Afghan women call for inclusion in decision-making ahead of Kabul Conference
20 July 2010
On 18 July 2010, dozens of Afghan women from the provinces of Kandahar in the south to Takhar in the north called on Afghan leaders to give more visibility to women's rights at the Kabul Conference on 20 July 2010, cautioning that unless more is done to include women in the national decision making, the progress towards women's empowerment made in the past decade will be lost.
Read MoreDeclaration Afghan Peace Jirga 2 to 4 June 2010, Kabul.
7 June 2010
The National Consultative Peace Jirga (NCPJ) was attended by 1,600 delegates representing the suffering nation of Afghanistan from all walks of life including from both Houses of the Parliament, Provincial Councils, religious scholars, tribal leaders, civil society organizations, Afghan refugees residing in Iran and Pakistan (Invitees had been divided into 13 categories). The Jirga was held to consult on seeking ways to end insecurity and for a lasting peace in the country. Professor Burhanuddin Rabani was selected to chair the Jirga.
Read MoreAsma Jahangir at exclusive session at Gender Concerns
25 May 2010
Renowned Pakistani Human Rights Advocate Ms. Asma Jahangir will attend an exclusive session at the office of Gender Concerns International, when she is visiting the Netherlands to receive The Four Freedoms Award 2010. Distinguished guest Asma Jahangir will speak about the current Women's Human Rights Situation in Pakistan.
Read MoreFlowers for Peace Campaign Launch
22 April 2010
Sylvia Borren and Dieny Scheffer will receive the Flowers for Peace on Monday 26th of April at the Peace Palace in The Hague. You are cordially invited to attend from 3.30 p.m.
Read MorePress Release: Women and Governance in Sudan?
"We are positive that the women in Sudan will have a chance to acquire more than 25 percent of the parliamentary seats. Indeed this will allow them to participate in the political process; however important question remains to be asked at what positions then?"
Read MoreSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon cautions against militarization in Afghanistan
17 March 2010
In the report that was released yesterday about the situation in Afghanistan and the work of UNAMA, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says there is growing concensus to end the conflict. "Those who choose to reconcile must respect the achievements made since 2002 and accept the aspirations of the majority of Afghans to a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan where each and every Afghan can enjoy his or her rights as enshrined in the Afghan constitution."
Read MoreCSW 54th Event - 8th March UN New York
26 February 2010
Robert Dijksterhuis, Head of Dutch Government Delegation to CSW, will be the Key Note Speaker at the event "Women at the Flash Point - 2: Security and Governance Concerns" organized by Gender Concerns.
Venue: 10th Floor, Church Centre, UN Building New York.
Time: 16:00 - 17:30
Date: 8th March, 2010
Read MoreHague Recommendations for London Conference on Afghanistan 28 January 2010
26 January 2010
As a follow-up to the Kabul conference in July 2009,k a second regional stakeholders meeting was held in The Hague, Netherlands from 12-14 January 2010. The recommendations from this meeting were presented to the international community at a public meeting on 14 January. "At this meeting, it was agreed that the recommendations of the regional platform members would be passed to the British Foreign Secretary in anticipation of the forthcoming international conference on Afghanistan to be hosted by the British Government on 28 January 2010.
Read MoreMeeting at Amazone Women's Centre
On january 15th Gender Concerns International team went to Brussels with Regional Delegates for a meeting at Amazone Women's Centre. At this meeting several women's organinsations of Belgium such as the National Women's Council, The Institute for the equality of men and women, the Refugee House for women in Afghanistan were represented.
Read MoreGender Concerns International brings the Regional Delegation to Brussels on January 15th.
5 January 2010
One day after our conference in the Hague, Gender Concerns International will bring the women from the region to Brussels for several meeting.
Starting the day at the Amazone Women's Centre. In the afternoon we are hoping to have a joint session at the European Parliament with the European Commission and the European Council.
Closing the day with the inaugaration of Gender Concerns International office in Brussels
More information will be added in the coming days.
Read MoreWomen and Torture
Suffering of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina needs international attention.
Gender Concerns International urges the international community to provide justice to the women in Bosnia.
Read MoreGender justice in conflict and peace (GJCP)
In the last 15 years, 80 % of the 20 poorest countries have suffered from war. After establishing peace 44% of these countries relapsed in the former state of conflict. Most post-war reconstruction strategies, which aim to help the whole population in the area of conflict, neglect the uniqueness and different needs of disparate groups in the society. Often women are one of such groups.
