the full call for rapporteurs:  http://www.ifuw.org/docs/2010_call_rapporteur.pdf.  

On-line Discussion on Women & Human Rights

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is currently moderating an on-line discussion on "Women and Human Rights", focusing on issues of accountability and access to justice.  The discussion is part of a series of United Nations online discussions dedicated to the fifteen-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (2000). The discussions are being coordinated by WomenWatch, an inter-agency project of the United Nations Inter-agency Network on Women and Gender Equality.  Those wishing to participate in the discussion can sign up at: http://esango.un.org/irene/?page=viewThreads&nr=21&section=5

JAUW Work-Life Balance Study

For the last two years members of the Japanese Association have studied work-life balance in their own country and around the world.   Survey responses from IFUW national affiliates offered insights into policies regarding provisions of childcare and elderly care leave, employment options such as flexible work hours and work-sharing, and promotion of progressive attitudes. The study was timely as the Commission on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), in its 2009 recommendation to the Japanese government called for greater efforts to eliminate stereotypical attitudes about the roles of men and women.  
Kumiko Fujimura-Fanselow, JAUW CIR

For the full report:
http://www.ifuw.org/docs/2009jauw.pdf

Seminar Presenting JAUW Report
© JAUW

Women Graduates-USA Hold 2nd AGM

Women Graduates-USA held their second Annual General Meeting. The location was near the US and Mexican border in California where trafficking and illegal immigration is a major problem. Drawing upon expertise from the area, the participants wrestled with these inter-related issues. Members also strategized on a plan to campaign for the long-awaited ratification of CEDAW. Demonstrating our increasing reliance on communicating through the Internet, a live Skype connection was used to hear from IFUW President Louise Croot in New Zealand, and from New York, the IFUW UN Rep, Catherine Moore. The conference ended with our guest speaker from the Mexican Federation, Glenda Hecksher-Rasmden, sharing with us how she uses her art as both a personal journey and an expression of peace for the world.
Kathleen Laurila, WG-USA CIR

Glenda Hecksher Ramsden (right)
© WG-USA