Read MoreSwat Valley and 2.2 million IDPs: Women are the worst sufferers
Sherry Rehman was one of the guests that Gender Concerns International had invited for its Expert Meeting held on 18th May at the Dutch Parliament on the Gender, Peace and Security issue in Afghanistan and Pakistan. She was very supportive of this initiative and had accepted the invitation but due to All Parties Conference held on 18th May in Islamabad, was not able to leave the country before 19th. Last Sunday I received this article of Sherry Rehman which I would like to forward to you. Sherry Rehman was one of the guests that Gender Concerns International had invited for its Expert Meeting held on 18th May at the Dutch Parliament on the Gender, Peace and Security issue in Afghanistan and Pakistan. She was very supportive of this initiative and had accepted the invitation but due to All Parties Conference held on 18th May in Islamabad, was not able to leave the country before 19th. Last Sunday I received this article of Sherry Rehman which I would like to forward to you.
Read MorePeople to People Appeal Flood Relief Pakistan
11 August 2010
Severe monsoon rains, floods and landslides have been hitting Pakistan since 22 July. Over 1,600 people have been killed and at least 13.8 million people across the country are affected by this natural disaster. The floods are the worst in living memory in Pakistan, and the Government has welcomed international assistance.
Read MorePrime Minister Gillard
Congratulations |
We hope that the appointment of Prime Minister Gillard will mark a new phase in which Australia's contribution to international development cooperation and gender policy becomes even stronger.
Read MoreMargot Wallström receives Flowers for Peace
20 May 2010
Brussels, 19 May 2010 | Gender Concerns' Brussels Office presented Flowers for Peace to Margot Wallström, Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict to UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon. Ms. Wallström showed her appreciation and support for the campaign. The event was organized in cooperation with UNIFEM, Brussels.
Read MoreHigh level meetings with President Karzai in Washington
11 May 2010
This week President Karzai is visiting the Unites States to meet with President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in order to discuss the future relations between Afghanistan and the United States. In recent months relations between Afghanistan and the West have cooled down.
Gender diplomacy is underway...
Read MoreSneak Preview Pictures Flowers for Peace Campaign Launch
The Flowers for Peace Campaign has been successfully launched at the Peace Palace in The Hague. Among the present dignitaries were Sylvia Borren, Co-Chair of World Connectors; Dieny Scheffer, Chair of NVR; Australian Ambassador Lydia Morton and representatives of the UK and Pakistan Embassies and of the Pakistan and Afghan Communities.
Read More1325 Peace Flowers for the Women in Afghanistan
Flowers for Peace Campaign Launch
Sylvia Borren and Dieny Scheffer Will Receive Flowers for Peace
Herewith you are cordially invited to attend the Flowers for Peace Campaign Launch Ceremony to be held at the Peace Palace on 26th April. The main aim of the campaign is to draw attention to the voices of women in Conflict Zones and pay tribute to the struggle of women in Fragile States.
Monday 26th April, 15:30, Peace Palace, The Hague
Read MoreFlowers for Peace Campaign has been launched!
This campaign is launched to support Afghan women and ensure that women's rights are not being compromised in the Peace Jirga and the upcoming International Conference in Kabul. Women need to be represented and women's issues need to be on the peace and security agenda, and for that reason Afghan women need the support of the international community. Gender Concerns is launching this campaign to rally supporters and make this support visible.
Read MoreClinton Releases Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2009
12 March 2010
American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released this year's Reports on Human Rights Practices by stating: "The principle that each person possesses equal moral value is a simple, self-evident truth, but securing a world in which all can exercise the rights that are naturally theirs is an immense practical challenge."
Read MoreProfile: Ambassador Melanne S. Verveer
7 January 2010
Melanne Verveer was appointed by the United States President Barack Obama as the ambassador at large for global women's issues in 2009. Ambassador Verveer coordinates foreign policy issues and activities relating to the political, economic and social advancement of women around the world.
Read MoreWomen at Flash Point 2010 and Beyond
2 December 2009
You are cordially invited to attend a meeting of women representatives of organizations from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, India and Uzbekistan, to discuss burning issues and vital strategies concerning regional security and development concerns, with representatives of the international community. Please read more for more information and the complete program.
Read MoreRecommendations 1325 in Europe
On 7th-8th September 2009 under the Initiative for
Peacebuilding (IfP), the European Peacebuilding Liaison
Office (EPLO) and International Alert jointly organised
a civil society conference on the implementation of
UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in Europe.
Read MoreGender and minorities (GM)
Gender Concerns International advocates proportional representation of ethnic and cultural minorities into Dutch political and policy making structures. We believe that the progressive integration of minorities into national and international representative bodies is the key for social harmony and societal balance.
Read MoreKabul Conference
To Gender Concerns International it is evident that many Afghan women still live under extremely difficult conditions. The goal professed by the Afghan constitution that "the citizens of Afghanistan - whether man or woman- have equal rights and duties before the law" remains a very distant dream for most women.
Read More
